Dance, music, theater — March is loaded with them. Here’s what’s happening this week:
THEATER
Opening
The University of Arizona Repertory Theatre presents Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”
• “Twelfth Night” — Marroney Theatre, 1025 N. Olive Road. Every year, the Arizona Repertory Theatre stages a Shakespeare or two. And every year we get to see a new take on a play performed by very talented University of Arizona students. This year, it’s Shakespeare’s comedy “Twelfth Night,” and Brent Gibbs has gone Goth with this one. Think lots of dark costumes. The play is about mistaken identities, cross-dressing, love and the shipwreck that started it all. It’s also got one of Shakespeare’s more delicious clowns, Feste. Ages 5 and up. 1:30 p.m. March 5; 7:30 p.m. March 6, 8-10. Through April 2. $17-$28. 621-1162, theatre.arizona.edu.
Mel Johnson Jr. portrays Frederick Douglass in “In the Shadow of Slavery.”
• “Frederick Douglass: In the Shadow of Slavery” — The Berger Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Speedway. Invisible Theatre presents this one-man show about the one-time slave whose remarkable life included an escape to freedom, brave work on the behalf of other former slaves, and friendships with the likes of John Brown, Susan B. Anthony and Abraham Lincoln. Mel Johnson Jr. stars in the story directed by Tom Dugan. 7:30 p.m. March 4; 3 p.m. March 5. $42. 882-9721, invisibletheatre.com.
• “The Very Big Show (of Support)” — Rialto Theatre, 318 E Congress S. This fundraiser for Planned Parenthood is an old-fashioned variety show with some of our favorite Tucson performers. Heading that list is the tall, willowy and very funny Tempest DuJour, a drag queen so special she landed a spot on the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” show. The fiery Flam Chen will also perform, and there will be humor from Star cartoonist David Fitzsimmons, as well as the folks from the improv group Unscrewed Theater. It’s 7 p.m. Saturday, March 4. Tickets are $50 general admission; $25 for students, seniors, military and anyone under 30. 740-1000, rialtotheatre.com or theverybigshow.com.
• “Morning’s at Seven” — The Community Playhouse, 1881 N. Oracle Road. The Community Players present this gentle comedy about elderly sisters who are neighbors and who have few secrets between them. When the son of one finds proposing marriage just a bit too hard, they’ve got an idea how to push him toward the altar. 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays through March 26. $12. 887-6239, communityplayerstucson.org.
Perla Barazza and Mayela Morales in “The Maternal Instinct.”
• “The Maternal Instinct” — ZUZI, 738 N. Fifth Ave. Theater New and Now presents its first play, “The Maternal Instinct,” by Tucsonan Monica Bauer. It’s a drama with comedy about the love of science and the science of love. Adult language. 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays through March 19. $15. 1-203-906-4810, theaternewandnow.com.
• “Penelope” at The Rogue Theatre. See story below.
• “Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash,” Arizona Theatre Company. Story, below.
Last chance
Alba Jaramillo stars in “Digna.”
“Digna” — YWCA, 525 Bonita Ave. The first offering from the new Digna Theater, this powerful production is about attorney Digna Ochoa, who was assassinated in Mexico in 2001. Without being didactic, the Barclay Goldsmith-directed play by Patricia Davis is an emotional and compelling story about Ochoa and the tools of resistance. Ages 12 and up. Final performances are 7:30 p.m. March 2-4; 2 p.m. March 5. $12-$15. 288-2714. dignatheater.org.
L-R, Taylor Falshaw as Vanessa, Angelica Ornelas as Nina, Oksana Perez as Abuela Claudia, Lucas Rodriguez as Usnavi in Pima Community College's production of "In the Heights."
• “In The Heights” — Pima Community College Center for the Arts, 2202 W. Anklam Road. PCC theater arts students tackle Lin-Manuel Miranda’s infectious musical. It takes the audience on a tour of the New York neighborhood, populated with stories and color and big hearts. 7:30 p.m. March 2-4; 2 p.m. March 4 and 5. $18. 206-6986.
• “Nana’s Naughty Knickers” — Roadrunner Theater, 8892 E. Tanque Verde Road. The comedy details the story of an elderly woman who runs an illegal boutique selling, you guessed it, naughty knickers. 7 p.m. March 3 and 4; 2 p.m. March 5. $15-$20. 207-2491, roadrunnertheatrecompany.org
Continuing
• “The Two Amigos!” — The Gaslight Theatre, 7010 E. Broadway Blvd. Reynaldo and Paco accidentally become involved in the affairs of the townspeople. It’s delicious Gaslight fare from there — music, jokes, off-the-cuff remarks. Get ready to boo. And cheer. Continues through March 26. Call for show dates and times. $21.95, with discounts available. 886-9428, thegaslighttheatre.com.
Adam Denoyer, Rhonda Hallquist and Carlisle Ellis in Live Theatre Workshop’s staging of the Martin McDonagh play.
• “The Cripple of Inishmaan” — Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway. The company takes us to the Aran Islands in 1934 Ireland in this solid production of the Martin McDonagh play directed by Amy Almquist. The folks in this rural part of Ireland are all excited about a Hollywood film company that is coming to make a documentary. None is more excited than Billy, with a bum arm and leg and hovering aunts. He wants to be in the movie. It’s dark and funny and heartbreaking. Contains adult language. 3 p.m. Sundays; 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays. Through March 25. $20. 327-4242, livetheatreworkshop.org.
Cast of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
• “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” — Arizona Rose Theatre, 4500 N. Oracle Road. The company has a new theater in the Tucson Mall, and it is initiating it with this musical comedy about middle schoolers in a spelling bee. Be ready to be completely charmed. 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through March 12. $8-$17. 888-0509, arizonarosetheatre.com.
For the kids
Cat-Man and Kid Sparrow — Live Theatre Workshop. This company knows and loves staging works for kids. And many of the plays are originals written by Tucsonans, including this one, by Stephen Frankenfield, with music by David Ragland. Frankenfield also directs. It’s about Dogg Dastardly, who is up to his no-good evil tricks. It falls to our heroes, Cat-Man and Kid Sparrow, to put him in his place. 12:30 p.m. Sundays through March 12. $7-$10. 327-4242, livetheatreworkshop.org.
DANCE
The Shen Yun troupe will be in town for three performances.
• Shen Yun Performing Arts — Tucson Convention Center, Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. This group, made up of musicians and dancers, draws on Chinese culture to weave a show that is packed with grace, history and magic. Shen Yun is a New York-based group founded in 2006 by ex-pat members of Falun Gong, a Chinese spiritual practice blending meditation and physical exercise. The shows change yearly — so don’t expect to see the same one they did when they were here last year. But do expect some beautiful music, graceful dancing, and plenty of colorful costumes. Ages 4 and up. 7:30 p.m. March 7 and 8; 2-4:30 p.m. March 7. $70-$150. 1-800-880-0188.
CLASSICAL MUSIC
• Tucson Symphony Orchestra: Youthful Exuberance — See story.
• Thibaut Garcia, Guitarist — Holsclaw Hall, 1017 N. Olive Road. The Tucson Guitar Society presents the French guitarist. Garcia is just 22, but he has won international competitions and has two albums of his work out. He’ll be performing repertoire from both Spain and South America, including Piazzolla’s Four Seasons, Albéniz’s Asturias and Manjón’s Aire vasco. 7 p.m. March 3. $25. 342-0022.
• Danzarts Flamenco Guitar and Dance — CPAC, 1250 W. Continental Road, Green Valley. Live music accompanies the dancers as they perform the exuberant flamenco. 7-9 p.m. March 4. $20. 399-1750.
• Arizona Symphony Orchestra — Crowder Hall, 1017 N. Olive Road. The orchestra performs works by Richard Strauss, Camille Saint-Saens, and Hector Berlioz. 7:30 p.m. March 4. $10. 621-1162.
• James Black, violin and Patricia Kaltenberger, piano — Vista de la Montana United Methodist Church, 3001 E. Miravista Lane. The pair will perform works by Vivaldi, Dvorak, Brahms, Massenet and others. 3-4:30 p.m. March 5. Free. 825-1985.
