december 21
The Phantom of the Opera: Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, based on the novel by Gaston LeRoux, stars Rick Hilsabeck as the title spook, aspiteful composer who haunts the catacombs beneath the Paris Opera House and loves young soprano Christine (Sarah Pfisterer). Broadway vet Harold Prince directed the touring production, which continues with performances at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at Gammage Auditorium, Mill and Apache in Tempe. Phantom continues through January 27. Tickets range from $15 to $65, available at Gammage and Dillard's. Call 965-3434 or 678-2222.
Windham Hill's Winter Solstice Tour: The label's seventh annual winter carnival of contemporary classical (read: new age) music is a perennial highlight--a hushed celebration amid the season's prattle. Celtic chamber ensemble Nightnoise anchors the bill, which includes bassist Michael Manring and singer-songwriter Patty Larkin. Shows are scheduled at 8p.m. Thursday and Friday at Scottsdale Center for the Arts, 7380 East Second Street. Tickets are $19 and $24, available at the center and Ticketmaster. Call 994-2787 or 784-4444.
APS Fiesta of Light and Downtown Holiday Tree Tour: City of Phoenix's free holiday Fiesta features a 194-foot-tall tree and a bright new display. The scene is Phoenix Civic Plaza, Second Street and Adams. The free, self-guided Tree Tour includes stops at Arizona Center (see "City Lights" in Events listing), Bank One Center, Orpheum Theatre and Heritage Square. The display and the tour continue nightly, through January 1. For details or a free tour brochure, call 534-3378 or 254-8696.
A Christmas Carol: Actors Theatre of Phoenix's traditional production of Charles Dickens' ghost story, adapted by Richard Hellesen and featuring music by David de Barry, continues in Center Stage at Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe. Final performances are at 8p.m. Thursday and 2 and 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets range from $10 to $23.50, available at Herberger and Dillard's; call 252-8497 or 678-2222. Friday's early show is a "priceless matinee," in which patrons pay what they can afford; call 253-6701 for reservations.
Arizona Biltmore Celebrity Bake Sale: Desperately seeking the recipe for Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Christmas cow-pie cookies? Look no further. The benefit for Biltmore Children's Charities, scheduled for noon to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the resort's conference center, 24th Street and Missouri, also includes baked goods whipped up by Charles Barkley, Julia Child, Barry Goldwater, Glen Campbell, Martha Stewart, Skip Rimsza, Bill Frieder and many local-media talking heads. Every item is priced at $12, and all proceeds benefit the nonprofit organization. For details call 955-6600.
"Baroque Christmas": Phoenix Symphony Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Clotilde Otranto, joins Phoenix Bach Choir in holiday performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church of Phoenix, 7000 North Central, and at the same time Friday at Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 North Arizona Avenue. The program includes Vivaldi's "Gloria" and J.S. Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048. Tickets to Thursday's show are $16, available at symphony and Dillard's box offices (call 264-6363 or 678-2222). Tickets to Friday's performance are $12, $15 and $18, available at the scene and Ticketmaster (call 786-3954 or 784-4444).
ZooLights: Phoenix Zoo, 455 North Galvin Parkway, in Papago Park, is garbed in its usual Technicolor dreamcoat of lights--600,000 strong--during this glorious annual event. The after-hours fun continues from 6 to 9 nightly (except Sunday), through January 27. New this year: "The Enchanted Forest," including the Santalike "Mountain Father," costumed characters and nature workshops. Special admission is $4, $3.50 for members, free for kids age 3 and under; discount tickets are available at Fry's stores. For details call 273-1341, extension 7810.
"Italian Paintings From Burghley House" Lectures: The new installation at Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 North Central, features 60 16th- to 18th-century masterworks from the Elizabethan mansion of Brits John Cecil and Brownlow Cecil, the fifth and ninth earls of Exeter. Artists represented in the exhibition, which continues through February 25, include Dolci, Bassano, Calandrucci, Giordano, Recco and del Brescianino. The museum's associate curator, Karen Hodges, explores classical myths and imagery in the exhibit during a lecture titled "Gods, Goddesses and Mere Mortals: What Are They Doing?"; it starts at 12:15 p.m. Thursday. PAM docent Mary Bunyan speaks on "Burghley: The Life of a Great House" at 7 p.m. Wednesday and 12:15 p.m. December 28. Admission and viewing are free. For general information, see the Art Exhibits listing or call 257-1880.
International Christmas XV: The annual holiday show, held in conjunction with APS Fiesta of Light (see above), continues at Bank One Center Concourse, 201 North Central. The highlight of the free event is the display of live Eldarica pines decorated in the traditional styles of Japan, Iceland, Serbia, Sweden and 38 other nations. ICXV also features an exhibition of wooden Santa carvings by Joseph Cabeen, the Nativity collection of Bill Wilbur and a doll show by Arizona Doll and Toy Museum. Hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, through December 29. For more information, call 221-1005 or 534-3378.
Ballet Arizona's Nutcracker: The troupe continues its tenth season with this presentation of Tchaikovsky's classic, choreographed by the ballet's artistic director, Michael Uthoff. Phoenix Symphony, conducted by James Sedares, performs the score. This week's performances are at 7 p.m. Thursday, 2 and 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, 7p.m. Tuesday and 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesday at Symphony Hall, 225 East Adams. The show continues through December 29. Tickets are $18, $26 and $33, available at ballet and Dillard's box offices. For details call 381-1096 or 678-2222.
friday
december 22
Ho Ho Ho: Four for the Road: Mesa's Unlikely Theater Company presents this greatest-hits compendium of irreverie from Christmas pageants past. Performances of the comedy, which includes the sketches "How the Klingons Stole Christmas," "Snowgirls" and "Pulp Fruitcake," are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, through December 30, at the theatre, 2950 South Alma School, No. 4. Tickets are $5. Call 420-4404.
ASU Sun Devils Basketball: Bill Frieder's Arizona State University cagers host Northern Arizona University at 7p.m. Friday at ASU Activity Center in Tempe. Call 965-3434.
Ruby Christmas: Planet Earth Multi-Cultural Theatre, 909 North Third Street, continues its season with this offbeat holiday entry bySarah Dreher about a tradition-bound mother and her lesbian daughter trying to stake out a plot of common ground during aChristmas visit. Final performances are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $9, $7 for students and seniors. Call 241-1828.
APS Fiesta of Light and Downtown Holiday TreeTour: See Thursday.
Arizona Biltmore Celebrity Bake Sale: See Thursday.
Ballet Arizona's Nutcracker: (Score by Phoenix Symphony; performances at 2 and 7 p.m.) See Thursday.
"Baroque Christmas": (Phoenix Symphony Chamber Orchestra and Phoenix Bach Choir; at Chandler Center for the Arts.) SeeThursday.
A Christmas Carol: ("Priceless matinee" at 2 p.m.; evening performance at 8.) SeeThursday.
International Christmas XV: See Thursday.
The Phantom of the Opera: See Thursday.
Windham Hill's Winter Solstice Tour: SeeThursday.
ZooLights: See Thursday.
saturday
december 23
Joe Bethancourt's "40 Years With the Banjo": Phoenix musician Bethancourt's first banjo, a Montgomery Ward issue, was a Christmas gift from his grandfather when Joe was 9. Since then, the Carolina native, now 49, has amassed a miniature army of the narrow-necked wonders. Bethancourt brings his collection to the Ark Room, 539 East Glendale Avenue in Phoenix, for a special performance at 8 p.m. Saturday. Cover is $5. Call 266-7368.
Phoenix Roadrunners: The International Hockey Leaguers host the Las Vegas Thunder at 7p.m. Saturday and the Los Angeles Ice Dogs at the same time Tuesday at Veterans' Memorial Coliseum, 19th Avenue and McDowell. Tickets range from $10 to $19, available at the coliseum and Ticketmaster. Call 340-0001, 258-6711 or 784-4444.
APS Fiesta of Light and Downtown Holiday TreeTour: See Thursday.
Ballet Arizona's Nutcracker: (Score by Phoenix Symphony; performances at 2 and 7 p.m.) See Thursday.
A Christmas Carol: (Performances at 2 and 8 p.m.) See Thursday.
Ho Ho Ho: Four for the Road: See Friday.
International Christmas XV: See Thursday.
The Phantom of the Opera: (Performances at 2 and 8 p.m.) See Thursday.
Ruby Christmas: See Friday.
ZooLights: See Thursday.
sunday
december 24
Christmas Eve With Southwest Brass: The busy Brass plans four free holiday shows at three separate venues on Sunday. The first starts at 5 p.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church, 6300 North Central (call 279-5539). At 7, the group joins forces with Phoenix Boys Choir for a performance in the ballroom at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale at Gainey Ranch, 7500 East Doubletree Ranch Road (call 991-3388). The ensemble concludes the evening marathon with shows at 9 and 11at Valley Presbyterian Church, 6947 East McDonald in Paradise Valley (call 991-6424).
APS Fiesta of Light and Downtown Holiday TreeTour: See Thursday.
Ballet Arizona's Nutcracker: (Score by Phoenix Symphony; performance at 2 p.m.) See Thursday.
International Christmas XV: See Thursday.
monday
december 25
Phoenix Suns: The Suns host the San Antonio Spurs at 1:30 p.m. Christmas Day at America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson; the game is televised nationally by NBC, and airs locally on KPNX, Channel 12. The Suns also play the Philadelphia 76ers this week at the arena; that match tips off at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Call 379-7867.
Salvation Army Christmas Dinner: The nonprofit's annual public get-together is slated for noon to 2 p.m. Monday in exhibit halls Aand B at Phoenix Civic Plaza, Second Street and Adams. There's no charge, and everyone's invited. For details call 267-4100.
Arizona Cardinals: The Cards play their final home game of the season, a sold-out match versus the Dallas Cowboys, at 7 p.m. Monday at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. The Monday Night Football presentation is televised nationally on ABC, and it's carried locally by KNXV, Channel 15. Call 379-0102.
APS Fiesta of Light and Downtown Holiday TreeTour: See Thursday.
International Christmas XV: See Thursday.
ZooLights: See Thursday.
tuesday
december 26
Super Bowl XXX Sand Sculpture: Bill Rounds, resident sand sculptor at Christown Mall, 19th Avenue and Bethany Home, begins work Tuesday on the official sculpture of the Valley's first Super Bowl. Rounds and partners continue to work on the project daily, during regular mall hours, through January 28. Viewing is free. Call 242-9074.
APS Fiesta of Light and Downtown Holiday TreeTour: See Thursday.
Ballet Arizona's Nutcracker: (Score by Phoenix Symphony; showtime is7 p.m.) See Thursday.
International Christmas XV: See Thursday.
The Phantom of the Opera: See Thursday.
Phoenix Roadrunners: (Versus Los Angeles Ice Dogs.) See Saturday.
ZooLights: See Thursday.
wednesday
december 27
Francine Reed: The singer performs those low-down, post-Yule blues Wednesday atthe Rhythm Room, 1019 East Indian School. Andy Gonzales All-Stars share the bill. Cover is $3.50; proceeds benefit American Cancer Society. Call 265-4842.
APS Fiesta of Light and Downtown Holiday TreeTour: See Thursday.
Ballet Arizona's Nutcracker: (Score by Phoenix Symphony; performances at 2 and 7 p.m.) See Thursday.
International Christmas XV: See Thursday.
"Italian Paintings From Burghley House" Lectures: ("Burghley: The Life ofaGreatHouse" byMary Bunyan at 7p.m.) See Thursday.
The Phantom of the Opera: See Thursday.
Phoenix Suns: (Versus Philadelphia 76ers; tip-off at 7 p.m.) See Monday.
Super Bowl XXX Sand Sculpture: See Tuesday.
ZooLights: See Thursday.
