Review
“Women in Jeopardy” — See story
Last chance
Broadway in Tucson brings back “The Book of Mormon,” which has proved to be much more than a one-joke musical.
“The Book of Mormon” —UA Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd. Broadway in Tucson and UA Presents team up to bring the Tony-winning musical back to the Old Pueblo. It’s wildly irreverent, which is part of the reason it’s still on Broadway and the road shows keep on rolling out across the country. The story finds a couple of Mormons who are off to Uganda to fulfill their missionary obligations. Uganda is not where Kevin had planned to go — he was sure he was the fair-haired kid who would be assigned to Orlando. While Kevin believes in the message, his fellow missionary sees it as an extended vacation. The village is full of danger and disease, but the boys are not deterred: They’ve got conversions to do. “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone wrote the musical, which is packed with catchy tunes, rude as can be and, yes, quite funny. Ages 16 and up. Final performances are 7:30 p.m. April 5, 6 p.m. April 6; 2 and 6 p.m. April 7; 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. April 8. $35-$125. 1-800-745-3000.
Opening
Dennis Tamblyn plays Quasimodo in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame: The Musical” being performed at Berger Performing Arts Center through April 15.
“The Hunchback of Notre Dame: The Musical” — Berger Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Speedway. Arts Express has taken on a big project and put a couple of Tucson’s finest musical theater performers in the lead roles: Kit Runge and Dennis Tamblyn. Directing is the sublimely talented opera performer Korby Myrick. The family-friendly musical, based on the 1831 Victor Hugo novel, was made into a Disney animated film and eventually hit the stage with a couple of powerhouse creators behind it: Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. The story centers on Quasimodo, the hunchback, who is a bellringer in Notre Dame. Not by choice though: he is kept there by his unkind caretaker, the archdeacon Dom Claude Frollo. But one day Quasimodo manages to break free for the day and revels in the Feast of Fools celebration. He is bullied and mocked by everyone but the beautiful gypsy, Esmeralda. She has caught the eye of that evil archdeacon, and eventually Esmeralda, too, is locked into the church. When she escapes, with the help of Quasimodo, the big trouble begins. Tamblyn is Quasimodo and Runge plays Frollo. Enrique Hank Feldman is the music director and the choreography is by Simone Jolivet Manuel. Performances are 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through April 15. Tickets are $20 ($10 for children 12 and under). 319-0400 or arts-express.org.
“Perfect Timing” is a love story involving an uppity London art critic named Cornelia and an artist she trashes who falls in love with her.
“Perfect Timing” — Roadrunner Theater, 8892 E. Tanque Verde Road. Uppity London art critic Cornelia (but of course that’s her name) cleverly trashes artists with abandon — “The only thing worth hanging is the artist himself,” she wrote about one. But her latest victim, Gerrard, doesn’t take offense — he falls in love with her. She has long been involved with a banker named Alex; he is nuts about her. That does not discourage Gerrard. And so begins this zany farce by Kristi Kane. Chloe Loos directs and the cast includes Damien Garcia, Michele Holland, Vincent O’Neill, Christine Peterson, Joanne Mack Robertson, Alan Smith, Myani Watson, and Michael F. Woodson. Performances are 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through April 29. $20. 207-2491. Roadrunnertheatrecompany.org.
Left to Right: Ruben Rosthenhausler (Lancelot), Steve McKee (Sir Robin), Michael Howell (Sir Bedevere), Eric Yanes (Galahad), William Howell (Patsy), the Knights of the Round Table in Arizona Rose Theatre’s production of “Spamalot.”
“Monty Python’s Spamalot” — Arizona Rose Theatre, 4500 N. Oracle Road. The spunky Arizona Rose finishes out its season with the deliciously outrageous musical, based on the film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” It’s all about King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table and their search for that grail. You’ll meet the knights who say “ni,” see clapping coconuts in lieu of galloping horses and be exposed to all sorts of wonderful silliness. The cast includes Karl Haas, Steve McKee, Stefanee Chevalier, Eric Yanes, Luke Howell, Jerrica Stewart, Madelynn Sizer, William Howell, Mike Shipione, Ron Kari, Michael Howell, Noor Baghai, Ruben Rosthenhausler, Stephanie Howell and Rachael Fornof. Brandon Howell directs. Recommended for 12 and older. Performances are 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through April 15. The Rose is on the first level of the Tucson Mall. $19. 888-0509 or arizonarosetheatre.com.
Tyler West, left, and Trenton Hilliker perform in Live Theatre Workshop”s “Spaceman Zero.” It’s about a sixth-grader totally taken with space.
“Spaceman Zero” — Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway. Live Theatre’s family arm is chock full of talented writers and composers whose works have premiered at LTW and then been published and performed by children’s theaters around the country. That is an impressive claim. And all the more reason why you and the kids want to rush out to see this new musical about Casper, a sixth-grader totally taken with space. So, being a smart, industrious kid, he builds a rocket ship. And launches himself in it. While everyone on Earth is trying to figure out how to get him back, Casper is having a fine adventure. The story is by Kristian Kissel, who also directs, and the music is by David Ragland. The cast includes Bree Boyd, Evan Cipra, Sarah Drottz, Trenton Hilliker, Austin Killian and Tyler West. Performances are 12:30 p.m. Sundays through June 3. $10. 327-4242 or livetheatreworkshop.org.
“The Pajama Game” — Marroney Theatre, 1025 N. Olive Road. Oh, the workers in the pajama factory are not happy in this musical by Richard Adler, Jerry Ross, Richard Bissell and George Abbott. They want a raise — 7½ cents is all. Management balks, labor strikes and oh, yeah, love happens. The musical is chock full of some wonderful songs — “Hernando’s Hideaway, “Steam Heat,” and “Hey There” among them. Danny Gurwin directs the talented University of Arizona students. Previews are 1:30 p.m. April 8 and 7:30 p.m. April 9. Opening is 7:30 p.m. April 11. Continues through April 29. $15-$31. 621-1162. theatre.arizona.edu.
“Buried Child” — Community Playhouse, 1891 N. Oracle Road. Speak the Speech Theater takes on Sam Shepard with this production of the playwright’s 1978 Pulitzer Prize-winning play. No one does dysfunctional families as well as Shepard, and there is a very dysfunctional one at the center of this play. Oh, they look perfectly fine when you take in the traditional farmhouse they live in, but when one member brings his girlfriend home, we discover those walls hide some mighty strange folks. And a dark secret. The cast includes Lissa Staples, Boz Lomasney, Davin Wang, David Zinke, Marcus Gallegos, Veronica Conran and Ken Beider. Dan Reichel directs. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through April 22. 904-8054 or ststheatre.org.
