Tucson Lifestyle May 2012 : Page 29

may ’12 pr e vie w f eatur ed DateBook featured 29 | theater & film 36 | music & dance 36 May 1-7 Michael J. Harris Legacy for Learning Golf and Dinner Event. (May 3, 4) A gala eve-ning of food, wine, silent and live auctions, followed by a day of barbecue, golf and an awards reception. Proceeds benefit the Michael J. Har-ris Scholarship Endowment through the Casas Adobes Rotary Foundation. Thurs: 6 pm, The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa; Fri: 10:45 am, La Paloma Country Club. 615-9775, Fred Sowerby. Puttin’ On the Dog. (May 4) Bring your canine companions and head to this annual ben-efit for the Humane Society of Southern Arizona. Food, silent and live auctions, live enter-tainment and more. 5 pm. The Tucson Hilton El Conquistador Golf and Tennis Resort. 321-3704, ext. 188. Crystal Apple Awards Lun-cheon. (May 4) The Metropoli-tan Education Commission presents this award presenta-tion luncheon, this year hon-oring Barbara Mathers, Emily Watson, Debbie Young, Ann-Eve Pedersen, and IBM Tuc-son. 11 am registration. Desert Diamond Casino & Hotel. 670-0055. Treasures for Tihan. (May 5) Hors d’oeuvres, festive enter-tainment, no-host cantina and silent and live auctions to ben-efit the Tucson Interfaith HIV/ AIDS Network. 6 pm. Double-tree Hotel at Reid Park. 299-6647. May 5 Chess Fest Grandmaster Alexandra Kosteniuk will showcase her skills and provide insight into the game. See page 32 for details TUCSON LIFESTYLE | MAY 2012 Event listings run without charge as a service to our readers. Because of possible last-minute changes, readers should confirm schedules by calling the telephone numbers in the listings. www.tucsonlifestyle.com 29

Datebook

may ’12 preview featured May 1-7 Michael J. Harris Legacy for Learning Golf and Dinner Event. (May 3, 4) A gala evening of food, wine, silent and live auctions, followed by a day of barbecue, golf and an awards reception. Proceeds benefit the Michael J. Harris Scholarship Endowment through the Casas Adobes Rotary Foundation. Thurs: 6 pm, The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa; Fri: 10:45 am, La Paloma Country Club. 615- 9775, Fred Sowerby. Puttin’ On the Dog. (May 4) Bring your canine companions and head to this annual benefit for the Humane Society of Southern Arizona. Food, silent and live auctions, live entertainment and more. 5 pm. The Tucson Hilton El Conquistador Golf and Tennis Resort. 321- 3704, ext. 188. Crystal Apple Awards Luncheon.(May 4) The Metropolitan Education Commission presents this award presentation luncheon, this year honoring Barbara Mathers, Emily Watson, Debbie Young, Ann- Eve Pedersen, and IBM Tucson.11 am registration. Desert Diamond Casino & Hotel. 670-0055. Treasures for Tihan. (May 5) Hors d’oeuvres, festive entertainment, no-host cantina and silent and live auctions to benefit the Tucson Interfaith HIV/ AIDS Network. 6 pm. Doubletree Hotel at Reid Park. 299-6647. May 4, 8 pm Styx and REO Speedwagon in Concert Two of the biggest bands of the 1980s have joined forces for a tour that is sure to rock your world, and take you back to the days when your jackets had mattress-sized shoulder pads and your hair was so high that it was dangerously close to low-flying jets. Both Styx and REO Speedwagon have paid their dues and then some, working hard to get to the top of the rock world, touring and recording at a pace that would make the Energizer Bunny drop from exhaustion, all the while enduring the daggers of high-brow critics and fickle radio programmers. The good news is, they’re still here, still rockin’ as hard as ever, and reminding audiences of not only how many great songs they’ve Released, but how much fun it can be to go to a concert where you know the words by heart. Styx began in Chicago when twin brothers Chuck and John Panozzo and their neighbor Dennis DeYoung launched a project that would eventually change all their lives forever. “In 1962 when we were just kids we started a band that eventually became Styx in 1972,” recalls Chuck. “I was teaching high school when we got our first record deal with my brother, Dennis, JC [John Curulewski] and James Young.” The band released three albums that received acclaim in the Midwest, but they didn’t really break through until the song “Lady” started getting national airplay in 1975, about the same time that Tommy Shaw replaced the departing JC. Signed to A&M Records, the band continued to produce hits, including “Lorelei,” “Suite Madame Blue,” “Blue Collar Man” and “Babe.” But it was in the 1980s that Styx became a household name, thanks to albums like Paradise Theater and Kilroy Was Here, which produced hits such as “The Best of Times,” “Too Much Time On My hands,” and “Mr. Roboto.” A classic Styx song is so much more than a four-minute tune: it’s a story that unfolds and draws you in. Before you know it, you’re singing “Come Sail Away” right along with the band. “So many of our songs have been hit records, and what’s amazing is to hear the audience sing with us,” says Chuck. “They recognize them from the first note, which is pretty remarkable. To hear 30,000 people accompany you is pretty exciting; so is seeing the happiness on their faces. This music is like a time machine. We bring people back to when they were 14 or 20 or 25.” The music has not only been a source of hope and inspiration for the fans, but the band as well, which has endured its share of hard times. John Panozzo passed away in 1996, and Chuck continues to deal with his own health problems (detailed in his excellent autobiography The Grand Illusion: Love, Lies and My Life With Styx), which sometimes prevent him from performing with the group. But there’s no bitterness in Chuck’s reflections, just joy in what The band (these days consisting of Shaw, Young, Lawrence Gowan, Todd Sucherman and Ricky Phillips) continues to do. “When we hit the stage we immediately try to engage the audience. It’s a lot of fun for us, and for them to be part of what we’re doing. It’s a celebration — people from different backgrounds coming together for a common purpose — to have a nice evening of fun and rock and roll. We put on a great party every night!” Like Styx, REO Speedwagon (named after a truck-like vehicle designed by Ransom Eli Olds) came out of Illinois, starting their climb in the late 1960s, hitting their stride in the 1970s, and then achieving pop icon status in the early 1980s. Their tour mates are well known for the theatrical aspects of their material, but REO is most famous for their love songs. Whether you are in the first stages of falling for someone, or in the middle of a painful break up, there’s a perfect REO song for you. The pinnacle of their success was Hi Infidelity, an album that sent “Keep On Loving You,” “Take It On the Run,” “In Your Letter” and “Don’t Let Him Go” up the charts. Kevin Cronin, the powerhouse voice behind the hits, is open and honest about what those days were like. “I always put so much pressure on myself to succeed, and had so much angst,” he recalls. “After Hi Infidelity came out, our music was the most popular in the world for a year. We were the Adele of 1981.When I finally reached the top, I thought that would be the answer to all my questions, and everything was just going to fall into place. That wasn’t the case.” In the early ’80s, REO continued their hold on the charts with the albums Good Trouble and Wheels Are Turnin’ (which included the mega-hit “Can’t Fight This Feeling”), but in the unpredictable musical climate of the era, the band struggled with not being heavy enough For the die-hard rock fans, or pop enough for those who wanted nothing but soft ballads. “I’m a realist. I know that REO Speedwagon has been a punchline at times and we didn’t get a whole lot of respect from the critical music press, but I think the fact that we’ve been around for so long and performed at such a high level is causing people to take another look.I’m making a lot of friends in young bands and finding they do respect what we’ve accomplished.” Despite all his years as a star, Kevin could be the poster boy for the expression “nice guy”; he’s an unpretentious, though very talented singer who doesn’t take his fans for granted. He jokes that the career longevity of the band (which now includes Neal Doughty, Bruce Hall, Dave Amato and Bryan Hitt) is due to “our dashing good looks.” He adds, “I think it has something to do with our songs. Even though it’s rock and roll with loud guitars and high energy, at their core these are folk songs. Everything we play — the hardest rock song, the loudest power ballad — I could sit down and sing to you on an acoustic guitar. They work on a real personal level, and that connects with people.” The plain truth is that singing along with “Roll With the Changes” or “Ridin’ the Storm Out” (both of which could easily be anthems for today) just makes you feel good. And they have the same effect on Kevin. He notes that at age 60 he has the energy of a 30-year-old, and even better control of his voice than he did when he was on stage some three decades ago. Part of the reason may be that, like the band’s core audience, he’s found balance and focus in his life. He’s no longer rushing from the road to the recording studio. These days you’re likely to find him going out with his wife; watching his sons play basketball or his daughter perform in a high school play; hitting a golf ball with friends like trumpeter Rick Braun; or taking a hike in the hills behind his home in Southern California. The heart of rock and roll still beats in his chest, however, and he’s eager not only to be on tour with Styx (whom he calls “our best buddies in rock”) but to come to Tucson, where he has fond memories of having dinner at La Fuente, and watching the Bob Meighan Band perform. “Tucson is a special city, and I’ve had a lot of good times there. We don’t get to play there very often and I’m really looking forward to it.” Casino del Sol Resort. Www.avaconcerts.com; (800) 344-9435. May 5, 2-5 pm Chess Fest It’s your move. Literally. Whether you are such a serious chess fan that you named your cat Spassky, or you don’t know a rook from a Wookie, you’ll find something at 9 Queens’ fifth annual Chess Fest to entertain, educate and enthrall you. Take some lessons, dive into a pick-up game, or head to the arts and crafts station to pay homage to artist/chess wiz Marcel Duchamp by creating a readymade piece of chess art. Or, if you feel lucky … challenge former Women’s World Chess Champion Grandmaster Alexandra Kosteniuk to a match. Kosteniuk began playing back in Russia at the tender age of five, tutored in the ancient game by her father. By the time she was eight she was the Moscow Girls Champion in her age group, the European champ by age 10, and the World Champion in her bracket when she was 12. “At 12 I was quite famous in my school, and in fact all of Russia,” notes Kosteniuk, “so I could not stop playing chess. The country counted on me to win new titles, to participate in team tournaments and defend my country. Besides, I’ve always loved the game and traveling the world playing chess allowed me to meet new friends. I loved that, too!” These days she’s headquartered in Miami with her husband and their daughter, but she still flies all over the world to play matches and support the game. She’s done such an amazing job of encouraging others to take up the game that she is being presented with the 9 Queens’ Chess Queen of the Year Award. Says the non-profit organization’s Executive Director Jean Hoffman, “As one of the world’s most popular and influential chess players, Grandmaster Kosteniuk is an inspirational role model to thousands of women and girls throughout the world.” Kosteniuk points out that chess is an excellent way to train your mind in problem-solving skills, and improve your memory. “Good chess players have an easier time with all those standardized tests, since each move in chess is like a question in a test: ‘What will be my next best move?’” It’s fitting that Kosteniuk herself is in constant motion. She doesn’t just work out her brain, she trains her body by running, swimming, playing tennis and doing yoga. “And now that I’m a mother,” she concludes, “I love spending time with my daughter. The only thing I don’t do is waste time. Pretty much every minute is accounted for in our family. We don’t watch TV at all … we don’t have any time for that!” Hotel Congress.Jhoffman@9queen.org. Hot Rod Show. (May 5) The Tucson Street Rod Association sponsors this annual “Rodders Days” event, which includes a show ’n shine at Casino del Sol with trophies, parts and food vendors, kids activities and more. 8 am-3 pm. Casino del Sol Resort. 808-4929, Joe Romero. Silver & Turquoise Ball. (May 5) An elegant black-tie affair with several dance bands and a late-night cabaret, benefiting the Patronato Mission San Xavier del Bac. 6 pm. Arizona Inn. 298-1323. Wilde Meyer Gallery Show.(May 5-26) The featured exhibition this month will be Earth and Sky, a group show with interpretations of landscapes ranging from Southwest scenery painted on site, to stylized imaginative environmental works. Artists will include: Barbara Gurwitz, Michael Baum, Judith D’Agostino, Albert Scharf, Jeff Cochran, Gregory Stocks, Robert Anderson, Lawrence Taylor, and Alix Stefan.Mon-Fri: 10 am-5:30 pm; Sat: 10 am-6 pm; Sun: noon-5 pm.Open for Artwalk every Thursday 5-7 pm. 3001 E. Skyline.615-5222. May 8-14 Emerge! 2012 Mother’s Day Luncheon. (May 10) Awards ceremony, silent auction, raffle and lunch, all benefiting Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse. 11:30 am.The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa. 795-8001. Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand Up Revolution. (May 12) The San Diego native — whose nickname is “Fluffy” — has performed his comedy act around the world, and appeared in TV shows and films. 8 pm. AVA Casino del Sol Resort. (800) 344-9435; www.Avaconcerts.com. May 3-27 Beowulf Alley Theatre Company Sins of the Mother Israel Horovitz isn’t known for pulling punches.The award-winning playwright/screenwriter/ actor (The Indian Wants the Bronx, Author!Author!) Has tackled some tough subjects in his works, albeit with humor and lots of complexity. Sins of the Mother, currently being staged by Beowulf Alley, is a good case in point. Director Vince Flynn observes that it’s filled with the sort of characters “you don’t want to invite for tea.Maybe a beer, and then watch out!” Set in Gloucester, Massachusetts, the piece explores the lives of five men who have fallen on hard economic times, and gather in the union meeting room of a closed fish processing plant.As they reveal who they are, it comes out that the mother of one of them had a rather notorious reputation … and left a tragic legacy. Deaths ensue, including two murders, before the curtain falls. “It’s a dark play — even with its humor — and I want to serve it the best I can,” says Flynn. To prepare his cast for the accents, he suggested that they study the characters in The Perfect Storm (which revolves around Gloucester fishermen), as well as Ben Affleck’s The Town, featuring some authentic Boston accents. But even Horovitz has noted that rhythms of speech aren’t essential to the story of these guys; though there is much in the play that is particular to the area, the fates that befall them could happen in any city in America. The surprising thing, given that Horovitz has written more than 70 plays, won several Obies, a Drama Desk Award and other accolades, is that this play actually hasn’t been published yet.Flynn read a review of a Florida production, and sought out a copy of the play. After getting permission to stage it, he held a casting call. “We had tryouts a year ago, and I found these actors and thought, ‘I don’t know how I’ll hang onto them until the production’ but I did.” The cast will feature Hal Melfi as Bobby, Anthony Saccocio as Douggie, Ken Beider in the dual role of twins Frankie and Philly, and Jim Ambrosek portraying Dubbah. Though live theater tends to draw an older audience, Flynn hopes that 20- and 30-somethings will come to see Sins of the Mother (even if they are only curious because the playwright is the father of Ad Rock from the Beastie Boys). “It shook me up just reading this play,” he concludes.“And I hope that the production does that to the audience, too. It definitely beats all the crime dramas on TV.” 11 S. Sixth Ave. 882-0555. The Remarkable Celebration.(May 12) Cocktails, dinner, silent and live auctions, music and entertainment honoring five local mothers who have made a difference. Proceeds benefit Tu Nidito. 6 pm. Loews Ventana Canyon. 322-9155. May 16-22 Dancing With Our Stars. (May 18) Local celebrities face off in a dance competition to raise money for the Diaper Bank of Southern Arizona. 5:30 pm. The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa. 325-1400. Poetry Off The Page. (May 18-20) An international symposium exploring the boundaries of poetry in other mediums (theater, film, dance, etc.). UA Poetry Center. 626-3765. Rabbi Thomas Louchheim’s 25th Anniversary in the Rabbinate.(May 19) This event celebrates Rabbi Louchheim as he receives an honorary doctor of divinity degree from Hebrew Union College — Jewish Institute of Religion. A high-end raffle and five-course dinner with wine pairings will be part of the festivities. 7-10 pm. Skyline Country Club. Call Congregation Or Chadash at 512- 8500 for reservations. Centurions’ Masquerade Escapade. (May 19) This annual themed fundraiser will include food, costume contest, live music, gaming and other activities. Proceeds benefit Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital.6 pm. Downtown Tucson (corner of Congress and Fifth Avenue). 873-5032. FC Tucson Soccer Games.(May 19) FC Tucson vs. SC Seahorses.Also May 26: FC Tucson vs. Pali Blues. 7 pm. Locations TBD. Www.fctucson. com. May 1-Aug. 26 Tucson Padres Home Games The Tucson Padres returned to the field at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium on April 5 as the city’s AAA baseball affiliate. The farm team for San Diego, the T-Pads began their time in the Old Pueblo last year, as Director of Broadcasting/Media Relations Tim Hagerty notes, “without having been here for the fall and winter … without even a logo ready.” They quickly came up with a catchy logo and promotional materials, and now with a whole season under their belts and a strong presence in the community, the team is looking forward to having a great summer. They plan on not only bettering last year’s 65-79 record, but also greatly increasing attendance. There are basically two groups of people who come to AAA games: the die-hard baseball fans who want to watch up-and-coming stars (and those working their way back to the MLB roster); and people who just want to be entertained for a few hours. Hagerty points out that there are a lot of promotions to draw people to the ballpark. This year, you’ll be able to enjoy everything from the return of “Thirsty Thursdays” (now with bigger beverage glasses), to KiiM-FM Family Nights (with special discounts on tickets and munchies), to Bark in the Park (when you can bring your canine friends!), to special appearances by everyone from the giant inflatable ZOOperstars! To comic Myron Noodleman to the world- famous San Diego Chicken. The Tucson Padres have Facebook and Twitter pages, so it’s easy to stay informed about all the happenings. “Following our Tweets will allow you to keep up with trades, who’s injured, and other things that are important if you’re into stats,” says Hagerty, “but you’ll also find out which nights we’re doing fireworks or having a special promotion like Field of Dreams, where we give away a car.” For more information check: www.tucsonpadres.com www.facebook.com/pages/Tucson-Padres http://twitter.com/#!/tucsonpadres Turn Your Life Around 1st Annual Golf Tournament. (May 19) Proceeds will benefit Tucson’s homeless population. 8 am.Heritage Highlands at Dove Mountain.887-2643. Theater & film May 1-7 Live Theatre Workshop. (May 1) Continuing through June 3 is A.R. Gurney’s comedy The Cocktail Hour. May 3-19, the late night series Etcetera will stage Toni Press- Coffman’s drama Touch. The All Together family theater presentation of Thumbelina will continue through June 10. 5317 E. Speedway. 327-4242. The Loft Cinema. (May 4) Monsieur Lazhar, the story of a substitute teacher in Montreal who has to balance the problems of his private life while helping a struggling group of kids, opens this month. Beginning on May 11 is the documentary Marley about the great reggae singer/songwriter/ activist. Showing May 20 is The Killer, a John Woo masterpiece about a hitman turned hero. On May 23 check out For the Benefit of All Beings: The Extraordinary Life of His Eminence Garchen Triptrul Rinpoche, a documentary about the Tibetan Buddhist leader. Proceeds from this screening will benefit the Southwest Buddhafield Endowment Fund. 3233 E. Speedway.795-0844. music & dance May 1-7 UA School of Music. (May 1) UA Wind Ensemble and UA Wind Symphony. 7:30 pm. Crowder Hall. Also: May 2: Arizona Symphony Orchestra with UA Philharmonic Orchestra. 7:30 pm. Crowder Hall.621-1162. PCC Music. (May 1) Jazz Ensemble concert.7:30 pm. Also May 3: Wind Ensemble concert. 7:30 pm. May 6: Chorale & College Singers concert. 3 pm. May 13: Orchestra concert. 3 pm. PCC Center for the Arts. 206-6986. Ballet Tucson. (May 5, 6) The timeless fairytale Cinderella, featuring the beauty of Prokofiev’s music and choreography by Chieko Imada and Mark Schneider, comes to life in the grand spaces of UA Centennial Hall. Sat: 7:30 pm; Sun: 2 pm. 621-3341. PCC Dance. (May 11-12) Four Seasons, directed by Aurora Gonçalves-Shaner, takes dancers through winter, spring, summer and autumn in styles including jazz, ballet and ballroom.Fri: 7:30 pm; Sat: 2 pm and 7:30 pm. PCC Center for the Arts. 206-6986. Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra. (May 19, 20) A concert that will include Isaac’s Patriotic Overture, Bottesini’s Concerto for Double Bass, No.2, B minor, and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, op. 47, D minor. Sat: 7:30 pm. Saddle- Brooke DVPAC. Sun: 3 pm. St. Andrew’s Presbyterian. 308-6226. Arizona Public Media May Programming on PBS-HD Channel 6 Highlights this month include Masterpiece MYSTERY!Sherlock, Series 2, starting Sunday May 6 at 8 pm. This popular re-imagining of the world’s greatest proponent of deductive reasoning finds Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr. John Watson in 21st century London.Though the tales are based on the original stories, the characters have evolved for the modern age, with Benedict Cumberbatch wonderfully portraying the detective’s brilliance and social unease, and Martin Freeman presenting a Dr. Watson who is likable and fully realized. Check pbs.org or AZPM.org for more information.

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