Tempe Conventions & Visitors Bureau

I’ve been anticipating the arrival of Billy Elliot the Musical to ASU Gammage for months. Now it’s here and I can’t wait to see it. To avoid the box office rush, I stopped by the ASU Gammage box office on Monday evening after work to pick up my tickets for tonight’s performance of Billy Elliot. I counted eight 18-wheelers wrapped in Billy Elliot imagery in the parking lot.  Three of the big rigs were being unloaded right by the box office. Exciting stuff! This amazing sight caused me to pause for a moment to reflect on what it takes to mount a major Broadway musical such as Billy Elliot.

I thought about the immense amount of  time, creativity and incredible talent it takes from the conceptualization, to writing the book, composing the score, production design, choreography, casting, rehearsing both the actors and the musicians, building the sets, creating the costumes, the technical stuff, major financing and all the people it takes to pull something this big off. Looking at those big trucks and all the people unloading them, I marveled at what it takes to transport, unload and set up the traveling shows in each town. I also took into account the effort and dedication of the ASU Gammage staff, who do everything on this end, including finding the sponsorships in these tough economic times, to bring the best Broadway touring companies to Tempe.

So thank you, all you incredibly visionary, talented, gifted, driven, persistent people who bring us great theatre. I’ll be thinking about you tonight when the curtain goes up on this masterpiece that you created for all of us who love live theatre.  Billy Elliot The Musical will be in Tempe through May 8. Purchase tickets at www.asugammage.com.

There’s a lot to keep Tempe on its toes this week, including the winner of 10 Tony Awards, Billy Elliot The Musical, on stage at ASU Gammage. Greek culture will be celebrated at the Taste of Greece festival at Tempe Town Lake and Childsplay’s The Borrowers will enchant family audiences.  View a complete list of Tempe events or call 480-894-8158.

• April 26-May 8: Billy Elliot The Musical, ASU Gammage
• April 27: Poetry in April: High Notes: Poet Lois Roma-Deeley and musician Christopher Scinto, Tempe Center for the Arts
• April 27: Walk in Wednesday with Walt Richardson, Tempe Center for the Arts
• April 27: Thankful Birds, Dave’s Electric Brew Pub
• April 28: Music on Mill, Mill Avenue District
• April 28: Sarah Vanell, D’Arcy McGees
• April 28: Avant-Garden: Life is a Cabaret: Scandalesque & The Energy Trio, Desert Botanical Garden
• April 29: Music in the Garden: Dry River Yacht Club, Desert Botanical Garden  
• April 29-May 1: A Taste of Greece Greek Festival, Tempe Beach Park
• April 29: Rock the Zoo, Phoenix Zoo
• April 29: Melia Down; April 30: Knee Deeep Experience, Tempe Marketplace District Stage
• April 29: Casey Lee Smith; April 30: Grains of Sand, Tempe Marketplace Barnes & Noble Fountain
• April 29: Shawn Johnson & the Paper Snowmen; April 30: Faded Jeans; May 1: Live Music on the Patio,  Rula Bula Irish Pub & Restaurant
• April 30: Jazz Jam Session led by Anthony Proveaux Trio, Robbie Fox’s Public House
• April 30-May 1: Childsplay Presents The Borrowers, Tempe Center for the Arts
• Rula Bula Irish Pub & Restaurant
• May 1: Justin Stewart, Dave’s Electric Brew Pub

Mumford & Sons, the winners of best British album of the year, are traveling across the American Southwest in vintage railroad cars along with Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros and Old Crow Medicine Show. The tour starts today in Oakland, California and was planned to make a pit stop in Chandler for a live performance. As Chandler’s venue quickly filled, the concert has now moved to a bigger venue in Tempe, a lot just west of the old railroad track, on 5^th St. between Ash and Farmer Ave. This concert, which surely will be one of the most talked-about Tempe events of the year, is Saturday, April 23.

Yes, tickets are sold out but that wont stop me from enjoying the shared love of this rootsy music from a distance in the Mill Avenue District. After seeing this amazing folk band perform last weekend at Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California, I have no doubt that their unique instrumental moves and their emotion grabbing vibes will draw much energy to the area and leave many individuals awestruck.

With the concert starting right after sun down (7:00pm), it will be perfect weather for strolling along the area on your beach cruiser and grabbing a refreshing margarita on the patio of Macayo’s Depot Cantina which is conveniently located next door to the show. Make a night of it and enjoy a nice dinner on Mill Avenue or more live music at the Sail In off Farmer and 1st. For all you music lovers, Zia Records Exchange is in walking distance and is always fun to explore. Saturday is a great opportunity to catch some worthwhile tunes and enjoy yourself in the heart of Tempe. In the meantime, Ill keep my fingers crossed while checking the Railroad Revival homepage for more available tickets.

You don’t have to go to Telluride, Sun Valley, Cannes or even Scottsdale to enjoy a terrific film festival.  You don’t need to venture any further than Tempe for what is, in my humble opinion, one of the best little film festivals around. All you need to do is grab your favorite portable chair or blanket, a few snacks and head to Tempe this Saturday, April 23 for the 15^th Annual ASU Art Museum Short Film and Video Festival.  

Twenty films by artists from around the world will be shown. The one common denominator is that they’re all short, around ten minutes in duration. Beyond that, they pretty much run the gamut from funny to sad, to documentary to mocumentary, animated, not animated, strange, goofy, real life, surreal life, you name it.  To be sure, viewers will be treated to a scintillating collection of video and film fabulousness.

The festival takes place under the stars, on the plaza located behind the ASU Art Museum where the films are projected against the back wall of the building. It starts at 8:00 p.m.,  however it’s a good idea to arrive early, allowing plenty of time to stake out your spot.  This popular event draws more than 1,000 independent film enthusiasts.  It’s a lovely way to spend a spring evening.  And it’s free.

If you need further convincing that this is a must do, visit the 15^th Annual Short Film and Video Festival blog to view the entries that will be shown and please let me know which are your favorites.

Judy: The Musical – From Gumm to Garland and Into the Woods make for some exciting theater in Tempe this week.  The former remembers the life and music of singer Judy Garland. The latter is the Tony award-winning musical based on several Brothers Grimm fairytales with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. These great productions are just two of many arts and entertainment events taking place in Tempe this week. Here’s a sample, but for a complete listing of Tempe events, visit www.TempeScene.com or call 480-984-8158.

• April 19: Performance with a View: The Herberger String Quartet, Tempe Center for the Arts
• April 19-24: Judy: The Musical- From Gumm to Garland, Tempe Center for the Arts
• April 20: Poetry in April: Renee Simms, Tempe Center for the Arts
• April 20: Walk in Wednesday with Walt Richardson, Tempe Center for the Arts
• April 20: Shay Veno + Jane Hilton Irish Duo; April 23: Kyle Phelan; April 24: Justin Stewart, Dave’s Electric Brew Pub
• April 21: Third Thursday on Mill: Girls Night Out, Mill Avenue District
• April 21: Sarah Vanell, D’Arcy McGees
• April 21: Dreams Die Hard, MADCAP Theaters
• April 21 & 23: ASU School of Theatre & Film Presents The Skriker, Paul V. Galvin Playhouse
• April 21 & 23: ASU Lyric Opera Theatre Presents Into the Woods, Eveylyn Smith Music Theatre
• April 22: CBS 5 Music Instrument Drive: Pay It Forward to Ear Candy, Tempe Marketplace District Stage
• April 22: Pete Pancrazi;  April 23: Jeordie & Friend; Tempe Marketplace Barnes & Noble Fountain
• April 22-23: I Saw the Devil, MADCAP Theaters
• April 22: Shawn Johnson & the Paper Snowmen; April 23: Jeff Hunt; April 24: Live Music on the Patio, Rula Bula Irish Pub & Restaurant
• April 22-24: 25th Annual Arizona State University Pow Wow, ASU-Band Practice Field
• April 23: ASU Art Museum 15^th Annual Short Film & Video Festival, Nelson Fine Arts Center Plaza
• April 23: Jazz Jam Session led by Anthony Proveaux Trio, Robbie Fox’s Public House
• April 23: ASU School of Theatre & Film Presents In the Penal Colony, Paul V. Galvin Playhouse
• April 23: Rocky Horror Picture Show, MADCAP Theaters

All running events and triathlons are inspirational in their own right, but Pat’s Run is one of those events that makes you want to do more and be more.

This Saturday at 7 a.m., nearly 30,000 people will embark on their 4.2 mile Pat’s Run journey through Tempe to the finish line – the 42 yard line at Sun Devil Stadium’s Frank Kush Field. The number 42 is a symbol for Pat Tillman — he wore the #42 jersey when he was a Sun Devil football player.

Online registration is now closed, but you may still be able to register this week at the north end of Sun Devil Staidum, where race packet pick up occurs. For more info, visit http://www.pattillmanfoundation.org/pats-run/race-info/. This event is expected to sell out.

If you’re not able to participate in the actual race, you can still cheer along the race course and inside the stadium. There will be an expo and kid’s area inside Sun Devil Stadium, opening at 6 a.m. on race day.

This is the main fundraiser for the Pat Tillman Foundation and funds support the Tillman Military Scholars Program. For more about this foundation and Pat Tillman, visit http://www.pattillmanfoundation.org/who-we-are/.

Good luck to all participants and their friends and family who live in Tempe or are traveling to our area for this great event. Let’s all be inspired by a true American hero.

There’s no need to wait to tune in to your favorite weekly TV dance show when you can actually experience a live dance performance. This week Tempe offers three major dance events: Arizona’s Biggest Dance Class at Tempe Marketplace; CONDER/dance: The Comfort of Strangers at the Tempe Center for the Arts and the Dance Annual presented by the ASU School of Dance.  Read on for the details and more music, theatre and film events. For a complete listing of Tempe events, visit http://www.tempetourism.com/events/Calendar or call 480-894-8158.

• April 11: Vicki McDermitt with Joel Robin; April 13: Bad Cactus Band, Dave’s Electric Brew Pub
• April 13: Arizona Wind Symphony: “A Night on the Town;” Poetry in April: Poetry and the Law; Walk in Wednesday with Walt Richardson, Tempe Center for the Arts
• April 12: Open Jam, Rula Bula Irish Pub & Restaurant
• April 14: Music on Mill, Mill Avenue District
• April 14: Sarah Vanell, D’Arcy McGees
• April 14: Avant-Garden: World Famous Rani “g” & The Silver Thread Trio with special guests the Rosano Brothers, Desert Botanical Garden
• April 15: Lakeshore Jazz Series: Tierney Sutton, Tempe Center for the Arts
• April 15-16: CONDER/dance: The Comfort of Strangers, Tempe Center for the Arts
• April 15: Hello Swindon, Original High Energy Alternative Band, Tempe Marketplace District Stage
• April 15: Blues Legend Hans Olson; April 16: Dream State, Acoustic Duo, Tempe Marketplace Barnes & Noble Fountain
• April 16: Arizona’s Biggest Dance Class, Tempe Marketplace District Stage
• April 15: Shawn Johnson; April 16: Nameless Prophets; April 17: Live Music on the Patio, Rula Bula Irish Pub & Restaurant
• April 15 &17: ASU School of Theatre & Film Presents The Skriker, Paul V. Galvin Playhouse
• April 15-17:  ASU School of Dance Presents The Dance Annual, Margaret Gisolo Dance Studio, PE East 132
• April 16: 2nd Annual Tequilazona, Tempe Marketplace District Stage
• April 16: Justin Stewart, Dave’s Electric Brew Pub
• April 16: Jazz Jam Session led by Anthony Proveaux Trio, Robbie Fox’s Public House
• April 16 & 17: ASU School of Theatre & Film Presents In the Penal Colony,  Paul V. Galvin Playhouse
• April 16-17: Childsplay Presents The Imaginators, Tempe Center for the Arts
• April 16-17: Do Something Reel Film Festival, MADCAP Theaters
  • April 16:Vanishing of the Bees; Bag It; Planeat
  • April 17: Lunch Line; On Coal River; Urban Roots

We saw preview of the “Orang-Hutan: People of the Forest” exhibit this afternoon. This incredible new home for The Phoenix Zoo’s family of orangutans will open to the public on 4/11, with a member preview happening this weekend.

The orangutans at The Phoenix Zoo have always been a crowd favorite. But, their former home was quite small and made of mostly concrete. What a difference 3 ½ years of planning and building can make!

This exciting $3.7 million project consists of two outdoor yards, two dayrooms and four bedrooms and lots of other spaces for the orangutan family and their keepers. The family includes matriarch Duchess, her daughter Bess, granddaughter Kasih, and Kasih’s father, Michael. You can view the orangutans in a climate-controlled area that provides a cool place to watch these  intelligent creatures up-close and see training sessions with the keepers. 

We were able to see them play with sheets and burlap pieces and climb around inside their dayroom. We also watched as one of their keepers, Denise Wagner, fed them oranges and a tasty glucosamine drink. The orangutans are very curious about humans and seemed to observe us as much as we observed them. This is a place where you could stay for hours and be completely captivated.

Don’t miss this new exhibit. It opens to the public on April 11 with a member preview April 8-10. Check out http://phoenixzoo.org/orang-hutan/index.html for more information and if you’re on Twitter, you can follow Duchess: @phxzooorangutan. She has lots to say!

Our city is practically bursting at the seams with an incredible array of Tempe events this week.  From singer Jennette McCurdy to world renowned authors Walter Mosely and Jean Aue, not to mention the critically acclaimed filmmaker Werner Herzog, Tempe is the place for arts, culture and entertainment all week long.  For a complete listing of Tempe events, visit http://www.tempetourism.com/events/Calendar or call 480-894-8158.

•  April 4: Tempe Symphonic Wind Ensemble: The European Connection, Tempe Center for the Arts
• April 4: Joel Robin and Sons Trio; April 6: Running with Bears, Dave’s Electric Brew Pub
• April 5: Open Jam, Rula Bula Irish Pub & Restaurant
• April 5: A Wade Smith Memorial Lecture: Walter Mosely: The Only True Race is the Human Race, ASU Old Main Carson Ballroom
• April 6: Walk in Wednesday with Walt Richardson, Tempe Center for the Arts
• April 6: Jennette McCurdy’s Generation Love for St. Jude, Tempe Marketplace District Stage
• April 6: Poetry in April: Poet Cynthia Hogue and Photographer Rebecca Ross: When the Water Came, Tempe Center for the Arts
• April 7: Music on Mill, Mill Avenue District
• April 7: Sarah Vanell, D’Arcey McGees
• April 7: Avant-Garden: Urban Renewal:  Nick Heward and the Elements of Style, Desert Botanical Gardens
• April 7-9: Stray Cat Theatre Presents Octopus, Tempe Center for the Performing Arts
• April 8: Music in The Garden: Leila Lopez, Desert Botanical Garden
• April 8: Jake Dean & The Granting; April 9: The Del Rayz, Powerhouse Blues Band
• Tempe Marketplace District Stage
• April 8: Michael V; April 9: Jess Hawk Oakenstar, Tempe Marketplace Barnes & Noble Fountain
• April 8: Shawn Johnson; April 9: Night Groove; April 10: Live Music on the Patio, Rula Bula Irish Pub & Restaurant  
• April 9: Leonard’s Luau: Jake Greider Pier 54
• April 9: Mujeres Tres, Tempe Center for the Arts
• April 9: Jazz Jam Session led by Anthony Proveaux Trio, Robbie Fox’s Public  House
• April 9: Kyle Phelan; April 10: Justin Stewart, Dave’s Electric Brew Pub
• April 9-10: Childsplay Presents The Imaginators, Tempe Center for the Arts
• April 10: Secular Sermon with A.C. Grayling; A Conversation with Jean Auel; Werner Herzog: Cave of Forgotten Dreams, Tempe Center for the Arts