Arts Briefs (Updated March 28)

Celtic music, language classes offered

On Monday, April 7, The Irish Cultural Center, 1106 N. Central Ave., will start Term 2 of its Academy of Irish and Celtic Studies. Classes are offered in music (13 different instruments) and language (Irish and Welsh). A music theory class covering all instruments will also be offered. Classes are 50 minutes in length and meet once a week for nine sessions. Cost is $90 per class. Private lessons are 25 minutes in length and are available on a limited basis for $30 per class. Ceili dance lessons are offered the second Saturday of most months. This is a two-hour dance-intensive workshop geared towards both beginning and advanced dancers of all ages. The cost is $16 for adults and $2 for children under 12.

For further information, call (602) 254-6094 or log on to www.azirish.org.

Beaux Arts Gala celebrates SAS' 25th anniversary

"Beaux Arts 08," Scottsdale Artists' School's annual fine arts auction and entertainment gala, begins at 5:30 p.m., April 26 on the school's grounds in the Art District in downtown Scottsdale.

Tickets are $150 for open seating and $175 for reserved seating, with tables of 10 available for $1,750. Raffle tickets are $25 each or 5 for $100 (holder of the winning raffle ticket need not be present to win). Food will be provided by Santa Barbara Catering Company, with the James Linton Classical Guitar Trio providing musical entertainment. 

For reservations, call (480) 990-1422.

Registration open for Camp Broadway

Camp Broadway, at Arizona State University's Gammage Theatre, will be held June 16-20. It is a performing arts camp for music, dance and theater-loving kids. Campers will work collaboratively with Broadway's most distinguished performers, writers and designers and will have a chance to see a Broadway classic. Camp tuition is $600 and sells out fast, so early registration is encouraged.

Reserve your camper's spot by calling (480) 965-5062.

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.

Applicants sought for film, arts festival

The Third Annual Cave Creek Film and Arts Festival is July 19 at Harold's Cave Creek Corral. The creative competition includes several categories, including film, visual arts, photography, poetry, short stories, original song and choreography.

The festival is an open competition to residents statewide with two age divisions per category: youth (ages 12 to 17) and adults (ages 18 and over). Entry fees are $10 for the youth division and $25 for adults. A special presentation of awards is scheduled for July 19 at Harold's Cave Creek Corral, 6895 E. Cave Creek Road, in Cave Creek. Admission is free.

Applications can be downloaded at www.CaveCreekFilmandArtsFestival.com. The application submission deadline is 5 p.m. on Friday, May 2.

The CoffeeBuzz announces 1st photo tour

CoffeeBuzz owners Carol and Dimitri Lazarescu will hold their first photo tour from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 20. The tour will be a hands-on experience for anyone wanting to hone their photographic skills at the Vulture Mine in Wickenburg.

Participants will need to bring a digital or film SLR, Medium Format or Large Format camera as well as film, a tripod, memory cards, batteries and a flexible shutter release, if possible.

The cost of the tour is $75, which includes lunch and admission to the Vulture Mine. There will be a gallery showing at The CoffeeBuzz after the shoot, so all participants will have a chance to display their work.

Registration is limited to 20 people. For more details or to register, stop by the shop at 4804 E. Chandler Blvd., Suite 110, call (480) 393-3430 or e-mail Dimitri at Mitica100@aol.com or Carol at msclazarescu@aol.com.

Heard Museum shops annual spring sale

Splurge and save at the Heard Museum Shops annual spring sale April 25, 26 and 27. This twice-yearly shopping event offers discounts on the finest authentic American Indian artwork. Plus, choose from an array of books about the Southwest and American Indians, CDs, children's items and more.

There are four Heard Museum Shops: at the Heard Museum in Central Phoenix, Heard Museum North Scottsdale, Heard Museum West in Surprise and online at www.heardmuseumshop.com. All four locations are part of the sale.

Katsina dolls to Phoenix

The Heard Museum will house the world's largest gathering of Hopi katsina dolls Saturday, April 5, at the seventh annual Katsina Doll Marketplace.

Made from the root of the cottonwood tree, katsina dolls - called "tihu" by the Hopi - vary from village to village. The Marketplace will offer a wide range of styles, designs, techniques and prices.

The event, from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Steele Auditorium of the Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Ave. in Phoenix, will feature katsina doll carvers a chance for avid collectors to purchase new carvings from their favorite artists or for first-time buyers to interact with the artists to learn more about the art form.

Kimberly Lewis offers free dance classes

If your kids would like to try something new over the summer, then head on over to Kimberly Lewis School of Dance June 9-12 for a week of free dance classes.

Classes, offered between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at 3820 E. Ray Road, will include ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and hip-hop for beginner to advanced level, ages 3 to teen.

For more information, call (480) 706-6040, e-mail klewisdance@yahoo.com or visit www.kimberlylewis.com.

High School Musical coming to Gammage

Hitting Arizona State University's Gammage Theatre June 24-29 is Disney's High School Musical, the stage production based on the 2006 Emmy Award-winning movie.

Tickets are on sale now through the Gammage box office, where they can be purchased from 8 a.m. to noon. After that, tickets are available through Ticketmaster by calling (480) 784-4444 or visiting www.ticketmaster.com/hsmtempe.

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 or e-mail mstrange@arizonatheatre.org.