Here Are the Best Things to Do in Metro Phoenix This Week

New Times picks the best events and things to do in metro Phoenix from Monday, June 27, through Thursday, June 30.

Myrlin Hepworth
Picasso used a paintbrush, but spoken word artist Myrlin Hepworth uses spit poetry to make his point. He’ll perform “Eulogy in Blue,” a new body of work that blends romance gone too soon with social injustice gone too far, right here in Phoenix before taking it on the road.

Expect plenty of hip-hop created with rapper and DJ Mic Maven, plus music spun by DJ Panic, during the Monday, June 27, performance at Crescent Ballroom, located at 308 North Second Avenue.

The show starts at 8 p.m., but doors open at 7 p.m. so you’ll have time to get to the bar and ask about blue cocktail options – or to start your own conversations. Tickets are $10. Visit www.crescentphx.com. Lynn Trimble

"History: What Happens When You're Not Looking"
There’s no reading required for historical fiction created by Mesa artist Corrine Geertsen, whose works of digital photo montage set whimsical narratives in surrealistic settings. Often created using Photoshop and late-18th or early-19th century images, these pieces sometimes feature more than 200 layers of imagery and color.

See more than a dozen of her works in the “History: What Happens When You’re Not Looking” exhibition at Tempe History Museum, located at 809 East Southern Avenue. Hours on Tuesday, June 28, are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibition, which is housed in the museum’s community room, continues through Sunday, August 21. Museum admission is free.

While you’re there, check out nostalgic artifacts featured in the museum’s Tempe and Legend City exhibits. Visit www.tempe.gov/museum. Lynn Trimble

Indie Game Demo Night
The people who bring you RockBand Mondays and Thursday’s Table Top Game Night are hosting Indie Game Demo Night – where attendees may view and participate in new game demonstrations from local, independent video-game developers.

Head to The Grid: Games and Growlers, the lounge and event venue at 525 South Gilbert Road in Mesa, and settle in to a demo station from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, June 29.

The Grid is open Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., so feel free to arrive early or hang around for hot wings and a pint or two from Arizona beer makers like Beast Brewing Company, Historic Brewing Company, and of course, 8-Bit Aleworks. For more information, call 480-621-8088 or visit www.thegridmesa.com. Lauren Cusimano


The Switch
If you’re a sucker for audience participation without the side of public embarrassment, then Pauly Casillas’ long-running stand-up show is probably for you. A hybrid of improv and stand-up, The Switch forces some of the scene’s best comics to flex their mental muscle on the spot. Audiences text Casillas topics for each round, and only the quickest of wits make it out alive — or at least, make everyone laugh.

The free funny on the fly starts at 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 30, at Crescent Ballroom, 308 North Second Avenue. The event features comedians Anwar Newton, Autumn Garza, Charles Eagle, and Erick Biez. Check www.crescentphx.com or call 602-716-2222 for the complete lineup.

For future shows, including installments throughout July at both Crescent Ballroom and FilmBar, visit www.facebook.com/TheSwitchComedy. Janessa Hilliard

American Idiot
Artistic director Ron May is psyched about Stray Cat Theatre taking on of the Tony Award-winning-musical Green Day’s American Idiot. But he’s paring down the hype, so the poignant tale of teen rage, love, and loss isn’t swallowed up in an onslaught of media that dilutes its existential noise.

It’s still a punk rock musical that doubles as a primal scream for a post-9/11 world, but with a cerebral twist that heightens its relevance within today’s political climate. And it’s got a kick-ass creative team, including May directing and Lisa Starry of Scorpius Dance Theatre (who created A Vampire Tale) choreographing.

Stray Cat Theatre performs American Idiot at Tempe Center for the Arts, located at 700 West Rio Salado Parkway. Tickets for the 7 p.m. show on Thursday, June 30, start at $30 ($25 for students), and the show continues through July 16. Visit www.straycattheatre.org. Lynn Trimble

"Silsila"
Though its silvery exterior panels might make it seem like a mirage, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art is more than a luring escape from the surrounding desert. No trickery here, just icy air conditioning and exhibition offerings to keep you entertained. One such show is “Silsila,” which offers a look at the photographic of Iraq-born Tucson-based artist Sama Alshaibi. Blending nature, spirit, and self, Alshaibi crafts mind-bending images that inspire reflection.

See for yourself on Thursday, June 30, when museum admission is free. The show remains on view at 7374 East Second Street through Sunday, September 18. For more information, see www.smoca.org or call 480-874-4666. Becky Bartkowski