A few openings this week, and lots of closings — so act fast if you want to catch these plays.
Bach at Leipzig — The Rogue Theatre. See review.
Mrs. Mannerly — Something Something Theatre Company. See review
Opening
Popol Vuh: The Story of Seven Macaw — PCC Center for the Arts West Campus, 2202 W. Anklam Road. Marc David Pinate directs Pima students in this creation myth play. It was created by El Teatro Campesino’s Kinan and Lakin Valdez, who grew up with the colorful stories of Popol Vuh. “The Story of Seven Macaw” is one of many in that text. And it’s a doozy: The creators call on the Mayan hero twins to conquer the false deity , the conniving and not-at-all-nice Seven Macaw, who rules the Earth. It’s a big job, but the twins are shape-shifters and know a few handy tricks. They are up to the task. Pinate and the Pima students employ puppets, dance and original music to tell the story. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 19. $18. 206-6986. pima.edu.
Disaster! — Tucson High Magnet School Little Theatre, 400 N. Second Ave. The high school students, under the direction of Art Almquist, take on this musical spoof by Seth Rudetsky and Jack Plotnick. About every disaster movie ever made is rolled into this story, which includes tidal waves, fire, earthquakes and tunes from the 1970s. Performances are 7 p.m. Nov. 10, 11, 17 and 18; and 2 p.m. Nov. 11 and 18. $15. 225-5326.
Last Chance
The River Bride — Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. This stirring fairy tale about love and courage by Marisela Treviño Orta is given a sharp production by Arizona Theatre Company. The play whisks us to the small Brazilian village where sisters Helena and Belmira live with their parents. Belmira, the younger, will soon be married to a young man Helena always thought she would marry. As Helena tries to overcome her sorrow, a handsome man dressed in white is pulled out of the Amazon by her fisherman father. The play won ATC’s 2013 National Latino Playwriting Award. Final performances are 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10; 2 and 8 p.m. Nov. 11. $25-$73. 622-2823. arizonatheatre.org.
War of the Worlds — The Comedy Playhouse, 3620 N. First Ave. Orson Welles radio thriller sent the country into a panic in 1938. It is an adaptation of H.G. Wells’ sci fi novel about aliens invading Earth. Final performances are 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10 and 11; 3 p.m. Nov. 12. $10-$12. 270-9310. thecomedyplayhouse.com.
The Man Who Came To Dinner — CPAC Community Performance and Art Center, 1250 W. Continental Road, Green Valley. The George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart comedy is about the arrogant Whiteside, who slips and hurts himself while on a speaking tour and becomes an unexpected guest in a family’s home. Chaos reigns. Final performances are 7 p.m. Nov. 9 and 10; 3 p.m. Nov. 11. $20. 399-1750.
Baskerville — Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway. Here’s why you want to see this Ken Ludwig play: Stephen Frankenfield dons the deerstalker cap. He is a stitch. The comedy has Watson and Sherlock Holmes hunting down why the male heirs of the Baskerville line are being picked off one by one. The cast also includes Eric Du is Watson, Matthew Copley, Debbie Runge and Steve Wood. The small cast plays 43 different characters. Christopher Moseley directs. Final performances are 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9-11; 3 p.m. Nov. 11. $20. 327-4242. livetheatreworkshop.org.
Continuing
A Streetcar Named Desire — Tornabene Theatre, 1025 N. Olive Road in the University of Arizona Fine Arts Complex. This Tennessee Williams play has quite the pedigree: it won the Pulitzer for Drama in 1948. Elia Kazan directed the first Broadway production, which starred Jessica Tandy and Marlon Brando; Laurence Olivier directed the 1949 London production, which starred his then-wife, Vivian Leigh, and the 1951 film received several Oscar nominations — and won a boatload, too. But that doesn’t intimidate the Arizona Repertory Theatre: It’s the University of Arizona company of student actors’ next offering. The play, considered by many to be Williams’ finest, is about the fragile Blanche DuBois, who moves to her sister’s New Orleans apartment following the loss of their ancestral home. Her sister is fine with that; her husband, not so much. Hank Stratton directs. No teens without parent or guardian. 1:30 p.m. Nov. 12; 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9-11, 16-17. Through Dec. 3. $15-$28. 621-1162. theatre.arizona.edu.
The Value of Names — Invisible Theatre, 1400 N. First Ave. Jeffrey Sweet’s 1986 play hearkens back to the early 1950s and a dark time in American history: the House Un-American Activities Committee and the blacklisting of people who were suspected of having Communist ties. The story centers on an actor, Benny, who had been blacklisted, and a director, Leo, who gave up names to the HUAC. Benny’s daughter is in rehearsal for a play. When the original director has a stroke, Leo is brought in, which makes Benny’s daughter reconsider the role. Fred Rodriguez directs and the cast is made up of David Alexander Johnston, Julianna Grantham and Michael A. Candela . 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9-11, 15-17; 3 p.m. Nov. 12. Through Nov. 19. $34. 882-9721. Invisibletheatre.com.
