Review
“Miss Witherspoon” — Live Theatre Workshop. See story.
Opening
“Oaf” — The Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre at The Historic Y, 738 N. Fifth Ave. Wolfe Bowart and Matt Walley have created this “not intended for mature audiences” piece about a carnival sideshow performer who finds creative and funny ways to deal with obstacles. It’s physical theater, so expect no words but some wonderful clown work by Walley, the sole performer. Bowart directs. This is the world premiere of the piece — Scoundrel & Scamp, committed to new theater, commissioned the play. It’s about an hour long, and the kids will likely love it — it’s appropriate for 5 and up. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through June 3. Enter through the parking lot at the back of the Y. It’s $22, with discounts available. 448-3300, scoundrelandscamp.org.
Tori Padilla performs in CYT’s production of “Beauty and the Beast.” The show runs through May 27.
“Beauty and the Beast” — Pima Community College Center for the Arts, 2202 W. Anklam Road. The musical version of the classic tale about Belle and her encounter with the Beast gets the CYT treatment. And that’s a good thing: CYT does some impressive productions. Performances are 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through May 27. $15. 751-7510, cyttucson.org
Gretchen Wirges directs six actors prepared to improvise in “An Unkept Secret” at Live Theatre Workshop.
“An Unkept Secret” — Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway. Most who are forced on stage and told to make up the lines as they go along would freeze. Not so the six actors in this production. They are armed with a format, but they are making up the drama as they go along. Which means each performance will be different. Gretchen Wirges, an experienced improviser herself, directs and the brave souls willing to take on the challenge are David Gunther, Eric Rau, Jessica Spenny, Allison Talavera, Ally Tanzillo and Alan Trammel. Ages 16 and up. Two performances only: 10:30 p.m. May 19 and 7 p.m. May 20. $10. 327-4242, livetheatreworkshop.org.
“Star Wars” — City Center for Collaborative Learning/CHS Theater, 37 E. Pennington St. City High School stages a theatrical version of the epic tale. Reservations at tomm@cityhighschool.org, or tickets at the door. 2 and 7 p.m. May 19. $5. 623-7223.
“Truth” — The Carport Theater, 3614 E. Presidio Road. Theater, dance and improv skits exploring the nature of truth. The cast includes Felicia Akins, Brad Bultman, Melinda Dorling, Tim Foran, Marc Haberman, Kathy Keler, John Redding, Carol Reinhart, Nanette Robinson, Alison Torba and Diane Warren. 8 p.m. May 19 and 20. Free, reservations necessary. 409-3473, carporttheater.com.
Virginia Reynolds: Her First 100 Years — The Hacienda at the River, 2720 E. River Road, Mesquite Hacienda, Dining Room. Virginia Reynolds is 100 — that’s a lot of living she’s done. She has written “Memoirs on Early Life and World War II Experiences,” and actress Susan Claassen will read excerpts from the book. Reynolds will be there, and that milestone birthday will be celebrated, It’s 2 p.m. May 23. Free, but reservations are necessary. 485-1060.
Last Chance
Teacher Susan (Alida Holguín Gunn) tries to resolve a science-religion conflict with student Micah (Rene Junius).
“How the World Began” — Community Playhouse, 1881 N. Oracle Road. Something Something Theatre Company ends its season of substantive plays with Catherine Trieschmann’s “How the World Began,” which thrusts Susan, a pregnant, single New York woman, into a rural Kansas town, which has been flattened by a recent tornado. Susan, who longs to flee the big city, signs up to teach science through an organization that places teachers in distressed areas. The school is packed with Christians, and Susan’s lesson on the origins of life on earth reveals Christianity — or even religion — is not her bag. She calls nonscientific-based origin stories “gobbledygook.” A student demands an apology, which isn’t forthcoming. Things escalate from there. Avis Judd directs the cast of this strong production: Alida Gunn, Paul Hammack and Rene Junius. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays through May 20. $18-$22 at 468-6111 or somethingsomethingtheatre.com.
“Buried Child” — Winding Road Theater Ensemble, Cabaret Theatre at the Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. Sam Shepherd’s dark and disturbing look at the American family is given a solid production by Winding Road. Eva Tessler directs this piece about a farm family in rural Illinois who are about as dysfunctional as they can get. This is a family that was once proud, the land once fruitful. But hard times have made them bitter, hateful and often drunk. The cast includes Roseanne Couston, Chad Davies, Brian Taraz, Gabriel Nagy, Cole Potwardowski and Brie Zepeda. Final performances are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through May 20. Tickets are $25. 401-3626, windingroadtheater.org.
Continuing
“Rock-A-Billy Raceway” — The Gaslight Theatre, 7010 E. Broadway. Slip back into the 1950s, when cars were cool, T-shirt sleeves were rolled up, and hair glistened with gel. Various times and dates through June 3. $21.95. 886-9428, thegaslighttheatre.com.
The Roadrunner Theatre Company’s “How the Other Half Loves” is a classic sex farce.
“How The Other Half Loves” — Roadrunner Theater Company, 8892 E. Tanque Verde Road. In the world of farces, Alan Ayckbourn’s name is revered. The British playwright is a master of the genre. “How the Other Half Loves” is one of his classic sex farces: Frank and Fiona are in a chilly marriage, which may be why she is having an affair with Bob, who happens to be Frank’s boss. Bob and his wife, Teresa, have a volatile relationship and she feels he doesn’t pay enough attention. Both Bob and Fiona explain their absence from their spouses by citing William and Mary Featherstone — Fiona claims she has been with Mary, comforting her because her husband is having an affair, and Frank says he has been with William because his wife is having an affair. When the Featherstones come to dinner at each couple’s apartments on successive nights, things can get, well, wacky. Michael Woodson directs and Larry Fuller, Carrie Silverman, Vincent O’Neill, Robin Carson, Nicolette Shaffer, and Mike Saxon make up the cast. Performances are 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through June 3. $20. 207-2491, roadrunnertheatrecompany.org.
Tyler West, left and Trenton Hilliker in Live Theatre Workshop”s “Spaceman Zero.”
“Spaceman Zero” — Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway. Live Theatre’s family arm is chock-full of talented writers and composers whose works have premiered at LTW and then been published and performed by children’s theaters around the country. That is an impressive claim. And all the more reason why you and the kids want to rush out to see this new musical about Casper, a sixth-grader totally taken with space. So, being a smart, industrious kid, he builds a rocket ship. And launches himself in it. While everyone on Earth is trying to figure out how to get him back, Casper is having a fine adventure. The story is by Kristian Kissel, who also directs, and the music is by David Ragland. The cast includes Bree Boyd, Evan Cipra, Sarah Drottz, Trenton Hilliker, Austin Killian and Tyler West. Performances are 12:30 p.m. Sundays through June 3. $10. 327-4242 or livetheatreworkshop.org.
From left, Brian Taraz, Chad Davies and Roseanne Couston perform in Winding Road Theater Ensemble’s production of “Buried Child.”
