June 8 - June 14, 1995
Thursday 8
PARADISE REGAINED. Cinema Paradiso is the quintessential
summer movie, and you, lucky reader, have the rare treat of seeing
it on the big screen in all its 35mm glory. The 1990 Oscar-winner
for Best Foreign Language Film, by Italian filmmaker Giuseppe
Tornatore, weaves a tender story of a wise old projectionist's
influence on the life of a small-town boy. Felipe Noiret is exceptional
as the embodiment of the magic that young Toto experiences while
watching classic American, Italian and French movies. A long-time
favorite of ours, it has been described as "a poignent tribute
to the church-like picture palaces of times gone by, and the distinctive
power of the movies that makes us want to live our dreams."
Cinema Paradiso screens at 7:30 and 9:55 tonight and tomorrow
at the Gallagher Theater on the UA campus. Admission is $2.50.
Call 621-3102 for information.
THE DRAGON. That mystical symbol for the Emperor's power,
bringing good fortune, strength and good luck, is the name of
this wildly entertaining show by Hawaii-based East West Best,
international promoters of Chinese arts and cultural programs.
Tonight's show blends the best of western circus showmanship with
mystical eastern song, dance and acrobatic skill. Dazzling lights
and sound, amazing special effects, colorful costumes and traditional
dances combine with acts you'll just have to see for yourself--like
"Feet Juggling with Umbrella, Table and Blanket Spinning."
The Dragon will be in Tucson for two performances only, at 7:30
tonight and tomorrow at UA Centennial Hall. Tickets range from
$12 to $22. Call 621-3341 for reservations and information.
Friday 9
BÉLA FLECK. Due to a wrinkle in the space time continuum--or
just a really dumb mistake on our part--Béla Fleck is performing
"again" today, as previewed in last week's issue. Just
in case you missed it the first time: Béla Fleck and Sam
Bush share the Temple stage tonight in this fusion of jazz, world
beat, folk, bluegrass, funk, Irish and any other style we failed
to mention. Béla's incredible acoustic and electric banjos
will be joined by Future Man's drumitar and versatile Victor Wooten's
bass. While they'll probably pick a few choice cuts from Béla's
recently released Tales from the Acoustic Planet and some
old Flecktones favorites, the rest of the program will be predictably
unpredictable. We hear tickets are getting scarce, so call 327-4809
for availability.
DANCE JAM. What began as an experiment last October has
grown into a local institution: Club Rhythm, the musical happening
as brought to you by Jim Lipson and Jeff Rogers, the wacky duo
known as Major Knucklehead Productions. From its origins as a
showcase for African and Caribbean music, the Club Rhythm Dance
Jam has evolved into a "world music" dance hall, with
Latino, funk, acid jazz, techno, Indian, blues and a wide range
of tribal rhythms thrown into the mix. Tonight's jam will be the
last of its kind until fall, so kick off your shoes and work that
wooden floor in this high-energy "barefoot-boogie free movement
zone."
Start spinning at 8 p.m. at the Southwest Center for Music, 2175
N. Sixth Ave. Cover is $4 at the door, $3 for KXCI members, and
$2 for kids 12 and under. Childcare will be available for no extra
charge in the Acoustic Café.
Saturday 10
DUDES WITH 'TUDES. Say this five times fast: psychofreaksintheheat
3. Then smash your piggy bank, grab your board and head over to
the TCC exhibition hall, 260 S. Church Ave., for a skateboarding
extravaganza. "It has the feel of a mini-Lollapoloosa,"
says event coordinator Elijah Freeman of this combination live
music fest, pro-demo, open amateur competition and trade show.
We hear it's going to be the event of the summer...if you're one
of the masses who's been seduced by the "omnipresent appeal
of a piece of wood with wheels on it." Pre-registration and
practice open at 9 a.m., with doors opening to the public at 11
a.m. Evening bands include: Casey Tripped, M.A.C., Helldriver,
Spillblanket and White Chrome Splendor. Other events raging from
noon to midnight include Sega and pog competitions, an art show
and car bash for charity and a "free skate" for non-competitive
types who want to show their stuff. Waivers for skaters from the
under-18 crowd must be signed and notorized (there will be a notary
at the event), and can be picked up in advance from Itchy Foot
Moe's, 5840 E. Speedway. Advance tickets are $10, available at
Itchy Foot Moe's and Zia Records. They'll cost an extra $3 at
the door. Call 747-7719 for information.
Sunday 11
A BULL FULL OF MILK. Don't have a cow, Toros fans. We're
not attacking Tuffy's ebullient nature. We're simply alerting
you to the real action tonight at Hi Corbett Field: the pre-game
cow-milking contest between Toros and Firebirds players. Get moooving
and be one of the first 2,000 fans at the park to receive a complimentary
authentic bull bell. And we wouldn't want to leave you out in
left field on this hot promotion--in celebration of June Dairy
Month, United Dairymen of Arizona will be giving away free ice
cream samples to kids (as in, those 16 and under). Game time is
7:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for reserved seating, $4 adult general
admission and $3 for children, seniors and military personnel
with ID. Call 325-2621 for information.
Monday 12
FLICK PICK. Desperate for a new take on this weakday
night, Weekly intern A.J. Hart comes to the rescue:
It's Monday night. No parties, my parents have meetings, friends
are on vacation. Considering the fact that I'm a teenager, going
to bed early in the summer is about as acceptable as wearing a
pocket protector to school. What to do? It seems this town of
500,000 offers very little in the way of fun. Sure, there are
a couple of malls, a few amusement park places, the regular clubs,
but I've done that. What I need is something that at least has
the illusion of being new and exciting...a movie.
If you don't feel like taking out a second mortgage to go to
the theater, take advantage of the warm summer nights and hit
the drive-in. With all the snowbirds safely back at home, you
can even get out on the streets without some guy from Montana
swerving across the center line in front of you. The drive-in
always has the newest movies along with the best drink deal in
town--bring your own.
For early afternoon ennui, take advantage of the bargain matinees
at Cineplex Odeon and Syufy theaters. See a new blockbuster before
your nap, or bring a friend out to lunch afterwards with the
money you're saving. Best of all, while theater tickets may cost
a little more, they provide you with an irreplacable treasure
during those hot summer days--air conditioning, breath of the
gods.
See film times in the Review section for a complete list of summer
movies opening this week.
Tuesday 13
LEND ME A TENOR. When Tito Morelli, world-famous opera
tenor (a Pavorotti type), goes to Cleveland to play Otello, he
runs into a little trouble at his hotel. Consequently, he doesn't
make the curtain call on the biggest night of the Cleveland Grand
Opera. No problem, Max can fill in. After all, it's Cleveland.
Max is just your average opera worker (whatever that means), but
when Morelli becomes mysteriously indisposed, the unsuspecting
Max is forced to don the costume of Otello and save the evening.
But when Morelli becomes somehow un-indisposed, two Otellos end
up running around Cleveland on their way to the opera.
"It's very enlightened and a lot of fun," says director
Doug Finlayson of UA Repertory Theatre's summer production, Lend
Me A Tenor. Since 1989, the Tony award-winning play by Ken
Ludwig has been produced throughout the world in eight languages.
"The cast of eight is mainly graduate students, with one
local guest artist, Susan Mullen," Finlayson says. Mullen
was last seen as Alice in METAtheatre's Blue Window.
Tickets for tonight's 8 o'clock preview are $7. Production continues
through June 18, with evening performances at 8 p.m. and 2 o'clock
weekend matinees. Tickets range from $8 to $12. Call 621-1162
for reservations and information.
Wednesday 14
WALK ON THE WILD SIDE. Phantom Gallery, that ethereal
assortment of downtown arts district spaces spontaneously converted
to sidewalk gallery displays, highlights your urban stroll with
new artists for the month of June. View abstract paintings and
wood sculpture by Helen Spence at 47 E. Pennington St., or learn
about the history of buildings in the Warehouse District at the
photographic exhibit at 38 E. Congress St. Artist Julie Riggs
searches for the female archetype through fiber sculpture, on
display at 110 S. Church Ave. And stop in for an iced mocha or
latte at Not Just Java, 149 N. Stone Ave., where Helen Spence's
"Desert Coyote" watches intently over all. For more
information on the Phantom Gallery program, call 624-9977.
Cutlines:
Photo 1: "Woman in the Window," tile by Andrew Rush,
is part of Tucson Collection '95, continuing through July
22 at Davis Dominguez Gallery, 6812 N. Oracle Road.
Photo 2: "Milagro for the Leg," by Justine Mantor
Clarysse, stands among an eclectic body of works in the Sixth
Biennial Seven State Juried Exhibition, continuing through
July 8 at Dinnerware Gallery, 135 E. Congress St.
Photo 3: "The Harvest Mother," by Julie Riggs, appears
in the Phantom Gallery space at 110 S. Church Ave.
Photo 4: "The Black Chair," by Charles Ulrich, highlights
Big Summer Show, continuing through June 30 at Local 803 Artisans
Gallery, 803 E. Helen St.
Photo 5: Say "ahhh": East West Best performers bend
over backwards to thrill audiences with The Dragon, June
8 and 9 at UA Centennial Hall.
June 8 - June 14, 1995
