There is a glut of openings this week. How lucky are we?
0pening
Bach at Leipzig — The Rogue Theatre, 300 E. University. Back in the 1700s, at Thomaskirche, the prestigious Lutheran church in Leipzig, Germany, the organist Johann Kuhnau died quite suddenly. This was a much-coveted position, and several organists were invited to audition to take his seat. Johann Sebastian Bach was one of them — in fact, he snagged the plum position. He is not in this Itamar Moses play, but several others who did not get the job are. That’s where reality ends in this story and Moses takes over. Sounds deadly serious, doesn’t it? It’s not. The playwright takes his cue from England’s Tom Stoppard, known for wildly funny — and wildly heady — scripts. The tale zeroes in on six musicians of little fame and what they do to win the organist’s position, called the Thomaskantor. That includes such things as blackmail, betrayal and, of course, bribery. Cynthia Meier directs and the cast includes Michael Bailey, Holly Griffith, Hunter Hnat, Ryan Parker Knox, Joseph McGrath, Matt Walley and David Weynand. It previews at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2 and 3. and opens Nov. 4. Regular performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 19 with additional 2 p.m. Saturday matinees Nov. 11 and 18. $15-$38. 551-2053. Theroguetheatre.org
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. 5; 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6 and 8-10. 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 harkens 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 Leo’s daughter reconsider the role. Fred Rodriguez directs and the cast is made up of David Alexander Johnston, Julianna Grantham and Michael A. Candela. The preview is 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7; opening is 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8. Through Nov. 19. $34. 882-9721. invisibletheatre.com.
Mrs. Mannerly — The Community Playhouse, 1881 N. Oracle Road. Playwright Jeffrey Hatcher drew on his childhood etiquette lessons for this comedy presented by Something Something Theatre. It’s about a 10-year-old hoping for a perfect score in the class taught by Mrs. Mannerly, who harbors a few secrets. Joan O’Dwyer directs and the cast is made up of Carley Elizabeth Preston, Erin Hepler and Jasmine Roth. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2-4, 10; 2 p.m. Nov. 5. Through Nov. 19. $22. 468-6111. somethingsomethingtheatre.com.
Singin’ In The Rain Jr. — Arizona Rose Theatre, 4500 N. Oracle Road in the Tucson Mall. Just sayin’ the name of this play makes us start humming and twirling around a light pole while the rain pours down. This stage piece is adapted from the original screenplay of the movie with Gene Kelly doing just that. Some of the best songs of the last century. 7 p,m. Nov.3-4; 3 p.m. Nov. 4-5. $10. 888-0509. Arizonarosetheatre.com.
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. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3, 4, 10; 3 p.m. Nov. 5. Through Nov. 12. $10-$12. 270-9310. thecomedyplayhouse.com.
Rent — Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University on the UA campus. Broadway in Tucson presents the Jonathan Larson rock musical, loosely based on Giacomo Puccini’s opera “La Bohème.” Adult language and content. 8 p.m. Nov. 3; 2 and 8 p.m. Nov. 4; 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. Nov. 5. $19-$90. 1-800-745-3000, broadwayintucson.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. 7 p.m. Nov. 3, 4, 9 and 10; 3 p.m. Nov. 5 and 11. $20. 399-1750.
Last chance
An Iliad — Temple of Music and Art Cabaret Theater, 330 S. Scott Ave. Winding Road Theatre Company takes on Homer’s “Iliad.” This is a modern-day retelling of the epic poem, adapted by Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare. It covers only a few weeks in the last year of the 10-year-long Trojan War. But it is packed with beauty, battles, death, prophecies. Susan Arnold directs and stars in this production. Final performances are 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3, and 3 and 7:30 p.m. Nov 4. $22. Windingroadtheater.org or 401-3626.
The Addams Family — Marroney Theatre, 1025 N. Olive Road. The Addams Family started as a single-panel New Yorker cartoon by Charles Addams in the 1930s. It was so popular, it was made into a TV show in the mid 1960s, then a movie in 1991, and in 2010 it became a Broadway musical. Seems you can’t keep those strange, goth ghouls down. The University of Arizona’s Arizona Repertory Theatre does a good production of a so-so play. The plot: Wednesday Addams is in love and has wedding bells on her mind. Things get complicated when she begs her father not to tell her mother. That’s the least of her problems: wait ‘til her boyfriend’s family meets hers. Various times through Nov. 4. $15-$31. 621-1162. theatre.arizona.edu
Odyssey Storytelling — YWCA Southern Arizona, 525 N. Bonita Ave. Six people tell 10-minute personal stories based on the theme of chemistry. 7-9 p.m. Nov. 2. $8. 884-5063.
Phantom of the Opera — The Gaslight Theatre, 7010 E. Broadway. Peter Van Slyke’s version of the classic Gaston Leroux story about an opera singer, a stalking masked man and a famous opera house has a couple of old friends in the cast: David Fanning as the masked man, and Joe Cooper, who came out of retirement to reprise the role of Madame Giry. “Phantom” is at various times through Nov. 5. $19.95. 886-9428. thegaslighttheatre.com
Snow White and Friends — Roadrunner Theater, 8892 E. Tanque Verde Road. A musical comedy about Snow White and and all those charming pals she has. Ages 5 and under are free. $10-$12. Final performance is 11 a.m. Nov. 4. Free. 207-2491.
Peter Grimm’s Gift — Roadrunner Theatre Company, 8892 E. Tanque Verde Road. Set in 1910 Santa Barbara, Calif., the story of a man who thinks he can control destiny. He’s in for a disappointment. ... Final performances are 7-9 p.m. Nov. 3 and 4; 2-4 p.m. Nov. 5. $15-$20. 207-2491.
Dia de los Muertos: The Musical — Live Theatre Workshop. Children’s musical. Daniel travels between two magical worlds learning to conquer his greatest fears. Final performance is 12:30-2 p.m. Nov. 5. $7-$10.
Continuing
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 a small Brazilian villagewhere 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 she 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. The one-act runs about 90 minutes. Continues at various times through Nov. 11. Tickets are $25-$63 at arizonatheatre.org or 622-2823.
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. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 11. Thursday tickets are $15, regular performances, $20. 327-4242. Livetheatreworkshop.org.
