Arts Briefs (6/25)

Kyrene students cast in Guys and Dolls Jr.

The Kyrene Summer Community Theatre will present Guys and Dolls Jr. at 7 p.m. June 24 and 25 at Kyrene Del Pueblo Middle School, located at 360 S. Twelve Oaks Blvd. in Chandler.

The performers are talented students in grades fourth through ninth attending various Kyrene district schools.

Tickets are available for $8 online at www.kyrene.org/summeracademy or at the door.

High School Musical fun

Disney's High School Musical On Tour! is coming to Arizona State University's Gammage Auditorium in Tempe June 24 to 29, and the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa offers an exclusive weekend package for guests.

Offered from $299, the High School Musical Package includes one night in a traditional guestroom, two orchestra tickets for Friday evening, Saturday evening or Saturday matinee shows and a $50 daily resort credit. Show tickets are limited, vary in price and offer resort guests premier seating at the select productions. The package is valid June 27 to 29, is exclusive of tax and gratuity and requires the HSM promotional code.

For reservations or information, call (602) 225-0100 or visit www.wildhorsepassresort.com.

Musical performances for young children

Maureen Conlin of Happy Notes Music is offering a variety of summer musical performances for  children ages 2 to 7. The schedule is as follows:

- 10 to 11 a.m. June 25 and Aug. 29 at Borders Books and Music, 1361 S. Alma School Road, Mesa;

- 3:30 to 4 p.m. June 25 and July 23 at Wildflower Bread Company, Wildflower Kids, 3425 E. Baseline Road, Gilbert (includes free cookie and milk);

- 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. July 10 at Brilliant Sky Toys and Books, Chandler Boulevard and 48th Street, Ahwatukee Foothills;

- 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. July 15 and Aug. 8 at Borders Books and Music, Chandler Pavillions, 870 N. 54th Street, Chandler; and

- 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. July 17 at Kid to Kid, 5030 E. Ray Road, Ahwatukee Foothills.

All events are free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Maureen Conlin at (602) 820-1900 or visit www.happynotesmusic.com.

Tickets on sale for Vans Warped Tour

The Vans Warped Tour 2008 presented by AT&T will once again make a stop in Phoenix for a full day of fun at Cricket Wireless Pavilion on Wednesday, June 25. The festivities will begin at noon.

The traveling punk rock summer camp features a diverse array of artists as well as a variety of lifestyle attractions for a traditionally low ticket price.

For a complete listing of performances as well as ticket information, visit www.warpedtour.com. Twenty-five cents from every ticket purchased will be donated to the Camp Hollywood Heart charity.

Womack coming to Wild Horse Pass Casino

Lee Ann Womack, known for crossing boundaries with her pop country sound, will present a one-night only concert at Wild Horse Pass Casino's Showroom on Sunday, June 29.

This 21-and-older show begins at 8 p.m., with the doors opening at 7 p.m. Tickets - Red level $65, White level $50 and Blue level $35 - are available at the Wild Horse Pass and Vee Quiva Casino Gift Shops. Or purchase tickets online at ticketforce.com at regular price.

Wild Horse Pass Casino is located at Interstate 10 East and Wild Horse Pass Boulevard (exit 162).

For more information, call 1-800-WIN-GILA or visit www.WinGilaRiver.com.

‘Peter Pan and Wendy' to hit local stage June 30

ASAP (A Summer Arts Program) and Mountain View Lutheran Church will present the original musical, Peter Pan and Wendy, at the church, 11002 S. 48t St.

Performances will begin at 2 p.m. June 30 and July 1, 2 and 7 p.m. July 2, and 7 p.m. July 3.

The show is directed by David Mittel, who most recently directed the Ahwatukee Children's Theater production of Seussical and has directed many other children's theater productions.

The musical director is Julie Hackmann, a well-known children's theater director and producer in the East Valley. She wrote this particular adaptation, as well as the musical score.

The cast is made up of boys and girls from middle schools and high schools in the East Valley area. Cast members Cecilia Iole and Natalie Reak were in the Ahwatukee Children's Theater production of Seussical in the spring.

General admission tickets, $7, can be ordered in advance by emailing Beth Stevenson at bstevenson@kyrene.org. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Summer Arts Academy enrolling now

Summer Arts Academy is enrolling participants for its second session, set for June 30 to July 24. This is the same great Art Camp from years past at Desert Vista.

Sign up now at Ahwatukee Foothills Family YMCA, 1030 E. Liberty Lane.

For more information, call (480) 759-6762.

Storytelling at CoffeeBuzz

Members from South Mountain Community College's Storytelling Institute begin storytelling events at the Coffeebuzz last summer and will continue this summer. Storytelling time is from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on the following dates at the Coffeebuzz, 4804 E. Chandler Blvd., Suite 110. Listeners and tellers are needed.

On Sunday, July 6, Sandy Oglesby will emcee. If you'd like to be one of the tellers, you may contact her directly at Sandyoglesby@cox.net. "Freedom" and "independence" are the themes for this day, but any stories are welcome.

On Sunday, Aug. 3, LynnAnn Wojciechowicz, South Mountain Community College Storytelling Institute Director, will emcee. She will be gearing up for the start of a new academic year and has chosen "new beginnings" as the theme. If you want to tell but are concerned that your story doesn't fit the theme, she will find a way to make it fit.

For more information, or to sign up to tell, email Wojciechowicz at  lynnann.woj@smcmail.maricopa.edu.

ASU Herberger College spotlights the season

Arizona State University Herberger College of the Arts spotlights a season of performance in dance, guitar, jazz, musicals, organ, opera and theater, including The Festival of New Work.

Subscription packages start at $9 per ticket and are available now through July 11. Single tickets are available July 12 and are $7 to $18 for guitar, jazz and organ; $7 to $20 for dance and $7 to $22 musicals, operas and plays.

For a listing of performances, ticket or subscription information, visit herbergercollege.asu.edu/subscriptions or call (480) 965-6447. Receive a 2008-09 season subscription brochure by calling (480) 965-5144.

Mesa Arts Center announces 2008-09 season

Mesa Arts Center has announced the initial offerings for its "Performing Live" series for the 2008-09 season. The upcoming lineup includes major artists from a wide array of genres - from classical masters and country superstars to rock sensations and world musicians.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. July 12 by calling the box office at (480) 644-6500 or online at www.mesaartscenter.com. Tickets will also be available by walk-up during box office hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. The box office is located at 1 E. Main St. in downtown Mesa.

Weekend workshops at Phoenix Art Museum

Scottsdale Artists' School is continuing its series of weekend workshops at Phoenix Art Museum this summer.

- Beginning Drawing will be held July 19 and 20. Learn how to transfer what you see onto paper. Students will get a chance to explore various drawing techniques and different methods for getting a realistic image. There will be instructor demonstrations and hands-on practice.

- Introduction to Oil Painting will take place Aug. 30 and 31. Experiment with mixing colors, painting on a canvas board and creating a simple still life painting. Students will learn the process of creating an oil painting, from composition and blocking in shapes, to using colors, values, and brushwork to make an image have excitement and depth.

No experience is required for any workshop. Materials are included with tuition, but all students should bring a sketchpad and pencil. Sessions meet from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

For more information or to register, call (480) 990-1422 or go online to ScottsdaleArtSchool.org (classes are listed under Semester 2008 Local Offsites).

Childsplay summer classes

Childsplay, Arizona's professional theater for young audiences, has announced the 2008 Summer Academy Class Schedule.

All classes will take place at a campus, 900 E. Mitchell Drive, Tempe. Childsplay invites new and returning students to be a part of this summer session in four state-of-the-art classrooms, rehearsal rooms and a black box theater.

In addition to the new space, Childsplay has added additional classes including a production class for primary grades, weekday musical theater classes and one-day midsummer classes. The schedule also includes a new extended care for working parents.

For detailed information and to register online, visit www.childsplayaz.org or call (480) 350-8119 for a brochure.

SMoCA offers rejuvenating yoga event

The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) invites the public to celebrate the end of the work week from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on July 18, with a special summer evening designed to calm the soul and energize the mind featuring yoga, art contemplation and sumptuous organic snacks.

SMoCA's ‘Yin Friday' event allows visitors to try the whole holistic experience with yoga instruction by Michael Warner in the galleries, cooling down for art talk with guest artist Gregory Sale and visionary Tarot readings by Ozma. To truly tempt the palate, guests will also be able to enjoy delicious creations by Mandala Tea Room, raw juice blends by Wisdom Nectar and organic vegan chocolate by Wei of Chocolate.

The cost is $25 for members, $35 for non-members. SMoCA is located at 7374 E. Second St. in Scottsdale.

For more information, call (480) 874-4641.

Arizona Opera summer film series

The Arizona Opera Film Series is in its fourth year and is presented in partnership with Phoenix Art Museum's "Movies at the Museum." The summer series is composed of three films that connect to the company's upcoming season, which runs October 2008 to April 2009.

Films are free with museum admission and begin at 1 p.m. at Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Ave. Films include: Tosca's Kiss, July 27, in Italian with English subtitles; Topsy-Turvy, Aug. 24; and Love Potion No. 9, Sept. 28.

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.

Ballet Arizona offering classes for all ages, experience

While summer programs have only recently begun at The School of Ballet Arizona, the staff is ready to accept registrations for the 2008-09 programs that begin in August.

The school's studios at 36th Street and Indian School Road are the same spaces where Ballet Arizona Artistic Director Ib Andersen and his award-winning company will begin crafting their new season in September, including A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet, The Best of Balanchine, and The Nutcracker (featuring school students, selected by audition).

The school offers classes for students of nearly any age and experience. Children's dance programs for ages 3 (with an adult) and up introduce students to the grace and discipline of ballet, while a full range of adult classes provide a fun, musical way to stay fit. New this year is a recreational ballet program, which allows students who love to dance to train in the pre-professional program with a less rigorous schedule.

There are six levels of focused, intensive, pre-professional classes for ages 8 and up. Fall classes begin Aug. 11. Tuition begins at less than $20 per class.

For information, call (602) 381-0188 or visit www.balletaz.org/school.

Webb Center announces upcoming season

Tickets to all shows for the 2008-09 season at the Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts in Wickenburg will go on sale to the general public on Monday, Aug. 4.

Shows in the upcoming season include Jungua - Descendants of the Dragon, Oct. 19 and 20; Natalie MacMaster, Oct. 26; Special Election Edition: The Complete History of America (abridged), Oct. 30; Spaghetti Western Orchestra, Nov. 6; The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Nov. 10; Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, Nov. 14 and 15; American Ballet Theatre II, Nov. 22; 3 Redneck Tenors: Holiday SPEC-TAC-YULE-AR, Dec. 11, 12 and 13; Footloose: the Musical, Jan. 22 and 23; Blue Note Records 70th Anniversary - On Tour, Jan. 29; Matt Dusk, Feb. 6; Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Feb. 12 and 13; Caroline Markham, Feb. 19; Celtic Legends, Feb. 22; Brubeck Brothers Quartet, Feb. 27; Bryan White, March 6; Riders in the Sky, March 7; The 5 Browns, March 14; Kathy Mattea, March 25 and 26; and BIG Big Band: Jazz with the Phoenix Symphony, April 5.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.delewebbcenter.org or call (928) 684-6624.

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: Disney's AIDA, By Elton John and Tim Rice, Aug. 8 to 24; 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.

SMoCA exhibition schedule

The following exhibitions will be on display at The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA), 7374 E. Second St., Scottsdale: through Sept. 7, Pae White: Lisa, Bright & Dark; through Sept. 21, Branded and On Display; Sept. 20 through Feb. 1, Radical Lace and Subversive Knitting; Oct. 5 through Jan. 18, Flip a Strip, Oct. 5 through Jan. 18, Heresies/Herejias: A Retrospective by Pedro Meyer.

For more information, visit www.smoca.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.

ASU Gammage announces its 2008-09 Broadway season

Arizona State University Gammage has announced its 2008-09 M&I Bank Broadway Across America - Arizona season. The seven show series includes some of today's biggest hits straight from Broadway along with several blockbusters that will make their Valley return.

The series includes A Chorus Line, Sept. 2 to 7; 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.

New season subscribers may sign up through July 20, subscriptions start at $118.

Single tickets will go on sale to the general public July 21. Groups can order tickets now at www.asugammage.com/group or by calling (480) 965-6678.

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

Art workshops offered in cool NM mountains

The Cloudcroft Art Workshops, considered one of New Mexico's top art workshops, will offer week-long classes from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily throughout the summer.

For more information, visit www.cloudcroftart.com, e-mail maryellenkeith@gmail.com, or call (512) 417-3147.

Childsplay announces the 2008-2009 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, Sept. 7 preview at 4 p.m., runs Sept. 13 to 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.

ASU Gammage announces 2008-09 Broadway season

Arizona State University Gammage has announced its 2008-2009 M&I Bank Broadway Across America - Arizona season. The seven show series includes some of today's biggest hits straight from Broadway along with several Blockbusters that will make their Valley return. The series includes: A Chorus Line, Sept. 2 to 7; The Rat Pack- Live At The Sands, Oct. 14 to 19; Happy Days, Nov. 18 to 23; Spring Awakening, Dec. 9 to 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; Cats, April 7 to 12; Stomp, May 5 to 10; and Wicked, July 1 to 26.

For more information, call (480) 784-4444 or visit asugammage.com.

Arizona Theater Co. seeks volunteers

The Arizona Theatre Company is looking for volunteers, called ATC Associates, to help out during performances.

Volunteers receive benefits such as free admission to ATC productions, free parking downtown, an annual appreciation banquet and an opportunity to connect with the community and make new friends.

ATC Associate activities include working at the gift shop during ATC productions, organizing the annual fundraising event, a fashion show, silent auction and high tea at the Phoenician, lending a hand at the ATC administrative office in Phoenix, etc. For information or to volunteer, visit www.aztheatreco.org r e-mail mstrange@arizonatheatre.org.

Chihuly art exhibition coming to DBG

The Desert Botanical Garden has announced the upcoming exhibition, Chihuly: The Nature of Glass, by renowned artist Dale Chihuly. The exhibit will feature new and unique works of glass sculpture located along the garden's trails. His work is immediately recognizable for its grand scale and vibrant colors. The exhibition will open Nov. 22 and remain until May 31, 2009.

For more information or tickets, visit www.dbg.org or call (480) 481-8188.

Send submissions to jwalker@ahwatukee.com.