october 8
Wild 'n' crazy guy turned sophisticated humorist Steve Martin's dramatization of an apocryphal 1904 meeting between Einstein and Picasso, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, opens the season for the state's official professional theatrical entity, Arizona Theatre Company, in Center Stage at Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe. ATC's production was helmed by artistic director David Ira Goldstein. Performances begin with previews at 8 p.m. Thursday, October 8; and 8 p.m. Friday, October 9, with tickets specially priced from $23 to $28. Official opening is at 8 p.m. Saturday, October 10. Performances continue at 1 and 7 p.m. Sunday, October 11 (an informal discussion follows the matinee; the latter show is a "pay what you can" performance); and at 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 14, when the show is audio-described for the visually impaired. Regular tickets range from $20 to $33, with discounts available for senior adults, students, military personnel and those in groups of 10 or more; they're available at Herberger and Dillard's box offices. The run continues through Saturday, October 24. 252-TIXS (8497), 503-5555.
The period romance Firelight is the feature for this year's AFDA Foundation for Children Movie Fund Raiser. The fun starts with food and door prizes and silent-auction items, most notably a variety of airline goodies, at 5 p.m. Thursday, October 8, at Harkins Camelview 5, located on Goldwater Boulevard north of Camelback in Scottsdale. The film follows at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25; proceeds benefit Arizona children's charities. Call Frances Rimsza at 949-9899.
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) sponsors the "Copperstate Fly-In," an annual air show--reputedly the Southwest's largest--on Thursday, October 8; Friday, October 9; Saturday, October 10; and Sunday, October 11. Daily hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; air shows, featuring performances by pilots from all over the country, will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday; noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. Free airplane rides for kids 8 through 17 will also be available, with parental consent, as part of the EAA's Young Eagle program. Tickets, available at Dillard's and at the gate, are $10, free for kids under 12. Williams Gateway Airport, 6001 South Power Road in Mesa. 770-6420 (EAA), 503-5555 (Dillard's).
friday
october 9
What would Carl say? Jungian counselor Maureen Dermot conducts a seminar called "Introduction to Jungian Astrology" from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, October 9; and a workshop called "Finding Your Life-Scripts in the Archetypal Chart" from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, October 10. Both programs are sponsored by the Phoenix Friends of C.G. Jung, and both are held in the auditorium at the Scottsdale Civic Center Library, 3839 North Civic Center Boulevard. Admission to Friday's is $15, $10 for Jung-society members; admission to Saturday's is $60, $50 for Jungheads. 336-0400, 994-2474.
Those whose archetypal life-scripts lead them to be ambitious homebodies should take note: The 12th annual Arizona Fall Home Show is slated for noon to 9 p.m. Friday, October 9; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, October 10; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, October 12. Admission is $6, $4 for seniors; kids 12 and under get in free. Exhibit halls B, C and D at Phoenix Civic Plaza, located at Second Street and Adams. 262-7272.
saturday
october 10
The soundtrack of There's Something About Mary seems to have done wonders for Jonathan Richman; maybe it will do the same for Zuba. The Telluride, Colorado-based soul-funk outfit has a song on that album, and their own new CD, South of Eden, is "being sought after by various major labels at this very moment." It's only available for sale now, however, on their current tour, which stops in the Valley at 9 p.m. Saturday, October 10, at the Cajun House, 7117 East Third Avenue in Scottsdale. Tickets for the 21-and-up show are $6. 945-5150.
Said to afflict one person in 10 over the age of 65, Alzheimer's disease is the very worthy target of the funds raised by the Memory Walk. Actress Shelly Fabares participates in the Valley version of the Alzheimer's Association event, which kicks off at 8 a.m. Saturday, October 10, at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 5999 East Van Buren. For registration info, call 735-8099.
sunday
october 11
Being blind from birth didn't greatly slow down the career of French composer Louis Vierne (1870-1937)--the organist at Notre Dame from 1900 until his death, he also composed voluminously for orchestra and voice. He may be best known, however, for the six symphonies he wrote for solo organ. American Guild of Organist member Craig Westendorf and several colleagues will play all six back to back, starting with No. 1 at 3 p.m. Sunday, October 11, at First United Methodist Church, 5510 North Central. A break for dinner will be taken at 6 p.m.; No. 6 is scheduled to start at 7:45 p.m. Admission to this "Vierne-a-thon" is free; there is a modest charge for dinner. For reservations, call 263-5013.
Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 North Galvin Parkway, in Papago Park, hosts the third annual "Art in Bloom," a fund raiser for the arid-climate showplace from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, October 11. Works in oil, acrylic, watercolor, photographs and sculpture from a variety of Arizona artists will be displayed among the already beautiful walkways of the garden. The evening will also include a silent auction, food and drink, and live music ranging from bluegrass (the Grass Whackers) to swing (the Swingtips, accompanied by dancers). Admission is $40. 941-1225.
Arizona poets Hillary Lyon and David A. Neal Jr. are the featured artists at this month's edition of the Divergent Arts Poetry Series, at 7 p.m. Sunday, October 11, at Long Wong's Live, 3623 East Indian School. Admission is free; donations are accepted. 947-0371.
monday
october 12
It's Columbus Day--the anniversary of the day that European culture arrived full force in the Americas. This has had its downsides, but it did bring delicious Western cuisine like weenies to this continent. In recognition of this--and also in celebration of National Food Bank Month--Sine Ace Hardware, 7150 North 51st Avenue in Glendale, holds its second annual "grilled hot dog" meal from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, October 12, as well as an all-day food drive. Hot dogs are 75 cents, pop is the same price; all proceeds go to the Westside Food Bank. 242-3663.
tuesday
october 13
Those who heard composer Richard Einhorn's remarkable Voices of Light, a powerhouse opera-oratorio about Joan of Arc, performed at Gammage Auditorium a couple of years ago, are unlikely to forget it. Now Chandler-Gilbert Community Dance Company, in conjunction with DeVere Dance Company, performs a 70-minute ballet based on the work, at 8 p.m. Tuesday, October 13, at Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 North Arizona Avenue. The ensemble includes dancers from both companies, as well as dance students from area high schools. Admission is free. 786-2680.
wednesday
october 14
Los Angeles-based Native American writer Greg Sarris, whose acclaimed short-story collection Grand Avenue was published in 1994, talks about and signs his first novel, Watermelon Nights, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 14, at Borders Books & Music at Biltmore Fashion Park, 24th Street and Camelback, Suite 200. The book, the tale of the family crises that result when a young Pomo named Johnny Severe considers a move from his grandmother's house to the big city, is told by three distinct narrators--Johnny himself, his grandmother, and his mother. 957-6660.
