Tucson Weekly: City Week (June 26

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Thursday 26

SO HAPPY ALONE. The UA Opera Theatre continues a proud tradition with its production of Franz Lehár's the merry widow.
City Week The widow in question is hardly spending dark days adorned in black. Instead she's enjoying both her freedom and the wealth left behind by her elderly banker husband. Money in hand, she journeys to Paris to look up an old suitor, and plenty of amusement and amoré ensue.
"Basically, it's a love story," says director Charles Roe, "with lots of great, lighthearted comedy."
Performed in English, and backed by a full orchestra conducted by Gregg Hanson, the comedy includes such famous little ditties as "Merry Widow Waltz" and "Villia," along with dancing and lavish costumes.
Curtain is 8 p.m. today through Saturday, with a 3 o'clock matinee Monday in Crowder Hall, located in the UA Music Building at the south end of the pedestrian underpass on Speedway, east of Park Avenue. Tickets are $12, $10 for UA employees, $6 for students and seniors, available by calling 621-1162.
ALTERNATIVE SCENERY. The UA summer video-fest Videotensions continues courageously, charting new frontiers with its "Landscaping for the Year 2000" series.
This week's installment, VideoQUEER, celebrates local pride week with a handful of works by and about gays and lesbians, detailing their own reaction to the impending millennium.
The free screening starts at 7:30 p.m. in the UA Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Building auditorium (AME Room 202), located on the northeast corner of Mountain Avenue and Speedway. For details, call 621-7352.

Friday 27

LOWDOWN FELINES. The gut-wrenching growl of hard times gets a thorough airing when the Blues Kats perform tonight. featuring Arthur Migliazza on piano and Joe Martinez on bass, the band pumps out jazz, blues, funk, gospel and boogie woogie, all showcased on their new CD, Funja.
Free show runs from 7 to 9 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, located in the Foothills Mall, 7325 N. La Cholla Blvd. For information, call 742-6402.
WRITE ON. Gay pride takes a literary tack, when Antigone Books presents poetry and short fiction readings by a top-notch roster of local authors. See the Media Mix column for more information. writers include Melanie Cooley, Barbara Cully, Karen Falkenstrom, Charles Gillespie, Nancy Mendoza, Jacqueline Raphael and Boyer Rickel. and Tucson pianist Jonathan Brown will perform original compositions before and after the readings.
Free event begins at 7 p.m. at Antigone Books, 411 N. Fourth Ave. For information, call 792-3715.

Saturday 28

TOP HOPS. High altitudes and the finest brews combine soaring forces when the Arizona Aerospace Foundation presents a flight line beer tasting.
All the action takes place in the shadows of the vintage WW II aviation behemoths populating the Pima Air and Space Museum, against an appropriate backdrop of '40s music. Proceeds will go towards construction of the Challenger Learning Center, which will provide a hands-on math and science curriculum, and flight simulator experiences for southern Arizona kids.
Then comes the beer--more than 20 Arizona distributors and makers will be represented at this over-the-tap fundraiser.
Event runs from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Pima Air and Space Museum, 6000 E. Valencia Road. Tickets are $35, $20 for foundation members, available by calling 574-0462.
TRAIL DUST FOLLIES. Old Tucson Studios and a coalition of local gay and lesbian groups present Gay West, a fundraiser for the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation and other non-profit organizations.
The action will include park rides, country dancing under the stars, a cowboy cookout and a performance by the Desert Voices Chorus. On display will be 100 Families/One Family, a photo-documentary exhibit of local families.
Event runs from 6 p.m. to midnight at Old Tucson Studios, 201 S. Kinney Road. Advance tickets are $10, $8 for children four to 12 years old, available by calling 883-0100. Tickets are $2 more at the door.

Sunday 29

CLASSICAL CLUB. Endless Melody is on the agenda when the Tucson Musical Arts Club presents a performance of Brahms.
Works will include "Liebeslieder," featuring soprano Barbara Pritchard, mezzo soprano Marilyn Poppino, tenor Stan Kruggel and baritone James Shafer. Sandy Weber will follow with the Clarinet Sonata, and tenor Alexander Britain will lend his considerable chords to various selections. Proceeds go to the club's scholarship program.
Concert is 4 p.m. in the Unity Church, 3617 N. Camino Blanco. A $5 donation is requested. For details, call 795-4921.
DECADE OF DANCE. Ballet Folklorico San Juan celebrates 10 years afoot with a lively anniversary performance. composed of dancers ranging in age from four to 25, the group's spectacular shows have drawn an international cadre of fans throughout the Southern United States and Mexico.
This outing will feature dances from 10 regions in Mexico, along with their brilliant, traditional costumes. The group Mariachi Los Gallos is also slated to appear.
Show is 3 p.m. in the TCC Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. Tickets are $8, $5 for children ages 12 and under, available at the TCC box office and Dillard's. Call 544-9543 for information.
SABINO OR BUST. You've probably heard the rumors that those honchos running Sabino Canyon are about to slap a larger fee on folks who enjoy cruising the desert concourse. thus, we recommend that you beat the bums' rush and enjoy the canyon's lovely, shaded nooks and crannies now--before you're forced to cough up some extra cash, as in $2 for simply stepping inside the gate.
Right now, you can hike the trails for free, ride the tram for $5, or just mingle in the parking lot with Midwestern old-timers. In any case, you'd best enjoy this southern Arizona treasure before it becomes a federal treasure chest.
Sabino Canyon is open 24 hours. Tram hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for the lower canyon, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the upper canyon. Call 749-8700 for details.

Monday 30

FUNK-FEST. They get way-down in their steamin' hometown, and according to some, are the best r&b band around.
We're talking none other than Funky Bonz, the regular Monday night band at the Chicago Bar.
And at least one thing's for sure: Chicago bartender Alison Preslar digs 'em big-time: "They are so good," she says breathlessly between pouring brews. "Definitely, they got the funk, and it's great dance music with a sax, drummer and bass. Then they do this awesome calypso reggae stuff. I think everybody should come check these guys out."
Funky Bonz hits the stage at 9:30 p.m. in the Chicago Bar, 5954 E. Speedway. Best of all, there's no cover. Call 748-8169 for information.
DESERT WINDS. It's been said that classical music soothes the torched soul. if that's true, then the Sirocco Wind Quintet offers downright sanctuary with an evening performance at Border's Books and Music, 4235 N. Oracle Road.
On the musical roster are Reicha's Bläserquintett in E flat, Ibert's Trois Pieces Breves, and McBride's Fanfare for Young People. That's in addition to several modern and Dixieland pieces.
Free performance is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Call 292-1331 for information.

Tuesday 1

HIGH ROLLERS. What do you get when you combine mighty refrigeration, plenty of grown-ups and music ranging from the doors to Tommy Dorsey? None other than adult night at Skate Country North, a time-honored Tucson summer refuge for the long-toothed set on down.
"We really draw a mix of folks," says assistant manager Cindy Perez. "And we also get a mix of music, since it's by request, everything from oldies-but-goodies to Top 40." And though you have to be at least 18 to hit the floor, there are no upper-age limits. "Just to let you know, my mother's been here a few times," Perez says, "and she's 68."
Adult night runs from 8 to 10:30 p.m. in Skate Country North, 2700 N. Stone Ave. Admission is $3.75, skates are $1.75, and a full snack bar is available. Call 622-6650 for details.
JURASSIC REDUX. Just when you thought it was safe to venture into the lost world, the UA Flandrau Science Center smacks you over the head with a new laser light show, Dinosaur Chronicles.
"It traces the earliest eras of dinosaurs, and suggests how they became extinct," says Flandrau student staffer Beth Haynes. "It's pretty neat, with lots of great info about each period."
And although this is an all-ages show, the initial scene could ruffle young feathers, "especially if the little kids don't expect to see a dinosaur roaring at them right off the bat," Haynes says.
Show time is 1:30 p.m. daily through August 8 in the Flandrau Science Center, located on the UA mall at Cherry Avenue. Admission is $4. For details, call 621-7827.

Wednesday 2

BARRIO ASUNDER. In Bernardo Solano's Dominion, a violent incident in East L.A. catapults one neighborhood into the national spotlight. Before long, the explosive story is thoroughly media-wrenched, until the line between reality and sensational fantasy completely disappears.
At the same time, the community wrestles to understand itself, raising more troubling questions than it answers.
Far-fetched? Hardly. Presented by the Borderlands Theater, Dominion is based on the true story of a white family who strays into a Latino neighborhood late one night, where their child is tragically shot. The press immediately claims the incident exemplifies "urban lawlessness."
Dominion previews today and tomorrow at 8 p.m. in the PCC Black Box Theatre, 2202 W. Anklam Road. Tickets are $8, $6 for students, and available at Antigone Books, the PCC West Campus cashier, Yoly's Music Shop, Borderlands Theater office, or by calling 882-7406.
Opening celebration performance is 8 p.m. Saturday, July 5. Tickets are $15 (including the post-performance reception), $12 for general admission, and $6 for student-rush tickets, available 15 minutes prior to show time. Continuing performances are at 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday, through July 13. For information, call 882-7406.

City Week includes events selected by Calendar Editor Tim Vanderpool. Event information is accurate as of press time. The Weekly recommends calling event organizers to check for last-minute changes in location, time, price, etc. To have material considered, please send complete information at least 11 days prior to the Thursday issue date to: Tucson Weekly, P.O. Box 2429, Tucson, Arizona 85702, or fax information to 792-2096, or email us at listings@tucsonweekly.com.

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