Opening
Andy Miller, left, and Gianbari Debora Deebom in Pima Community College’s production of “The Magic Rainforest: An Amazon Journey.”
“The Magic Rainforest: An Amazon Journey” — Pima Community College Center for the Arts, West Campus, 2202 W. Anklam Road. Every year, Pima opens its season with a play geared toward children but that also delights adults. The Magic Rainforest” is by José Cruz González, who wrote “The Astronaut Farmworker,” which Pima staged a few years back. It’s about a young boy, Aki, who sets out to save his village in the Amazon from the fire demon that threatens its destruction. Mickey Nugent directs the student cast. 7 p.m. Sept. 29, Oct. 5 and 6; 2 p.m. Sept. 29, 30, Oct. 6 and 7. $8. 206-6986. Pima.edu.
Christopher Younggren holds the stage in the one-man show, “Dogs of Rwanda.”
“Dogs of Rwanda” — Saint Francis Theatre, 4625 E. River Road. The Sean Christopher Lewis one-man play has an adult David recalling 1994, when he was a 16-year-old missionary in Uganda. One day, he follows a crush into the woods to help a Rwandan boy. Horrors happen. Twenty years later he writes a book about the genocide he saw. After it’s published, that Rwandan boy he tried to save writes him. “You didn’t tell them everything,” the note says. This play is the rest of the story. Barclay Goldsmith directs this Tucson Labyrinth Project production; the talented Christopher Younggren tells the tale for us. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27-29 and 3 p.m. Sept. 30. Appropriate for those 14 and older. $15. 329-2910. dogsofrwandatucson.org.
“Deathtrap” — Arizona Rose Theatre, 4500 N. Oracle Road, Suite 329 in Tucson Mall. When a once-successful Broadway playwright struggles to overcome a dry spell that’s resulted in a string of flops and a shortage of funds, anxiety ensues. His fortunes turn when one of his students shares a brilliant new script with blockbuster potential. Resolved to resurrect his collapsing career, the covetous playwright conceives of a treacherous trap to snare the script and take credit for its creation. Ira Levin wrote the play, Luke Howell directs, and the cast is made up of Karl Haas, Chris Koval, Ron Kari, Anne Koepf and Veronica Conran. 2-4 p.m. Sept. 30; 7-9 p.m. Sept 29. Through Oct. 14. $17. 888-0509. Arizonarosetheatre.com.
“No Exit” — The Rogue Theatre, 300 E. University Blvd. The Rogue does a staged reading of Jean-Paul Sartre’s existential play. Three people find themselves locked in a room,it’s clearly the afterlife and their eternity is to be spent together. “Hell is other people,” says a line in the play. 2 p.m. Sept. 30. $17. 551-2053. theroguetheatre.org.
“50 Pounds from Stardom” — The Gaslight Music Hall, 13005 N. Oracle Road, Oro Valley. One singer’s attempts to “make it big” in show business, and her niece’s lifelong dream to walk in her shoes. 2 and 6 p.m. Sept. 30. $20. 529-1000. Gaslightmusichall.com.
“Alice in Wonderland” — The Community Playhouse, 1881 N. Oracle Road. Streetlamp Productions, which resurrects classic radio shows, presents a staged reading of the Lewis Carroll tale, complete with the original script and sound effects. 7 p.m. Sept. 28; 11 a.m., Sept. 29; 2 p.m. Sept. 30. $10. 329-4987. streetlampaz.org.
Last chance
From left, Robynn Rodriguez, Keith Contreras and Arlene Chico-Lugo in Arizona Theatre Company’s “Native Gardens,” which will end its run this weekend at the Temple of Music and Arts downtown.
“Native Gardens” — Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. Arizona Theatre Company deftly stages this Karen Zacarias comedy about neighbors at odds. Pablo Del Valle, a young attorney, and his pregnant wife, Tania, have just bought a home next to Virginia and Frank Butley, a patrician couple with a love for English gardens. Things simmer over the Del Valle’s native garden, which the Butley’s think looks pretty lousy next to theirs, and a question about a property line. Jane Jones directs and the cast includes Arlene Chico-Lugo, Keith Contreras, Robynn Rodriguez and Bill Geisslinger. Final performances are 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28, and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29. $25-$90. 622-2823. arizonatheatre.org.
“The Adventures of Sparkle and Steven: Two Unlikely Best Friends” — Roadrunner Theatre, 8892 E. Tanque Verde Road. In this Taylor Steger play for children, Princess Maribel and her cat, Sparkles are at a pageant when the Evil Wizard tries to stop it. Final performance is 11 a.m. Saturday Sept. 29. $12. 207-2491, roadrunnertheatrecompany.org
Continuing
David Fanning plays the title character in The Gaslight Theatre’s production of “The Vampire, Or: He Loved in Vein.” In Gaslight fashion, be prepared for bad puns and grand singing.
”The Vampire or He Loved in Vein” — The Gaslight Theatre, 7010 E. Broadway. Gaslight favorite David Fanning returns to reprise his role of the blood-sucking Count Dracula. The melodrama takes audiences from Transylvania to England, where he’s determined to make Mina — another man’s own wife — his bride. Be prepared for bad puns and grand singing. Various times through Nov. 4. $22.95. 886-9428. thegaslighttheatre.com.
Arizona Repertory Theatre is staging Elaine Romero’s “Like Heaven.” From left, Anza Keller, Rebecca Galcik, Gabriela Giusti, Eavan Clare Brunswick.
“Like Heaven” — Tornabene Theatre on UA Campus, 1025 N. Olive Road. Arizona Repertory Theatre stages this play by University of Arizona Professor Elaine Romero. It’s the story of four women confronting big-time changes in their lives. Performances are 1:30 p.m. Sept. 29, 30; 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27-29, Oct. 5. Continues through Oct. 7. $28. 621-1162.
Steve Wood in Live Theatre Workshop’s “Every Brilliant Thing” — Credit: Ryan Fagan
“Every Brilliant Thing” — Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway. You’re six years old. Mum’s in hospital. Dad says she’s “done something stupid” — she tried to kill herself. So you start to make a list of everything that’s brilliant about the world. Everything that’s worth living for. Steve Wood is the lone actor and he does a wondrous job telling the story to the audience. Sabian Trout directed. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 6. $20. 327-4242, livetheatreworkshop.org
From left, Diana Ouradnik, Tyler Gastelum, Chelsea Renee Lang, Lionel Swanson, John Reimann and David Zinke in The Roadrunner Theatre Company’s production of “The Underpants.”
“The Underpants” — Roadrunner Theatre, 8892 E. Tanque Verde Road. Steve Martin’s satire is adapted from Carl Sternheim’s 1911 piece, “Die Hose.” Straight-laced Louise is humiliated when her bloomers fall down in a very public place. Everybody saw. Oh dear, oh dear. Renata Rauschen directs and the cast includes Tyler Gastelum, Chelsea Renee Lang, Diana Ouradnik, John Reimann, Alan Smith, Lionel Swanson and David Zinke. It’s 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 7. $20. 207-2491, roadrunnertheatrecompany.org
“The Grand Canyon Mystery” will be at Live Theatre Workshop through Nov. 11.
“The Grand Canyon Mystery” — Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway. The members of the Fraternal Order of the Great Northern Rim (FOGNeR) have gathered to make sure all is ready for the coming winter. And all is, but this: The food they’ve been saving has disappeared. And there are lots of likely suspects. Stephen Frankenfield and Kristian Kissel wrote the children’s play. The cast is made up of Karl Haas, Jon Heras, Kyleigh Sacco, Mike Saxon, and Margaret Smith. 12:30 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 11. $10. 327-4242. livetheatreworkshop.org.
