april 18
Dinofest International: This saurian showcase includes dino skeletons and fossils from all seven continents. Highlights include numerous pieces from the "Great Dinosaurs of China" collections of the Beijing and Inner Mongolia museums of natural history; the remains of a duckbill from the Los Angeles County Museum; robotic replicas by Dinamation International Corporation; and a display of props and visuals from Jurassic Park. Hours are 1 to 3:30 and 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, April 18; 1 to 3:30 and 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, April 19; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 20; and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at Arizona State University Activity Center, First Street and Rural in Tempe. Tickets are $5, $3 for kids age 12 and under, available at ASU Public Events and Dillard's box offices; call 965-3434 or 678-2222. Paleontologist, author and Harvard professor Stephen Jay Gould gives Dinofest's keynote address, "Pattern and Lack of Progress in the History of Life," at 8 p.m. Thursday at Gammage Auditorium, Mill and Apache in Tempe. Admission is free, but tickets are required; call 965-2359. The Dinofest International Symposium, featuring presentations by fossil chasers John R. "Jack" Horner, Edwin Colbert, Mark Norell and about 80 others, is scheduled Friday through Sunday; for registration and other information, call 965-5062.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd: The term "bluesman" doesn't yet apply to 18-years-young Louisiana guitarist Shepherd, a bluesboy who can't even legally imbibe at most of the bars he's booked in. But the disciple of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan is a player beyond his tender years, as documented on his 1995 disc Ledbetter Heights, a promising debut named after the area in Shepherd's hometown of Shreveport in which Huddie William Ledbetter--better known as Leadbelly--is buried. Shepherd and band perform on Thursday, April 18, at Electric Ballroom, 1216 East Apache in Tempe. The Bottle Rockets share the all-ages bill. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are $12, available at the club and Ticketmaster. Call 894-0707 or 784-4444.
Desert Classic Tournament: One of the top pre-NBA draft showcases for college seniors, the classic wraps up with sessions at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 18; and the same time Saturday, April 20, at America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson. Tickets are $10, available at the arena and Dillard's. For details call 379-7800 or 678-2222.
Phoenix Symphony: Guest conductor Hermann Michael leads the orchestra in performances of "The Fixed Desire of the Human Heart" by Samuel Adler (see Saturday); Wagner's Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde; and Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 in F major, Opus 68 ("Pastorale"). Shows are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18; and 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Friday, April 19, at Symphony Hall, 225 East Adams. Friday morning's program is a "Coffee Classics" concert; tickets are $11 and $15, and the Adler work will not be performed. Regular tickets range from $12 to $36, available at the symphony box office and Dillard's; call 264-6363, 262-7272 or 678-2222. The symphony is scheduled to perform outdoor concerts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at the west Valley's North Lake Amphitheater (call 935-6384 for directions and details); and at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at Arizona Center, Third Street and Van Buren (call 264-6363).
friday
april 19
Two Errors Divine: ASU's Comedy, GCU's Boys: Arizona State University's theatre department closes its season with The Comedy of Errors, Shakespeare's low farce about twin sets of twins and the havoc they wreak. This week's performances are at 8 p.m. Friday, April 19; 8 p.m. Saturday, April 20; and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at Paul V. Galvin Playhouse in ASU's Nelson Fine Arts Center, Tenth Street and Mill in Tempe. More shows are planned Thursday, April 25, through Saturday, April 27. Tickets are $11, $8.50 for ASU faculty and staff, $6 for students, available at ASU Fine Arts and Dillard's box offices; call 965-6447 or 678-2222. Across the Valley, Ethington Theatre at Grand Canyon University, 3300 West Camelback, wraps up its "Reconstructing Shakespeare"-themed season with the vaudeville-style romp The Boys From Syracuse, an even lower farce penned by Rodgers, Hart and Abbott and based on The Comedy of Errors. This week's shows are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. More performances are scheduled Friday, April 26; and Saturday, April 27. Tickets are $8, $6.50 for seniors and kids; call 589-2871.
Jay Ungar and Molly Mason: Fiddler Ungar composed the lovely dirge "Ashokan Farewell," the musical centerpiece of Ken Burns' The Civil War, and he and guitarist Mason collaborated on the rest of the score to the PBS series. The two host a free reception at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 19, and perform an evening show at 8 at Kerr Cultural Center, 6110 North Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale. Tickets to the concert are $13 and $14, available at the center and Dillard's. Call 965-5377 or 678-2222.
A Perfect Ganesh: Arizona Theatre Company continues its season with Terrence McNally's play about a couple of tragedy-haunted American women who travel to India on a quest of discovery and healing. The title is a variation on Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu god and patron of learning. The Valley run begins with a preview at 8 p.m. Friday, April 19, in Center Stage at Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe. The official opening is at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 20. The rest of this week's performances are at 1 and 7 p.m. Sunday, April 21; and 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 24. A discussion follows Sunday's matinee. The production continues through Saturday, May 4. Tickets range from $20 to $30, available at Herberger and Dillard's. Call 252-8497.
Dinofest International: See Thursday.
Phoenix Symphony: See Thursday.
saturday
april 20
Earth Day '96 Festival: Earth Day Arizona celebrates the 26th annual observance of Earth Day (Monday, April 22) with an environmental fair from 11:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at Desert Sky Pavilion, 2121 North 83rd Avenue. Highlights of the free event include a trash-art contest; poetry readings; and scheduled performances by MSG featuring Michael Schenker; Gilby Clarke; the Lynch Mob; and Lode. Call 254-7599.
Bolshoi Ballet: The world's top troupe performs a program that includes the pas de deux from Les Sylphides, Le Corsaire and Don Quixote and entire acts from Swan Lake and Giselle. Performances are at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 20; and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at Symphony Hall, 225 East Adams. Tickets range from $22.50 to $75, available at Dillard's. Call 262-7272 or 678-2222.
Samuel Adler: The professor emeritus at the Eastman School of Music, whose work "The Fixed Desire of the Human Heart" is performed this week by Phoenix Symphony (see Thursday), joins fellow composer Daniel Asia and critic Kenneth LaFave in a panel discussion at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at Borders Books & Music at Biltmore Fashion Park, 24th Street and Camelback, Suite 200; admission is free (call 957-6660). Adler will also be present for Arpeggio's premiere of his latest work, "Diary of a Journey," at 7:30 that evening at Phoenix Central Library, 1221 North Central. Admission is free, but tickets must be picked up in advance (call 262-4636).
The Comedy of Errors and The Boys From Syracuse: See Friday.
Desert Classic Tournament: See Thursday.
Dinofest International: See Thursday.
A Perfect Ganesh: See Friday.
Phoenix Symphony: See Thursday.
sunday
april 21
New Times Music Awards Showcase: The inaugural celebration of local sounds, scheduled for 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday, April 21, includes performances by 36 acts at eight Tempe venues (for the lineup, see the Music listing; also see the special section in the center of this issue). Wristbands good for all shows are $5, available at Best Buy and Guitar & Keyboard City stores; proceeds benefit the American Heart Association, the Arthritis Foundation, the Boys & Girls Club of the East Valley, and Central Arizona Shelter Services. The awards will be announced in New Times' May 2 issue. For details call 238-4801.
Arizona Rattlers: Coach Danny White and his minigridiron squad kick off the home season with a preseason match at 6 p.m. Sunday, April 21, against the Texas Terror at the "Snake Pit": America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson. The team's first regular-season home game is scheduled at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 27, versus the Orlando Predators. Tickets range from $8 to $36, available at the arena and Dillard's. Call 379-7800 or 678-2222.
Adrian Legg: The English guitarist is one of the instrument's great thinkers and technical tinkerers, and his inventive mind, quirky Brit wit and drop-dead playing on gems like Guitars & Other Cathedrals (1990) and Mrs. Crowe's Blue Waltz (1993) have fostered the creation of a small but growing legion of followers named, naturally, "Leggheads." Join the cult on Sunday, April 21, at the Rhythm Room, 1019 East Indian School. Joe Myers shares the bill. Showtime is 8 p.m. The cover is $8. Call 265-4842.
Copperstate 1000: The sixth annual "rallye," a cavalcade of pre-1967 autos, gets under way with a free celebration from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at Margaret T. Hance Deck Park, located atop the I-10 tunnel at Central, between Third Street and Third Avenue. Close-up views of the cars cost $1, with all proceeds benefiting Phoenix Art Museum. The vehicles start rolling at 10:30; the tour continues through Wednesday, April 24, with stops planned in Flagstaff, Page, Sedona, Prescott and Wickenburg. Call 279-9911.
Bolshoi Ballet: See Saturday.
The Comedy of Errors and The Boys From Syracuse: See Friday.
Dinofest International: See Thursday.
A Perfect Ganesh: See Friday.
Phoenix Symphony: See Thursday.
monday
april 22
The Amps: "Tammy Ampersand," a.k.a. Kim Deal, former Pixie and boss of the on-hiatus Breeders, leads this new crew, which includes guitarist/vocalist Nathan Farley, bassist Luis Lerma and drummer Jim Macpherson; see the story on page 97. Touring in support of their 4AD/Elektra debut, Pacer, the Amps perform Monday, April 22, at Gibson's, 410 South Mill in Tempe. Ammonia, and Imperial Teens share the all-ages bill. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 the day of the show, available at the club and Ticketmaster. Call 968-8664 or 784-4444.
Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band: Seger's sold more Chevys than albums in the '90s, but it's hard to dispute the lingering power of older works like "Night Moves" and "Rock and Roll Never Forgets." Touring behind the new Capitol disc It's a Mystery--and for the first time in almost a decade--Seger and company perform on Monday, April 22, at America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 and $30, available at the arena and Dillard's. Call 379-7800 or 678-2222.
tuesday
april 23
Tabu Ley Rochereau and Africa International: Rochereau is the reigning king of Zairian pop, or soukous. He's akin to the Paul McCartney and John Lennon of his homeland, having penned more than 2,000 songs and recorded more than 100 albums. Touring in support of the latest, the Rounder release Muzina, Tabu and Africa International perform on Tuesday, April 23, at the Rockin' Horse, 7000 East Indian School in Scottsdale. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are $10, available at the scene and Ticketmaster. Call 949-0992 or 784-4444.
wednesday
april 24
Terence Blanchard Quintet: If New Orleans jazzman Blanchard lacks a household name like that of his fellow Crescent City residents the Marsalises, he's still one of the genre's bright hopes. Though relatively young, the former member of Art Blakey's Messengers is a master of the trumpet, and he's become a hot property in the world of film after major contributions to the soundtracks of several Spike Lee joints, including Malcolm X and Crooklyn. Blanchard and band perform at 7 and 10 p.m. Wednesday, April 24; and the same times Thursday, April 25, at Geckos, 7316 East Stetson in Scottsdale. Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 the day of the show, available at the club and Ticketmaster. Call 947-1000 or 784-4444.
A Perfect Ganesh: See Friday.