To do list
9 for Beethoven: A weekend arts preview
Looking to avoid the street fair in favor of some culture? We have some ideas.
One
Tucson Symphony Orchestra performs Beethoven's Ninth
This weekend, TSO takes on one of the most famous and significant music compositions of all time, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor, the saddest of all keys.
The symphony will be joined by British soprano Alison Buchanan, who received great acclaim for her definitive turn as Bess in George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" for the New York City Opera in 2003. Other soloists include operatic tenor Michael Wade Lee, mezzo-soprano Melissa Parks, who is best known for her interpretations of Gilbert and Sullivan roles, and bass Jeremy Milner. The TSO chorus and Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus will also sing.
TSO musical director George Hanson will conduct, and has chosen two compositions by Leonard Bernstein to fill out the program.
Performances are at the TCC Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. at Tucson Music Hall Thursday-Friday at 8:00 p.m and Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Two
Tucson Roller Derby faces East Coast competition Saturday
The all-star squad of the Tucson Roller Derby, the TRD Saddletramps, square off against New York City's Gotham Girls Wall Street Traitors on Saturday evening. Back from a grueling road trip to Seattle, the girls are hungry for some competition from the Big Apple.
The halftime show will feature the music of Cadillac Steakhouse; singer Nikki Rosing presents an equally tough musical persona as those jammers and blockers do on the floor.
TRD vs. Gotham City, Sat. 7 p.m. at the Tucson Indoor Sports Center (formerly Bladeworld), 1065 W. Grant Rd. Tickets are $7 in advance, $10 at the door.
Three
130th Railroad Silver Spike Festival
On Saturday morning, join Mayor Bob Walkup and pioneer performers in a reenactment of the arrival of the first Southern Pacific railroad train to Tucson in 1880.
The event begins with Estevan Ochoa’s Original Silver Spike presentation at 11:00 a.m. sharp. Visitors are encouraged to don their pioneer attire.
There will be four reenacted shootouts between Wyatt Earp and Frank Stillwell, 1880s music by the 4th Cavalry Band, the Arizona Ranch Hands Cowboy Singers and the Tombstone Vigilantes.
Presented by Southern Arizona Transportation Museum. More info at 623-2223.
Four
MOCA hosts Mr. Tidypaws' Funtime Orange Band
This Saturday at 10 a.m, MOCA presents their Next/Playtime series, an arts experience for kids with Mr. Tidypaws' Funtime Orange Band.
Also known as accomplished jazz saxophonist Jeff Grubic, Mr. Tidypaws and his band of local musicians bring their explosive energy to the smaller people. The cast of characters includes Stephanie Dickson as the Lollipop Lady, Johnny O'Halloran on singing saw, Sean Rodgers, Chris Kallini and special guest Megan Valanidas.
According to Mr. Tidypaws, kids can expect "crazy antics, quirky sounds, kooky dancing, and squirrels."
Next/Playtime with Mr. Tidypaws 10 a.m. Saturday at MOCA, 265 S. Church Ave. Free for kids 12 and under.
Five
Chirgilchin at Solar Culture
From the small Russian province of Tuva, located just north of Mongolia, comes Chirgilchin, an ensemble who play tradional Tuvan music.
Tuvan music is most noted for its unique form of overtone singing called throat-singing, in which more than one note can be produced by a single singer. The music theory behind how this works gets complicated; suffice it say that no other human sound approaches its particular intonation.
The origins of throat-singing in Tuva are deeply spiritual and rooted in an ancient, animistic view of the world. Chirgilchin accompany themselves on handmade instruments, and this concert promises to be unique and captivating.
Chilgirchin performs at 8 p.m. Saturday at Solar Culture, 31 E. Toole Ave. Tickets are $20.
Six
Boys R Us perform 'Polyamory' at the Surly Wench
Tucson's premier drag troupe, the drag kings — yes, that's girls who look like boys, for the uninitiated — and other performers of Boys R Us take the stage at the Surly Wench this Friday to perform their latest revue, "Polyamory."
While the term "polyamory" refers to the serious revision of monogamy's phallocentric and heteronormative nature, the drag kings of Boys R Us are always known to infuse their act with lots of humor and panache.
The gender-bending performance collective has been entertaining and informing Tucson audiences for eight years, and have honed their performance — and binding — skills throughout.
"Polyamory" at the Surly Wench, Friday 9 p.m. doors, 10 p.m. show. Tickets $8-12.
Seven
Etcetera at Live Theatre Workshop presents Mamet's 'Oleanna'
Playwright and filmmaker David Mamet's ("Glengarry Glen Ross," "American Buffalo") 1992 play, written in the midst of the Anita Hill scandal at the senatorial hearings of Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas, deals with the complicated gender politics of sexual harassment.
A two-actor play, "Oleanna" takes place in the office of a college professor, who has a series of increasingly intense meetings with a female student.
Real life UA professor Bill Epstein is joined by Carley Preston. The play is directed by Sheldon Metz. Performances run through March 27.
"Oleanna" at Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway. Performances Fri.-Sat. at 10:30 p.m. Tickets $10. See website or call 327-4242 for info.
Eight
Howe Gelb with Band of Gypsies featuring Raimundo Amador at Club Congress
Here at the Sentinel, we want to get you into the habit of going to see Howe Gelb at Club Congress on Fridays, in advance of his appearance as Johnny Cash at our Press Box Bash on the 26th.
For this Friday's performance, Gelb brings with him international flamenco star Raimundo Amador and his Band of Gypsies fresh from South by Southwest. Amador has also collaborated with Icelandic pop princess Bjork, among others.
The combination of Gelb as quirky lyricist and the Cordovan Band of Gypsies is delightful. A perfect spring nightcap.
Howe Gelb with Band of Gypsies at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. Friday 10 p.m. $10. Visit the Hotel Congress website or call 622-8848 for details.
Nine
Sit at home in the dark and listen to the Beatles.
