Theater, Music & Dance in Tucson: Tucson is rich in its offerings of theater, music and dance performances. Many organizations present a full season from September to May, and some continue with extra summer events. This is only a sampling of the quality performing arts groups as diverse as the Tucson Balalaika Orchestra to Ballet Folklórico San Juan to the Hi-Horse Cloggers to the Blues Heritage Festival. We have chosen a few groups to highlight here. Click on the bold title to go directly to each organization’s website and learn about upcoming events: Arizona Friends of Chamber Music offers a series of six concerts presenting many of the outstanding chamber music ensembles drawn from the US and abroad. AFCM also sponsors a Winter Chamber Music Festival (March 8-15, 2009). The festival has been called “one of the best and most adventurous festivals in the US.” (American Record Guide). A third series is the Sunday afternoon “Piano and Friends” with piano recitals or duos with string instruments. All performances are at the Leo Rich Theater at the Tucson Community Center. Ticket Information: 520-577-3769
http://www.arizonachambermusic.org Arizona Opera offers a season of five productions in both Tucson and Phoenix. Led by Artistic Director Joel Revzen, the company is in its 39th year. Performances for 2008-09 are: “Rigoletto,” “The Mikado,” “The Elixir of Love,” “Don Giovanni,” and “Tosca”. Performances are at the Music Hall of the Tucson Community Center. Tucson Box Office Phone: 520-293-4336 http://www.azopera.com Arizona Repertory Theatre is the professional training company of the UA School of Theatre Arts, and presents a season of productions at Tornabene Theatre and Marroney Theatre at the southeast corner of Speedway & Park. Productions scheduled for 2008-09 include Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labours Lost,” Stephen Sondheim’s “Company,” “The Music Man,” “Leading Ladies,” and Euripedes’ “Medea.” Box Office Phone: 520-621-1162 Arizona Theatre Company began in Tucson more than 40 years ago, and today offers a full season of professional theatre in both Tucson and Phoenix. Tucson performances are presented downtown at the renovated Temple of Music and Art. Over the past years ATC has produced more than 200 plays, ranging from classics by Shakespeare and Moliere to contemporary playwrights such as Stoppard, Shepard and Fugard. Box Office Phone: 520-622-2823 http://www.aztheatreco.org Ballet Tucson has grown from Ballet Arts Foundation which was established in 1986. The group works to develop a professional and a children’s performing ensemble, both of which perform during the season. Phone: 520-903-1445
Beowulf Alley Theatre Company makes its home in the renovated store-front theatre in downtown Tucson. Established in 2001, BATC is a non-profit professional theatre company drawing upon the talents of Tucson actors and presenting critically acclaimed plays as well as original work. Phone: 520-882-0555 http://www.beowulfalley.org Borderlands Theater fills a unique niche in Tucson theater with its emphasis on Chicano programming and supporting emerging playwrights and young artists in a season of productions in both Spanish and English. Under Producing Director Barclay Goldsmith, one of the theater’s most successful programs has been the Border Playwrights Project which commissions and/or produces one or two new plays each year. A recent effort has been made to work with Mexican playwrights in opening new horizons for Tucson theater patrons. Venues include Pima Community College and the Leo Rich Theater at the Tucson Community Center. Box Office Phone: 882-7406 http://www.borderlandstheater.org Broadway in Tucson/A Nederlander Presentation The 2008-09 season of road shows includes “RAIN-a Tribute to the Beatles,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Grease,” “Tuna Does Vegas,” “a Bronx Tale,” and “Mamma Mia!,” as well as special season events. Performances are at the Tucson Music Hall or Leo Rich Theatre. Phone: 520-903-2929 Gaslight Theatre. Let your hair down for an evening of musical comedy melodrama complete with old time honky-tonk piano, sing-alongs and sight-gags. You’re encouraged to cheer the hero and boo the villain, and enjoy the non-stop corny jokes and clever sets and costumes. Soft drinks, beer, pizza and ice cream available. Shows change every six weeks or so. Be sure to make reservations well in advance. The theatre is located at 7010 E. Broadway. Box Office Phone: 520-886-9428 Invisible Theatre is dedicated to providing quality theater experiences in an intimate setting utilizing local professional talent and guest artists. The company offers recent Off-Broadway plays and musicals, and also presents new works in both full productions and staged readings. Managing Artistic Director Susan Claassen is the driving force behind this community gem that has been a visible force in Tucson for over 35 years. Most productions take place in the 80-seat theatre that was once a laundry building at 1400 N. First Avenue. Box Office Phone: 520-882-9721 http://www.invisibletheatre.com Live Theater Workshop, begun in 1994 and now under the artistic direction of Sabian Trout, presents a full season of community theater productions at its home at 5317 E. Speedway Blvd. In recent years, the company has also expanded its “All Together Family Theatre” to involve young people, their parents and extended families by presenting plays intended to be enjoyed by the whole family. Past productions have included “Charlotte’s Web,” “Mi Nana y Queztalcoatl,” and “Tales of Africa.” Box Office Phone: 520-327-4242 http://www.livetheatreworkshop.org Loft Cinema is a non-profit movie theater that serves as Tucson’s premiere venue for art films – independent, foreign, alternative and classic films and documentaries. Since becoming a non-profit organization in 2002 the cinema has hosted more than l100 filmmakers and scholars and screened films from more than 50 countries. Located at 3233 E Speedway Blvd. (east of Country Club) Phone: 520-795-7777 (showtimes recording) http://www.loftcinema.com O-T-O Dance is a modern dance company that combines aerial dance with original music and video. The company has performed in Ireland, Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador and St. Petersburg Russia. Phone: 520-624-3799 http://www.otodance.org The Rogue Theatre began in 2005 with the ambitious objective of presenting the highest quality theatre “challenging, stretching and invigorating our community,” and has carried through in its staging of first-rate classical works—three plays per season. Without a permanent home, venues may change from play to play, but this doesn’t affect the quality. Phone: 520-551-2053 http://www.theroguetheatre.org Sons of Orpheus—The Male Choir of Tucson, founded in 1991 by Grayson Hirst, is composed of professional and amateur musicians from all walks of life. The group performs music ranging from classic to modern, and presents several concerts each season, often with other groups such as the Arizona Balalaika Orchestra and the Tucson Chamber Orchestra. Sons of Orpheus performed at the 2008 Leipzip International Choral Festival. Phone: 520-621-1649 http://www.sonsoforpheus.org Tucson International Mariachi Conference has for 25 years been one of the most influential mariachi and baile folklórico festivals in the world. The main public presentations take place in April of each year, headlined by some of the biggest names in mariachi music and folklórico dancing. Phone: 520-838-3908 http://www.tucsonmariachi.org Tucson Jazz Society, started in 1977, is dedicated to preserving and presenting America’s original music--jazz. Each year the group sponsors events such as “Jazz Under the Stars” outdoors at St. Phillips Plaza, “Gems of Jazz” and “Primavera: Celebration of Women in the Arts” as well as other concerts and events. In addition to plenty of local talent, TJS presents outstanding national and international jazz artists. Box Office Phone: 520-903-1265 http://www.tucsonjazz.org Tucson Symphony Orchestra dates from 1929 and today performs at the Music Hall of the Tucson Community Center under the direction of George Hanson. A full season of classical music as well as pops performances are scheduled for 2008-09 when guest artists include Pianist Povilas Stravinsky, Violinist Ning Kam, Pianist Spencer Myer, and Pianist Cecile Licad. A series of performances also are presented at the Catalina Foothills High School and other venues in Tucson and Green Valley. UA School of Dance. This program is one of the few in the nation to offer training in all three areas of dance: ballet, modern and jazz. The faculty is first-rate, and turns out students who go on to successful careers. The student showcases are wonderful opportunities to see a variety of dance styles at a near-professional level of accomplishment. Productions are staged at the new Stevie Eller Dance Theatre, the gorgeous contemporary building near the east entrance to the UA campus. UA School of Music presents hundreds of faculty and student concerts, recitals and master classes, as well as guest artists, during the year. Most performances are at the Crowder Hall or Holsclaw Hall in the Fine Arts Complex of the UA campus. Many events are free of charge. For a schedule of upcoming events, check the website below. Additional information: 520-621-2998
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