june 13
Shakespeare for My Father: British actress Lynn Redgrave stars in this Arizona Theatre Company-sponsored touring production of the one-woman Broadway show, an autobiographical tribute to her late father, Sir Michael Redgrave. Billed as "a daughter's search for her father's heart," the play includes a number of scenes from Shakespeare's works that reflect real-life parallels in the performer's life. Lynn's husband, John Clark, directed. Opening performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday, June 13; 8 p.m. Friday, June 14; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, June 15; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, June 16; and 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 19, in Center Stage at Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe. The production continues through Sunday, June 23. Tickets range from $15 to $35, available at Herberger and Dillard's. Call 252-8497.
Buckwheat Zydeco, and Mem Shannon: Buckwheat (real name: Stanley Dural Jr.), a former member of Clifton Chenier's band, remains one of zydeco's leading lights, though the accordion player's star has dimmed slightly since his '80s heyday. Opener Shannon's celestial orb is on the rise, though part of that is a product of his exceptional "hook": Mem's a blues-playing New Orleans hack--he splits his time driving a cab and, when the meter stops running, performing and even recording in it. His Hannibal/Rykodisc debut, A Cab Driver's Blues, includes recorded true-life vignettes from the daily grind--grist for Mem's evolving blues muse. Showtime is 9 p.m. Thursday, June 13, at the Rhythm Room, 1019 East Indian School; a free, open meeting of the Phoenix Blues Society precedes at 7:30. Concert tickets are $18, $16 for blues-society members, available at the club and Ticketmaster. For details call 265-4842 or 784-4444.
Juneteenth Festivities: Juneteenth, also known as "Black Independence Day," honors June 19, 1865, the day slaves in some Southern states found out they had been legally freed on January 1, 1863, by President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. Several events are scheduled:
* The City of Phoenix sponsors a basketball tournament at Eastlake Park, 16th Street and Jefferson. Final rounds are scheduled on Thursday, June 13; Friday, June 14; and Saturday, June 15. All tip off at 6 p.m.; call 256-6483.
* The 28th annual Juneteenth Tradition Festival, featuring formal ceremonies as well as activities like free swimming, arts and crafts and entertainment, is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Eastlake Park. Admission is free; call 246-0058 or 256-3130.
* Phoenix Blues Society hosts a musical celebration from 5 p.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. at Willie J's in the Century Skyroom, 4621 South Central. Scheduled performers include Small Paul and Driving Wheel with guests UVON, Ronnie Whitehead, and Duke Draper; and Dr. Fish and Friends featuring Maxine Johnson, Lay D Ja, Patti Williams, and George Bowman. Admission is $5; call 252-0599.
Six Women With Brain Death or Expiring Minds Want to Know: Theater League presents a tenth-anniversary revival of the oft-revived all-woman musical, a parody of soap operas, tabloid journalism and other by-products of pop culture's ascension. Bob Sorenson directed this Six Women reincarnation, which stars Debby Rosenthal, Sherri Hildebrand, Renee Morgan Brooks, Melissa Spevacek, Heidi Ewart and Christie Klein. A final preview is scheduled at 8 p.m. Thursday, June 13, at the similarly revivified Scottsdale Playhouse, 7219 East Main. The press opening is at the same time Friday, June 14. The rest of this week's performances are at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 15; 2 p.m. Sunday, June 16; and 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 19. The production continues through Sunday, July 7. Preview tickets are $12.50; regular tickets are $19.50. They're available at Dillard's; call 678-2222. For general information, call 952-2881.
Road Trip: Arizona Opera's Der Ring des Nibelungen in Flagstaff: The opera company's general director, Glynn Ross, and maestro Henry Holt were the forefathers of Seattle's outstanding annual presentation of Der Ring, and the two have been working on this, Arizona's first presentation of the complete, four-opera Wagner cycle, for about five years. It concludes with final performances of Siegfried at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 13; and Gotterdommerung at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 15. The scene is Ardrey Auditorium on the Northern Arizona University campus, Knoles and Riordan streets. Shows are sung in German, with English surtitles. Tickets are available at the opera's Phoenix office and Dillard's; call 266-7464 or 678-2222.
friday
june 14
Forever Plaid: This revival of the Stuart Ross musical, a tribute to the so-called "good-guy" harmony groups of the '50s and, by extension, to the polyester-wearing geeks of the world, features the production's original Valley cast (Hal Adams, Tracy C. Henry, Robert LaFrance and Matthew MacDougall) and creative team (stage director Terrance McKerrs and music director Jerry Wayne Harkey). Opening performances are at 8 p.m. Friday, June 14; 8 p.m. Saturday, June 15; 2 p.m. Sunday, June 16; and 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 19, at Phoenix Theatre, Central and McDowell. The production continues through Saturday, June 29. Tickets are $20. For reservations and details, call 254-2151.
Mainly Mozart Festival: Jeffrey Siegel, noted for his "Keyboard Conversations" series, is artistic director of the 11th annual tribute to the great Wolfgang and friends. The fest concludes this week. R.J. Merrill speaks on "From the Court to the Revolution: The Art of the 18th Century" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 14, at Kiva Hall on the Arizona State University West campus, 4701 West Thunderbird in Glendale. Final Mainly Mozart Orchestra concerts are at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 15, at Paul V. Galvin Playhouse in Arizona State University Nelson Fine Arts Center, Tenth Street and Mill in Tempe; and at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 16, at La Sala, located in the University Center Building on the ASU West campus. The all-Mozart program includes Symphony No. 36 in C major ("Linz"); Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-flat major, K. 595; and Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466. Tickets are $20 and $23 for the orchestra concerts, $5 for the lecture, available at Dillard's; call 678-2222. For general information, call 965-6447.
Night Lights 5K: The second annual event features a competitive run and a family fun walk. It starts at 6 p.m. Friday, June 14, at Eldorado Park, Miller and Oak in Scottsdale. The fee is $12 in advance, $15 the day of the run; proceeds benefit American Cancer Society. For details call 553-7129.
Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You: Ellen Devine stars as the title character, a dogmatic nun on a verbal rampage, in Christopher Durang's black comedy. Evann Wilcosky directed the show, presented by Eureka! Theatre Company in Chambers Lecture Hall at Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort, 5401 North Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale. Opening performances are at 8:30 p.m. Friday, June 14; and the same time Saturday, June 15. The production continues through Saturday, July 6. Tickets are $10. For reservations and details, call 256-1124.
Juneteenth Basketball Tournament: See Thursday.
Shakespeare for My Father: See Thursday.
Six Women With Brain Death or Expiring Minds Want to Know: See Thursday.
saturday
june 15
Seven Mary Three: The Virginia foursome was signed by Mammoth/Atlantic after a radio station in Orlando, Florida--of all places--began spinning its song "Cumbersome," which had been released independently by the band on a disc titled Churn. SM3 then rerecorded Churn, rereleasing the album as its major-label debut, American Standard; it hit, and the rest is one of those tedious industry-success stories the U.S. record biz is known for. This is not to say that the band is boring; it's not half-bad, and neither is second-billed Poe, who's a lot of things, none of them dull. The funky, death-obsessed Princeton grad (real name: Annie Danielewski; stage-named after: Edgar Allan Poe) is the product of an off-center upbringing by a documentary-filmmaking dad and a debutante mom, and her sound somehow captures the dichotomy. North Carolina's Lustre shares the stage. The all-ages show starts at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 15, at Electric Ballroom, 1216 East Apache in Tempe. Tickets are $15.50, available at the club and Ticketmaster. For details call 894-0707 or 784-4444.
Phoenix Guitar Show: New, used and vintage instruments are on display and on sale at this fifth annual mecca for ax fans, the Southwest's largest. It's scheduled for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 15, at the VFW hall at 4853 East Thomas. Admission is $4. For details call 496-8906.
Constance Demby: Those who believe new-age music should be restricted to elevators and vortices--and much, if not all, should--would be well-advised to seek out a copy of Demby's fine 1986 album Novus Magnificat (Through the Stargate). The progressive electronic musician performs a rare Valley gig on Saturday, June 15, at Red River Opry, Mill and Washington in Tempe. Mirage, T. Barton Ellison, Michael Cousineau, and Alex Grant are also featured. Showtime is 7 p.m. Tickets are $19.50, available at the scene and Dillard's. For details call 829-6779 or 678-2222.
Arizona Opera's Der Ring des Nibelungen: See Thursday.
Forever Plaid: See Friday.
Juneteenth Festivities: See Thursday.
Mainly Mozart Festival: See Friday.
Shakespeare for My Father: See Thursday.
Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You: See Friday.
Six Women With Brain Death or Expiring Minds Want to Know: See Thursday.
sunday
june 16
Big Pete Pearson and the Blues Sevilles: The Valley's big daddy of the blues and his Sevilles headline a Father's Day barbecue bash on Sunday, June 16, at Orbit Cafe, located at Uptown Plaza, Central and Camelback. The event's slated for 4 to 8 p.m. Admission is $12.95, which includes dinner. Call 265-2354.
Forever Plaid: See Friday.
Mainly Mozart Festival: See Friday.
Shakespeare for My Father: See Thursday.
Six Women With Brain Death or Expiring Minds Want to Know: See Thursday.
monday
june 17
Celebrity Jam: Stan Devereaux, and the Andy Gonzales All-Stars co-host the final edition of this long-running blues bash at 9 p.m. Monday, June 17, at the Rhythm Room, 1019 East Indian School. The cover is $1.50, free for musicians. For details call 265-4842.
Immature: The well-named urban-contemporary group, touring in support of its sophomore disc, We Got It, the follow-up to the gold Playtyme Is Over, features a trio of 14-year-olds: Marques "Batman" Houston, Jerome "Romeo" Jones and Kelton "LDB" Kesse. Still, opener Quindon's got the Immature threesome licked; he's a mere 13. Showtime is 7 p.m. Monday, June 17, at Celebrity Theatre, 440 North 32nd Street. Tickets are $18, $21 and $25, available at the scene and Dillard's. For details call 267-9373 or 678-2222.
tuesday
june 18
David Sanborn: The alto-sax player can be faulted for the occasional lame career move into shallow pop, but never for his playing. On the right night, when Sanborn's got the right material and he's backed by the right band, he's one of the best. Shows are scheduled at 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, at Red River Opry, Mill and Washington in Tempe. Tickets are $23.75 in advance, $26 the day of the show, available at the scene and Dillard's. Call 829-6779 or 678-2222.
wednesday
june 19
The Skatalites: The Jamaican group not only invented ska, but the 'lites also embodied and perfected it. In recent years, we've seen the band's musical progeny; it's time to check out the original, minus, naturally, the late and more than slightly mad genius Don Drummond. Kongo Shock, and Dave's Big Deluxe share the bill on Wednesday, June 19, at Boston's, 910 North McClintock in Tempe. The all-ages show starts at 8 p.m. Call 921-7343.
Forever Plaid: See Friday.
Shakespeare for My Father: See Thursday.
Six Women With Brain Death or Expiring Minds Want to Know: See Thursday.