october 9
Further Stuff From Beyond the Pond: UK/AZ's "Wallace and Gromit" Mania, "Rootstein Mannequins" and More: The UK/AZ Festival, continuing through October (though some of the offerings extend beyond Allhallows Eve), celebrates the--rather tenuous--connection(s) between England and Arizona. Nick Park's beloved claymation characters "Wallace and Gromit" (Wallace is a toothy, addlebrained inventor/cheese head, Gromit his whip-smart, silent traveling companion) are feted variously this week. Marathon screenings of the pair's all-ages adventures A Grand Day Out, The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave continue daily, through Monday, October 27, at the Cartoon Corner at Biltmore Fashion Park, located at 24th Street and Camelback. Viewing is free; daily hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., to 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays (all 954-7345). "An Adventure With Wallace and Gromit," including showings of the aforementioned shorts, opens Friday, October 10, and continues through Friday, January 16, 1998, at the Arizona Museum for Youth, 35 North Robson in Mesa. Viewing hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $2, free for kids under 2 (call 644-2467). The "Rootstein Mannequins" are "celebrity-cloned" look-alikes of the likes of models Karen Mulder and Twiggy and actresses Joan Collins and Audrey Hepburn that are swathed in gear from the swinging '60s to the iconic '90s. Products of the London factory founded by the late Adel Rootstein, the mannequins sass up Saks Fifth Avenue at Biltmore Fashion Park through Halloween. Viewing is free; hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m. Sundays (call 955-8000). See below for details about the UK/AZ-related openings of The Essential Henry V, Blithe Spirit and "The Rolling Stones Photo Exhibition" (Friday), Umabatha: The Zulu Macbeth (Saturday) and the Stars of the Kirov Ballet (Monday). For info about UK/AZ events not mentioned here, see the Events listing in Thrills or call 258-6055.
Show Boat: Director Harold Prince's gaudy, splashy, special-effects-heavy restaging of the Kern/Hammerstein epic, based on Edna Ferber's novel about old times in the Deep South, stars Richie Cunningham's long-suffering pop, Tom Bosley, as Capt'n Andy, Karen Morrow as Parthy, Gretha Boston as Queenie, Sarah Pfisterer as Magnolia and Andre Solomon-Glover as Joe. The lush score--including "Ol' Man River," "Only Make Believe" and "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man"--remains the same. This week's performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday, October 9; 8 p.m. Friday, October 10; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, October 11; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, October 12; 8 p.m. Tuesday, October 14; and 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 15, at Gammage Auditorium, located at Mill and Apache in Tempe. The run continues through Saturday, November 1. Tickets range from $15 to $65, available at Gammage and Dillard's; call 965-3434 or 503-5555.
friday
october 10
The Essential Henry V: Matthew Wiener of Actors Theatre of Phoenix adapted and directed ATOP's season-opening presentation of Shakespeare's drama about the conscience of the young warrior-king. Inaugural performances, held in conjunction with the UK/AZ Festival (see Thursday), are at 8 p.m. Friday, October 10; 8 p.m. Saturday, October 11; and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, October 12, in Stage West at Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe. The run continues through Sunday, October 26. Tickets range from $19 to $30, available at Herberger and Dillard's; call 252-8497 or 503-5555.
"The Rolling Stones Photo Exhibition": Photographer Gered Mankowitz captured Mick's massive lips and Keith's emerging crags at various locales and times. The installation of never-displayed shots from '65 to '67, held in conjunction with the UK/AZ Festival (see Thursday), opens Friday, October 10, and continues daily, through Sunday, October 19, at the Gardenside Food Court at Arizona Center, Third Street and Van Buren. Viewing is free; hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m. Sundays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Call 949-4353.
Blithe Spirit: Arizona Theatre Company injects a note of whimsy into the thus-far Bard-heavy, tragedy-infused stage offerings of the UK/AZ Festival (see Thursday) with Noel Coward's 1941 wordplay souffle, a lighter-than-air concoction about ghostly doings that's really a commentary on British manners. Former ATC honcho Gary Gisselman directed. The run opens with a preview at 8 p.m. Friday, October 10, in Center Stage at Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe. The press opening is at the same time Saturday, October 11. The rest of this week's shows are at 1 and 7 p.m. Sunday, October 12; and 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 15. A discussion follows Sunday's matinee; Wednesday's show is "audio described" for the visually impaired. The production continues through Saturday, October 25. Tickets range from $19.50 to $32.50, available at Herberger and Dillard's; call 252-8497 or 503-5555.
Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs: The Stage Production: Feast of Fools Theatre, recently relocated from Denver, paints the proscenium scarlet with Michael Alessandro's adaptation of writer/director Tarantino's shooting script for the '92 filmic blood bath/character study about a jewel heist gone awry. (The show is presented with the cooperation of Tarantino's A Band Apart Productions, and dovetails with a recent movement in L.A. to transfer, with fidelity, well-known works from screen to stage.) This week's performances are at 8 p.m. Friday, October 10; 8 p.m. Saturday, October 11; and 7 p.m. Sunday, October 12, at the Third Street Theatre at Phoenix Center, 1202 North Third Street. The run continues through Saturday, October 25.Tickets range from $8 to $12. Call 256-7898.
"An Adventure With Wallace and Gromit" Opening: See Thursday.
"Rootstein Mannequins": See Thursday.
Show Boat: See Thursday.
"Wallace and Gromit" Marathon: See Thursday.
saturday
october 11
Umabatha: The Zulu Macbeth: Playwright/composer Welcome Msomi's work closely parallels Shakespeare's tragedy, as well as the life of African warrior/statesman Shaka Zulu. The 25th-anniversary touring production of Umabatha promises to be one of the highlights of the UK/AZ Festival (see Thursday); it's presented by a 46-member cast of actors and musicians, including numerous drummers banging away on hide-capped tribal instruments. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Saturday, October 11, at Scottsdale Center for the Arts Amphitheater, 75th Street and Main. Tickets are $24 in advance, $28 the day of the show, available at the center and Ticketmaster; call 994-2787 or 784-4444.
"An Adventure With Wallace and Gromit": See Thursday.
Blithe Spirit: See Friday.
The Essential Henry V: See Friday.
Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs: See Friday.
"The Rolling Stones Photo Exhibition": See Friday.
"Rootstein Mannequins": See Thursday.
Show Boat: See Thursday.
"Wallace and Gromit" Marathon: See Thursday.
sunday
october 12
James Brown: Recently, American original Dave Brubeck played "Take Five," "Blue Rondo a la Turk" and other pieces of jazz history at the fetching Orpheum Theatre--a cool aural breeze amid the sticky wet heat of Tropical Storm Nora. Now Phoenicians bump and grind 'neath the Orpheum's ethereal cloudscape to "Cold Sweat," "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" and "I Got You (I Feel Good)" by the Godfather of Soul--an equally original American. A.J. Croce's the unlikely opener; showtime is 7:30 p.m. Sunday, October 12. The theater's at 203 West Adams. Tickets are $55 and $75, available at Phoenix Civic Plaza and Dillard's box offices; call 262-7272 or 503-5555.
Eugene Chadbourne: "Dr. Chadbourne" is one of the last standing champions of noncommercial alt. The unpredictable and artistically unfettered guitarist has made forays into free jazz, acid rock, avant blues and faux-redneck noise (with his band Shockabilly and without). Eugene's been known to compose sets that include mingled and brilliantly mangled works by the likes of Duke Ellington, Johnny Paycheck, Charles Manson, and one-time Chadbourne collaborator John Zorn. Showtime is 10 p.m. Sunday, October 12, at Nita's Hideaway, 1816 East Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe. The cover is $5. Call 967-9531.
"An Adventure With Wallace and Gromit": See Thursday.
Blithe Spirit: See Friday.
The Essential Henry V: See Friday.
Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs: See Friday.
"The Rolling Stones Photo Exhibition": See Friday.
"Rootstein Mannequins": See Thursday.
Show Boat: See Thursday.
"Wallace and Gromit" Marathon: See Thursday.
monday
october 13
The Stars of the Kirov Ballet: If you know anything about ballet, you know this is a can't-miss show. The St. Petersburg, Russia-born Kirov company is near-matchless in the realm of the classics. This 30-member touring company--including the prima de la prima of the Russian ballet: ballerinas Yulia Makhalina and Zhanna Ayupova and premier danseur Farukh Ruzimatov--makes its first visit to Arizona in conjunction with the UK/AZ Festival (see Thursday). Without a doubt the reach of the fest, the Kirov is included only because the program includes Brit choreographer Anton Dolin's "Pas de Quatre." Showtime is 8 p.m. Monday, October 13, at Symphony Hall, 225 East Adams. Tickets range from $23 to $75, available at Phoenix Civic Plaza and Dillard's box offices; call 262-7272 or 503-5555.
"The Rolling Stones Photo Exhibition": See Friday.
"Rootstein Mannequins": See Thursday.
"Wallace and Gromit" Marathon: See Thursday.
tuesday
october 14
matchbox 20: Pop's back in a big way, dancing on the weedy grave of grunge, and this Florida quintet plays it pretty well on its major-label debut, yourself or someone like you. The hooks are as big as barn doors, though the lyrics--like so many in pop--are more ankle-deep than soul-deep, except in the controversial case of "Push," which has been misconstrued as a misogynistic anthem. Vocalist/songwriter Rob Thomas says his tune's about emotional, not physical, violence--and that it was damage done to him by an ex-flame. matchbox 20 plays Tuesday, October 14, at the Celebrity Theatre, 440 North 32nd Street. Violinist Lili Haydn opens the all-ages show at 8 p.m. Tickets are $16.50, available at the scene and Dillard's; call 267-1600 or 503-5555.
"An Adventure With Wallace and Gromit": See Thursday.
"The Rolling Stones Photo Exhibition": See Friday.
"Rootstein Mannequins": See Thursday.
Show Boat: See Thursday.
"Wallace and Gromit" Marathon: See Thursday.
wednesday
october 15
Mary Lou Lord: Boston's electric busker calls to mind Lisa Loeb because Lord plays the hushed, off-center ballad (like her cover of Elliott Smith's wonderful "I Figured You Out") with the best, then rocks the house with a piece of power-chord ear candy like "Some Jingle Jangle Morning." Other than that, though, Mary Lou has little in common with cat's-eyed Texas impressionist Loeb; Lord's likely to be found, when not on tour, broadcasting raw tales of urban detritus to the commuting masses of Bean Town's subway system via her beloved Mighty Mouse amp. Emily Curtis Band opens on Wednesday, October 15, at Nita's Hideaway, 1816 East Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe. Showtime is 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $6, at Dillard's. Call 967-9531 or 503-5555.
R.L. Burnside: The septuagenarian bluesman from Orion, Mississippi, hews to the acoustic wellspring of the Delta, but with an electrified power and improv passion rarely felt so deep in the bones since the days of Muddy Waters (who was, interestingly, married to R.L.'s first cousin). T-Model Ford opens at 9 p.m. Wednesday, October 15, at the Rhythm Room, 1019 East Indian School. The cover is $12. Call 265-4842.
"An Adventure With Wallace and Gromit": See Thursday.
Blithe Spirit: See Friday.
"The Rolling Stones Photo Exhibition": See Friday.
"Rootstein Mannequins": See Thursday.
Show Boat: See Thursday.
"Wallace and Gromit" Marathon: See Thursday.
