Lots of comedy and a bit of drama on Tucson stages this week:
REVIEWS
“The Best Brothers” — Live Theatre Workshop. See story, Page 21.
“I Hate Hamlet” — Roadrunner Theater Company. See story, Page 23.
OPENING
“Priscilla: Queen of the Desert” — Pima Community College Center for the Arts, 2202 W. Anklam Road. This is a huge undertaking for Pima, which hasn’t shied away from huge undertakings before. The musical is based on the 1994 hit movie “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.” It’s about a couple of drag queens and a transgender woman who, with their bus, Priscilla, travel to an isolated Australian town to perform a drag show. As they cruise across the country, they run into some delicious characters — and some intolerant ones. The story practically bursts with heart and humor. This production has flying actors (a first for Pima), more than 500 costume pieces, and a bus that rotates on stage. The score? Pop tunes from the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s (who doesn’t love a play that includes “Girls Just Want to Have Fun?”). Todd Poelstra directs and onetime Broadway hoofer Mickey Nugent does the choreography. Take note if you are easily offended: This one contains adult themes and language. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through March 4 at PCC’s Center for the Arts Proscenium Theatre, 2202 W. Anklam Road. Tickets are $18, with discounts available. 206-6986 or www.pima.edu/cfa.
Chekhov’s “Three Sisters” adaptation — Harold Dixon Directing Studio, Room #116 Drama Building, 1025 N. Olive Road on the University of Arizona campus. It takes guts to adapt playwright Anton Chekhov’s works. And that’s what Fly Steffens has. The University of Arizona student, who is getting a master’s in dramaturgy — adapted Chekhov’s brilliant “Three Sisters.” And here’s another gutsy move: Steffens titled it “Insignificance is sickening and love means nothing at all; all it is is the strength to keep going on no matter what happens.” Here’s what the press release has to say about the play: “Characters driven by the strength of family, power of love and the ever-present hope for a better life are set in a world that is falling apart around them.” John Muszynski directs. Ages 18 and up. Performances are 8 p.m. Feb. 22-24 and 2 p.m. Feb. 25. Tickets are $7. 621-1162 or tickets.arizona.edu.
“The How and the Why” — Temple of Music and Art Cabaret, 330 S. Scott Ave. Something Something Theatre Company stages this Sarah Treem play. It brings two evolutionary biologists together: one is Zelda Kahn, an accomplished scholar nearing the end of her career, the other, Rachel Hardeman, a graduate student just beginning hers. Kahn is famous for her work on the Grandmother Hypothesis, which is a theory on the how and why menopause evolved. Hardeman is researching why we are one of the few species that menstruates. Sound dry? The Washington Post didn’t think so; it’s review called it an “absorbing and brainy drama.” Jasmine Roth directs and the cast consists of Kathleen McGrath and Christine Peterson. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through March 11. $22. 468-6111 or somethingsomethingtheatre.com.
“Lost In Yonkers” — Arizona Rose Theatre, 4500 N. Oracle Road in the Tucson Mall. Arizona Rose remounts its production of this Neil Simon play about two brothers who are sent off to live with their stern grandmother and slightly batty aunt. Performances are 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through March 4. Tickets are $17. 888-0509 or arizonarosetheatre.com.
LAST CHANCE
Black Pearl Sings — Invisible Theatre, 1400 N. First Ave. Alberta “Pearl” Johnson knows a wealth of rare folk songs and Susannah, an ambitious collector of songs for the Library of Congress, wants to record them. This production is given moving life thanks to the performances of To-Ree-Nee Wolf as Pearl and Katherine Byrnes as Susannah. Final performances are 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22-24, and 3 p.m. Feb. 24 and 25. $34. 882-9721 or invisibletheatre.com.
“Doubt, A Parable” — Marroney Theatre, 1025 N. Olive Road in the University of Arizona’s Fine Arts complex. Arizona Repertory Theatre stages a knock-out production of John Patrick Shanley’s Tony- and Pulitzer-winning drama . It’s a powerful play performed powerfully. No children 12 and under permitted; teens permitted with parent or adult guardian. Final performances are 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 and 24, and 1:30 p.m. Feb. 25. $15-$28. 621-1162 or theatre.arizona.edu.
CONTINUING
“The Lone Stranger” — The Gaslight Theatre, 7010 E. Broadway. The Lone Stranger tries to tame the wild frontier. Various times through March 25. $21.95. 886-9428. thegaslighttheatre.com.
RAPunzel — Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway. The tale of Rapunzel is given a rap turn by Tucson playwright Richard Gremel. It’s geared toward kids. 12:30 Sundays through March 18. $10. 327-4242 or livetheatreworkshop.org.
