Pic Hits for the week

thursday
october 24
Arizona State Fair: The annual corn-dog carnival continues daily, through Sunday, November 3, at the fairgrounds, bounded by McDowell Road and Encanto Boulevard between 17th and 19th avenues. Along with the usual attractions--midway rides and games, livestock and agricultural exhibits, etc.--this year's fair includes "The Disney Fair" (for details about the Disney show and other kiddy-specific events, see "At the Fair" in Kid Pics); a live version of Wheel of Fortune on Saturday, October 26; the virtual-reality ride "Red Rock Run" at the AT&T Reactor Theater; and--not to miss--Norma D. "Duffy" Lyon's bovine butter sculpture. The usual schizophrenic mix of twangers, cutting-edge acts and has-beens takes the stage at Veterans' Memorial Coliseum. This week's highlights are Coolio on Monday, October 28; and "Stars of the Grand Ole Opry" on Wednesday, October 30 (see below). Remaining Midway Pay-One-Price days are Tuesday, October 29; Thursday, October 31; and Sunday, November 3. Regular fair admission is $6.50, $4.50 for seniors, $3.50 for kids ages 5 to 13, free for those younger. For a complete listing of fair info not covered here, see the At the Fair listing in Thrills. For general information, call 268-3247 or 252-6771.

Glenn Danzig: The Goth-metal superhero has now mastered the macabre in a totally new realm, via his comic-book company, Verotik. Glenn, in the Valley for his band's show on Friday, October 25, at OZZfest '96 (see below), chats with fans and autographs Danzig and Verotik memorabilia at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 24, at Atomic Comics East, 1318 West Southern in Mesa. Admission is $3, $1 with a canned-good donation for the Atomic chain's holiday food drive. Call 649-0807.

Jeffrey: In Mixed Company inaugurates its season with Paul Rudnick's fine "AIDS comedy"--which director Christopher Ashley subsequently transformed into a smashing movie--about the pangs of love and the trials of sex in New York's gay community. Opening performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday, October 24; 8 p.m. Friday, October 25; 8 p.m. Saturday, October 26; and 7 p.m. Sunday, October 27, at 7th Street Theater, 3302 North Seventh Street. Admission to Sunday's show is "pay what you can afford"; regular tickets are $15, $12 for students and seniors. The production continues through Saturday, November 9. For details call 834-3032.

NASCAR Winston Cup Phoenix 500: Phoenix International Raceway, a.k.a. the superfast "Phoenix Mile," kicks off its 33rd season with this five-race package, which starts at 9 a.m. Thursday, October 24, with practice sessions and qualifying runs at the track, 115th Avenue and Baseline in Tolleson. The finale of the Southwest Tour 300K is at 3 p.m. Friday, October 25; the Truck Series 300K starts at 12:45 p.m. Saturday, October 26; and the main event--the 500K--is at noon Sunday, October 27. A concert by Mark Collie follows the latter. Tickets range from $5 to $60, available at PIR and Dillard's; call 252-3833 or 678-2222. (Note: Toolies Country, 4231 West Thomas, has planned a spate of nightly postrace activities, including scheduled appearances by Rusty Wallace and Darrell Waltrip; call 272-3100.)

friday
october 25
OZZfest '96 featuring Ozzy Osbourne, Slayer, Danzig, Sepultura, Biohazard, Fear Factory, and Neurosis: Headliner and metal godfather Ozzy plays den mother to a few of the countless acts he's influenced at this big gig, which boasts a killer lineup--at least for fans of high-decibel angst; see the story about Sepultura on page 91. Showtime is 4 p.m. Friday, October 25, at Desert Sky Pavilion, 2121 North 83rd Avenue. Tickets range from $20 to $50, available at Ticketmaster. For details call 254-7599 or 784-4444.

Jesus Christ Superstar: While Ozzy gnaws on bat skulls (see above), the savior--in the form of Ted Neeley--returns for a couple of performances at Gammage Auditorium, Mill and Apache in Tempe. Neeley is reprising the title role from Norman Jewison's 1973 film version of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice rock opera. Shows are scheduled at 8 p.m. Friday, October 25; and the same time Saturday, October 26. Tickets are available at Gammage and Dillard's. Call 965-3434 or 678-2222.

"Beyond the Visible Terrain: The Art of Ed Mell": The name of the exhibit, a retrospective of the works of the Phoenix-born commercial artist turned world-renowned creator of highly angular, epic-scale Southwestern landscapes, matches the title of Mell's new tome with author Donald Hagerty. The installation opens Friday, October 25, and continues through Sunday, February 9, 1997, in the Atrium Gallery at Scottsdale Center for the Arts, 7380 East Second Street. Viewing is free; hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays (to 8 p.m. Thursdays), noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Call 994-2787.

Arizona State Fair: See Thursday.
Jeffrey: See Thursday.
NASCAR Winston Cup Phoenix 500: See Thursday.

saturday
october 26
Dudley Moore: The tipsy-acting actor (Arthur, 10) isn't the world's greatest musician, but he's an undeniably charming performer. He joins fellow pianist Rena Fruchter and Phoenix Symphony, conducted by James Paul, for the black-tie "Music and Moore Gala" on Saturday, October 26, at Symphony Hall, 225 East Adams. The program includes Saint-Saëns' "Carnival of the Animals," Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," Rossini's Overture to La Gazza Ladra and Massenet's Le Cid: Ballet Music. Showtime is 8:30 p.m. Concert tickets are $25 and $50, available at the symphony's box office and Dillard's (call 264-6363 or 678-2222). "Gala" tickets, which include pre- and postperformance bashes and a rub-elbows-with-Dudley do, are $175, available only at the symphony box office.

Fiesta Bowl Duck Race: The odds in the ninth annual rubber-ducky race are against you, but if you adopt a duck for $5, and if it's one of three in each 10,000 sold containing a grand-prize promissory note, and if your duck crosses the finish line before the other 74,999 or so ducks, you win $1 million and a pickup truck. Prerace activities begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 26, at PERA Park, 68th Street and Continental in Tempe; the duck "dump" is at 4 at the nearby Salt River Project canal. Duck adoption is available by calling 276-3825; proceeds benefit the Scottsdale Prevention Institute and the Fiesta Bowl. The Fiesta Bowl Halloween Fest follows from 5:30 to 9; see "Orange Crush" in Kid Pics. For general information, call 350-0900.