68
Arts
August 3 – 16, 2013
ON STAGE Arizona Dance Classic, through Aug. 4, MMH. The Arizona Dance Classic is an annual three-day dance festival with something for everyone—country, ballroom and swing dance competitions, workshops, exhibitions and social dancing. Spectators will experience performances by the top dancers from around the country. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” through Aug.10, DST. When newly engaged Brad and Janet experience a car breakdown and find themselves one stormy night in the home of the transvestite mad scientist Dr. Frank-NFurter, their traditional worlds are turned upside down in his strange house of Transylvanians. “Hairspray,” through Aug. 24, HCT. It’s 1962 and Tracy Turnblad wins a spot on the local TV dance program, “The Corny Collins Show.” Overnight Tracy is transformed from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity. But can an unconventional trendsetter in dance, music and fashion vanquish the program’s reigning princess, win the heart of heartthrob Link Larkin and integrate a television show without denting her ‘do? Arizona Reading Orchestra, 3 p.m. Sun., Aug. 4, THS. From late May through early August, a hardy, dedicated group of musicians meets weekly to play through some sometimes difficult, sometimes
new, but always challenging repertoire, under the batons of a variety of local conductors. There will be a discussion about the music at 2 p.m. Admission is free. “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the Culture Wars (But Were Afraid to Ask),” 12:10 p.m. Aug. 6-15, HTC. Playwright-actorjournalist-professor and hyperbolically hyphenated-American James E. Garcia ponders the question, “Can’t we all just get along?” and more in this fast-paced, farcically surrealistic satire about the rapidly changing makeup of U.S. society. Shows are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Film, “Ready, Set, Bag!” 7:30 p.m. Thu., Aug. 8, SMoCA-LG. An entertaining, award-winning film starring people across the United States training to win the National Grocers Association’s Best Bagger Competition. Tickets are $7. Comedian Mike Epps, Aug. 8-11, SUL. Known for his quick wit and ability to blend hip-hop audiences with comedy. Epps starred in a standup special “Mike Epps: Under-rated and Never Faded” on Comedy Central and Showtime, and released his first comedy rap album called “Funny Bidness: Da Album.” The album features Snoop Dogg, Kid Rock and Slim Thug, to name a few. The Monkees, 8 p.m. Fri., Aug. 9, MAC. Following their sold-out 2012 fall tour, Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz and
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Peter Tork return to the concert stage this summer for a reprise. Comedian Bruce Baum, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. Fri., Aug. 9, TCA-Lakeside. Baum has appeared on “The Simpsons” as himself and is the creator of the comedy webdestination, TheOuterNet.com. He has appeared on “Hollywood Squares,” “Full House,” “Growing Pains,” Comedy Central, HBO and Showtime. Baum served as a creative consultant on ABC-TV’s popular “Whose Line is it Anyway?” He regularly headlines in Las Vegas and top venues around the globe. Tim McGraw, 8:30 p.m. Sat., Aug. 10, SRF. Country superstar Tim McGraw will entertain his country and mainstream music fans, performing familiar favorites as well as new tunes from his latest album, “Two Lanes of Freedom.” Native American Song and Dance, 7 p.m. Sat., Aug. 10, PGM. Canyon Records presents a concert featuring awardwinning artists Tony Duncan, EstunBah and Grammy nominee, Radmilla Cody. Seating is limited. For those who can’t make it, the concert also will be streaming live on the Internet at Ustream. tv/user/canyonrecords. Viewers can interact via chat and will be able to send song requests and questions to the performers. Comedian Doug Benson, Aug. 13-14, IMPROV. He may have only made it to the top six in NBC’s 2007 season of “Last Comic Standing,” but Benson left a lasting
COUNTRY CROONER: Singer, composer and actor Lyle Lovett backed by his 14-member “Large Band,” takes the stage at the Mesa Arts Center Thu., Aug. 15. Photo courtesy of the MAC
impression. On Tuesday, Benson performs his unique style of stand-up beginning at 8 p.m. Then on Wednesday, Benson brings his popular podcast, “Doug Loves Movies,” to the Improv stage beginning at 8 p.m. Lyle Lovett & His Large Band, 7:30 p.m. Thu., Aug. 15, MAC. A singer, composer and actor, Lyle Lovett has broadened the definition of American music in a career that spans 14 albums. The 14 players who will back him are all virtuosos in their own right.