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from Santa Fe Reporter, September 14, 2022

by Santa Fe Reporter

THE CALENDAR

La Emi

AT THE BENITEZ CABARET AT THE LODGE AT SANTA FE Sept 22 –Oct 9

THUSAT 7:30PM

Doors 6:45pm

SUN MATINEE 2PM

Doors 1:15pm

Special guest appearances by VICENTE GRIEGO EVA ENCINIAS JUAN SIDDI

Gabriel Lautaro Osuna Eloy Cito Gonzales Javier Saume Mazzei Meagan Chandler

TICKETS FROM $25$55 HHandR.com/entertainment

505-660-9122

With Actor Cliff Russell

COLIN HOVDE

Regular patrons of the Santa Fe Playhouse’s annual Fiesta Melodrama are sure to recognize at least a few recurring faces year after year. They’re the folks who bring the show, which famously riffs on Santa Fe’s foibles, to life. Among them is Cliff Russell, a mainstay of the show in that way where you almost can’t recall a time he wasn’t involved. Russell has, in fact, brought so many characters to life since his first appearance on the Playhouse stage in 2001, and now it’s kind of the end of an era. Seeing how the current run of the show marks its 100th—which also inspired its anonymous writing team to poke fun at the Melodrama itself—Russell has decided it’s a great time to go out with a bang rather than with a whimper; when the curtain falls on that final performance later this week, it’ll also close the book on Russell’s longstanding involvement. Russell’s done a lot of things over the years, like working for the US Postal Service and serving nearly four years in the Navy, but we think it’s pretty dang notable he’s been a part of Santa Fe’s silly Melodrama for so long. So we called him up to learn how it’s been, how he got his Screen Actors Guild card, why the time to leave felt right and what’s next for an actor who didn’t even start treading the boards until his mid-60s. Catch Russell and the rest of the Melodrama gang as they take the show on the road this week to the Santa Fe Public Library Southside Branch (6 pm Wednesday, Sept. 14 and Thursday, Sept. 15. Free. 6599 Jaguar Drive, (505) 955-2580) and the final performance at The Bridge@Santa Fe Brewing Co. (7:30 pm, Saturday, Sept. 18. $15-$75. santafeplayhouse.org), after which Russell’s castmates, friends and family will send him off in style with a beer-fueled afterparty. This interview has been edited for clarity and space. (Alex De Vore)

How do you feel now knowing that your tenure is coming to an end?

I feel pretty good for an 87-year-old man. Because I’m 87, I’m starting to get a little bit worn down. I’m not as steady on my pins as I used to be. But I’ve just loved doing it. That’s all I can say—that I really loved it a lot.

Would you say there’s any reason that kept you coming back, or something you learned during your run you’ll carry with you?

I met a lot of wonderful people, and I hope the friendships I made will last me until I go to the grave. It’s been a variety of people in that show. Some kept coming back, some liked it—like the hero in this year’s Melodrama, whose name is Felix Cordova, has been involved for the last 10 years—[other actors] have been in several Melodramas. Some keep coming back, but some of them just come and go.

I’d seen melodramas before, and these started out to be very similar to the old-time melodramas, and then they gradually changed into more of a political thing. A satire, you could say. It was always different, though, it was never the same. Some of the sets were spectacular, some were more simple. They were always spectacular.

What do you think you’ll do now? Will you keep acting? In television or film, perhaps?

It depends on what goes on. I keep looking at the auditions, and I look at the characters they have and none of them are quite my age. Back when I was 79, I played a 60-year-old, and now that I’m 87, I’m playing 100-year-olds. But I have done movies, and I have done TV. I became [Screen Actors Guild]-eligible on a TV show called The Night Shift about a hospital in San Antonio—but it was filmed in ABQ. That’s where I got to be SAG-eligible, because I finally got some lines. I...finally got lines.

Y’know, that’s something I might pursue if the situation is right. I’d prefer it to be in Santa Fe, though. And I prefer Westerns. I’ve done a lot of Westerns: I worked with Kevin Costner on Wyatt Earp, and I also worked on his first Western, Silverado. But also, I’ve been retired from the Post Office for 28 years, so really I think I’m gonna just keep on enjoying my retirement. I’ve lived in Santa Fe for 46 years. I’m not going anywhere. My next home is the National Cemetery. [As for the theater], I would just like to say—keep on coming back.

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YOUTH CHESS CLUB

Santa Fe Public Library Main Branch 145 Washington Ave. (505) 955-6780 Are you a youth? Do you love mimicking war on boxes? Youth Chess Club is calling you. 5:30-8 pm, free

MUSIC

BUDDY GUY AND JOHN HIATT & THE GONERS

Santa Fe Opera 301 Opera Drive (505) 986-5900 Blues, blues and more blues. The blues are alive and well through Buddy Guy and John Hiatt. Cool roots tunes, too. Look, you know the names, might as well go to the show, huh? 7:30 pm, $48-$109

KARAOKE NIGHT

Boxcar 530 S Guadalupe St. (505) 988-7222 Classic karaoke options at Boxcar. It's pretty self-explanatory. No more Journey, though. Journey at karaoke is over. Deal with it, America. 10 pm, free

SCOTT DAMGAARD

Cowgirl 319 S Guadalupe St. (505) 982-2565 An acoustic guitar master who’s just, like, all sick. 4-6 pm, free

SECOND CHANCES A COUNTRY BAND

La Fiesta Lounge 100 E San Francisco St. (505) 982-5511 Two-man country. 7 pm, free

THE MELVINS

The Bridge @ SF Brewing Co. 37 Fire Place (505) 557-6182 The Melvins are one of modern music’s most influential bands. They shred. They shred so dang hard. We cannot oversell how hard this band shreds. 7 pm, $21 THEATER

SANTA FE FIESTA MELODRAMA

Santa Fe Public Library: Southside Brance 6599 Jaguar Drive, (505) 955-2580 Get free admission to this specific touring production on the Santa Fe Playhouse’s annual Fiesta Melodrama. This year, the show itself gets put on trial and who knows what’ll happen. 6 pm, free

WORKSHOP

TEEN TWEEN AERIALS

Wise Fool New Mexico 1131 Siler Road, Ste. B. (505) 992-2588 For students ages 11-15, this class offers instruction on trapeze, lyra, fabric and rope—students may choose which they'd like to focus on, or try them all! 5:30 pm, Mon; 11:15 am Sat, $24-$114

THU/15

ART

ALPANA DEMONSTRATION

Santa Fe Community College 6401 Richards Ave. (505) 428-1000 Check out this live demonstration constructing Alpana art. Open to the public all day, but note the piece will be dismantled at sunset. There’s something in there about accepting things. 9-10 am, free

BOOKS/LECTURES

MEOW WOLF PRESENTS: ROTATIONS: MEET THE ARTISTS WITH VIRGIL ORTIZ, JACOB FISHER AND LAUREN YS

SITE Santa Fe 1606 Paseo de Peralta (505) 989-1199 Meow Wolf’s flagship Santa Fe location unveils three new permanent installations, including a collaboration with artists Virgil Ortiz, Jacob Fisher and Lauren YS (aka Squidlicker). 7 pm, $5

EVENTS

CLOUDTOP COMEDY FESTIVAL

Santa Fe Railyard cloudtopcomedy.com Learn to laugh at a big 'ol funny festival that takes over pretty much the entirety of Santa Fe’s Railyard. All Day, Free-$150

REUNITY QUEER NIGHT

Reunity Resources 1829 San Ysidro Crossing (505) 393-1196 A social hour and pop dance party followed by a set with the fabulous Santa Fe DJ, The Muse. Leave all hetero privilege at the door! 6-10 pm, free

SKY RAILWAY: LORE OF THE LAND

Sky Railway 410 S Guadalupe St. (844) 743-3759 Learn about the region from docents. Learn on trains—that’s what we always say. 11:30 am, $119

YARDMASTERS

Railyard Park Community Room 701 Callejon St. (505) 316-3596 Yardmasters assist with the specialized horticultural care in the Railyard Park. Bring your own gloves and dress for the weather. 10 am-Noon, free

MUSIC

16TH ANNUAL NEW MEXICO JAZZ FESTIVAL: COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA

Lensic Performing Arts Center 211 W San Francisco St. (505) 988-1234 Band director Scott Barnhart leads the Grammy-winning ensemble across tunes from the great Count Basie. Masks are encouraged. 7:30 pm, $49-$75

ALEX MURZYN QUARTET

Club Legato (La Casa Sena) 125 E Palace Ave. (505) 988-9232 You can count on La Casa Sena’s Club Legato to bring you all the jaaaaaaazzzzzzzz. 6-9 pm, free

BRENNA LARSEN

Cowgirl 319 S Guadalupe St. (505) 982-2565 Alternative and indie tunes. 4-6 pm, free

PRINCE DIABATÉ AND FRIENDS

Tumbleroot Brewery & Distillery 2791 Agua Fría St. (505) 303-3808 Musical textures from the Fouta and Pulaar regions of Guinea and Northern Mali. (See SFR Picks, page 17) 7:30 pm, $20-$25

SECOND CHANCES A COUNTRY BAND

La Fiesta Lounge 100 E San Francisco St. (505) 982-5511 Country. 7 pm, free

WILCO

Santa Fe Opera 301 Opera Drive (505) 986-5900 This show sold out ages ago, but you can always look around online for tickets. Godspeed! 7:30 pm, $43-$87

THEATER

HURRICANE MEGAN

Teatro Paraguas 3205 Calle Marie, (505) 424-1601 An aspiring actress hits the town in NYC, turning every interaction into a delightful screwball comedy. 8 pm, $25

FALL 2022 Saturday, Sept 24

1:00pm until 4:30pm

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

• An afternoon of live local theatre performances • A total of 15 performances in 5 indoor venues • Schedule allows seeing up to 9 performances • Some seating available; OK to bring your own chair • Walk easily between venues within the mall • Admission by Donation • For complete details visit us at • For complete details visit us at

Easy Access Family Friendly Food Truck Restrooms Event Location:

www.TheatreSantaFe.org

Cerrillos Rd

Beckner Rd

I-25

8380 Cerrillos Rd

14th Annual Santa Fe Renaissance Faire

Saturday & Sunday, September 17 & 18, 10am–5pm

Clan Tynker  Jousters  Royal Court  Pirates  Mermaids  Fairy Village Sword in the Stone  Beer Creek Brewing  NM Hard Cider  Fun for All!

Adults: $12  Seniors (62+), teens (13–18): $10  Members and 12 and under: always free ADVANCE TICKETS REQUIRED—GO TO GOLONDRINAS.ORG TO RESERVE Member tickets free with Member ID—please reserve today. NO PETS ARE ALLOWED

505-471-2261  golondrinas.org  334 Los Pinos Road  Santa Fe, NM