SWING! in the New Year at Phoenix Theatre, where the high-flying musical revue shimmies onto the stage this Wednesday, January 7. Paying tribute to the kings of swing -- Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman and Louis Prima -- the show mines music from pre-war Harlem, Latin swing, Lindy hop, West Coast swing and hip-hop swing. More than 30 musical numbers set a frenetic pace, as dancers mambo, country two-step, Lindy hop, and even bust some ballet moves to classics such as "It Don't Mean a Thing," "I'll Be Seeing You," "Cry Me a River," "All of Me," "In the Mood" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy." SWING! continues through February 1 at the theater, 100 East McDowell. Call 602-254-2151 for tickets, $28 to $32. - Jill Koch
Key Player
Pianist removes mystery from classical music
Tue 1/6
Conversations about classical music often inspire confused looks and raised eyebrows. American pianist Jeffrey Siegel is interested in clearing up the confusion through his acclaimed performances and skills in the art of conversation. His "Keyboard Conversations" series includes traditional classical performances interspersed with commentary that illuminates the works. The popular 25-year-old series has ballooned into regular performances in New York, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta and other cities. Siegel's next conversation with music lovers in Arizona is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 6, at the Scottsdale Center for the Arts, 7380 East Second Street in Scottsdale. He will perform works by Debussy, Bartók and Bach. Tickets are $28; call 480-994-2787 or visit www.scottsdalearts.org to purchase. For more information on the series, see www.keyboardconversations.com. - Maidi Terry
Gender Roles
Shakespeare's drag piece is staged
1/2-1/18
Twelfth Night, or What You Will, was written in the early 1600s for the Feast of Epiphany (the 12th night after Christmas). Director Tim Shawver set the Shakespeare Theatre's version in 1900 and infused it with bluegrass music, à la O Brother, Where Art Thou?. The cross-dressing Viola (Kerry McCue) secretly checks out the Duke Orsino (Tom Leveen), accidentally attracting Olivia, the rich woman down the street (Natalie Winters). Meanwhile, tricksters Maria (Rachel McKinney), Andrew Aguecheek (Damon Dering) and Toby Belch (Wes Martin) ridicule the snobby Malvolio (Bruce Laks). Twelfth Night runs Friday, January 2, through January 18 at Phoenix Theatre's Little Theatre, 100 East McDowell. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $10 to $15. Call 602-796-2038. -- Quetta Carpenter