From theatrical awards and gardening workshops to mind-bending cinema, your guide to this week's arts and culture haps is here.
Considering that the Phoenix area is the 13th largest metropolitan center in the United States (based on the 2010 census), it's not at all surprising we have a vibrant theater community that presents everything from Neil Simon classics to Broadway (and off-) masterpieces to Shakespeare and kid-friendly productions, with plenty of locally developed original works tossed into the mix. The 23rd annual AriZoni Awards celebrate local achievements in adult and children's theater. Awards are handed out in 13 categories, including best actress and actor, supporting actress and actor, director, musical director, choreographer, and original script or playwright.
See also: 5 Things We Learned at Suzanne Shapiro's "A Century of the Modern Manicure"
There's also design awards for excellence in costume, make-up, lighting, stage and sound. Phoenix Theatre tops the most-recognized list with 82 nominations. Discover local theater's best starting with youth awards at 5:30 p.m. and adult awards at 8 on Monday, September 15, at Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 West Rio Salado Parkway. Tickets are $19 for the youth ceremony, $21 to attend the adult ceremony, and $35 for both. Visit www.tca.ticketforce.com. Glenn BurnSilver
See also: AriZoni Theatre Award Nominees Announced
Gammage is kicking off the 2014-2015 season in style. Kinky Boots tells the story of shoe factory owner Charlie Price who turns the family business around after he meets drag performer Lola and begins manufacturing high-heeled shoes to meet the specific needs of Lola and her fellow performers. The show won six Tony Awards, including best musical, and features a score by Cyndi Lauper, book by Harvey Fierstein, and direction and choreography by Jerry Mitchell. Inspired by a true story, Kinky Boots is all about finding common ground and learning to see people for who they truly are.
Catch the opening night of the season opener Kinky Boots on Tuesday, September 16, at 7:30 p.m. at ASU Gammage, 1200 South Forest Avenue in Tempe. Tickets range in price from $20 to $125. The show runs through Sunday, September 21. For more information, visit www.asugammage.com or call 480-965-3434. Katrina Montgomery
It took nearly 20 years to get Frank Herbert's epic sci-fi novel Dune to the big screen but along the way, Chilean director Alejandro Jodorowsky had his chance at the helm. The 2013 documentary Jodorowsky's Dune screens Wednesday, September 17, to give the lowdown on the surrealist's approach.
Jodorowsky might be most well known for the 1973 film The Holy Mountain. Nearly directly after wrapping that film's heavily symbolic allegory packed with mind-melting visuals, the director landed the rights to Herbert's landmark novel. Taking on the tale centering around the desert planet of Arrakis and its much-desired "spice," Jodorowsky ended up calling upon a diverse palette of talents to try to realize his vision including Pink Floyd, Salvador Dali, and H.R. Giger before the money ran out.
The screening of Jodorowsky's Dune is at the Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 West McDowell Road and starts at 7 p.m. Admission is free. Visit www.phxart.org or call 602-257-1880 for more info. Jose Gonzalez
See also: 7 Coolest Designs from Jodorowsky's Dune
With the temperatures dropping (slowly but surely), it might be a good time to start thinking about cultivating your green thumb for the upcoming fall months. You can get a good head start at the Herb Gardening Workshop at Frances this week. Kenny Barrett, who co-owns GROWop and Grow House, will show workshoppers how to create their very own hanging gardens using herbs or succulents. And if you've been paying attention to the lush landscapes at GROWop over the past few years, you'll know that Barrett is a trustworthy horticulturalist. The workshop is open to gardeners of all levels.
The Herb Gardens Workshop at Frances, 10 West Camelback Road, will run from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, September 18. The $25 cost includes supplies for creating your own take-home hanging garden. The event has limited space, so calling ahead to reserve a spot is recommended. For more information, visit www.francesvintage.com or call 602-279-5467. Katrina Montgomery
We're not sure where comedian Brian Posehn finds the time to hit the road but we're pretty grateful to get a live taste of the jack of all trades. The masterfully funny dude visits the Valley on Friday, September 19.
It was only this past May that Posehn brought his Comedy Mutant Tour to town, fitting it snugly into Phoenix Comicon's evening programming. While there won't be much cosplaying at the Crescent Ballroom, the original Comedian of Comedy comic is a one-man-geek-parade with the ability to nerd out on sci-fi, heavy metal, and comic books (especially having penned Marvel's Deadpool for the past couple of years). As a 40-something dad, Posehn glides from tales of bodily functions to punchy jokes about his young kid with a stoner's ease (even if he quit toking up last year).
Brian Posehn crash lands at the Crescent Ballroom, 308 North Second Avenue in Phoenix. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $28. To purchase tickets in advance or for more info, visit www.crescentphx.com or call 602-716-2222. Jose Gonzalez
