october 17
Arizona State Fair: The annual corn-dog carnival opens Thursday, October 17, and continues through Sunday, November 3, at the fairgrounds, bounded by McDowell Road and Encanto Boulevard between 17th and 19th avenues. Along with the usual attractions--midway rides and games, livestock and agricultural exhibits, etc.--this year's fair includes "The Disney Fair" (see "At the Fair" in Kid Pics); a live version of Wheel of Fortune; the virtual-reality ride "Red Rock Run" at the AT&T Reactor Theater; and--not to miss--Norma D. "Duffy" Lyon's bovine butter sculpture. The usual schizophrenic mix of twangers, cutting-edge acts and has-beens takes the stage at Veterans' Memorial Coliseum, beginning with one of the former, Wynonna, at 7 p.m. Thursday (for details about the Gin Blossoms concert on Monday, October 21; and the KC and the Sunshine Band show on Wednesday, October 23, see below). Regular fair admission is $6.50, $4.50 for seniors, $3.50 for kids ages 5 to 13, free for those younger. Midway Pay-One-Price days are Tuesday, October 22; Tuesday, October 29; Thursday, October 31; and Sunday, November 3. Kiddieland Pay-One-Price day is Thursday, October 24. For a complete listing of fair info not covered here, see the At the Fair listing in Thrills. For general information, call 268-3247 or 252-6771.
Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal: Bausch, the indisputably great European choreographer and modern dancer, unveils Nur Du (Only You), her new, satirical work about the American West and us Westerners, during a rare U.S. tour that stops at Gammage Auditorium, Mill and Apache in Tempe, on Thursday, October 17; see the story on page 57. Showtime is 7 p.m. Tickets range from $19 to $32, half-price for students, available at Gammage and Dillard's. Call 965-3434 or 678-2222.
"Arizona Round-Up": Deadeye cowpokes, dastardly villains, war-painted "savages" and busty temptresses live again in this exhibit of pulp Western works on canvas and onionskin by Richard Lillis, Leslie Ross, Raphael Desoto, Walter Baumhofer and others, culled from the covers of '20s- to '40s-vintage cheapo serial rags like Ranchland Romances and Thrilling Western. The installation opens with a reception from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, October 17, and continues through Tuesday, December 31, at Meyer Gallery, 7173 East Main in Scottsdale; another reception is planned for the same hours Saturday, October 19. Viewing is free; regular hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays (to 9 p.m. Thursdays), 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. Call 947-6372.
Tap Dogs: Billed as "a rough, tough . . . reinvention of tap for the '90s," this highly rhythmic and occasionally inventive show features six male hoofers from Australia who attempt to fill the void that exists between the click-heeled grace of Fred Astaire and those rock-'em/sock-'em roustabouts in Stomp. Final performances are at 6 and 9 p.m. Thursday, October 17; 8 p.m. Friday, October 18; 5 and 9 p.m. Saturday, October 19; and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, October 20, at Union Hall, Sixth Street and Van Buren. Tickets range from $23.50 to $33.50, available at the hall and Dillard's. Call 253-7100 or 678-2222.
friday
october 18
Voices of Light and The Passion of Joan of Arc: Composer Richard Einhorn mated his symphonic/operatic work Voices to director Carl Theodor Dreyer's 1928 silent masterpiece about Saint Joan; hauntingly, the film was thought to have been lost after two versions went up in flames, but an intact print was discovered at a Norway mental institution in 1981. Like last season's live scoring of Eisenstein's The Battleship Potemkin by Phoenix Symphony, a company comprising the Los Angeles Mozart Orchestra, the vocal quartet Anonymous 4, and the I Cantori chorus will score Joan in real time; see the story on page 63. Showtime is 8 p.m. Friday, October 18, at Gammage Auditorium, Mill and Apache in Tempe. Tickets range from $18 to $28, available at Gammage and Dillard's. Call 965-3434 or 678-2222.
Empty Bowl Projects: Separate fund raisers, both held in conjunction with World Food Day, are planned on Friday, October 18, in Phoenix and in Mesa. The event at Arizona Center, Third Street and Van Buren, is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in tents located near Lombardi's. Those who pay $10 for lunch keep the ceramic bowl it's served in and raise money for Waste Not; a silent auction is also planned (call 254-1222). The Empty Bowl lunch at Mesa Arts Center, 155 North Center, is slated for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The fee is $9, $7 with the donation of a canned good, and proceeds benefit various social-service agencies; an auction continues 'til 7 that evening (call 644-2242).
"Arizona Round-Up": See Thursday.
Arizona State Fair: See Thursday.
Tap Dogs: See Thursday.
saturday
october 19
Cowboy Artists of America Exhibit: CAA's 31st-anniversary show, featuring paintings, sculpture and other works of Western realism by the organization's active and emeritus members, opens to the public at noon Saturday, October 19, and continues through Sunday, November 24, in the Steele Current Exhibitions Gallery at the recently revamped Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 North Central. Regular hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays (to 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays). Special admission (to the CAA installation only): $5, $4 for seniors, $2 for students and kids age 6 and up; those younger get in free. For details call 257-1880 or 257-1222.
Don McLean: McLean's been trying to escape the long shadow of "American Pie," one of the most significant songs of the last generation, since it was released 25 years ago. But that's McLean--a wide-ranging, totally dedicated songwriter who's as humble as he is gifted. Don plays a rare Valley show at 8 p.m. Saturday, October 19, at Scottsdale Center for the Arts, 7380 East Second Street. Tickets are $18 and $22, available at the center and Ticketmaster. Call 994-2787 or 784-4444.
Arizona "Star Warz" Minicon: The inaugural AzSWCon celebrates George Lucas' long-time-ago, far-far-away Star Wars galaxy. Highlights include a scheduled appearance by author, collector and LucasFilm, Ltd., employee Steve Sansweet (Star Wars: From Concept to Screen to Collectible); screenings of Star Wars parodies, including the classic Hardware Wars; a costume contest; and, of course, tons of dealers, exhibits and related merch. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, October 19, at the Safari Resort, 4611 North Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale. Tickets are $2.50 and $5 in advance, $3 and $6 the day of the event. Call 978-5339.
Saguaro Jazz Festival: The highlight of this inaugural event is a tribute to Dizzy Gillespie by trumpeter and Dizzy protege Jon Faddis and postbop pianist Mulgrew Miller. Also on the marquee: Ignacio Berroa, John Lee, Brandon Fields Quintet, Jim Manley and Horns in the House, Extreme Decibel Big Band II, Tom Ervin and Friends, and the Arizona State University Jazz Ensemble. Showtime is 1 p.m. Saturday, October 19, at Mesa Amphitheatre, Center and University. Tickets are $18 and $25 in advance, $20 and $30 the day of the show, available at Mesa Community Center and Dillard's box offices; kids 12 and under are admitted free. Call 644-2560 or 678-2222.
"Arizona Round-Up": See Thursday.
Arizona State Fair: See Thursday.
Tap Dogs: See Thursday.
sunday
october 20
The Heads featuring Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, Jerry Harrison and Johnette Napolitano: Former Talking Heads Frantz, Weymouth and Harrison are joined by onetime Concrete Blonde leader Napolitano in this relatively laid-back but still mighty arty collective. If the mid-'80s was your scene, this gig's for you. Star 69 shares the all-ages bill. Showtime is 6:30 p.m. Sunday, October 20, at Gibson's, 410 South Mill in Tempe. For details call 967-1234.
TanaReid featuring Akira Tana and Rufus Reid: The nonpareil battery of drummer Tana and bassist Reid, both formerly of Art Farmer's group, powers this New York jazz quintet. Tom Golden Trio featuring Margo Reed shares the stage. Showtime is 3 p.m. Sunday, October 20, at Phoenix Center for the Performing Arts, 1202 North Third Street. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 the day of the show, available at Dillard's. Call 678-2222.
"Arizona Round-Up": See Thursday.
Arizona State Fair: See Thursday.
Cowboy Artists of America Exhibit: See Saturday.
Tap Dogs: See Thursday.
monday
october 21
The Gin Blossoms: Rumors of the impending demise of Tempe's most infamous band have been circulating, but don't fret; the smart money has the Blossoms showing up for their annual fund raiser for Arizona AIDS Project's Camp Hakuna Matata. Showtime is 7 p.m. Monday, October 21, at Veterans' Memorial Coliseum, in conjunction with Arizona State Fair (see Thursday). The concert is free with regular fair admission; limited reserved seating is available for a fee (see the "In General" section of the At the Fair listing). For details call 268-3247 or 252-6771.
AriZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence: The Valley drama community is feted at this sixth annual ceremony, hosted by the mellifluous/ubiquitous Pat McMahon. It starts at 8 p.m. Monday, October 21, in Center Stage at Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe. Tickets are $12, available at Herberger and Dillard's. Public pre- and postshow bashes are planned at Coyote Springs Brewing Company, 122 East Washington. Call 252-8497 or 678-2222.
"Arizona Round-Up": See Thursday.
Arizona State Fair: See Thursday.
tuesday
october 22
Sue Coe: The postmodern artist speaks about the new retrospective of her prints, "Heel of the Boot," at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 22, at Arizona State University Art Museum at Nelson Fine Arts Center, Tenth Street and Mill, on the ASU campus in Tempe. The installation, which continues through Sunday, December 29, at the Nelson, showcases Coe's admirable social conscience and her deep well of empathy for "those most vulnerable to abuses of power . . . women, children and animals." Admission and viewing are free; for hours and other information, see the Art Exhibits listing or call 965-2787.
Road Trip: Robert Bakker in Flagstaff: Bakker, world-renowned dinosaur raconteur and the scientist who proposed the now largely accepted notion that the big beasts were warm-blooded, speaks about "The World of Jurassic Dinosaurs" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 22, at the Museum of Northern Arizona, located three miles north of downtown Flag on U.S. Highway 180. The special admission is $3, $2 for students and seniors, $1 for kids ages 7 to 17. The lecture is held in conjunction with MONA's Continental Jurassic Symposium (call for details). For general information, call 1-520-774-5213.
"Arizona Round-Up": See Thursday.
Arizona State Fair: See Thursday.
Cowboy Artists of America Exhibit: See Saturday.
wednesday
october 23
The Who: Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle and Ringo Starr's progeny, Zak Starkey (filling in for the late Keith Moon), perform the British band's other rock opera, Quadrophenia, with vocal support from Billy Idol and Gary Glitter; see the story on page 92. Showtime is 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 23, at America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson. Tickets range from $32.15 to $69.60, available at the arena and Dillard's. For details call 379-7800 or 678-2222.
Get Down Tonight: KC and the Sunshine Band, Dub Narcotic Sound System: Disco lives--deal with it. Harry "KC" Casey, balding leader of the prototypical Polyester Era act, was a pioneer of that thin strip of land where white soul met saccharine pop and engendered stuff like "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty." The Sunshine crew performs on Wednesday, October 23, at Veterans' Memorial Coliseum, in conjunction with Arizona State Fair (see Thursday). The Boogie Knights open at 7 p.m. The show is free with regular fair admission; limited reserved seating is available for a fee; see the "In General" section of the At the Fair listing or call 268-3247 or 252-6771. DNSS, Calvin Johnson's beat-happening groove machine, brings a bit of Olympia, Washington-style slacker chic to the disco oeuvre. Nikki McClure shares the stage on Wednesday at Hollywood Alley, 2610 West Baseline in Mesa. The all-ages show starts at 8 p.m.; call 820-7117.
"Arizona Round-Up": See Thursday.
Arizona State Fair: See Thursday.
Cowboy Artists of America Exhibit: See Saturday.
