Ultimate Star Wars
Whether you're a frequent contributor to Wookieepedia or you've never even heard of Jabba the Hut, you can always stand to brush up on your Star Wars history. As part of Children's Book Week at Changing Hands Tempe, 6428 South McClintock Drive, Lucasfilm writer Adam Bray and Star Wars expert Tricia Barr will be geeking out over the newest illustrated Star Wars guide Ultimate Star Wars.
See also: 30 Free Things to Do in Metro Phoenix Any Time
The Ultimate Star Wars talk and book signing at Changing Hands Tempe will begin at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 4, with seating beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets admit two and are free with the purchase of Ultimate Star Wars from Changing Hands. For more information, call 480-730-0205 or visit www.changinghands.com. Katrina Montgomery
Sweet Charity
Federico Fellini's 1957 film Nights of Cabiria was about a happy-go-lucky prostitute. Sweet Charity, the Broadway musical that was based on the film's screenplay? It's about a young woman named Charity Hope Valentine who's employed as a, uh, dance hall hostess. Through the ups and downs of her adventures and famous songs such as "If My Friends Could See Me Now" and "Big Spender," Charity never stops believing in love. The show will make you believe, too.
The play continues through Sunday, May 10, at Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 West Paradise Lane in Peoria. Tickets start at $70.50; non-dining seats are also available starting at $46. Dinner on Tuesday, May 5, is at 5:30 p.m., and showtime is 7:30 p.m. Call 623-776-8400 or visit www.azbroadway.org. Julie Peterson
How not to Make Love to a Woman
"I told myself I would give him 10 chances," Laurelann Porter begins, begging the question: how many would you give? Porter, a doctoral candidate in Theatre and Performance of the Americas at ASU, takes the stage to tell about leaving her own abusive marriage. Her one-woman show, How not to Make Love to a Woman, is a self-described "almost-comedy" about surviving and escaping domestic violence.
The deeply personal performance begins at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, at Phoenix Youth Hostel and Cultural Center, 1026 North Ninth Street. Admission is $5 for students and $7 for the public. The piece contains both mature language and themes as well as nudity. Visit the event page at www.facebook.com/events/363529740511513 for details. Janessa Hilliard
Tribe Ride
As temperatures creep higher, outdoor enthusiasts have to get creative, but bicyclists are in luck thanks to Tribe Multisport. The East Valley sports and recreation store hosts two weekly group bike rides for cyclists of all skill levels: one at sunrise and one at sunset.
The Thursday night ride covers the Tribe Loop, a 10-mile circular of roadways, including some smaller hills for a dynamic experience. Bikers tend to do two to three loops apiece, depending on ability and stamina.
The ride leaves promptly at 7:10 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, from the Tribe Multisport store, 7624 East Indian School Road in Scottsdale. Participation is free, but riders are required to wear helmets and have headlights and taillights for night rides. Visit www.tribemultisport.com or call 480-421-9442. Janessa Hilliard
Misery Loves Comedy
Stop us if you've heard this one: Jimmy Fallon, Amy Schumer, Jim Gaffigan, Judd Apatow, Larry David, and 50 or so other funny people walk into a bar. After a few drinks, they start talking about comedy -- how they got into the business, what they find funny, the sometimes tragic tales that drive their desire to make people laugh. Cameras catch it all, and Kevin Pollak makes a documentary out of it called Misery Loves Comedy. Never heard that one? You should probably go see the movie, then.
Misery Loves Comedy is showing at 12:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 8, at FilmBar, 815 North Second Street. Tickets to the early show are $6.50; attendees to the late screening will pay $9. Visit thefilmbarphx.com for more. Zachary Fowle
