Here’s what the next week has in store for theater lovers:
OPENING
Remi Sandri, Noah Racey and James Michael Reilly, left to right, appear in “Holmes and Watson.”
“Holmes and Watson” — Arizona Theatre Company wraps up its 50th season with the world premiere of Jeffrey Hatcher’s “Holmes and Watson.”
The play takes place after Sherlock Holmes is assumed dead after a confrontation with his nemesis, Professor Moriarty. But wait — is he dead? Three men, locked up in a remote asylum, all claim to be Holmes. It’s up to his sidekick Watson to determine which is telling the truth — or if anyone is. Previews begin Saturday, April 15 at the Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. Performances continue through May 5. Tickets are $25-$64 at 622-2823 or arizonatheatre.org.
See Sunday’s Home + Life for a story on the play and David Ira Goldstein, who is directing his last production as ATC’s artistic director.
L-R: Liz Cracchiolo, Kelli Workman, Jeremy Vega and Dennis Tamblyn in Arizona Onstage Productions’ “Stars of David.”
“Stars of David” — Back in 2005, writer Abigail Pogrebin had this fantasy: To interview Jewish celebrities about their Jewish identity.
Her husband liked the idea, but couldn’t imagine who would talk to her.
Turns out, plenty of people did. She gathered up more than 60 interviews and had a bestseller on her hands: “Stars of David: Prominent Jews Talk About Being Jewish.”
Nearly a decade later, that intimate book about faith, traditions and family took an unlikely turn: It became a musical. Arizona Onstage Productions stages “Stars of David” April 15 and 16.
While the book centers on Jews, its themes are universal, and the compact vignettes in the book translate well to a music revue.
Playwright Charles Busch asked various songwriters to create musical snapshots of different characters.
Not just any songwriters: He convinced some of the hottest musical theater composers around to participate, among them Marvin Hamlisch, Sheldon Harnick, Tom Kitt, Lisa Lambert and Richard Maltby, Jr.
The songs tell the stories of such people as Fran Drescher, Michael Feinstein, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Tony Kushner, Norman Lear, Leonard Nimoy, Gwyneth Paltrow, Joan Rivers, Ruth Reichl, Aaron Sorkin and Gloria Steinem.
Arizona Onstage’s founder Kevin Johnson directs this production, and his cast is made up of Liz Cracchiolo, Dennis Tamblyn, Jeremy Vega and Kelli Workman. Johnson has a knack for finding quirky, not-widely-known musicals that are packed with heart and inspiration. And he has a knack for casting some of Tucson’s finest musical talent.
Performances run about 90 minutes with no intermission and are 7 p.m. Saturday, April 15, and 2 and 5 p.m. Sunday, April 16 at the Berger Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Speedway. Tickets are $35, with discounts available. Arizonaonstage.org or 882-6574.
Kathleen Erickson, Lucille Petty, To-Ree-Nee Wolf-Keiser and Bree Boyd, left to right, perform.
“Let’s Live a Little” — Next up for Invisible Theatre is Kathleen Clark’s “Let’s Live a Little.
IT has done several plays by Clark, whose scripts display a quick wit and a soft heart.
The story separate tales about people in search of adventure but who end up at “unexpected destinations,” said a release from the company.
Susan Claassen directs a cast that the company calls its biggest ever: Bree Boyd, Kathleen Erickson, Pat Fitch, Roxanne Harley, Susan Kovitz, Lucille Petty, Molly McKasson, Sarah MacMillan, Stevan Miller, Jack Neubeck, Ellie Vought, and To-Ree-Nee Wolf-Keiser. Whew.
“Let’s Live a Little” previews at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, and opens at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 19. Performances continue through April 30 at Invisible Theatre, 1400 N. First Ave. Tickets are $20 for the preview, and $32 for regular performances, with discounts available. The runtime is 90 minutes, with no intermission. 882-9721 or invisibletheatre.com.
“Three Sisters” — Pima Community College is going all classic on us with its production of Anton Chekhov’s “Three Sisters.”
The story: Olga, Masha and Irina live near a small Russian town with their brother, Andrey. The sisters use to live in Moscow, and they yearn for the sophisticated company and happenings of that big city. Where they live now is just, well, boring. The play studies their longings, examines class, and explores isolation, love, and the loss of dreams. No one addresses those subjects with such substance and vivid storytelling as Chekhov.
This PCC production is directed by Nikki Martinez and features an all-student cast. It opens at 7:30 p.m. April 20, and subsequent performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through April 30 at the PCC Center for the Arts Black Box Theatre, 2202 W. Anklam Road. Tickets are $18 at 206-6986 or pima.edu/cfa. Runtime is 2 hours 40 minutes, with one intermission.
LAST CHANCE
Broadway in Tucson brings “The Bodyguard” to Centennial Hall. It’s based on the 1992 movie, in which a former Secret Service agent is hired to protect a superstar singer.
“The Bodyguard The Musical” — Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd. Broadway in Tucson has brought the road show here, starring Grammy-nominated Deborah Cox in the role that Whitney Houston played in the film. In a nutshell: Superstar is stalked, hires a bodyguard, falls in love while she lives in fear of the stalker. Lots of Houston songs. Performances are 7:30 p.m. April 12-13, 8 p.m. April 14; 2 p.m. April 15; 1 and 6:30 p.m. April 16. $29-$75. 1-800-745-3000. broadwayintucson.com.
CONTINUING
“The Curse of the Pirate’s Gold” — The Gaslight Theatre, 7010 E. Broadway. The buccaneers search the Spanish Main for the lost pirate’s treasure, while trying to avoid the dreaded curse. A plus with Gaslight productions: You get to boo, cheer and indulge in a bit of — ok, lots of — theatrical silliness. Various times through June 4. $21.95. 886-9428 or Thegaslighttheatre.com.
Stephen Frankenfield, Steve Wood and Matthew Copley in “Below the Belt,” one of the Mac best comedy nominees.
“Below the Belt” — Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway. My, my, factory life is sure funny, and dark, in this Live Theatre production. Annette Hillman directs a trio of actors who won’t let your funny bone rest. They play workers in a faceless factory. They all manipulate to get power — backstabbing is as common as the poisonous gases the factory spews into the air. Prepare to be entertained. 7:30 p.m. April 13-15, 20 and 21. No show April 16. Continues through May 6. $20. 327-4242. livetheatreworkshop.org.
Shira Elena Maas plays Eva Peron in Arizona Repertory Theatre’s “Evita.”
“Evita” — Tornabene Theatre, 1025 N. Olive Road in the University of Arizona fine arts complex. Eva Perón’s climb from the slums of Argentina to beloved First Lady is given musical life thanks to Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. The Arizona Repertory Theatre production features the talented University of Arizona students and is directed by Danny Gurwin. 1:30 p.m. April 16; 7:30 p.m. April 13-15, 20 and 21. Continues through April 29. $20-$31. 621-1162. Theatre.arizona.edu. See a review in Sunday’s Home + Life.
“Dov and Ali” — Community Playhouse, 1881 N. Oracle Road. Something Something Theatre Company gives an uneven production of this Anna Ziegler play. It pits a high school English teacher who is Jewish against a Muslim student. A reading of “The Lord of the Flies” launches discussions about faith, free will, fathers. The production, directed by Joan O’Dwyer, has a plodding pace but earnest performances, especially by Tyler Gastelum, who plays Ali, the student, and Isabelle Tinsley ass Sameh, Ali’s sister. Post-show discussions. 7:30 p.m. April 14, 15 and 21; 2 p.m. April 16. Through April 22. $18-$22. 468-6111. somethingsomethingtheatre.com.
“The Dinner Detective Interactive Murder Mystery Show” — Hilton Tucson East, 7600 E. Broadway. Ages 15 and up. Dine and determine the killer. 6 p.m. Saturdays. $49.95. 1-866-496-0535. thedinnerdetective.com.
