Arts Briefs (1/9)

Valley Youth Theatre classes start Saturday

The winter session of classes runs Jan. 10 through March 6 at Valley Youth Theatre, 525 N. First St. For details or to register, call (602) 253-8188, ext. 312, or visit www.VYT.com.

Valley Youth Theatre, entering its 20th season, offers a groundbreaking program that allows members of the cast and crew to earn $300 for each production that will be held in an account and used to attend post-secondary school. When the performer turns 18 and enters college, the money will be distributed throughout his or her college career.

David Copperfield tickets go on sale Jan. 12

David Cooperfield will present an intimate evening of "Grand Illusion" Feb. 20 and 21 at Arizona State University's Gammage Auditorium, 1200 S. Forest Ave., Tempe, and tickets go on sale Monday, Jan. 12.

Tickets, $19.25 to $52.50, will be available at the ASU Gammage Box Office and through Ticketmaster.

Irish Social Dancing

The Irish Cultural Center, 1106 N. Central Ave., presents Ceili's (Irish social dancing) at 7 p.m. on the second and third Friday of the month (Jan. 9 and 16). Enjoy Irish social dancing in a relaxed atmosphere with live music and dance lessons. Admission is $6 for adults, free for children under 12 (two with each paid admission).

Ceili dance workshops are offered on the third Saturday of most months from 1 to 3 p.m. for beginning and advanced dancers. Admission is $16 for adults and $2 for kids under 12. RSVPs are required.

For further information or to RSVP, call (602) 258-0109 or visit www.azirish.org.

Orpheum Theatre looking for volunteers

The Friends of the Orpheum Theatre are looking for men and women over age 18 interested in volunteer opportunities at the historic Orpheum Theatre in downtown Phoenix. Volunteers are needed as ushers, docents and for retail cart sales.

The next scheduled training date is Sunday, Jan. 18, at 1 p.m. at the theater, 203 W. Adams St. in Phoenix. Free tours of the theater will be offered at noon and 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20.

For more information, call (602) 257-4300, e-mail info@friendsoftheorpheumtheatre.org or visit www.friendsoftheorpheumtheatre.org.

Ballet Arizona presents Romeo & Juliet for Valentine's Day

Ballet Arizona kicks 2009 off with Romeo & Juliet, a Valentine's Day special. This awe-inspiring performance is choreographed by artistic director Ib Andersen with live music performed by The Phoenix Symphony. Enjoy this lavish production Feb. 12 to 15 at Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second St.

Tickets range from $15 to $117, and discounts are offered for children, students, seniors, K-12 teachers, military and groups of 10 or more. Tickets can be purchased by calling (602) 381-1096, in person at the box office (9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday) or through all Ticketmaster outlets and online at www.ticketmaster.com/baz.

Almost Famous 48-hour film challenge

The Almost Famous Film Festival (A3F) will kick-off its Fifth Annual 48 Hour Short Film Challenge Feb. 20 to 22. In just five years, the A3F has become the most popular film challenge in Arizona and one of the largest timed film events in the country. The celebrated Top 20 public screenings have sold out each year with more than 2,000 indie-film enthusiasts cheering on the filmmakers and over $10,000 being awarded as prizes and giveaways.

Recently added as a judge for the upcoming challenge includes Chris Leps, Hollywood actor, stuntman and filmmaker. Leps has appeared in over 22 feature films, including The Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy, National Treasure 2 and the upcoming sequel to Transformers. Leps'  documentary, Ed and Vern Rock Store, premiered at A3F's International Film Festival 2008.

Registration is $40 through Jan. 31 and $50 by Feb. 20.

A public screening will be held March 5 at Arizona Center AMC 24 Theatres.

For more information, visit www.thea3f.net.

Cinderella Youth Development Scholarship Pageant workshop

The second Southeast Valley Cinderella Youth Development Scholarship Pageant will be held Sunday, Feb. 8, and free workshops to prepare will begin at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25 at the Pecos Community Center, 17010 S. 48th St.

The full-day event Feb. 8 is open to all girls ages 3 to 26 and starts off with a baby pageant for ages 0 to 35 months. The rest of the day will be spent modeling, interviewing and showing off personal talents. A panel of judges will select the winner in each division: Cinderella Tot (ages 3 to 6); Cinderella Miniature Miss (ages 7 to 9); Cinderella Miss (ages 10 to 12); Cinderella Teen (ages 13 to 17); and Cinderella Woman (ages 18 to 26). All girls who enter will receive participation awards and invitations to attend the State Finals.

For more information about the Cinderella Scholarship Program or the free workshops, contact

Andrea Fynan at (602) 469-2287 or fynangirls@aol.com, Kimberly Brown at (480) 236-1169 or fantixs@msn.com or visit www.arizonacinderella.com.

Live Met Opera series returns

The new series features live transmissions of five new productions, including one Met premiere. Each live performance will be followed by an evening encore presentation the second Wednesday after the live performance.

Locally, this season's Met Opera series will be showing at AMC Ahwatukee 24, 4915 E. Ray Road.

The remaining schedule is as follows: Jan. 21, encore presentation of La Rondine: Jan. 24, Orfeo Ed Euridice - Feb. 4, encore presentation; Feb. 7, Lucia di Lammermoor - Feb. 18, encore presentation: March 7, Madama Butterfly - March 18, encore presentation; March 21, La Sonnambula - April 1, encore presentation; and May 9, La Cenerentola - May 20, encore presentation.

For details on the operas, visit the Met's Web site at www.metopera.org/hd. For ticket information, visit www.FathomEvents.com.

Childsplay productions

Childsplay, Arizona's professional theatre company for young audiences, has announced its 2008-09 Season at the Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe. Childsplay is offering eight productions for the public through June 2009 that includes one world premiere, two old favorites, three regional premieres, three musicals and seven page-to-stage adaptations.

The season will include: Busytown, Jan. 18 preview at 4 p.m., runs Jan. 24 to Feb. 21, 2009; Rock, Paper, Scissors, Feb. 28 preview at 1 p.m., runs Feb. 28 to March 8; Ferdinand the Bull, March 14 preview at 1 p.m., runs March 14 to April 5; The Neverending Story, April 19 preview at 4 p.m., runs April 25 to May 17; and Peter and the Wolf, May 31 preview at 4 p.m., runs June 6 to 21.

For information, visit www.childsplayaz.org. or call (480) 350-2822.

Music in the Garden Winter Concert Series

The Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, will host Sunday concerts from noon to 2 p.m. on the Ullman Terrace, featuring some the Valley's premier musicians.

Schedule: Jan. 18, Mex-Sal (salsa); Jan. 25, Try Me Bicycle (folk rock); Feb. 1, Novo Mundo (Brazilian world); Feb. 8, Back Porch Bandits (bluegrass); and Feb. 22, Lyra (classical guitar and violin).

General seating tickets are $14 for members, $20 for non-members, $8 for children ages 3 to 12 and free for ages 2 and younger. Ticket price includes Garden admission. Advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended.

For more information or to purchase tickets, go online to www.dbg.org, call (480) 481-8188 or visit the box office.

Jewish Film Festival focuses on sophisticated audiences

The 2009 East Valley Jewish Film Festival offers cinematic gems featuring sports, history, Holocaust themes and current worldwide forces.

The following films will be screened at the Pollack Tempe Cinemas, 1825 E. Elliot Road, Tempe: Sunday, Jan. 18, The Counterfeiters, 3 and 6:30 p.m., speaker is Rabbi Irwin Wiener; Sunday, Jan. 25, Nowhere In Africa, 3 and 6:30 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 8, Constantine's Sword, 3 and 6:30 p.m., speaker is Rabbi Bonnie Koppell; and Sunday, Feb. 15, The Little Traitor, 3 p.m. only.

Tickets for a single film are $9 each; four-film packages are $32.

For more information, call (480) 802-9391.

Nights at North

The Nights at North evening series will run Wednesdays Jan. 21 through April 1 at the Heard Museum North Scottsdale, 32633 N. Scottsdale Road, featuring wine and hors d'oeuvre pairings and expert speakers. A reception will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the program at 6:30 p.m. each week.

On the schedule: Jan. 21, About Angel De Cora; Jan. 28, Apache Playing Cards; Feb. 4, Connections to Southwest Basketry; Feb. 11, Arizona Curio Dealers; Feb. 18, Navajo Photography; Feb. 25, Mothers and Daughters: Stories in Clay; March 4, Hohokam Arts & Culture; March 11, Inspirations of a Jeweler; March 18, History of the Heard Museum; March 25, Current Navajo Weaving Trends; and April 1, American Indian Fetish Carving.

For more information or to make a reservation (recommended, not required), call (602) 251-0209, ext. 6406, (480) 488-9817 or visit www.heard.org/north.

AZ Young Artists Competition

The Herberger Theater Center and Center Dance Ensemble recognize aspiring performing artists between the ages of 16 and 20 during the Eighth Annual Arizona Young Artists Competition at the Herberger Theater Center. Four finalists in the categories of acting, modern dance and voice are selected by qualified judges from preliminary auditions. A $1,000 cash prize is awarded in each discipline at the final competition.

The preliminary competition takes place over a three-day period from March 24 to 26, a day each reserved for actors, singers and modern dancers. Four students are selected from each discipline to compete in the Arizona Young Artists' Finals on Saturday, March 28, at the Herberger Theater Center. 

For details on how to enter the competition, visit www.herbergertheater.org/youth_outreach_programs.

ASU Art Museum upcoming exhibitions and events

The Arizona State University Art Museum, located at Tenth Street and Mill Avenue in Tempe, continues to present contemporary art with exhibitions in all media by regional and international, emerging and established artists.

Upcoming schedule:

- Jan. 24 through April 26, Breathing is Free: 12,756.3 - The First 1,500, New Work by Jun Nguyen-Hatsushiba. Artist performance: Jan. 20 to 30. Artist performance reception: Feb. 20, 7 to 9 p.m.

- Through Jan. 25, ASU Herberger College School of Art Faculty Exhibition.

- Through Jan. 25, Nadia Hironaka: The Late Show.

- Feb. 14 through May 16, Eden Revisited: The Ceramic Art of Kurt Weiser. Reception: Feb. 20, 7 to 9 p.m. Friday Conversations in the Gallery: Feb. 20, 11 a.m., local artist Kurt Weiser.

- Feb. 17 through July 26, Social Studies: Project 4. Artist in residence. Reception: Feb. 20, 7 to 9 p.m. 

- Through Feb. 28, Midstream: New Ceramics from the Heartland.

- March 21 through May 30, NCECA Clay National, 43rd Annual NCECA Conference, April 8 to 11, Ceramic Interface: From Dawn to Digital.

- March 28 through May 31, Potters on Paper: Selections from the Collection. Reception: April 9, 5 to 7 p.m.

- April 2009, 13th Annual ASU Art Museum Short Film and Video Festival. Date to be announced, check Web site for details http://asuartmuseum.asu.edu/filmfest.

- May 16 through Aug. 30, 10th Annual Summer Family Exhibition, Food: Feasts for the Eyes from the Permanent Collection. Family Fun Day: July 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The ASU Art Museum is part of the Herberger College of the Arts at Arizona State University. Entry is free. Hours are 11 a.m.  to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and until 9 p.m. Tuesday during the academic year, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, call (480) 965-2787 or visit the museum online at http://asuartmuseum.asu.edu.

www.mc.maricopa.edu/community/outback.

A Ludwig Dance Theatre reaching out to new audiences

A Ludwig Dance Theatre tickets are now on sale at Tempe Center for the Arts for the April performances.

Festival 2009 will include the continuation of the collaborative community project, Glass Blocks/Steel Bars and A Ludwig's whimsical mixture of dance, music, food and politics in The Cheese Stands Alone. 

Also, A Ludwig Dance Theatre is reaching out to high schools by having special performances of Glass Blocks/Steel Bars. The content is appropriate for high school students who might find themselves in a place that requires fast thinking and responsible decisions. Sponsors are needed to cover costs of student attendance and transportation, and arrangements may be made by e-mailing High School Project Director Stefanie Beeth at sbeeth@aludwigdance.org.

Festival 2009 will be held April 16 to 19 at the Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway. Curtain times are Thursday, April 16, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, April 17, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, April 19, at 2 p.m. All seating is reserved. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18  for seniors and  $15 for students.

For tickets, call (480) 350-2822 or visit www.tca.ticketforce.com. For more information, visit www.aludwigdance.org.

Phoenix Symphony offerings

The 2008-09 season for The Phoenix Symphony includes the Classics, Pops and Family series, as well as the inaugural Target World Music Festival and superstar performers such as Joshua Bell, Lang Lang and Doc Severinsen.

Season highlights include Doc Severinsen - El Ritmo de la Vida (Jan. 30 to Feb. 1), Stravinsky: The Firebird (Feb. 19 to 21), Mahler: Symphony No. 4 (April 9 and 11), Carmina Burana (April 23 and 25), A Salute to Rodgers & Hammerstein (May 15 to 17) and Joshua Bell in Concert (May 23). The season also offers a number of unique offerings such as puppeteer Basil Twist performing in Stravinsky: Petrushka (Nov. 6 to 8), the audience-favorite Bugs Bunny on Broadway (Jan. 3 and 4) and the energetic string trio Time for Three performing on Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances (April 2 to 4).

More information is available online at www.phoenixsymphony.org, and a free concert guide detailing the season is available by calling the box office at (602) 495-1999.

Childsplay invites students to experience theater magic

Childsplay, Arizona's professional theater company for young audiences and families, announces the 2009 Spring Academy class schedule. Childsplay Academy offers theater classes for young people ages 18 months through 18 years. All classes take place at the Sybil B. Harrington Campus for Imagination and Wonder at Mitchell Park, 900 S. Mitchell Drive, Tempe. All classes are taught by professional teaching artists.

Spring break sessions are offered March 9 to 13 and March 16 to 20. The spring break classes are one week long and will workshop The Lion King. Each class will have a sharing for families on the final day of class.

For more information and to register online, visit www.childsplayaz.org or call (480) 921-5751 for a brochure.

Valley Youth Theatre's 20th anniversary season

Remaining shows in Valley Youth Theatre's anniversary season include: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Jan. 23 to Feb. 8; Seussical The Musical, March 6 to 22; and Geppetto and Son, By Stephen Schwartz, An Arizona Premiere, May 1 to 17.

For ticket information, visit www.VYT.com and download a form or call (602) 253-8188, ext. 309.

Broadway season at ASU Gammage

Remaining shows in Arizona State University Gammage's 2008-09 M&I Bank Broadway Across America - Arizona season include Disney's The Lion King, through Feb. 8; Frost/Nixon starring Stacy Keach, March 31 to April 5; and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, June 16 to 21.

M&I Bank Broadway Across America - Arizona special engagements during the 2008-09 season include Rent, March 17 to 22, 2009; Cats, April 7 to 12; Stomp, May 5 to 10; and Wicked, July 1 to 26.

For more information or tickets, visit the box office, www.asugammage.com, Ticketmaster locations, www.ticketmaster.com or call (480) 784-4444.

Chandler Symphony Orchestra performances

The Chandler Symphony Orchestra (formerly the San Marcos Symphony) will perform concerts at the Chandler Center for the Arts, 205 N. Arizona Ave., at 8 p.m. Feb. 6, 3 p.m. March 29 and 3 p.m. May 10.

All of the concerts are free. Donations are accepted to help defray operating costs.

For information, call the box office at (480) 782-2680.

String orchestra musicians needed

An East Valley String Orchestra is forming. There are no auditions.

For more information, call Linda at (480) 895-5150.

Phoenix Chorale

Remaining performances for the Phoenix Chorale's 2008-09 50th anniversary season include "Sing to Love" (Feb. 14), "With the Kansas City Chorale" (Feb. 21, 22, and March 1), Festival of the Male Voice, "Boys to Men VI" (Feb. 28) and "Amazing Grace" (April 25, 26, and May 3).

A new ticketing program is available for anyone 25 and under to attend any Phoenix Chorale concert for free. These seats are available starting 10 minutes before each performance and are subject to availability.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.phoenixchorale.org or call (602) 253-2224.

Desert Chordsmen ready for the asking

The Desert Chordsmen Barbershop Chorus of Sun Lakes has two quartets - Twilight Time and The Four-Gone-Conclusions - both of which are available to sing for your organization. Also, men looking for a special Valentine treat may request a quartet to sing for your special lady.

Currently, 25 men are in the chorus singing tenor, lead (the melody), baritone and bass. Men that enjoy singing are invited to join. On Monday evenings, between 6:30 and 9 p.m., the Desert Chordsmen gather at the Sun Lakes Health Center (southeast corner of Alma School and Riggs roads) to sing close (four-part) harmony.

For more information on having the chorus sing at your event, call Ron Young at (480) 895-3462 or Milt Eitreim at (480) 895-2668. To learn more about joining the chorus, give Norm Noble a call at (480) 802-3130.

Kerr Cultural Center's Chamber Music Series

Arizona State University's Kerr Cultural Center will continue its upcoming Chamber Music Series Feb. 8 with Music of the Southwest - featuring Arpeggio and Friends and concludes March 29 with Night in Vienna - featuring The Four Seasons Orchestra.

Performances begin at 3 p.m. at 6110 N. Scottsdale Road. Reserved tickets are $18 and $19, and general seating is $15. Student, senior, group and series rates are available.

For more information, call (480) 596-2660 or visit www.asukerr.com.