Arts Briefs (10/3)

Salt River Brass opens season with jazz singer Margo Reed

The Salt River Brass will open its 21st season at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, at the Chandler Center for the Arts with Windows of the World, a multi-cultural musical excursion featuring popular Phoenix jazz singer Margo Reed.

Billed as a musical tour of Europe, Asia and the Americas, the concert features Variations on a Korean Folk Song, Tchaikovsky's Capriccio Italien, Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody, Wagner's thrilling Ride of the Valkyries, and the title piece, Windows of the World - a musical journey through Japanese sun rises, African thunder and mysteries of the Amazon.

Reserved seating ticket prices range from $15 to $20 and are available at the Chandler Center for the Arts box office or by calling (480) 782-2680. The Chandler Center is located at 250 N. Arizona Ave. in Chandler. Parking is free.

Japanese Friendship Garden hosting Anime cartoon contest

The Japanese Friendship Garden is sponsoring an Anime cartoon contest, and Anime enthusiasts of all ages are encouraged to participate. Entries will be accepted from Oct. 1 to Nov. 2. Entry forms are available online at www.japanesefriendshipgarden.org and can be submitted at the following locations: Japanese Friendship Garden, 1125 N. 3rd Ave. (entries maybe submitted Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and Norton House, 2700 N. 15th Ave. (entries maybe submitted Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

Entries will be evaluated on the basis of originality, artistry and public appeal. Winning entries will be displayed at the Japanese Friendship Garden's gift shop and at Burton Barr Central Library's Teen Central and at other public events in Greater Phoenix during 2008 and 2009.

Sieben is featured artist at Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Artist Sharon Sieben paints to capture the beauty of Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park and the surrounding Sonoran Desert. Her works will be featured at the Arboretum's Visitor's Gallery during the month of October.

Visitors are invited to meet the guest artist at her gallery opening reception Sunday, Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park is located three miles west of historic Superior in the shadow of Picket Post Mountain.

For information, call (520) 689-2723 or visit http://ag.arizona.edu/bta.

72-hour film challenge set for Oct. 10

A3F Inc. is hosting the first "Almost Famous" 72-hour film challenge in downtown Phoenix beginning Friday, Oct. 10. The challenge is open to anyone with the desire to make a one- to seven-minute film in just three days, or 72 hours.

Guidelines consist of a theme, a prop and a line of dialogue which will be revealed at the kick-off party beginning at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at Majerle's in downtown Phoenix. Teams will then have the next three days to write a script, gather cast and crew, find locations, shoot and edit their film and turn it in 72 hours later. The challenge is open to amateurs, students, video hobbyists, filmmakers and professionals alike. Films will need to be submitted to A3F Inc. by Oct. 13th at Marjerle's. Registration is $50.

A public screening will take place Thursday, Oct. 23, at the Arizona Center AMC 24 Theatres.

For more information, visit www.thea3f.net.

Phoenix Boys Choir offers discounted tickets

The Phoenix Boys Choir is offering a 20% off sale the first two weeks that tickets go on sale. Tickets go on sale Oct. 13, and the sale runs until Oct. 26.

Regular ticket pricing is $25 for preferred seating, $20 general admission, $18  for seniors, $10 for youth, and $30 for all seats at the door.

From Oct. 13 to 26, discounted tickets will be available for $20 for preferred seating, $16 general admission, $14.50 for seniors and $8 for youth.

Tickets may be purchased by calling (602) 264-5328 or online at www.boyschoir.org.

Kerr Cultural Center offers wide variety

The Arizona State University Kerr Cultural Center's upcoming season of guest artists represent a variety of disciplines and hail from as close as Tempe to as far away as Russia. This year's guest artists series will include Connecting Communities as well as the return of some old favorites. As part of Rhythms of Live, guest performers will include Edward Herrmann, Michael Learned and Robert Picardo. After a very successful benefit last season, on Feb. 15 the second "Care for Kerr" benefit concert, Passions Large and Small, will feature internationally acclaimed saxophonist Joseph Wytko. A new series this season will be Four Seasons Chamber Series co-presented with Dr. Carolyn Broe. Sunday @ Kerr will return with a wonderful lineup.  

Returning this season will also be Jazz in Concert, co-presented with Jazz in Arizona and underwritten by The Jazzbird Foundation, including Dennis Rowland & the Extreme Decibel Big Band, The Divas and The Reed Family.

In addition to presenting a wide variety of performers, Kerr also hosts revolving visual art exhibits, the Tuesday morning Music & Tea Concert Series in conjunction with the ASU School of Music, the free Coffee at Kerr Series and an exciting variety of privately produced attractions. 

The intimate adobe studio is located at 6110 N. Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale. Tickets can also be purchased at ASU Gammage and through any Ticketmaster outlet.

For further information or to receive a season brochure, call the ASU Kerr Cultural Center at (480) 596-2660.

VYT sets auditions for ‘A Winnie the Pooh Christmas Tail'

Valley Youth Theatre (VYT) will hold auditions for A Winnie the Pooh Christmas Tail at 4 p.m. Oct. 14 and 16 at 525 N. First St.

Based on the beloved stories by A.A. Milne, A Winnie the Pooh Christmas Tail has become a holiday tradition for the thirteen years VYT has produced it.

Auditioners should bring a photo with name, age, address and phone number on the back (school photos or home snapshots are accepted); bring sheet music and perform one song or ballad (accompaniment is provided); be prepared for a cold reading of the script; bring a performing arts resume or a list of prior performances, experience or special skills (if applicable); dress in appropriate dance attire (changing areas provided); and bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated during the audition process.

Performances will be held Dec. 5 to 23. Those selected will be required to attend all rehearsals, typically Monday through Thursday evenings, all day Saturday and daily beginning the week prior to show opening. Two school-day performances are scheduled for Dec. 11 and 18.

For more information, call (602) 253-8188, ext. 4, or visit www.VYT.com.

Auditions coming up for Great Russian Nutcracker

The Moscow Ballet Company will hold auditions for the "Great Russian Nutcracker" from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at Tempe Dance Academy, 1840 E. Warner Road, Suite 132, Tempe.

Roles being cast include 12 snowflakes, ages 6 to 8, with a minimum of one year ballet; 16 angels, ages 8 to 10, with a minimum of two years ballet; 10 party children, ages 8 to 12, with a minimum of two years ballet; 12 mice, ages 10 to 14, with a minimum of three years ballet; 8 little variations, ages 6 to 10, with a minimum of two years ballet; 4 butterflies, ages 13 and up, with a minimum of two years on pointe; and 6 advanced variations, ages 13 and up, with a minimum of two years on pointe.

All costumes will be supplied by the Moscow Ballet Company. Rehearsals will be held at Tempe Dance Academy, and the performance will be at the Dodge Theatre on Dec. 23.

For more information, call (480) 820-0795.

Acting techniques workshop

Improbable Theatre Company is offering an acting techniques workshop from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 20 and 21 at the Burton Barr Library, Nina Mason Pulliam Auditorium, 1221 N. Central Ave.

During this two-day workshop, local director Joshua Yeatts will take the both accomplished and aspiring actors through a series of exercises and activities to help with character development and stage performance.

For more information or to RSVP, leave a message at (602) 296-0503 or email info@improbabletheatrecompany.org.

Learn "how to get the part" from Hollywood insiders

Two Hollywood insiders are coming to the Valley to let aspiring young actors in on the secrets to breaking into showbiz. Susie Mains, a top Los Angeles representative for kids and young adults, and LaTanya Potts, a well-renowned casting director, will hold a workshop on Sunday, Oct. 26, at VOICES: a music & arts studio in north Scottsdale. The "how to get the part" workshop will reveal insider tips for commercial, television and film work, understanding how to nail auditions and offering tips on script reading while providing critiques in one-on-one sessions.

The workshop for kids ages 8 to 12 and their parents will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the session for teens 13 to 18 and their parents will be from 2 to 6 p.m. The cost is $175 per person, $150 if paid by Oct. 15. Participants are required to bring three headshots and a resume.

For more information, call (480) 905-4102 or visit www.voicesstudio.com.

Phoenix Chorale announces 50th anniversary season

Offerings for the 2008-09 50th anniversary Phoenix Chorale season begin with a concert entitled "Retro: Then & Now," featuring music from the first public performances of the Phoenix Chorale in 1958. In honor of the 50th anniversary, Artistic Director Charles Bruffy has programmed music from the Chorale's five-decade history throughout the season. 

On the schedule: "Retro Concert: Then & Now" (Oct. 25, 26, and Nov. 2), "Home for the Holidays" (Dec. 18 to 21), 50th Anniversary Gala, "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.

Arizona Opera Week

Arizona Opera Week started Sept. 28, bringing together Arizona Opera, Phoenix Art Museum, Children's Museum of Phoenix and Herberger Theater Center for a week-long exploration of opera featuring engaging and interactive programs for children and adults.

For more information, contact Colin at (602) 218-7323 or colin@azopera.com.

Fabulous fall at the DBG

A variety of activities are offered for everyone to enjoy at Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway:

- Mariposa Monarca - Monarch Butterfly Exhibit / Marshall Butterfly Pavilion through Nov. 2. Reservations are required for tagging by e-mailing monarchs@dbg.org or calling (480) 481-8128.

- Fall Plant Sale, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 18 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 19. No admission fee to enter the Fall Plant Sale.

- Spirit of the Saguaro / Ottosen Gallery, through Oct. 19.

- The Great Pumpkin Festival, 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 24 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 25 and 26.

- Ottosen Entry Garden, Opens in November.

For additional information, call (480) 941-1225 or visit www.dbg.org.

Playhouse Disney Live!

Playhouse Disney Live!, the first live touring stage production featuring favorite characters from four shows in Disney Channel's popular Playhouse Disney program block for preschoolers, is coming to US Airways Center Oct. 2 and 3. Show time is 7 p.m. both nights.

The show spotlights characters from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins, Handy Manny and My Friends Tigger & Pooh.

Tickets, $20 to $35, are available at www.playhousedisneylive.com, Ticketmaster locations, www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (480) 784-4444.

Community audition for New Year's Eve Gala vocalist

Win a chance to sing the role of "Christine" from Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. The Phoenix Symphony is hosting a statewide competition for the opportunity to sing at its annual New Year's Eve Gala.

The vocal competition is open to female Arizona residents ages 8 through 18 years old. Semi-finalists and finalists will perform in front of a panel of celebrity judges. The winner of the competition will perform All I Ask of You live with The Phoenix Symphony and Franc D'Ambrosio, the "World's Longest Running ‘Phantom.'" A fellowship will be awarded to the winner, including season tickets to The Phoenix Symphony Classics Concerts series, a monetary gift and vocal coaching sessions. Entries are being accepted through Oct. 8.

For detailed contest information and official entry form, visit www.phoenixsymphony.org.

P.F. Chang's Rock ‘n' Roll Marathon seeking bands

As the P.F. Chang's Rock ‘n' Roll Arizona Marathon and Half Marathon approaches, event organizers are placing a public call for local bands to perform at the sixth annual event on Jan. 18. Bands selected will play live to an audience of more than 30,000 runners and walkers on one of 40 entertainment stages positioned along each mile of the 26.2 and 13.1-mile courses. 

All submissions must be received by Oct. 10. Send a CD or tape, bio information and a photo to: Entertainment Solutions, Inc., Attn: Carolyn Reyes, 7542 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale, 85251.

For race information or to download a course band application, visit www.rnraz.com.

Alice Cooper's Christmas Pudding

Join Alice and friends as they celebrate the holidays with a fun-filled mix of music, comedy, dancing and unique performances at Alice Cooper's Christmas Pudding, set for Dec. 13 at the Dodge Theatre, 400 W. Washington St.

The event brings out the best talent and personalities from around the country, with a little something for everyone. All proceeds from the event will benefit Solid Rock, a nonprofit whose goal is to honor Christ by helping to meet the spiritual, economical, physical and special needs of teens and children within the community.

Visit www.alicepudding.com for ticket information and concert updates.

Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre announces 2008-09 schedule

The Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, located at 5247 E. Brown Road in Mesa, will offer the following performances this season: All Shook Up, Oct. 2 to Nov. 15; Holly Jolly Christmas, Nov. 20 to Dec. 25; The Best Little Whorehose in Texas, Dec. 31 to Feb. 14, 2009; Singin' in the Rain, Feb. 19 to April 11; Ring of Fire, April 16 to May 30; High School Musical, June 4 to Aug. 1; and Mid-Life! The Crisis Musical, Aug. 6 to Sept. 26.

For more information, call (480) 325-6700 or visit www.BroadwayPalmWest.com.

Valley chefs serve up dishes to support the arts

Dine Out with the Chefs: A Celebration of the Culinary Arts will be held 4 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St.

Advance tickets are available for $75 through the box office at (480) 994-ARTS (2787). Tickets at the door are $85. Proceeds will benefit the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts' youth education and outreach programs.

Live Met Opera series returns

The new series features live transmissions of five new productions, including one Met premiere. Each live performance, with the exception of the Opening Night Gala, 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 planned schedule is as follows: 

- Oct. 11, Salome. Oct. 22, encore presentation.

- Nov. 8, Doctor Atomic. Nov. 19, encore presentation.

- Nov. 22, La Damnation de Faust. Dec. 3, encore presentation.

- Dec. 20, Thaïs. Jan. 7, encore presentation.

- Jan. 10, La Rondine. Jan. 21, encore presentation.

- 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.

- 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.

Chandler Symphony Orchestra season schedule

Following is the 2008-09 season schedule for the Chandler Symphony Orchestra (formerly the San Marcos Symphony). All performances will be held at the Chandler Center for the Arts, 205 N. Arizona Ave., except the Dec. 7 shows, which will take place at Sun Lakes United Methodist Church, 9248 E. Riggs Road. Performances will begin at 3 p.m. Oct. 12, 8 p.m. Nov. 7, 3 and 6 p.m. Dec. 7, 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.

14th Annual Palette of Homes Tour

The Palette of Homes Tour, a self-guided tour of homes located in the Phoenix Metropolitan area, will be held Sunday, Nov. 9.

Two tour options are available, and tickets for both Deluxe Dream Tour and Dream Tour may be purchased by calling (602) 258-8100.

For information, contact Elizabeth Curran at (602) 258-8100 or ecurran@freeartsaz.org or Cheryl Lutton at (480) 664-3960 or clutton@citieswestpub.com.

Sonoran Desert Chorale announces upcoming season

Marking its 15th anniversary season, the Sonoran Desert Chorale's 2008-09 season celebrates to a focus of "Peace, Love and Charity."

Performances: World Voices, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18, First United Methodist Church (FUMC), 15 E. First Ave., Mesa, and 3 p.m. Oct. 19, Camelback Bible Church (CBC), 3900 E. Stanford Drive, Paradise Valley; Peace on Earth, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13, FUMC, and 3 p.m. Dec. 14, CBC; A Mosaic of Sacred Song, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28, FUMC, and 3 p.m. March 1, CBC; and Peace, Love and Charity, 7:30 p.m. May 2, FUMC, and 3 p.m. May 3, CBC.

Tickets, $50 for adult packages and $40 for student and senior packages, are available by calling (480) 305-4538. Single tickets, $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors, may be purchased by calling (602) 765-1554. Tickets will also be available 30 minutes prior to the concert at the door.

Visit www.sonorandesertchorale.org for more information.

Phoenix Boys Choir concert series

The Phoenix Boys Choir's performances for the upcoming season include:

- Carols From Around The World - celebrate the holidays with traditional American holiday music and carols from countries around the world. 6:30 p.m. Dec. 15, American Lutheran Church of Sun City, 17200 Del Webb Blvd.; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19, Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Ikeda Theater; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20, Orpheum Theater, 203 W. Adams St.; and 5 p.m. Dec. 21, Chaparral Christian Church, 6451 E. Shea Blvd.

- 60th Anniversary Concert - features a commissioned piece by James DeMars with an appearance by R. Carlos Nakai, performing the traditional Native American flute. 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009, Chaparral Christian Church.

- When You Wish Upon A Star Spring Pops Concert - take a trip through the magical world of Disney and hear songs from your favorite childhood movies. 2 p.m. Sunday, May 10, Mesa Arts Center.

For more information, visit www.phoenixboyschoir.org.

Valley Youth Theatre's 20th anniversary season

Valley Youth Theatre will experience a 2008-09 season of "firsts." Five of the six productions have never been produced by VYT before. Now in its 20th anniversary season, this exciting lineup of five musicals and one Shakespearean comedy will take audiences on a journey over the high seas and to far off lands, each play an adventure through unknown worlds and classic tales.

The upcoming season includes: Treasure Island, A Musical Adventure, Oct. 10 to 26; A Winnie The Pooh Christmas Tail, Dec. 5 to 23; A Midsummer Night's Dream, Jan. 23 to Feb. 8, 2009; Seussical The Musical, March 6 to 22; and Geppetto and Son, By Stephen Schwartz, An Arizona Premiere, May 1 to 17.

Full season ticket packages and Pick-Your-Own Four packs are available now. To order, visit www.VYT.com and download a form or call (602) 253-8188, ext. 309.

Storytelling at CoffeeBuzz

South Mountain Community College Storytelling Institute Director LynnAnn Wojciechowicz is hosting a "Stories for Grownups" series from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Sundays at The CoffeeBuzz, 4804 E. Chandler Blvd., Suite 110.

The schedule is as follows: Oct. 5, The falling leaves drift by the window, the autumn leaves; Nov. 2, The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out; Dec. 7, Over the river and through the woods; Jan. 4, Should auld acquaintance be forgot; Feb. 1, All you need is love; Mar. 1, I like the flowers, I love the daffodils; April 5, April in Paris ... (or wherever); and May 3, M is for the million things she gave me.

Support your local storytellers! Bring your family and friends! Have a cup of coffee, an iced tea, Italian soda or a sandwich and relax in a cozy environment as you listen to an afternoon of stories. Everyone is welcome, and there is no cover charge. Listeners and tellers are needed. If you want to tell but are concerned that your story doesn't fit the theme, Wojciechowicz will find a way to make it fit.

For more information, email lynnann.woj@smcmail.maricopa.edu or call (602) 243-8022.

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:

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

- Through Jan. 4, The Other Mainstream II: Selections from the Collection of Mikki and Stanley Weithorn. Friday Conversations in the Gallery: Oct. 3, noon, local artist Steve Yazzie. Friday Conversations in the Gallery: Oct. 24, noon, collector Mikki Weithorn.

- Oct. 16, 7 p.m., Jan Fisher Memorial Lecture Series, Annebeth Rosen.

- Oct. 18 through Jan. 25, ASU Herberger College School of Art Faculty Exhibition. Opening reception: Oct. 17, 7 to 9 p.m.

- Oct. 16 through Nov. 19, Social Studies: Project 3. Artist in residence.

- Oct. 18 through Jan. 25, Nadia Hironaka: The Late Show. Opening reception: Oct. 17, 7 to 9 p.m. Friday Conversations in the Gallery: Oct. 17, noon, Artist Nadia Hironaka.

- Dec. 4 through 7, Video Project Space: Aqua Art Miami, Wynwood.

- 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.

- 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. 

- 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 website 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.

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 Pictures at an Exhibition (Nov. 28 and 29), Handel's Messiah (Dec. 10 to 21), 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.

New Carpa Theater lineup

Upcoming performances at New Carpa Theater (formerly Colores Actors-Writers Workshop) at the Herberger Theater Center:

- Nov. 6 to 16, Mr. Ambassador: The Life and Times of Raul H. Castro, by James E. Garcia, Playhouse on the Park. Tickets available immediately at the Web site and phone number listed above.

- Dec. 11 to 20, American Pastorela: The Road to the White House, by James E. Garcia, Playhouse on the Park. Tickets available soon at the Web site and phone number listed above.

For more information, visit www.americanlatino.net/caww.

Heard Museum exhibits and events

Upcoming exhibits at The Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Ave.

Underworlderness, on display through Jan. 18, 2009; La Casa Murillo: A Life-size Shadow Box, Oct. 3 through Jan. 11, 2009; Innovative Ceramics By Mothers and Daughters, Jan. 10 through Aug. 2009; and The Gifts: Pacific Coast Salish Art and Artists, Feb. 21 through Aug. 16.

Ongoing exhibitions include Old Traditions In New Pots: Silver Seed Pots From The Norman L. Sandfield Collection; Home: Native People in the Southwest; Around The World: The Heard Museum Collection; Life In A Cold Place: Arctic Art From The Albrecht Collection; Every Picture Tells a Story; Remembering Our Indian School Days: The Boarding School Experience; We Are! Arizona's First People; and History and Collections of the Heard Museum.

For more information, call (602) 252-8848 or visit www.heard.org.

Music in the Garden fall concert series

See the beautiful Desert Botanical Garden and listen to the Valley's premier musicians during the fall 2008 Music in the Garden Concert Series. Performances will be held 7 to 9 p.m. Fridays on Ullmann Terrace, located in the Garden at 1201 N. Galvin Parkway. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Performances include: Oct. 3, Jaleo - Cuban World Beat; Oct. 10, Big Pete Pearson - Blues; Oct. 17, Incendio - Latin World Fusion; Oct. 24, Drew Bennett & Ensemble - Nuevo Flamenco Guitar; Oct. 31, Chris Burton Jácome - Flamenco Guitar; Nov. 7, Gabriel Ayala, Will Clipman and Anthony Wakeman - Native American flute, guitar and drums; and Nov. 14, Quetzal Guerrero - Latin Soul.

Tickets are $14 for members and $20 for non-members, general seating only, and include garden admission.

To purchase tickets, log on to www.dbg.org, call (480) 481-8188 or visit the Admissions Box Office.

Weekly film series at Heard Museum

The popular Movie Mondays series offers an air-conditioned refuge and showcases the best in filmmaking by and for Native people. Every Monday, visitors to the Heard Museum can enjoy movies and post-film tours/discussions at 1:30 p.m. in the 30-seat Joel and Lila Harnett Theater, located at 2301 N. Central Ave.

The schedule:

- Sept. 29: New Year Baby (80 min). A Cambodian woman's father finally reveals the truth behind how the family came to flee the Khmer Rouge and her birth in a Thai refugee camp.

- Oct. 6: Our Nationhood (96 min) chronicles the Listuguj Mi'gmaq community in Quebec - a people determined to live off of their traditional lands.

- Oct. 13: Relive the Past (2004, 30 min.) is the stirring story of how one tiny tribe defeated the federal and state governments' plans to build a dam that would have drowned their homeland.

- Oct. 20: Woven By Their Grandmother: 19th Century Navajo Blankets (30 min). Explore the 19th century Navajo textiles collection of the National Museum of the American Indian and learn how contemporary weavers sustain their communities' economies and culture.

- Oct. 27: Expiration Date (94 min). Charlie Silvercloud III's father and grandfather were both killed by milk trucks on their 25th birthdays. Charlie is about to turn 25. He has accepted his fate, and is going about shopping for caskets and returning his library books when he meets a girl who won't let him die in peace.

Movie Monday programs are included with museum admission: $10 for adults, $9 for seniors (55+), $5 for students, $3 for children (6 to 12); and free for children under 6, Heard members and American Indians.

For more information, call (602) 252-8848 or visit heard.org.

Arizona Opera

Arizona Opera's 2008-09 season includes Verdi's Rigoletto, Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado, Donizetti's The Elixir of Love, Mozart's Don Giovanni and Puccini's Tosca.

For more information, contact Colin Columna at (602) 218-7323 or colin@azopera.com.

Exhibits at the DBG

Upcoming exhibits at the Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway:

- Mariposa Monarca Monarch Butterfly Exhibit, through Nov. 2, Marshall Butterfly Pavilion, open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free for members. $3 for non-members 3 years and older, with paid Garden admission. Stroll through the best butterfly habitat in the Southwest and be immersed among hundreds of colorful, fluttering monarchs.

- The Spirit of the Saguaro, through Oct. 19, Ottosen Gallery in Dorrance Hall, open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The Desert Botanical Garden presents an exhibition of photographs from Arizona photographer Holly Metz. The Spirit of the Saguaro celebrates the beauty and uniqueness of this ancient desert plant. Twenty black and white images will be displayed.  Free with Garden admission or membership.

- Ottosen Entry Garden, opening in November, daily from 8 a.m. to  8 p.m. The Ottosen Entry Garden officially opens this November with new visitor amenities and creates more drama and beauty by opening the vista to the beautiful Papago Butte. This new introduction area will highlight the sculptural quality of plants set against iconic local landscape features like Papago Park red buttes, distant desert mountains and the river beds and canals that cut through the Valley floor.  Free with Garden admission or membership.

- Chihuly: The Nature Of Glass, Nov. 22 to May 31, 2009, throughout the Garden. The upcoming Garden-wide exhibition by renowned artist Dale Chihuly will feature new and unique works of glass. Chihuly is known for his innovative glass sculptures, and his work is immediately recognizable for its grand scale and vibrant colors.

For more information, call (480) 941-1225 or visit www.dbg.org.

RENT: School Edition to kick off Greasepaint season

The revived Greasepaint Youtheatre in Scottsdale has announced the theatre's 2008-09 schedule, which will get under way with RENT: School Edition Oct. 3 to 26. Other performances include Children of Eden, Dec 5 to 28; Wiley and the Hairy Man, Jan. 30 to Feb. 8; Pippin, March 27 to April 19; and Snoopy!!!, May 8 to 31.

Tickets for musicals are $20, $18 for students/seniors and $15 for children under 12. Groups of 15 or more can order tickets for $10 each. Tickets for Wiley and the Hairy Man (the only play in the season) are $16, $14 for students/seniors and $11 for children under 12 with $8 tickets for groups.

Greasepaint Youtheatre, celebrating 24 years, is a nonprofit corporation that offers a full range of theatrical and educational programming for young people ages 5 to 19. The company performs at Stagebrush Theatre, located at 7020 E. Second St.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call (480) 990-7405.

Broadway season at ASU Gammage

Arizona State University Gammage's  2008-09 M&I Bank Broadway Across America - Arizona season includes The Rat Pack- Live at the Sands, Oct. 14 to 19; Happy Days, Nov. 18 to 23; Spring Awakening, Dec. 9-14; Disney's The Lion King, Jan. 2 to Feb. 8, 2009; 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.

Childsplay announces the 2008-09 season

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:

- Miss Nelson is Missing, runs through Oct. 5. Recommended for ages five and older.

- Getting Near to Baby, Oct. 19 preview at 4 p.m., runs Oct. 25 to Nov. 9. Recommended for ages seven and older.

- The Velveteen Rabbit, Nov. 16 preview at 4 p.m., runs Nov. 22 to Dec. 21. Recommended for ages three and older.

- Busytown, Jan. 18 preview at 4 p.m., runs Jan. 24 to Feb. 21, 2009. Recommended for ages three and older.

- Rock, Paper, Scissors, Feb. 28 preview at 1 p.m., runs Feb. 28 to March 8, 2009. Recommended for ages five and older.

- Ferdinand the Bull, March 14 preview at 1 p.m., runs March 14 to April 5, 2009. Recommended for ages five and older.

- The Neverending Story, April 19 preview at 4 p.m., runs April 25 to May 17, 2009. Recommended for ages five and older.

- Peter and the Wolf, May 31 preview at 4 p.m., runs June 6 to 21, 2009. Recommended for ages four and older.

Childsplay Play Passes (flexible subscription packages customized for families) are on sale through the Childsplay Web site, www.childsplayaz.org. Single tickets will be on sale at the theater box office closer to opening dates. Passes cost between $15 and $18 each depending on quantity and date purchased. Single tickets cost between $18 and $25 for adults, $18 and $20 for children, students and seniors (depending on the production) plus applicable box office charges. Each production will have one discounted preview performance with a single ticket price of $12. 

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

For more information, visit www.Childsplayaz.org.

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