june 19
subUrbia: Tucson's upstart Upstairs Theatre Company, which features several Valley expatriates, travels north for this revival of a January '96 production of the Eric Bogosian play in the Old Pueblo. The work revolves around three guys in their early 20s who replay a communal past while bumming around in the dead-end present of a convenience-store parking lot. A preview is scheduled at 8 p.m. Thursday, June 19, in Center Stage at Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe. The press opening is at the same time Friday, June 20. The rest of this week's performances are at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 21; and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 22. The production continues through Sunday, July 6. Tickets range from $9 to $17.50, available at Herberger and Dillard's; call 252-8497 or 503-5555.
Grand Canyon State Games: The fifth annual competition for recreational athletes of all ages and ability levels kicks off with opening ceremonies at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 19, at America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson. The event includes an address by Phoenix Sun and GCSG executive commissioner Danny Manning, appearances by Arizona Olympians Kerri Strug and Gary Hall Jr., the traditional parade of athletes and a performance by the Beatles-impersonation act Get Back!, which features original cast members from the musical Beatlemania; tickets are $5, $3 for kids under 12, available at the arena and Dillard's (call 379-7800 or 503-5555). Competition in 23 sports, including basketball, flag football, soccer, volleyball, diving, archery, cycling, bowling and swimming, is scheduled at various sites on the Arizona State University campus in Tempe and at other Maricopa County locales on Friday, June 20; Saturday, June 21; and Sunday, June 22 (viewing is free). For general information, call 517-9700.
"Elusive Nature: The U.S. Representation From the 1996 Cuenca Bienal of Painting": The exhibit, curated by Phoenix Art Museum's David Rubin and featuring nature-themed paintings and works on paper by New York's Katherine Bowling and Joan Nelson, Santa Fe's Michael Kessler, Chicago's Andrew Young, San Francisco's Eva Bovenzi and Connecticut's Timothy McDowell, makes its only stateside stop at the museum, 1625 North Central. The show's sextet of artists represented America at last year's Bienal in Cuenca, Ecuador. The installation continues through Sunday, September 14, in PAM's Orme Lewis Gallery. Viewing is free; hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays (to 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays). For details call 257-1880 or 257-1222.
friday
june 20
The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (abridged): Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield penned this Pythonesque parody, brimming with pot shots at the Bard and performed by Actors Theatre of Phoenix's "Reduced Shakespeare Company," comprising actors Gerald Burgess, Jon Gentry and Scott Hopkins and a prop list that includes "1 butcher knife, 2 daggers, 1 dinosaur (inflatable), 1 head (severed), 1 skull (rubber), 1 vial poison and 1 vial potion." Act one features snippets from 36 Shakespearean pieces; the centerpiece of act two is Hamlet--performed "three times forward and once backwards." ATP presents an unusual summer revival of its high-season show; the second run starts with a preview at 8 p.m. Friday, June 20, in Stage West at Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe. The official opening is at the same time Saturday, June 21; more performances are slated for 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, June 22. The production continues through Sunday, July 13. Tickets range from $16 to $26, available at Herberger and Dillard's; call 252-8497 or 503-5555.
Let's Go Bowling, Hepcat, and Mustard Plug: The three hardworking ska-revival bands--which hail from northern and Southern California and Michigan, respectively--join forces on Friday, June 20, for the "Simply Rude Ska Spectacular," which also features sets by Kongo Shock, the Mad Caddies, and Jim Jones and the Tempters. The all-ages show starts at 7 p.m. at the Electric Ballroom, 1216 East Apache in Tempe. Tickets are $13.50, available at Ticketmaster. For details call 894-0707 or 784-4444.
"Elusive Nature: The U.S. Representation From the 1996 Cuenca Bienal of Painting": See Thursday.
Grand Canyon State Games: See Thursday.
subUrbia: See Thursday.
saturday
june 21
Blink 182: These kids are all right--fast, loud and listenable. The San Diego threesome of guitarist/vocalist Tom Delonge, bassist/vocalist Mark Hoppus and drummer Scott Raynor are to power-board-emo-pop what Philly's Bloodhound Gang is to socially relevant party-boy rap--which is, however it may sound, a good thing, indeed. Blink's fresh new disc and major-label debut, Dude Ranch, is full of grinning-idiot grace and shit-for-brains style, from the stellar youth-angst anthem "Dammit" to the Star Wars homage "A New Hope" ("Princess Leia, where are you tonight and who's laying there by your side?") to the punk-lifestyle ode "Apple Shampoo" to what may be the best tune ever titled "Untitled." 98 Mute, and Pivot share the stage on Saturday, June 21, at the Nile Theater, 105 West Main in Mesa. Showtime is 8 p.m. Call 649-2766.
American Motorcycle Expo '97: It's Harley heaven at this extravaganza, featuring about 150,000 square feet of hogs and hog-related gear. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 21; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 22, in exhibit halls A and B at Phoenix Civic Plaza, Second Street and Adams. Admission is $7.50, free for accompanied kids age 12 and under. For details call 262-7272.
Save Ferris: Hot on the heels of No Doubt's big bust-out, here's another rising nonpunk outfit from Punk Ground Zero--Orange County, California--that sports a ska-tinged sound and a strong female presence at center mike: operatically trained Monique Powell. Touring behind the seven-song disc Introducing . . . Save Ferris, the band is scheduled on Saturday, June 21, at the Electric Ballroom, 1216 East Apache in Tempe. Warsaw, and the Surf Ballistics share the all-ages bill. Showtime is 9 p.m. For details call 894-0707.
Emancipation Marathon: More than 20 writers, artists and others are scheduled to read material "focusing on the definition, the law, the human condition and the legacy of slavery" at this post-Juneteenth event, scheduled for 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 21, at the Art Attack Studios at the Hub Gallery, 130 North Central, Suite B-100. For details call 253-2513.
Road Trip: Prescott Bluegrass Festival: Newgrass fiddler/vocalist Laurie Lewis and her Grant Street Band headline the free, 16th annual fest, which starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 21, at lovely Courthouse Plaza in Arizona's territorial capital. Also scheduled: the Cowboy Legends, the Hat Band, and the Creekside Band. For details call 1-800-266-7534 or 1-520-445-2000.
The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (abridged): See Friday.
"Elusive Nature: The U.S. Representation From the 1996 Cuenca Bienal of Painting": See Thursday.
Grand Canyon State Games: See Thursday.
subUrbia: See Thursday.
sunday
june 22
Phoenix Mercury: The Valley's Women's National Basketball Association franchise is coached and managed by one of the top female b-ball players of all time, Cheryl Miller. In its first season, and in the WNBA's inaugural year, the Mercury makes its home-court and regular-season debut at 1 p.m. Sunday, June 22, at America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson. The opponent is the Charlotte Sting. If tickets are available, they're at the arena and Dillard's. For details call 252-9622, 379-7800 or 503-5555.
Boot Camp Clik: Brooklyn's cult hip-hop collective is on the road in support of its latest disc, For the People, which features the Clik's first experimentation with live instrumentation. Immortal Vibe, and DJ Fashen share the stage. The all-ages show starts at 8 p.m. Sunday, June 22, at the Nile Theater, 105 West Main in Mesa. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster. For details call 649-2766 or 784-4444.
American Motorcycle Expo '97: See Saturday.
The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (abridged): See Friday.
"Elusive Nature: The U.S. Representation From the 1996 Cuenca Bienal of Painting": See Thursday.
Grand Canyon State Games: See Thursday.
subUrbia: See Thursday.
tuesday
june 24
Morris Day and the Time: Urbane funkster Day, Prince's former musical partner and sometime archnemesis (remember the purportedly drawn-from-reality turf war between Morris and the Artist Who Would One Day Be Known As the Artist in Purple Rain?) has been out of the chart loop for years. And the Time, whose original incarnation featured Jimmy "Jam" Harris, Terry Lewis and Jesse Johnson, ain't what it once was, so there's no telling what's in store at the group's concert on Tuesday, June 24, at the Electric Ballroom, 1216 East Apache in Tempe. London shares the bill. The all-ages show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $22 in advance, $23 the day of the show, available at Ticketmaster. For details call 894-0707 or 784-4444.
Lee Ritenour, and Dave Grusin: The contemporary-jazz mainstays salute Antonio Carlos Jobim (the "father of bossa nova" and namesake of the smash tribute A Twist of Jobim) and composer Henry Mancini (honored by Grusin on the recent homage Two for the Road) at a show scheduled on Tuesday, June 24, at the Red River Opry, Mill and Washington in Tempe. Eric Marienthal, Vesta, and Badi Assad share the stage. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $32.50, available at the scene and Dillard's; call 829-6779 or 503-5555.
Cadillac Desert: Water & the Transformation of Nature: Based on Marc Reisner's book Cadillac Desert and Sandra Postel's work Last Oasis, the PBS series chronicles the corrupting battle for water rights and access that's been raging in the West for most of this century. The first installment in the four-part program, titled "Mulholland's Dream: The True Story Behind Chinatown's Fiction" and centered on the struggle for the wet stuff in L.A., airs at 9 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, on KAET-TV, Channel 8. For details call 965-2308.
Smog: Bill Callahan's northern California lo-fi act plays gloom rock in the fractured key of Nick Drake. Not for those pondering bungee jumping without the cord. Touring in support of its new disc, Red Apple Falls, Smog's scheduled Tuesday, June 24, at Stinkweeds Record Exchange, 1250 East Apache, Suite 109, in Tempe. Kentucky duo Retsin opens at 10 p.m. Call 968-9490.
"Elusive Nature: The U.S. Representation From the 1996 Cuenca Bienal of Painting": See Thursday.
wednesday
june 25
Link Wray and His Ace Men: Way-gone daddy and pioneering guitarist Link (real name: Frederick Lincoln Wray Jr.) set the standard for every rock and metal guitarist in his wake with the '58 hit "Rumble," following up that gem with equally classic sides like "Rawhide," "Comanche" and "Ace of Spades." The 68-year-old living legend is scheduled on Wednesday, June 25, at Nita's Hideaway, 1816 East Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe. Dieselhed shares the bill. Showtime is 10 p.m. Tickets are $13. For details call 967-9531.
Gordon Lightfoot: Lightfoot's poppier output has doomed the Canadian performer to wimp status in this flint-eyed age, but that's an unfair characterization. Lightfoot's a highly underrated songsmith; his best works, including "Early Mornin' Rain" and "Ten Degrees and Getting Colder," are among folk's all-time best. Gordon and his band are scheduled Wednesday, June 25, at Symphony Hall, 225 East Adams. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $21 in advance, $22 the day of the show, available at Phoenix Civic Plaza and Dillard's box offices; call 262-7272 or 503-5555.
"Elusive Nature: The U.S. Representation From the 1996 Cuenca Bienal of Painting": See Thursday.
