Looking for things to do this week? Get in the spring training mix, munch to music at the Flying Burrito Festival, and get wedding wasted at the Brides of March. For more things to do, visit Phoenix New Times' website.

It Happened One Night
Some people appeared in black-and-white baby pictures and silent home movies and are — gasp! — still alive. Just saying. But if you really need your entertainment noisy and in full color, live theater’s a good bet.

Don Bluth Front Row Theatre’s production of It Happened One Night brings to the stage what’s considered a contender for Best Film Ever Made. It’s the genuinely hilarious 1935 story of a beautiful heiress who falls for the newspaperman who’s been annoying her. The “annoying” part sounds true to life, but you can’t convince us journalists are all that desirable. (Though when you cast dreamy Clark Gable as one, disbelief can be temporarily suspended, to an Oscar-winning extent.)

The play runs through Saturday, April 28, at 8670 East Shea Boulevard, #103, in Scottsdale. Showtime is 7 p.m. for the opening performance on Thursday, March 8, and tickets are $27 at 480-314-0841 or the Don Bluth Front Row Theatre website. Julie Peterson
Parada Del Sol Rodeo
History, tradition, and an Old Wild West atmosphere are all part of the Parada Del Sol Rodeo in Scottsdale, held from Thursday through Sunday, March 8 through 11. During the rodeo, professional cowboys will compete in traditional events such as bull-riding, team roping, saddle bronc-riding, and tie-down or steer-roping.

This year, rodeo royalty including Miss Rodeo Canada will take part in the event’s grand entry, a procession that kicks off the festivities. Get roped in at WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 North Pima Road. Admission is $18 for adults and $5 for children. For more information and a complete schedule, see the Parada Del Sol website. Laura Latzko

“Memories of an Idyllic Landscape”
Tempe-based mixed-media sculptor Tiffany C. Bailey captures iconic images of her Wisconsin upbringing in porcelain pieces that blend representational and abstract sensibilities. The end result is stunning, delicate, and strong, harking back to earlier times in the American Midwest.

Explore her “Memories of an Idyllic Landscape” exhibition at Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, 1 East Main Street, on Thursday, March 8, when museum hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. You’ll discover palm-size cow sculptures bearing different designs, cylinders that reference silos, and pieces depicting agricultural mainstays like windmills.

Bailey’s show runs through Sunday, April 22. It’s a reminder of how important memories and place are, and the ways the images we carry in our heads influence the work we do with our hands. Visit the Mesa Arts Center website. Lynn Trimble

Crystal
Cirque du Soleil’s 1980s genesis with a pair of stiltwalking, fire-breathing Montreal buddies led to global success. It’s even more impressive considering English monoglots took decades to successfully pronounce “soleil.”

Roughly a bajillion trippy themed productions have ensued. Once famous for employing no non-human animals whatsoever, C du S now presents a wildly popular show full of horses. Meanwhile, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey freed its elephants and later folded. Avoid species uncertainty at Crystal, a spanking-new extravaganza that introduces figure skating to Cirque du Soleil’s traditional army of acrobats.

Opening night showtime is 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 8, at Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 East Jefferson Street. The Phoenix engagement concludes Sunday, March 11. Tickets start at $44 at Ticketmaster or 800-745-3000. Julie Peterson

Phoenix Theatre Festival of New American Theatre
Phoenix Theatre artistic director Michael Barnard teamed up with fellow creatives Clint Edwards, Vincent VanVleet, and D. Scott Withers to make Cookin’s a Drag, a musical spoof about a drag queen and her cooking show. Characters include a trio of backup boys named Bicep, Tricep, and Glute.

It’s one of two plays in development that you can catch at 100 East McDowell Road as part of the Phoenix Theatre Festival of New American Theatre on Friday, March 9. The finished piece will be part of the theater’s 2018-19 season.

The other is Sheila Cowley’s The Burlesque Astronomy Play, which blends art and science while exploring “the challenges women face when balancing career and femininity,” according to festival materials.

Showtime is 7 p.m., and tickets are $10. The festival continues through Sunday, March 18. Visit the Phoenix Theatre website. Lynn Trimble

Felipe Esparza
Felipe Esparza took a solid move from the comedian’s playbook: He cataloged the adversities he’s faced — including drug addiction and gang life — and turned them into humorous subject matter to entertain the masses.
Esparza pursued his career for 16 years before catching a great break. He was the 2010 winner on NBC’s Last Comic Standing. He’s had recurring roles on different TV shows, like Superstore and The Eric Andre Show. And, of course, he has his own podcast. It’s called What’s Up Fool?

The comedian takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 9, at Stand Up Live, 50 West Jefferson Street. Admission is $25 for guests 21and older. Attendance requires a two-drink minimum. Esparza has sets scheduled at the club through Sunday, March 11. Call 480-719-6100 or visit the Stand Up Live website. Amy Young

The Barber of Seville
If your knowledge of The Barber of Seville goes as deep as Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd chasing each other to the overture of Gioachino Rossini’s greatest work, the time to change that is now. The Arizona Opera presents the two-act comedy about a barber who’s been enlisted by a lovelorn count to convince Rosina, the object of the count’s affection, to fall in love with him. Operatic high-jinks ensue.

Get a shave and a song at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 9, and Saturday, March 10, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 11, at Symphony Hall, 75 North Second Street. Tickets are $25 to $135. For more information, visit the Arizona Opera website. Jason Keil

Lasers and Liquors
Taking in a planetarium show isn’t just for kids on a field trip. During the Arizona Science Center’s Lasers and Liquors, you can experience your favorite Pink Floyd music in synchronization with a light show. The Friday, March 9, event will offer a show dedicated to Dark Side of the Moon at 8 p.m. and The Wall at 9:30.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. at 600 East Washington Street. Snacks, beverages, and cocktails will be available for purchase. The shows cost $10 each for adults and $8 for members and students. For more information, call 602-716-2000 or visit the Arizona Science Center website. Laura Latzko

Flying Burrito Festival
Pinch yourself, because you’re not dreaming. The Flying Burrito Festival is real.

Live your best life when you gather with other food and music fanatics for a day packed with bands and burritos. Music is coming to four stages, and the diverse lineup features locals and acts from all over the world. There’s Albert Hammond Jr., No Age, Los Chollas Peligrosas, Porches, and La Luz, to name a handful.

More than 15 vendors will be on-site with full-size burritos and samples. Expect local spots like Cocina 10, Chico Malo, Ladera Taverna y Cocina, and Elote Man AZ to give you plenty of delicious options for stuffing your face.
This rollicking party starts at 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 10, at Crescent Ballroom, 308 North Second Avenue. Admission is $12. For access to the festival and an 18-and-over after-party at The Van Buren, you’ll pay $27. Call 602-716-2222 or visit the Crescent Ballroom website for details. Amy Young