6 RMS RIV VU
In Manhattan, finding a suitable apartment can be more challenging than finding a soulmate. (That’s why many of our favorite sitcom characters stalk the dying in hopes of scoring their digs.) The plot of 6 RMS RIV VU springs from a classified ad for a desirable rental property on Riverside Drive (six rooms, river view) that attracts Anne and Paul, who attract each other. They’re happily married to other people, so awkwardness ensues, especially when they’re accidentally locked in together for the night. The 1974 TV-movie version starred Carol Burnett and Alan Alda, leading millions of parents to assume it was wholesome enough for us to watch.
Bob Randall’s comedy runs through Sunday, April 8, at Desert Stages Theatre in Scottsdale Fashion Square, 7014 East Camelback Road. (Behind the Jamba Juice!) Showtime on Friday, March 16, is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $22 to $28 at the Desert Stages website or 480-483-1664. Julie Peterson
Join author Elena Passerello for a free reading at Piper Writers House.
Photo courtesy of Piper Writers House
Medieval books filled with images and tales of real and imagined creatures prompted actor and writer Elena Passarello to create the compendium Animals Strike Curious Poses. It’s a collection of essays about “16 famous animals named and immortalized by humans.”
See how Passarello blends history, culture, myth, art, and science, when she reads from the book on the back patio at Piper Writers House, 450 East Tyler Mall in Tempe, on Friday, March 16. The free event runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and includes an informal Q&A and book signing. Visit the Piper Writers House website. Lynn Trimble
Convert your druids at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Faire.
Courtesy of St. Patrick's Day Parade and Faire
On the same day your “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” shirt might actually nab you some smooches, you can also get festive at the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Faire.
Loaded with decorative floats, the parade is a moving party featuring live music and dancers. Hit the park for the Faire, where the fun continues. Three stages will feature traditional music, step dancing, and bagpipe players. Food vendors will sell Irish fare. Irish clubs and a genealogy tent get you informed.
Drape yourself in green and party from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 17 at the Irish Cultural Center at Margaret T. Hance Park, 67 West Culver Street. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for those 55 and older and military, and free for kids 12 and younger. Get in the VIP Pub for $20, which includes general admission. Visit the St. Patrick’s Day Parade website for more. Amy Young
Check out the fun spinning chairs at the festival.
Courtesy of Mesa Arts Center
Expect to bump into a lot of art car fans at the annual Spark! Mesa’s Festival of Creativity. The event will feature “Art Car World,” an exhibition of 16 such vehicles ranging from hot rods to lowriders, with names like Bohemian Rhapsody, Owl Car, and the California Fantasy Van. There will also be the community art car build and an interactive chalkboard car.
Some non-car attractions will include kinetic sculptures, a night garden, [nueBOX] performances, and Light Rail Plays by Rising Youth Theatre. The free event runs from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, March 17, at Mesa Arts Center, 1 East Main Street. See more information at the Mesa Arts Center website. Lauren Cusimano
Jorge Pardo, Untitled, 2014. Seven hand-painted ceramic light fixtures, dimensions variable.
Courtesy of the artist and Ceramica Suro
There’s no shortage of talking heads when it comes to immigration issues. But creatives bring
“A Dream on a Dream: Encounter with Claudio Dicochea” explores what the American dream means today. “Bajo Presión/Under Pressure” reveals the powerful intersection of politics and art. And “Saber Acomodor” highlights the marriage of traditional techniques with contemporary ideas.
Several “Saber Acomodor” artists will be at the opening, along with guest curator Patrick Charpenel, the new executive director for New York’s El Museo del Barrio. Expect a great lineup of performances, as well. Museum admission is free. Visit the ASU Art Museum website. Lynn Trimble
