El Paso Scene 2013-2014 Performing Arts Guide

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

2013-2014PERFORMINGARTS GUIDE

Your annual guide to area per formingarts groups and season schedules

UTEP Theatre & Dance opens its season with ‘Living Out’ at the StudioTheatre Sept. 21-30. See Pages 17, 19

12-year-old piano sensation Umi Garrethighlights Showtime! El Paso’s 80thseason Feb. 20 at the Abraham ChavezTheatre. See Pages 7, 10

El Paso Opera begins 20th season,leading up to ‘La Bohème’ April 10 and 12 . See Pages 4, 11

Season Sponsor of the Performing Arts Guide:El Paso Convention &

Performing Arts Centers

See Pages12, 13

Major Sponsors:

El Paso SymphonyOrchestra

El Paso Opera

Showtime! El Paso

UTEP Department of

Theatre & Dance

Co-Sponsors:

El Paso Chopin Festival

El Paso Pro-Musica

El Paso Summer Music Festival

El Paso Electric presents Broadway in El Paso‘Jersey Boys’ closes season May 28-June 1

See Pages 16, 20

BohuslavRattay takesover the batonas MusicDirector of the El PasoSymphony.See Pages 2, 18

Page 2 — El Paso Scene 2013-2014 Performing Arts Guide

September 2013

‘The Odd Couple’ — El Paso Playhouse,2501 Montana, presents the female version ofNeil Simon’s comedy classic Aug. 16-Sept. 7.Showtimes are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $10 ($8 seniors, $7 mil-itary/students with ID; $5 students under 18).Information: 532-1317, elpasoplayhouse.com.

‘Greater Tuna’ — No Strings TheatreCompany opens its season with the comicfavorite by Jaston Williams, Ed Howard and JoeSears Aug. 23-Sept. 8 at the Black BoxTheatre in Las Cruces. Directed by CeilHerman. This send-up of small town moralsand more features a colorful cast of charactersinhabiting Tuna, Texas. Tickets: $12 ($10 stu-dents and seniors over 65). Information/reser-vations: (575) 523-1223 or no-strings.org.

Matices Culturales - The annual series ispresented by Amigos de la FundacionMascareñas at Auditorio Benito Juarez, IgnacioRamirez at Vicente Guerrero Av. in front ofParque Borunda. Performances are 6 p.m.Tickets: $800 (Pesos). Information: 612-3175or 612-4075. In El Paso: 544-5118. Web: fmas-carenas.org.• Sept. 7: Guitarist Paco Padilla• Sept. 28: Mexican band Son del Montón.The band fuses traditional Mexican styles withelements folk, modern and other musical styles.

Encores and overtures — El Paso Operakicks off its 20th anniversary season with itslargest fundraiser at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8, atCamino Real Ballroom, 101 S. El Paso, withNew York City Opera star Lauren Flanigan,Marie Gaiey and singers from El Paso OperaYoung Artists’ Program. Black tie optional.Tickets: $125 ($300 for two; $1,20 table forten). Information: 581-5534 or epopera.org.

‘Pickamania!’ — Mimbres Region ArtsCouncil celebrates folk, bluegrass andAmericana acoustic musical traditions Sept.13-15 in Gough Park in Silver City, N.M.Saturday’s headliners are Rani Arbo and DaisyMayhem from the East Coast. Sunday’s headlin-er is Celtic music group Solas. Admission is freeto most events. Information: (575) 538-2505 ormimbresarts.org.

Solas — Flickinger Center for the PerformingArts in Alamogordo begins its 2013-14 Premierseries with the traditional Irish American musicgroup at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17. Ticketinformation: (575) 437-2202 or flickinger-center.com.

‘Abbey Road’ — Showtime! El Paso presentsopens its 80th season with the Beatles tributeat 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, at theAbraham Chavez Theatre. Originally formed inNortheast Ohio in 1983, “Abbey Road” is ratedin the top five of Beatles Tribute bands in theworld. “Abbey Road” performs with the sameguitars, Vox amplifiers and drums that the FabFour used in their concerts, and has five cos-tume changes from Ed Sullivan to Sgt. Pepper.Ticket information: 544-2022 or showtimeelpa-so.com.

El Paso Symphony Orchestra: ‘Heartof Gold’ - The Symphony opens its seasonunder direction of its new maestro BohuslavRattay at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20-21 in the PlazaTheatre with guest pianist Van Cliburn GoldMedalist Vadym Kholodenko performingTchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, op. 23, B-flat minor and Symphony No. 5, op. 74, Bminor, “Pathétique.” Tickets: $15-$40 ($8-$10students). Information: 532-3776 or epso.org.An intimate lunch and recital with Kholodenko

is Sept. 21. Reservations required through thesymphony.

‘The Boys in the Band’ — El PasoCommunity College’s Theater Ensemble opensits 9th season with the Mart Crowley play

2013-2014 Performing Arts CalendarFollowing are performing arts events events in El Paso and southern

New Mexico listed by month. Events that overlap months are listed in the

first month they occur. All events and dates are subject to change. Please

call the number or check the website to confirm event information.

An overview of area performing arts organizations with contact information and ticket prices begins on Page 15.

For updates of this event schedule, please pick up a current copy of El Paso

Scene (published monthly) or check our website, www.epscene.com

El Paso Scene Performing Arts GuideRandy Limbird, Editor & Publisher

Lisa Kay Tate, Assistant Editor

El Paso Scene, P.O. Box 13615, El Paso TX 79913Phone: (915) 542-1422 FAX: (915) 542-4292

web: www.epscene.com email: [email protected]

Season SponsorEl Paso Convention &

Performing Arts Centers

12, 13, 16, 20

SponsorsEl Paso Symphony 3, 18

El Paso Opera 4, 11

Showtime El Paso! 7, 17

UTEP Theatre & Dance 17, 19

Co-SponsorsEl Paso Chopin Festival 3, 14

El Paso Pro-Musica 5, 6

El Paso Summer Music Festival 8, 9

Please turn to Page 4

El Paso Scene 2013-2014 Performing Arts Guide — Page 3

�35�-2*351%7-32��'%00�� )1%-0�',34-2*)67�6&'+03&%0�2)7�35�9-6-7�:::�)04%63�',34-2�'31��

�8'<�!'%5&538+,!%785(%<��39��

�382()5�%2(��57-67-'�-5)'735�3*��0��%63�,34-2��)67-9%0��%2(.8(+)�-2�7,)��%7-32%0�,34-2��314)7-7-32�$-22)5�3*��%7-32%0")%',-2+��;')00)2')�:%5(�3*��#��"��867-2��>��%�6303-67�3*�5%5)

43:)5�%2(�6)26-7-9-7<�?�

��

��

�00�'32')576�%5)%7��4�1��

%7�7,)��,%1-=%0�%7-32%0��)135-%0 ��!��!%2��%5'-%0

�(1-66-32�-6�� %2(34)2�73�7,)�48&0-'�

�%50<�%55-9%0�)2'385%+)(�

�)-�"-2+�!82!%785(%<��'7��

�-567�45-=)6�-2�%7-32%0��,34-2�-%23��314)7-7-32��%573/��%&%0)96/<�

�53/3*-)9�27)52%7-32%0��-%23�314)7-7-32�%2(

�353''3�27)52%7-32%0��-%23�314)7-7-326�

��

�5<67-%2�"/%'=):6/-!%785(%<��'7��

$-22)5�3*�*-567�35�6)'32(�45-=)�-2�'31�4)7-7-326�-2��5))')��7%0<��%')(32-%�!4%-2��%2(�7,)�#�!��382()5�%2(�%57-67-'(-5)'735�3*�7,)

�,34-2��27)52%7-32%0�-%23��314)7-7-32-2��%57*35(��322�

�� "!��!�

Sept. 20-22 and Sept. 27-29 at the EPCCTransmountain Campus Forum. At a well-planned birthday party for a friend, a sponta-neous game of “truth or dare” has serious con-sequences for nine gay men who reveal morethan expected secrets from their past. Maturesubject matter. Directed by Hector Serrano.Showtime is 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2:30p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $15 ($10 non-EPCC stu-dents and military, $7 EPCC students.Information: 831-5056 or epcc.edu/theater.

‘A Salute to Sun Records’ — Doña AnaArts Council opens its 2013/14 PerformanceArt Series with the musical tribute to ElvisPresley and Jerry Lee Lewis at 7 p.m. Saturday,Sept. 21, at the Rio Grande Theatre, at 211Downtown Mall in Las Cruces. Robert Shaw,who stars as young Elvis, performed a sold-outtribute to Johnny Cash at the theatre last year.Tickets: $25 and $35. Information: (575) 523-6403 or RioGrandeTheatre.com.

Yang and Olivia Liu — Las Cruces CivicConcert Association opens its season with thehusband-and-wife violin and piano duo at 7:30p.m. Sept. 22 at the Rio Grande Theatre inLas Cruces. Their diverse program ranges fromclassical to traditional Chinese music. Ticketinformation: (575) 521-4051 orlascrucescca.org.

‘Living Out’ — The UTEP Department ofTheatre and Dance begins it “Countdown tothe Centennial” season with Lisa Loomer’s playdealing with immigration Sept. 25-29 in theFox Fine Arts Studio Theatre. Directed byLluvia Almanza. “Living Out” is a story about anillegal immigrant and the woman who hires heras a nanny. While similar in some ways, differ-ences in race, class and status keep the womenfrom truly knowing each other. Both womenmust make difficult decisions while realizingthat sacrifices may come at a greater price.Showtime is 8 p.m. Wednesday throughSaturday and 2:30 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets:$13 ($11 seniors, military, group, UTEP alumniand non-UTEP students; $9 UTEP students;ages 4-12): 747-5118 ortheatredance.utep.edu.

LCSO with Eric Ruske — Las CrucesSymphony Orchestra, directed by Lonnie Klein,opens its Classics series with guest Eric Ruske,horn, 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday,Sept. 28-29, at NMSU’s Atkinson MusicRecital Hall. Selections include Ponchielli’s“Dance of the Hours,” Gliere’s Concerto forHorn, Debussy’s “Claire de Lune” and Ravel’s“Daphnis and Chloe,” Suite No. 2. Tickets:$35, $40 and $45. Information: (575) 646-3709or lascrucessymphony.com.

‘Red’ — American Southwest TheatreCompany opens its season with John Logan’splay Sept. 27-Oct. 6, at NMSU’s Center forthe Arts. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Thursdaythrough Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. FamedPainter Mark Rothko has just landed the biggestcommission in the history of modern art, butnow faces the challenge of creating work thatlives up to its promise and price tag. Tickets:$17 ($14 seniors 65 and older and NMSU fac-ulty/staff; $10 students 3-17 and NMSU stu-dents; $5 high school students). Preview per-formance is 7:30 p.m. Sept. 26. Tickets: $10.Information: (575) 646-4515.

‘Night of the Living Dead’ — El PasoPlayhouse, 2501 Montana, presents Lora AllenOhm’s adaptation of the George Romero zom-bie cult classic Sept. 27-Oct. 27, with a spe-cial Halloween showing Thursday, Oct. 31.

Directed by Moy Hinojos. Showtimes are 8p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.Tickets: $10 ($8 seniors, $7 military/studentswith ID; $5 students under 18). Information:532-1317, elpasoplayhouse.com.

October 2013

Gypsy Romance — The Hungarian StateFolk Ensemble performs at 8 p.m. Oct. 2, atthe Spencer Theater for Performing Arts inAlto, N.M. The company of 48 dancers and liveorchestra performs a joyful journey throughtime, past and present. Tickets: $56-$59(includes a beer and brat fest at 6 p.m.)Information: (575) 336-4800, (888) 818-7872or spencertheater.com.

‘Tom Lea: Grace Note In A HardWorld’ — The original one-act play byFrontera Repertory Theatre’s Camilla Carrstarring theatre and film veteran Ray Barker isOct. 4-6, at the Philanthropy Theatre in thePlaza Theatre annex. The play chronicling thelife of the famed artist was commissioned bythe Tom Lea Institute and will be presented aspart of Tom Lea Month, an annual monthlongcelebration of the artist who was born andraised in El Paso. It focuses on Lea’s early yearsas a child, art student and apprentice.Showtime is 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $25-$35; availablethrough Ticketmaster.

‘The School for Lies’ — Las CrucesCommunity Theatre presents David Ives’ com-edy based on Moliére’s “The Misanthrope”Oct. 4-20. Written entirely in verse, Ives’ trib-ute to Moliére adds farcical flourishes to thestory.Directed by Brandon Brown. Performances are8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m.Sundays. Tickets: $10 ($9 seniors, students,military; $8 per person for groups of 10 ormore; $7 children under six). Information:(575) 523-1200 or lcctnm.org.

El Paso Chopin Piano Festival — The2013 fall series of piano are 7 p.m. Oct. 5 and19 and Nov. 2 at Chamizal National Memorial.Admission is free, but people are advised toarrive early; concerts are almost always stand-ing room only. Information: 584-1595 [email protected]. Web: elpaso-chopin.com.• Oct. 5 — Krystian Tkaczewski. Tkaczewskihas been called a “Polish virtuoso” and has per-formed concerts on four continents and in 15countries. Tkaczewski is also the founder andartistic director of the Chopin InternationalPiano Competition in Hartford and the ArtisticDirector of the Chopin Society of Connecticut. • Oct. 19 — Mei-Ting Sun. Critically acclaimedpianist Sun began his life on the concert stageat the prestigious Spring of Shanghai Festival in1986 at age five. Most recently he made con-cert tours in Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Argentina,Spain, the U.S., China, and Poland. In 2010, thebicentenary of Chopin’s birth, Sun touredaround the globe performing the completeworks of Chopin for solo piano published dur-ing Chopin’s lifetime, and in 2011 he performed

Cont’d from Page 3


By MaryAnne Talbot

Adventure, passion, celebration,tradition and a touch of theavant-garde. This year, El Paso

Opera promises all this as it launches itsbenchmark 20th Season.

The season’s most spectacular produc-tion will be La Bohème, Puccini’s classicfive-hankie masterpiece about youngartists living in Paris in the 1830s. Theopera will be staged April 10 and 12,2014 at the Abraham Chavez Theater.Also planned is Novella Bohème, sixengaging weekly performances onThursday evenings at Ardovino’s DesertCrossing, starting February 20, 2014.

David Grabarkewitz, El Paso Opera’sartistic and general director, says thispopular opera is dear to his heart. Hewas 19 when he first saw La Bohème,without supertitles, and didn’t reallyunderstand all of it until Mimi dies. “Atthat moment I started to weep, so pro-foundly. I think it is a great work of art.”

He says the story draws him back againand again. “It’s probably the most-direct-ed opera by me. I must have directedMadama Butterfly and Bohème probablya dozen times.”

For this production, Grabarkewitz ismore or less starting from scratch, with“new costumes, new staging, new setsfor El Paso audiences. Bohème is goingto be a wonderful, traditional produc-tion.”

Danielle Walker of the Los AngelesOpera will play Mimi – “amazing voice,amazing presence, the best Mimi I couldhope for.” Rudolpho will be played byWon Whi Choi, a graduate of theManhattan School of Music.

Grabarkewitz has cast the finest youngtalent he could find, because, as hepoints out, La Bohème is about kidsarriving in Paris after the FrenchRevolution. “They’re looking for thecenter of the artistic world. We will cele-brate the fact that they are young peoplecoming to Paris to make life happen.

“Six kids come up, one comes down,and they all mourn. That is the story.That is the hardest part of the story.”

He says the enduring message of LaBohème is simple: “I don’t want you toforget me. Love is worth the effort.”

The Opera’s season begins with its 20thAnniversary Gala and Opera for All con-cert, hosted by America’s most famousbaritone, Sherrill Milnes, and featuringinternational, national and local artists.

Milnes has had a long and varied operacareer. He is a prolific recording artist,often in partnership with PlácidoDomingo and Luciano Pavarotti. He wasassociated with the Metropolitan Operafrom 1965 until 1997.

The evening is set for Nov. 9; it beginswith the Opera for All performance atthe Abraham Chavez Theatre and contin-ues with the Gala dinner at the El PasoMuseum of Art.And this year, for the first time, El Paso

Opera’s season includes a collaborationwith Ballroom Marfa. Grabarkewitz saysthe idea is to produce chamber opera byworking composers. The partnership willresult in three productions.

The first, the widely acclaimed VidasPerfectas (Perfect Lives), is RobertAshley’s groundbreaking opera on therelationship between music and lan-guage; it will be staged in El Paso inMay 2014.

Grabarkewitz points out that throughthe years, opera always commented oncurrent times. He says now is the perfecttime to look forward by producing newworks and extending El Paso’s culturalties to Santa Fe and Chihuahua.

“After 20 years, we’re reflecting. Howdo we perpetuate the art form? I couldn’tbe more excited. This is a dream worldfor me, to continue to create partnershipsand operas that describe what the humanworld is doing. There’s nothing betterthan to create new works about the timeswe’re living in.”

El Paso Opera’s 20th Season:

• Sunday, Sept. 8: Encores & Overtures,Camino Real Ballroom, 6 p.m.

• Saturday, Nov. 9: 20th AnniversaryGala and Opera for All. Performance,Abraham Chavez Theatre, 6 p.m. Dinner:El Paso Museum of Art, 7:30 p.m.

• Thursdays, Feb 20-March 27: NovellaBohème, Ardovino’s Desert Crossing,doors open at 5 p.m.

• Sunday, March 30: Georgianna S.Davanelos Young Artist Concert, FirstBaptist Church, 7:30 p.m.

• Thursday, April 10, and Saturday, April12: La Bohème, Abraham ChavezTheatre, 7:30 p.m.

• May: Vidas Perfectas. Watch for moreannouncements.

For information on El Paso Opera’s20th Season, visit epopera.org or call theOpera at 915-581-5534.

MaryAnne Talbot is a graphic designer and media manager for El Paso Opera

Opera’s 20th seasonoffers ‘La Bohème’

Sherrill Milnes



the complete 32 Sonatas of Beethoven series inNew York and Shanghai.• Nov. 2 — Lucy Scarbrough. Scarbroughfounded and directed the El Paso CommunityCollege Arts Festival, the El Paso CivicOrchestra and in 1995, she founded and is theartistic director of El Paso Chopin PianoFestival. She served on the Chopin Foundationof the United States’ Selection Jury for theSeventh and Eighth National ChopinCompetitions.

‘Heroes’ — No Strings Theatre presents thehilarious and heartbreaking play by GerardSibleyras, translated by Tom Stoppard, Oct.11-27 at the Black Box Theatre in Las Cruces.Directed by larrychandler. Tickets: $12 ($10students and seniors over 65).Information/reservations: (575) 523-1223 orno-strings.org.

‘EPPM-100’ performance — El Paso Pro-Musica presents the special concert event withcellist Zuill Bailey and pianist Navah PerlmanOct. 15, El Paso Museum of Art. Tickets: $100.Information: 833-9400 or eppm.org.

The Diamonds - Grant County CommunityConcert Association opens its season with thepopular group from the ’50s and ’60s at 7:30p.m. Oct. 15 at WNMU Fine Arts CenterTheater in Silver City. The Diamonds’ 1957 hit“Little Darlin’” has been dubbed the NationalAnthem of Rock and Roll and has sold 20 mil-lion copies to date. Admission: $20 ($5 stu-dents 17 and younger). Information: (575) 538-5862 or gcconcerts.org.

Kris Delmhorst and Jeffrey Foucoult —The critically acclaimed musicians perform at7:30 p.m. Oct. 18, at the Buckhorn OperaHouse in Pinos Altos as part of the MimbresRegion Arts Council’s Folk Series. Tickets: $20($15 members). Information: (575) 538-2505or mimbresarts.org.

‘Thriller’ — Odyssey Dance Theatre’s“spooktacular” show is 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18,at the Spencer Theater for Performing Arts inAlto, N.M. “Thriller” is a theatrical dance withcreepy ghouls in dance numbers that include“Death of a Sugarplum Fairy,” “Frankenstein &Frankenstein,” Jason’s Jam,” “Dem Bones,”“Children of the Corn” and “River of BloodDance.” Tickets: $56-$59. Information: (575)336-4800, (888) 818-7872 orspencertheater.com.

El Paso Symphony Orchestra:‘American Romance’ - The Symphony,directed by maestro Bohuslav Rattay, performswith guest violinist Giora Schmidt 7:30 p.m.Oct. 18-19 in the Plaza Theatre. Selectionsinclude Smetana Vitana’s “The Moldau,”Barber’s Violin Concerto, op. 14 and HowardHenson’s Symphony No. 2, op. 20,“Romanitic.” Tickets: $15-$40 ($8-$10 stu-dents). Information: 532-3776 or epso.org.A talk on “What’s Modern About Modern Art”

with Rattay and museum director MichaelTomor is noon Thursday, Oct. 17, at El PasoMuseum of Art. Lunch follows; RSVP required.Rattay and Tomor will also give a pre-concert

talk at 6:30 p.m. at El Paso Museum of Art.Cocktails served at 6 p.m.

‘9 to 5: The Musical’ — UTEP DinnerTheatre opens its “UTEP Centennial” seasonwith the musical comedy based on the 1981movie with music and lyrics by Dolly Partonand book by Patricia Resnik Oct. 18-Nov. 3.Pushed to the boiling point by their boss, threefemale co-workers concoct a plan to get even

with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocriticalbigot. Showtime is 7 p.m. Wednesday throughSunday, with dinner matinee at 1:30 p.m. Oct.20 and non-dinner matinees Oct. 27 and Nov.3. Tickets: $33-$45 ($30-$40 Wednesday andThursday and Sunday dinner matinees; $16-$26non-dinner matinee). Information: 747-6060 orutep.edu/udt.

‘Viva Verdi!’ — JSEnterprises, ELP, opens itsinaugural season of recitals and concertsfocused on the classical, vocal arts with a bilin-gual and multi-media lecture/recital at 2 p.m.Sunday, Oct. 20, at First Christian Church, 901Arizona. The performance is entered on theillustrious life and career of opera composerGiuseppe Verdi, honoring the bicentennial ofhis birth. Admission is free. Information:[email protected].

Ring of Fire — Flickinger Center for thePerforming Arts in Alamogordo presents theJohnny Cash tribute at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct.22, as part of its Premier Series. Ticket infor-mation: (575) 437-2202 orflickingercenter.com.

‘Bach to the Future’ — Showtime! El Pasopresents the modern twist to the music ofBeethoven and Bach at 7:30 p.m. Thursday,Oct. 24, at the Abraham Chavez Theatre. Bachto the Future is composed of chart-toppingpianist Michael Silverman, pioneer of cutting-edge electronic percussion Rob Silverman,musical-arrangement connoisseur MattBollinger and electric violinist Andrew Driscoll.Ticket information: 544-2022 or showtimeelpa-so.com.

‘Little Shop of Horrors’ — El PasoCommunity College’s Theater Ensemble pres-ents the musical comedy by Howard Ashmanand Alan Menken Oct. 24-27 and Oct. 30-

Nov. 3, at the EPCC Transmountain CampusForum. Directed by Keith Townsend. This hor-ror Motown and doo-wop-era rock musicaland audience favorite is about a hapless floristshop worker who raises a plant that feeds onhuman blood and flesh. Showtime is 8 p.m.Thursday through Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Sunday.Children 7 and older welcome. Tickets: $15($10 non-EPCC students and military, $7 EPCCstudents). Information: 831-5056 orepcc.edu/theater.

Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra —Mimbres Region Art Council hosts the sympho-ny at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, at WNMU FineArts Center Theatre in Silver City, as part of itsPerformance Series. Ticket information: (575)538-2505, 1-888-758-7289 or mimbresarts.org.This year’s performance will focus on classics

by Brahms and Tchaikovsky. Featured soloist isviolinist Philippe Quint.

‘Cinderella’ — El Paso Youth Ballet presentsthe classic fairy tale at 7:30 p.m. Friday andSaturday, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25-27, atUTEP’s Magoffin Auditorium. Tickets: $10, $15and $20. Information: 760-6062 or elpasocon-servatoryofdance.org.

‘The Scarlet Letter’ — The UTEPDepartment of Theatre and Dance presentsPhyllis Nagy’s adaptation of the classicHawthorne novel Oct. 25-Nov. 3 in the FoxFine Arts Wise Family Theatre. Professionalactress Kathryn Smith-McGlynn will take on therole of Hester Prynne. Directed by ChuckGordon. Pearl, Hester’s illegitimate daughter, isplayed by an adult woman and is the narratorfor the play. The play preserves the familiarstory of Hester Prynne, Roger Chillingworthand Arthur Dimmesdale while casting a modernperspective on its tragic events. Showtime is 8

p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2:30p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $13 ($11 seniors, military,group, UTEP alumni and non-UTEP students;$9 UTEP students; ages 4-12): 747-5118 ortheatredance.utep.edu.

LCSO with Phillipe Quint — Las CrucesSymphony Orchestra, directed by Lonnie Klein,welcomes guest violinist Phillipe Quint at 7:30p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26-27,at NMSU’s Atkinson Music Recital Hall.Selections include Brhams’s “Academic FestivalOverture,” and Tchaikovsky’s Concerto forViolin and Symphony No. 2. Tickets: $35, $40and $45. Information: (575) 646-3709 orlascrucessymphony.com.

Straight No Chaser — Broadway in ElPaso Series kicks off its 10th anniversary withthe return of the a capella group at 7:30 p.m.Sunday, Oct. 27, at the Plaza Theatre. With amassive fan base, more than 35 million viewson YouTube, and numerous national TV appear-ances, they are the real deal — a captivatingsound of ten voices coming together to makeextraordinary music with a sense of humor.Tickets: $37.50 and $47.50 (Ticketmaster).

Julliard String Quartet — El Paso Pro-Musica presents the legendary chamber musicensemble beginning its 36th season Tuesday,Oct. 30, El Paso Scottish Rite Temple.Information: 833-9400 or eppm.org.

November 2013

‘James and the Giant Peach’ —American Southwest Theatre Company pres-ents the classic family tale by Roald Dahl at 7p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, at NMSU’s Center for theArts. James longs for escape and finds an amaz-ing adventure with new friends, danger andchallenges. Tickets: $5. Information: (575) 646-4515.

‘Million Dollar Quartet’ — Broadway in ElPaso presents the Tony-winning Broadwaymusical at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, at the PlazaTheatre, inspired by the electrifying true storyof the famed recording session that broughttogether rock ’n’ roll icons Elvis Presley, JohnnyCash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for thefirst and only time. (Ticketmaster).

Anthony Kearns — Grant CountyCommunity Concert Association presents theIrish tenor at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at WNMU FineArts Center Theater in Silver City. Admission:$20 ($5 students 17 and younger). Information:(575) 538-5862 or gcconcerts.org.

Golden Dragon Acrobats — MimbresRegion Art Council hosts China’s celebratedacrobats at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, atWNMU Fine Arts Center Theatre in Silver City,as part of its Performance Series. Worldrenowned impresario Danny Chang and chore-ographer Angela Chang combine award-win-ning acrobatics, traditional dance, spectacularcostumes, ancient and contemporary music andtheatrical techniques. Ticket information: (575)538-2505, 1-888-758-7289 or mimbresarts.org.




The 2013-2014 season for El Paso Pro-Musica is set to take music lovers on ajourney to classical and beyond.

El Paso Pro-Musica Artistic DirectorZuill Bailey is looking forward to shar-ing the season’s offerings with audiences.

“I am very proud of this season,”Bailey said. “The artists performing forthe 2013-2014 season are the finest inthe world and I am privileged to bringthem to El Paso for incredible concertsand amazing educational outreach.”

The season opens with a special eventfeaturing pianist Navah Perlman, an ElPaso Pro-Musica favorite, alongsideBailey, her long-time musical collabora-tor on cello, for a special EPPM 100event on Oct. 15 at El Paso Museum ofArt, and at NMSU’s Atkinson RecitalHall in Las Cruces Oct. 16.

Bailey takes great pride in alsoannouncing that the Juilliard StringQuartet, featuring two new dynamicplayers plus Bailey’s teacher at Juilliard,Joel Krosnick will perform at the ElPaso Scottish Rite Temple Oct. 30.

Once again, Pro-Musica continues itstradition of starting the new year in fullgear with the 2014 El Paso Pro-MusicaChamber Music Festival in both El Pasoand Las Cruces. The festival kicks offwith the free weekly “Bach's Lunch,”presented by the El Paso Museum of Art

and sponsored by United Bank of ElPaso Del Norte Thursdays Jan. 9-Feb. 4.

Other Festival highlights include theannual collaboration with the El PasoSymphony Orchestra, the Classic FilmSeries, to be held each Saturday at the ElPaso Museum of Art, and a special pres-entation of the Complete ChopinNocturnes by pianist Piers Lane.

Other festival guests include violinistsPaul Rosenthal and Kurt Nikannen,pianists Natasha Paremsky, and MariaAsteriadou, violist Stephanie Meyers,Ruben’s String Quartet and guitaristDavid Leisner, as well as the return ofRob Kapilow of NPR’s “What Makes ItGreat.” The popular Classic Film Seriesis will also return for 2014, along with aspecial event to be announced.

The Main Series concludes March 15with a concert featuring Carter Brey,principal cellist of the New YorkPhilharmonic, and 11-year-old compos-er/prodigy Emily Bear. At UTEP’s FoxFine Arts Recital Hall. Bear will presenther new jazz CD “Diversity,” which fea-tures Bailey for the second EPPM 100event of the season.

Tickets for most individual shows are$25; $20 seniors and military and $5 forstudents. Special EPPM events ticketsare $100. Season packages available.

For more information, call 833-9400 orvisit eppm.org

Navah Perlman, Juilliard StringQuartet on Pro-Musica schedule

‘Beyond Therapy!’ — El Paso Playhouse,2501 Montana, presents Christopher Durang’sscrewball comedy Nov. 8-30. Directed byKevin Mullins. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Friday andSaturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $10 ($8seniors, $7 military/students with ID; $5 stu-dents under 18). Information: 532-1317, elpa-soplayhouse.com.

Opera For All — El Paso Opera’s 20thanniversary gala performance is 6 p.m.Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Abraham ChavezTheatre. The performance is hosted byAmerica’s most famous baritone, SherrillMilnes, and features top international andnational opera performers along with talentedlocal artists. Tickets: $35. Information: 581-5534 or epopera.org.A celebratory dinner follows at 7:30 p.m. El

Paso Museum of Art. Tickets: $100 (perfor-mance/dinner combo: $150).

LCSO Youth Concert — Las CrucesSymphony Orchestra, directed by Lonnie Klein,presents its annual youth concert free to LasCruces fourth graders Nov. 14 at NMSU’sAtkinson Music Recital Hall. Information: (575)646-3709 or lascrucessymphony.com.

‘Broadway Revisited’ — Broadway leg-ends Dale Kristien and Bill Hutton present anevening of music from their distinguishedcareers at 8 p.m. Nov. 16, at the SpencerTheater for Performing Arts in Alto, N.M. Thepair will perform songs from “Phantom of theOpera,” “Joseph and the Amazing TechnicolorDreamcoat” and more. Tickets: $66-$69Information: (575) 336-4800, (888) 818-7872or spencertheater.com.

RichterUzer — Las Cruces Civic ConcertAssociation presents the Russian guitar andcello duo at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at the RioGrande Theatre in the Las Cruces. BradRichter and Viktor Uzer blend classical, worldand rock music and have performed globally asa duo and as solo artists. Ticket information:(575) 521-4051 or lascrucescca.org.

El Paso Symphony Orchestra: ‘LaDanza Clasica’ - The Symphony, conductedby Bohuslav Rattay, performs at 7:30 p.m. Nov.22-23 in the Plaza Theatre. The symphony andguest Peter Soave, bandoneon, perform Verdi’s“La Forza del Destino,” overture, Piazzolla’s“Aconcagua,” Concerto for Bandoneon andMendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4, op. 90, Amajor, “Italian.” Tickets: $15-$40 ($8-$10 stu-dents). Information: 532-3776 or epso.org.

‘A Christmas Carol’ — AmericanSouthwest Theatre Company presents themusical adaptation of Charles Dickens’s classicwith lyrics by Tom Smith and music by RogerButterfly Nov. 22-Dec. 8 at NMSU’s Centerfor the Arts. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Thursdaythrough Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $17.Preview performance is 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21.Tickets: $10.Information: (575) 646-4515.

My Sinatra — Flickinger Center for thePerforming Arts in Alamogordo presents themusical featuring the songs of Frank Sinatra at 7p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, as part of its PremierSeries. Ticket information: (575) 437-2202 orflickingercenter.com.

‘Blue Corn The Journey’ — Doña AnaArts Council hosts New Mexico performerRobert Mirabel’s presentation featuring theJemez Pueblo Dancers at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov.23, at the Rio Grande Theatre, at 211Downtown Mall in Las Cruces, as part of thecouncil’s Performance Series. Tickets: $25 and

$35. Information: (575) 523-6403 orRioGrandeTheatre.com.

Jim Curry’s Tribute to John Denver —Acclaimed performer Jim Curry performs themusic of the late John Denver at 8 p.m. Nov.29, at the Spencer Theater for Performing Artsin Alto, N.M. Curry’s voice was heard on theCBS-TV movie “Take Me Home: The JohnDenver Story.” Tickets: $76-$79. Information:(575) 336-4800, (888) 818-7872 orspencertheater.com.

‘Nora’ — No Strings Theatre presents IngmarBergman’s adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s classicplay “The Doll House” Nov. 29-Dec. 15 at theBlack Box Theatre in Las Cruces. Directed byCeil Herman. Tickets: $12 ($10 students andseniors over 65). Information/reservations:(575) 523-1223 or no-strings.org.

December 2013

The Gothard Sisters — Showtime! El Pasopresents the Irish fiddle and step dancingtroupe at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, at theAbraham Chavez Theatre. The all-female Irishmusic and dance group from the PacificNorthwest, USA. The three sisters performnew Celtic arrangements of well-known tradi-tional tunes and popular songs, as well as theirown original compositions from theirseven recorded studio albums, as heard ontheir most recent release, Compass. Ticketinformation: 544-2022 or showtimeelpaso.com.

‘Come Blow Your Horn’ — Las CrucesCommunity Theatre presents the Neil Simon’sfirst Broadway comedy smash Dec. 6-22.Directed by Patrick Payne. Alan Baker, a thir-tysomething swinging bachelor with time,money and women to spare, welcomes rebel-lious and eager 21-year-old brother Buddy intohis den of iniquity while their horrified parentscan only watch and pray. Performances are 8p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays.Tickets: $7-$10. Information: (575) 523-1200or lcctnm.org.

Santa Fe Opera Holiday Show — DoñaAna Arts Council presents the jazz-crossoverstar in concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, atthe Rio Grande Theatre, at 211 DowntownMall in Las Cruces. Tickets are complimentary;DAAC Premiere Series ticketholders receivereserved seating in advance; all others availableat the door. Information: (575) 523-6403 orRioGrandeTheatre.com.

EPHCC Holiday Concert — The El PasoSymphony Youth Orchestras, directed byAndres Moran, performs at its annual holidayconcert for El Paso Hispanic Chamber ofCommerce Saturday, Dec. 7, at the PlazaTheatre. Ticket information: 525-8978 orepsyos.org.

LCSO with Ilya Yakushev — Las CrucesSymphony Orchestra welcomes guest pianistIlya Yakushev at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m.Sunday, Dec. 7-8, at NMSU’s Atkinson MusicRecital Hall. Tickets: $35, $40 and $45.Information: (575) 646-3709 or lascrucessym-phony.com.



Showtime! El Paso celebrates 80 yearsof bringing quality performances to theSun City for its 2013-2014 season.As El Paso’s second-oldest performing

arts organization, Showtime El Paso hasentertained nearly 600,000 people in theEl Paso region.

Some of the performers who graced ElPaso’s stages as a result of the organiza-tion included Vladimir Horowitz, NelsonEddy, Lily Pons and Yehudi Menuhin,along with a variety of music, dance andtheatre. This year’s shows span the spec-trum of musical genres ranging fromclassical to Irish music, ’50s and ’60snostalgia and classic and modern jazz.

The anniversary season opens with TheBeatles tribute, “Abbey Road’ Sept. 19.The group prides itself on “tight har-monies, flawless note for note renditionsof Beatles hits, custom–tailored cos-tumes, vintage instruments, Liverpudliandialect and precise attention to everydetail.” They have worked to perfecttheir show to become one of the mostmusically and visually satisfying Beatletribute acts in the world, from the musicitself to the Beatles’ onstage banter.

On Oct. 24 is ‘Bach to the Future,’ themodern twist to the music of Beethovenand Bach. The group consists of pianistMichael Silverman pioneer of cutting-edge electronic percussion RobSilverman, musical-arrangement con-noisseur Matt Bollinger and electric vio-linist Andrew Driscoll, all who cometogether to merge the timeless music ofBach and Beethoven with new and inno-vating sounds.The Gothard Sisters, and Irish fiddle

and stepdancing group, performs Dec. 5.The young trio of sisters from the PacificNorthwest, have won awards in both theUnited States and Ireland for their talent,as well as releasing seven studio albums.All three are well versed in the violin,but also add guitar, bodhran and voice totheir repertoire.

The first performance of 2014 is JesseLynch Jazz 101, an interactive musicjourney through the history of jazz onJan. 23.

Lynch has played piano for popularveterans Daniel Rodriguez and TheAmerican Tenors, as well as performingon his own playing everything fromBeethoven and bop to free jazz and con-temporary compositions. Through hisJazz 101 show, he is joined by bass anddrums and leads audiences on a journeythrough the evolution and history of jazzincluding greats Joplin, Charlie Parkerand Louis Armstrong, with a music andmulti-media presentation. His show hasbeen praised by critics as well as by fel-low musicians.

“Jesse is one of the most talented andversatile musical souls I have everworked with,” jazz bassist Ford Jamessays of Lynch. “His playing is technical-ly exceptional and inspired no matterwhat style he is performing. He bringsan egoless, open and creative energy toany ensemble playing with a sensitivity

and maturity rarely found in playerstwice his age.”

Twelve-year-old worldwide piano phe-nomenon Umi Garrett performs Feb. 20.Since her 2009 appearance on The EllenDeGeneres Show, Garrett has receivedrequests to perform worldwide andappeared regularly with symphonyorchestras around the world, and hasreleased the CD, “Just For You.”

DeGeneres was right when she firsttold audiences that Garrett “is going tobe very well known.”

The season concludes March 28 withthe celebrated vocal group, The Tokens,known for their iconic hit “The LionSleeps Tonight.”

In addition to their most famous andwell-loved song, The Tokens have alsoproduced several hits in their 40 years ofperforming including “One Fine Day”“He’s So Fine,” “See You InSeptember,” “I Got Rhythm,” “Tie AYellow Ribbon,” “Knock Three Times, ”“Denise” and more. Their concerts arehighlighted with hit songs, comedic rou-tines and audience participation. All performances are 7:30 p.m. at the

Abraham Chavez Theatre. Season ticketsare $85 for six shows, and tickets areopen seating and interchangeable for anyof the season’s six shows. Family pack-ages available for $205 and youth seasonpackages are $35. Parking passes alsoavailable. For more information, call544-2022 or visit showtimeelpaso.com.

Showtime El Paso! was born in 1933 asEl Paso Community Concerts as part ofthe nationwide community concertmovement that began on the East Coast.

“In New York, the managers atColumbia Artists had come up with abold plan: Raise the money for touringacts in advance through a network oflocally based organizations, who wouldsell a whole season at a time,”Showtime! El Paso’s history reads.“Thus was born Community Concerts.Community Concerts went nationwide toestablish non-profit, all-volunteer organi-zations and to expand the touring net-work for the selected artist. El Pasojoined this network within its first fewyears. The first El Paso concert was heldin 1934, and the 1933-1934 concertseries officially established the begin-ning of El Paso Community ConcertAssociation.”

In 2003, when the CommunityConcerts effort dissolved, the all-volun-teer group continued to act independent-ly and officially changed its name toShowtime! El Paso.

Showtime seasonspans all genres

‘Abby Road’ opens the Showtime El

Paso season Sept. 19


Green Day’s ‘American Idiot’ —Broadway in El Paso presents the direct-from-Broadway smash-hit musical at 7:30 p.m.Monday, Dec. 9, at the Plaza Theatre.“American Idiot” tells the story of three lifelongfriends, forced to choose between their dreamsand the safety of suburbia. Based on GreenDay’s Grammy Award-winning multi-platinumalbum and featuring the hits “Boulevard ofBroken Dreams,” “21 Guns,” “Wake Me UpWhen September Ends,” “Holiday” and theblockbuster title track, “American Idiot.”Contains adult content and strong language.(Ticketmaster)

‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’ —El Paso Playhouse, 2501 Montana, presentsBarbara Robinson’s family holiday favorite Dec.13-22. Directed by Rachel Mullins. Showtimesare 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m.Sunday. Tickets: $10 ($8 seniors, $7military/students with ID; $5 students under18). Information: 532-1317,elpasoplayhouse.com.

Three Redneck Tenors — The singin’cousins, Billy Joe, Billy Bob and Billy Billee, per-form their “Christmas Spec-tac-yule-ar” showat 8 p.m. Dec. 14, at the Spencer Theater inAlto, N.M. Arranged by award-winning com-poser Craig Bohmler, there’s nothing old-fash-ioned about this energetic performance of clas-sics like “Sleigh Ride,” “White Christmas”“Silent Night” and many more. Tickets: $76-$79. Information: (575) 336-4800, (888) 818-7872 or spencertheater.com.

‘A Christmas Carol’ — The UTEPDepartment of Theatre and Dance presentstheir annual adaptation of Charles Dicken’sChristmas classic Dec. 15 and Dec. 20-21, inthe Fox Fine Arts Wise Family Theatre.Adapted by Chuck Gordon. Showtime is 8 p.m.Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $13($11 seniors, military, group, UTEP alumni andnon-UTEP students; $9 UTEP students; ages 4-12): 747-5118 or theatredance.utep.edu.

Mariachi Christmas — Flickinger Centerfor the Performing Arts in Alamogordo pres-ents its holiday performance at 7 p.m. Tuesday,Dec. 17, as part of its Premier Series. Ticketinformation: (575) 437-2202 or flickinger-center.com.

‘The Nutcraker’ — El Paso Youth Balletpresents Tchaikovsky’s Christmas classic at7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Dec. 19-20, atUTEP’s Magoffin Auditorium. Tickets: $15, $20and $25. Information: 760-6062 or elpasocon-servatoryofdance.org.

‘The Nutcracker’ — Ruidoso DanceEnsemble’s annual performance ofTchaikovsky’s Christmas classic is 2 and 7 p.m.Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21-22, at theSpencer Theater for Performing Arts in Alto,N.M. Tickets: $32. Information: (575) 336-4800, (888) 818-7872 or spencertheater.com.

January 2014

‘Spider’s Web’ — El Paso Playhouse, 2501Montana, presents the Agatha Christie mystery

Jan. 3-25. Directed by Alexander Wright.Showtimes are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $10 ($8 seniors, $7 mil-itary/students with ID; $5 students under 18).Information: 532-1317, elpasoplayhouse.com.

El Paso Pro-Musica Chamber MusicFestival — The annual festival is Jan. 9-Feb.4 with performances by Rubens String Quartet,guitarist David Leisner, pianist Piers Land and acollaboration between NPR’s “What Makes ItGreat” host Rob Kapilow and El PasoSymphony Orchestra. Various venues.Information: 833-9400 or eppm.org.

Mike + Ruthy — The acoustic songwritingteam of Ruth Ungar and Mike Merenda per-form at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, at theBuckhorn Opera House in Pinos Altos, N.M. aspart of the Mimbres Region Arts Council’s FolkSeries. Tickets: $20 ($15 members).Information: (575) 538-2505 ormimbresarts.org.

New Mexico Philharmonic — FlickingerCenter for the Performing Arts in Alamogordopresents the celebrated Albuquerque-basedorchestra at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, as part ofits Premier Series. Ticket information: (575)437-2202 or flickingercenter.com.

‘Annie Get Your Gun’ — Las CrucesSymphony Orchestra presents its the fullystaged production of the Irving Berlin musicalJan. 17-19, at NMSU’s Atkinson Recital Hall,directed by Mark Medoff with conductorLonnie Klein. Tickets: $35, $45 and $55.Information: (575) 646-3709 or lascrucessym-phony.com.

‘Man of La Mancha’ — The five-time TonyAward winning musical is 8 p.m. Jan. 21, at the

Spencer Theater for Performing Arts in Alto,N.M. This comic tragedy based on Miguel deCervantes’s classic novel of Don Quixote fea-tures timeless hits like “I’m Only Thinking ofHim,” and “The Quest (The ImpossibleDream).” Tickets: $66-$69. Information: (575)336-4800, (888) 818-7872 orspencertheater.com.

Jesse Lynch Jazz 101 — Showtime! El Pasopresents an interactive music journey throughthe history of jazz at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan.23, at the Abraham Chavez Theatre. As apianist, composer, arranger, improviser, andeducator, Lynch regularly performs in any num-ber of musical styles from Beethoven to Bop,to free jazz and contemporary composition.Ticket information: 544-2022 or showtimeelpa-so.com.

Jesse Lynch’s Jazz 101 — Grant CountyCommunity Concert Association presents thejazz ensemble at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 24 at WNMUFine Arts Center Theater in Silver City.Admission: $20 ($5 students 17 and younger).Information: (575) 538-5862 or gcconcerts.org.

El Paso Symphony Orchestra: ‘A Taleof Two Strausses’ - The Symphony, con-ducted by Bohuslav Rattay, performs with guestcellist Zuill Bailey and guest violinist KurtNikkanen at 7:30 p.m. Jan 24-25 in the PlazaTheatre, in collaboration with El Paso Pro-Musica’s Chamber Music Festival. Selectionsinclude J. Strauss’s “Die Fledermaus” Overtureand “An der schönen blauen Danua, op. 314,“On The Beautiful Danube,” Mozart’s Adadiofor violin and orchestra K.261, E major andRondo for violin and orchestra K.373, C major,Rozsa’s “Sinfonia Concertante” for violin, celloand orchestra, Opl 29a, “Theme and

Variations,” and R. Strauss’s “DerRosenkavalier” op. 29. Tickets: $15-$40 ($8-$10 students). Information: 532-3776 orepso.org.

‘Romance/Romance’ — No StringsTheatre presents the musical by Barry Harmanand Keith Herrmann Jan. 24-Feb. 16 at theBlack Box Theatre in Las Cruces. Directed byKaren Caroe. Tickets: $12 ($10 students andseniors over 65). Information/reservations:(575) 523-1223 or no-strings.org.

Young People’s Concerts — The El PasoSymphony Orchestra presents the 74tj seasonof free programs for area fifth-graders at 10:30a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday,Jan. 29-31, at the Plaza Theatre. The public isinvited on a space-available basis; call for avail-ability. Information: 532-3776.

‘Three Viewings’ — El Paso Playhouse,2501 Montana, presents three monologues setin a funeral home, written by Jeffrey Hatcher,Jan. 31-Feb. 2. Directed by Ivan Sandlin.Showtimes are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $10 ($8 seniors, $7 mil-itary/students with ID; $5 students under 18).Information: 532-1317, elpasoplayhouse.com.

‘Smokey Joe’s Cafe’ — UTEP DinnerTheatre presents the musical of jukebox clas-sics written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller(“Hound Dog,” “Poison Ivy,” “Jailhouse Rock.”)Jan. 31-Feb. 15. Showtime is 7 p.m.Wednesday through Sunday. Call for dates fordinner and non-dinner matinees. Tickets: $33-$45 ($30-$40 Wednesday and Thursday andSunday dinner matinees; $16-$26 non-dinnermatinee). Information: 747-6060 orutep.edu/udt.

‘The Foreigner’ — Las Cruces CommunityTheatre presents Larry Shue’s award-winningcomic romp Jan. 31-Feb. 16. Directed byMike Wise. This comedy by the author of “TheNerd” enjoyed a sold-out premiere inMilwaukee before moving on to a long run off-Broadway. The play demonstrates what canhappen when a group of devious charactersmust deal with a stranger who (they think)knows no English. Performances are 8 p.m.Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays.Tickets: $10 ($9 seniors, students, military; $8per person for groups of 10 or more; $7 chil-dren under six). Information: (575) 523-1200or lcctnm.org.

February 2014

Cirque Montage — Flickinger Center forthe Performing Arts in Alamogordo presentsthe Cirque du Soleil-style circus straight fromBranson, Mo. at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, aspart of its Premier Series. Ticket information:(575) 437-2202 or flickingercenter.com.

‘Cirque Montage’ — Doña Ana ArtsCouncil presents the circus starring formerCirque du Soleil members at 3 p.m. Sunday,Feb. 2, at the Rio Grande Theatre, at 211Downtown Mall in Las Cruces . Tickets: $25and $35. Information: (575) 523-6403 orRioGrandeTheatre.com.




By Lynn Provenzano

The El Paso Summer Music Festivallaunches its 10th Season!

The name of this non-profit organiza-tion implies a cluster of musical celebra-tions. In fact, the El Paso Summer Musicfestival (EPSMF) was birthed out of acelebratory concert in honor of MichaelSalzman and the inauguration of a pianoscholarship in his name for the UTEPMusic Department. What has evolved isa group that celebrates the power of clas-sical music. The festival is now a year-long flurry of activity supporting motiva-tional youth programs fueled by thecommitment of its volunteer board ofdirectors. Summer is the culmination ofthe season’s work through recognition,awards, performances, and outreach.

Clearly, the border community benefitsfrom EPSMF’s programs. Recognition isgiven yearly to El Paso’s outstandingsupporters of the Arts. The organizationhas awarded step-up instruments to eightyoung musicians since its inception.EPSMF has sponsored three consecutiveyears of music competitions that deliv-ered cash awards to its winners.Potpourri Concerts have been the signa-ture summer events featuring local,national and international musicians.

In 2009, EPSMF hosted NPR’s radioshow From the Top, where El PasoanNatanya Washer received the $10,000Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award

and the El Paso Choral Society YoungLadies Choir performed. The show putEPSMF and El Paso on national air-waves. In June 2013, EPSMF hostedFrom the Top again at the Plaza Theatrewith violinist Wesley Yu, EPSMF’s firstcompetition winner.

The Competition for Young Musiciansis open to the public and invites musi-cians (ages 8 to 19) of instrument orvoice to apply. Finalists are selectedthrough an extensive application processto compete in recitals. The winnerreceives $2,000 and the opportunity toperform in an EPSMF event.

The Instruments for Young Lives pro-gram assist stalented classical instrumen-talists (ages 8 to 18) with unmet finan-cial need. Gifted instruments are one-time awards. Recipients participate inEPSMF’s outreach and community lead-ership programs. Applicants must beU.S. citizens pursuing their music educa-tion while demonstrating exceptional tal-ent, academic achievement and discipline.

Stay tuned into the El Paso SummerMusic Festival! More information andapplications for EPSMF programs areavailable at www.epsmf.org.

EPSMF events are made possible with thesupport of the Museums & Cultural AffairsDepartment and the Texas Commission for theArts and the El Paso Community Foundation.

Lynn Provenzano is President,

EPSMF Board of Directors

Summer Music Fest nowworks all year for youth


EPSYOs Winter Concert — The El PasoSymphony Youth Orchestras, directed byAndres Moran, perform at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb.2, at the Abraham Chavez Theatre. Ticketinformation: 525-8978 or epsyos.org.

‘The Tale of Pobrero El Campesino’ —The UTEP Department of Theatre and Danceannual dance concert is Feb. 7-16, in the FoxFine Arts Wise Family Theatre. Showtime is 8p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets:$13 ($11 seniors, military, group, UTEP alumniand non-UTEP students; $9 UTEP students;ages 4-12): 747-5118 ortheatredance.utep.edu.

LCSO with Amit Peled — Las CrucesSymphony Orchestra, directed by Lonnie Klein,welcomes guest cellist Amit Peled with narratorDelano Lewis at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m.Sunday, Feb. 8-9, at NMSU’s Atkinson MusicRecital Hall. Selections include LeonardBernstein’s “Overture to Candide andSymphonic dances from “West Side Story,”Victor Herbert’s Concerto No. 2 and AaronCopland’s “Lincoln Portrait. Tickets: $35, $40and $45. Information: (575) 646-3709 orlascrucessymphony.com.

‘The Fantasticks’ — The steampunk styleperformance of the romantic classic is 8 p.m.Feb. 14, at the Spencer Theater forPerforming Arts in Alto, N.M. The world’slongest-running production of any kind, “TheFantasticks” featured hits like “Try toRemember” and “Soon It’s Gonna Rain.”Presented by Nebraska Theatre Caravan, it fea-tures and atmospherically rich steampunk tech-nology, incorporating elements of VictorianGoth, science fiction and fantasy. Tickets: $66-

$69. Information: (575) 336-4800, (888) 818-7872 or spencertheater.com.

‘Almost, Maine’ — El Paso Playhouse, 2501Montana, presents nine short plays on love byJohn Cariani Feb. 14-March 8. Directed byCorey Dlask. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Friday andSaturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $10 ($8seniors, $7 military/students with ID; $5 stu-dents under 18). Information: 532-1317, elpa-soplayhouse.com.

Umi Garrett — Showtime! El Paso presentsthe 12-year-old world-wide piano phenomenonat 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, at theAbraham Chavez Theatre. In May 2009, 8-year-old Umi appeared on NBC’s The EllenDeGeneres Show as her first public broadcastperformance. Umi’s most recent accomplish-ments in include winning the first prizes at the13th Osaka International Music Competition inJapan, The Chopin International Competition inBudapest, Hungary in June, and Bradshaw andBuono International Piano Competition in NewYork. Ticket information: 544-2022 or show-timeelpaso.com.

Laurie Rubin — Las Cruces Civic ConcertAssociation presents the mezzo-soprano at7:30 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Rio Grande Theatre inLas Cruces. Rubin’s recent career highlightsinclude her UK solo recital debut performanceat Wigmore Hall in London, her solo recitaldebut at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall andthe title role in Rossini’s “La Cenerentola.”Ticket information: (575) 521-4051 orlascrucescca.org.

‘Novella Bohème’ — El Paso Opera hostssix engaging weekly performances at 5 p.m.Thursdays Feb. 20-Marcy $27 at Ardovino’sDesert Crossing in Sunland Park. Presented inEnglish and Spanish. Cost: $10. Information:

581-5534 or epopera.org.

‘Cotton Patch Gospel’ — El PasoCommunity College’s Theater Ensemble pres-ents Tom Key’s and Russell Treyz’s folk rockmusical, based on the Cotton Patch Version ofMatthew and John by Clarence Jordan, Feb.20-23 and Feb. 27-March 2 at the EPCCTransmountain Campus Forum. Directed byKeith Townsend. Showtime is 8 p.m. Thursdaythrough Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The storyretells the life of Jesus as if in modern day, ruralGeorgia. Though the setting and the styling ofthe language greatly differs from the originaltelling of the Gospels, the plot structure andthe message of the story stays true to the his-torical recording in The Gospel. Children 7 andolder welcome. Tickets: $15 ($10 non-EPCCstudents and military, $7 EPCC students).Information: 831-5056 or epcc.edu/theater.

El Paso SymphonyOrchestra:‘Carmina’ - The Symphony,conducted by Bohuslav Rattay, performs Orff’s“Carmina Burana” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21-22 inthe Plaza Theatre, in collaboration with UTEPChoral Union and Concert conducted by Dr.Elisa Fraser Wilson. Tickets: $15-$40 ($8-$10students). Information: 532-3776 or epso.org.

‘Aunt Raini’ — American Southwest TheatreCompany presents an original play by TomSmith Feb. 21-March 9 at NMSU’s Center forthe Arts. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Thursdaythrough Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $17.A successful gallery owner must confrontwhether documentaries left to her should bejudged as significant historical artwork orreminders of her aunt’s horrific past. Previewperformance is 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20. Tickets:$10. Information: (575) 646-4515.

Umi Garrett — Grant County Community

Concert Association presents the 9-year-oldpiano prodigy at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at WNMUFine Arts Center Theater in Silver City.Admission: $20 ($5 students 17 and younger).Information: (575) 538-5862 or gcconcerts.org.

Glenn Miller Orchestra — The celebrat-ed Swing Era dance band performs at 3 p.m.Feb. 23, at the Spencer Theater forPerforming Arts in Alto, N.M. The orchestra’shit tunes include “In The Mood,” “ChattanoogaChoo Choo” and “Moonlight Serenade.”Tickets: $66-$69. Information: (575) 336-4800,(888) 818-7872 or spencertheater.com.

March 2014

‘Hair’ — The Tony-winning 1960s rock musi-cal is 3 p.m. March 2, at the Spencer Theaterfor Performing Arts in Alto, N.M. Multi-culturalcast singing a long list of chart topping hit songs,including “Aquarius,” “Let the Sun Shine In,”“Good Morning, Starshine” and “Easy To BeHard.” Adult content. Tickets: $76-$79.Information: (575) 336-4800, (888) 818-7872or spencertheater.com.

Red Molly — The Americana trio performs at7:30 p.m. March 7, at the Buckhorn OperaHouse in Pinos Altos, N.M. as part of theMimbres Region Arts Council’s Folk Series.






Since 2004 Red Molly has been bringing audi-ences to their feet with gorgeous three-partharmonies, crisp musicianship, and their warm,engaging stage presence. This past year, theywere invited to open multiple shows for musiclegend Willie Nelson. Their new CD “Light inthe Sky” spent 20 weeks on the AmericanaMusic Association’s Top 40 radio chart. Tickets:$20 ($15 members). Information: (575) 538-2505 or mimbresarts.org.

Vocaldente — Flickinger Center for thePerforming Arts in Alamogordo presents the acapella quintet at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 8, aspart of its Premier Series. Ticket information:(575) 437-2202 or flickingercenter.com.

‘The Women of Lockerbie’ — No StringsTheatre presents the play by DeborahBrevoort March 14-30 at the Black BoxTheatre in Las Cruces. Directed by NikkaZiemer. The play is a moving exploration ofhow grief changes over time. Tickets: $12 ($10students and seniors over 65).Information/reservations: (575) 523-1223 orno-strings.org.

Carter Brey — El Paso Pro-Musica presentsthe principal cellist for New York PhilharmonicSaturday, March 15. Location to beannounced. Information: 833-9400 oreppm.org.

‘The Firebird’ and ‘Rodeo’ — RuidosoDance Ensemble presents a doubleheader per-formance at 2 and 7 p.m. March 15, at theSpencer Theater for Performing Arts in Alto,N.M. The ensemble will perform both theRussian fairy tale “The Firebird” by Stravinskyand a humorous love story set to AaronCopland’s “Rodeo.” Tickets: $30. Information:(575) 336-4800, (888) 818-7872 orspencertheater.com.

‘Bring In On: The Musical’ — Broadwayin El Paso presents the musical inspired by thehit film series at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 17,at the Plaza Theatre. The show tells the storyof the challenges and unexpected bondsformed through the thrill of extreme competi-tion. (Ticketmaster)

‘The Lion in Winter’ — Las CrucesCommunity Theatre presents the JamesGoldman play that inspired the Oscar-winningfilm March 18-April 3. Directed by Monte H.Wright. King Henry II of England wants thekingdom to stay united after his death, but allthree of his sons want to rule and it is likely tobe torn apart by revolution. Henry favors theyoungest John, while Eleanor favors the eldest,Richard. Middle son Geoffrey hopes to playboth ends against each other and come out ontop. Performances are 8 p.m. Fridays andSaturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: $10 ($9seniors, students, military; $8 per person forgroups of 10 or more; $7 children under six).Information: (575) 523-1200 or lcctnm.org.

‘Letters Home’ — Flickinger Center for thePerforming Arts in Alamogordo presents a per-formance honoring veterans at 7 p.m. Saturday,March 20, as part of its Premier Series. Ticketinformation: (575) 437-2202 or flickinger-center.com.

Terri Hendrix — The singer/songwriter per-forms at 7:30 p.m. March 21, at the BuckhornOpera House in Pinos Altos, N.M. as part ofthe Mimbres Region Arts Council’s Folk Series.With more than a dozen albums in her catalog,she seems equally comfortable with blues, folk,story songs, ballads, folk-rock, country andNew Orleans-style jazz. Tickets: $20 ($15

members). Information: (575) 538-2505 ormimbresarts.org.

‘The Arabian Nights’ — The UTEPDepartment of Theatre and Dance presentsMary Zimmerman’s adaptation of the classictale March 21-30, in the Fox Fine Arts WiseFamily Theatre. Directed by Rebecca Rivas.Showtime is 8 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m.Sunday. Tickets: $13 ($11 seniors, military,group, UTEP alumni and non-UTEP students;$9 UTEP students; ages 4-12): 747-5118 ortheatredance.utep.edu.

Bella Electric Strings — The powerhousestring group performs at 8 p.m. March 22, atthe Spencer Theater for Performing Arts inAlto, N.M. Led by rock violinist and arrangerNina Di Gregorio, the classically-trained musi-cians have rocked audiences worldwide withtheir blistering solos and unique arrangementsof songs by Queen, Led Zepplin, the Beatlesand more. Tickets: $56-$59. Information: (575)336-4800, (888) 818-7872 orspencertheater.com.

The Tokens — Showtime! El Paso concludesthe season with the vocal group behind the hit“The Lion Sleeps Tonight” at 7:30 p.m. Friday,March 28, at the Abraham Chavez Theatre.Other hits that they’ve produced over the past40 years such as “One Fine Day”, “He’s SoFine”, “See You In September”, “I GotRhythm”, ”Tie A Yellow Ribbon”, “Knock ThreeTimes”, “Denise” and many more. Ticket infor-mation: 544-2022 or showtimeelpaso.com.

‘Harvest Queen’ — El Paso Playhouse,2501 Montana, presents an original play writtenand directed by Ken Forestal March 28-April19. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday

and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $10 ($8 seniors, $7military/students with ID; $5 students under18). Information: 532-1317,elpasoplayhouse.com.

Georgianna S. Davanelos Young ArtistConcert — The young artist concert is 7:30p.m. March 30, at First Baptist Church, sup-porting El Paso Young Artist Performers.Tickets: $15 in advance; $20 at the door.Information: 581-5534 or epopera.org.

EPSO ‘KidsPalooza’ Concert — El PasoSymphony Orchestra presents it annual con-certs as part of Downtown KidsPalooza March29 at the Plaza Theatre. Details to beannounced. Ticket information: 525-8978 orepsyos.org.

EPSYO and EPSO ‘Side-by-Side’Concert — Performers from El PasoSymphony Youth Orchestras and El PasoSymphony Orchestra combine forces at the 7thannual Side-by-Side performance at 3 p.m.March 30 at the Plaza Theatre, in conjunctionwith Downtown KidsPalooza. Ticket informa-tion: 525-8978 or epsyos.org.

‘West Side Story’ — The history-makingBroadway musical is 3 and 8 p.m. March 31, atthe Spencer Theater in Alto, N.M. This ground-breaking new production is one of the mostmemorable musicals and greatest love storiesof all time, and features a rivalry between twoteenage street gangs of different ethnic back-grounds, as well as a tale of unrequited loveinspired by Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.”Tickets: $63-$66 matineed; $66-$69 evening.Information: (575) 336-4800, (888) 818-7872or spencertheater.com.

April 2014

Rave On — Flickinger Center for thePerforming Arts in Alamogordo presents theBuddy Holly tribute at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 1,as part of its Premier Series. Ticket informa-tion: (575) 437-2202 or flickingercenter.com.

Pavlo and his Band — Grant CountyCommunity Concert Association presents the“Greek god of the guitar” at 7:30 p.m. April 3at WNMU Fine Arts Center Theater in SilverCity. Pavlo introduced his infectious signature“6-String VS Greek Bouzouki” sound in 1998,and has since recorded nine albums, and per-forms more than 150 shows a year worldwide.Admission: $20 ($5 students 17 and younger).Information: (575) 538-5862 or gcconcerts.org.

‘Butterflies Are Free’ — El PasoCommunity College’s Theater Ensemble pres-ents the comedy hit by Leonard Gershe April4-6 and 11-13 at the EPCC TransmountainCampus Forum. Directed by Hector Serrano.A blind young man seeking independence cre-ates problems with his mother and his newroommate as he struggles to become self-reliant. Showtime is 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday;2:30 p.m. Sunday. Children 7 and older wel-come. Tickets: $15 ($10 non-EPCC studentsand military, $7 EPCC students. Information:831-5056 or epcc.edu/theater.

LCSO with Ray Anthony — Las CrucesSymphony Orchestra, directed by Lonnie Klein,welcomes guest Ray Anthony, trumpet at 7:30p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 5-6, atNMSU’s Atkinson Music Recital Hall. Selectionsinclude Respighi’s “Ancient Airs and Dances,”Haydn’s Concerto for Trumpet, Copland’s“Quiet City” and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No.3 (Scottish). Tickets: $35, $40 and $45.Information: (575) 646-3709 or lascrucessym-phony.com.

‘La Bohéme’ — El Paso Opera closes itsseason with the Italian opera by Luigi Illica andGiuseppe Giacosa at 7:30 p.m. April 10 and12 at the Abraham Chavez Theatre. Based onthe novel “Scènes de la vie de bohème” byHenri Murger, the opera centers on young bohemians living in the Latin Quarter of Paris inthe 1840s. Tickets: $20-$90. Information: 581-5534 or epopera.org.A pre-show dinner is planned with Desiree

Mays, renowned opera guest speaker andauthor of “Opera Unveiled” at the pre-showdinner and Opera Talks. Cost: $39.

‘The Misanthrope’ — American SouthwestTheatre Company concludes its season April18-May 4 at NMSU’s Center for the Arts.Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Thursday throughSaturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. The play, consideredMolière’s best-known work, is about a manwhose sour view of mankind forces him intoisolation. Tickets: $17. Preview performance is7:30 p.m. April 17. Tickets: $10. Information:(575) 646-4515.

Emily Bear — El Paso Pro-Musica presentsthe 11-year-old music prodigy at 7:30 p.m.April 17 at UTEP’s Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall.Bear will also perform works from her chart-




By Carol McNeal

The largest producer of live events inthe greater El Paso region, the El PasoConvention and Performing Arts Centersrecently conducted a soft launch of theirbrand new event-driven website,ElPasoLive.com, and, while the site isstill considered to be a work in progress,public feedback continues to be over-whelmingly positive.

The new user-friendly interface fea-tures state-of-the-art interactivity, com-patibility with smart phones, computersand tablets, direct access to event infor-mation and instant access for ticket pur-chases. An attractive and inviting back-ground image on the site showcases avibrant evening in downtown El Pasothat depicts the high energy of the ElPaso nightlife scene.

It’s fun and easy to navigateElPasoLive.com. Simply click on theCALENDAR link, find the event thatinterests you on the event list, click onMORE INFO for information or click onBUY TICKETS for direct access tomake a ticket purchase. Here’s the funpart: now you can even find and chooseyour own seats!

ElPasoLive.com provides a wealth ofinformation about city-owned buildingsmanaged by SMG, including the El PasoConvention Center, the Abraham ChavezTheatre, the Plaza Theatre, thePhilanthropy Theatre, the Alcantar SkyGarden, Arts Festival Plaza, McKelligonCanyon Pavilion and McKelligon

Canyon Amphitheatre. This informationis provided for use by promoters, build-ing users, media outlets and performingartists but the primary consideration indeveloping the new site was focused onease of use for the general public.

Event information and ticket purchasecapability must be easily accessible toaccommodate today’s ticket buyers whomake a decision to attend an event andexpect and often demand a simpleprocess to follow. ElPasoLive.comdevelopers believe that the new siteoffers all that and more.

It’s important to note that all El PasoConvention and Performing Arts Centersevents (now El Paso Live events) areincluded on the new site. Informationregarding free series events like AlfrescoFridays!, Cool Canyon Nights, Moviesin the Canyon and Dancing in the City iseasily found on the new site. In additionto performance events, users can findinformation on all public events sched-uled in the buildings mentioned above.

Users have the opportunity to registerfor event email information and there’s areal advantage to this opportunitybecause email subscribers get earlynotice of upcoming events and often aresent advance opportunities to purchasetickets ahead of the general public.

ElPasoLive.com is innovative, easy andfun to use…so check it out because it’slike a lot of new things happening in ourcity. EL PASO. IT’S ALL GOOD.

Carol McNeal is Director, Facilities

Sales and Marketing, EPCPAC

Introducing ElPasoLive.com

topping jazz CD, “ Diversity,” produced byQuincy Jones, with cellist Zuill Bailey, bassistCarlitos del Puerto, and drummer FranciscoMela at a special event April 16 to beannounced. Tickets: $25 ($20 seniors and mili-tary/ $5 students) Information: 833-9400 oreppm.org.

Hank & My Honky Tonk Heroes —Jason Petty stars in this nostalgic look at HankWilliams’ impact on country music at 8 p.m.April 19, at the Spencer Theater in Alto, N.M.Petty’s Obie-winning performance bringsHank’s musical hits like “Move It On Over,”“Wine Me Up,” “Kawliga,” “Moanin’ TheBlues,” “Why Baby Why” and “Legend In MyTime” back to life. Tickets: $56-$59.Information: (575) 336-4800, (888) 818-7872or spencertheater.com.

‘Rock of Ages’ — Broadway in El Paso pres-ents the worldwide party musical at 7:30 p.m.Tuesday, April 22, at the Plaza Theatre, with amix of 28 rockin’ ‘80s tunes including “Don’tStop Believin’,” “We Built This City,” “The FinalCountdown,” “Wanted Dead or Alive,” “HereWe Go Again,” “Can’t Fight This Feeling” and “IWant to Know What Love Is.” In 1987 on theSunset Strip, a small town girl meets a big cityrocker in L.A.’s most famous rock club, andthey fall in love to the greatest songs of the‘80s. Adult content. (Ticketmaster)

Midori — Grant County Community ConcertAssociation and Partners in Performance pres-ent the violinist at 7:30 p.m. April 24 atWNMU Fine Arts Center Theater in SilverCity. Admission: $20 ($5 students 17 andyounger). Information: (575) 538-5862 orgcconcerts.org.

One Act Play Festival — Las CrucesCommunity Theatre host the return of its one-act showcase April 24-May 10, featuring-works by area playwrights and directors.Information: (575) 523-1200 or lcctnm.org.

El Paso Symphony Orchestra: ‘Raisingthe Roof’ — The Symphony, concludes itsseason under direction of its new conductorBohuslav Rattay with guest Andrew Spencer,timpani, at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April25-26, in the Plaza Theatre. Ticket informa-tion: 532-3776 or epso.org.

‘Here We Almost Are’ — The UTEPDepartment of Theatre and Dance closes itsseason with an original play written and direct-ed by Department Chairman Joel Murray April25-May 4, in the Fox Fine Arts Wise FamilyTheatre. Showtime is 8 p.m. Saturday and 2:30p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $13 ($11 seniors, military,group, UTEP alumni and non-UTEP students;$9 UTEP students; ages 4-12): 747-5118 ortheatredance.utep.edu.

‘Murderers’ — No Strings Theatre presentsthe mystery by Jeffrey Hatcher April 25-May11 at the Black Box Theatre in Las Cruces.Directed by Ceil Herman. Tickets: $12 ($10students and seniors over65).Information/reservations: (575) 523-1223or no-strings.org.

‘Les Miserables’ — UTEP Dinner Theatrepresents the award-winning musical, later to bean Academy Award-nominated film for it officialCentennial Production April 25-May 17.Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Wednesday throughSunday. Call for dates for dinner and non-din-ner matinees. Tickets: $33-$45 ($30-$40Wednesday and Thursday and Sunday dinnermatinees; $16-$26 non-dinner matinee).Information: 747-6060 or utep.edu/udt.

May 2014

AJ Croce — Doña Ana Arts Council presentsthe jazz-crossover star in concert at 7 p.m.Friday, May 2, at the Rio Grande Theatre, at211 Downtown Mall in Las Cruces, as part ofthe council’s Performance Series. Croce willperform his original hits as well as music by hisfather, the late Jim Croce. Tickets: $25 and$35. Information: (575) 523-6403 orRioGrandeTheatre.com.

Gary Lewis and The Playboys — Theclassic oldies band performs at 8 p.m. May 3,at the Spencer Theater in Alto, N.M. Knownfor hits like “Sealed With A Kiss,” Gary Lewis(son of Jerry Lewis) was the first and only artistduring the 1960s to have his first seven releasesreach Billboard magazine’s Top 10 on the Hot100 chart. Tickets: $56-$59. Information: (575)336-4800, (888) 818-7872 orspencertheater.com.

LCSO with Janet Sung — Las CrucesSymphony Orchestra concludes its Classicsseries with guest violinist Janet Sung at 7:30p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 3-4, atNMSU’s Atkinson Music Recital Hall. Tickets:$35, $40 and $45. Information: (575) 646-3709or lascrucessymphony.com.

Wild Women of Song — Flickinger Centerfor the Performing Arts in Alamogordo con-

cludes its season with singer Pamela Rose’stribute to the lives and times of women song-writers of the Tin Pan Alley era at 7 p.m.Tuesday, May 6, as part of its Premier Series.Ticket information: (575) 437-2202 orflickingercenter.com.

‘Deathtrap’ — El Paso Playhouse, 2501Montana, closes its anniversary season with theIra Levin mystery May 9-31. Showtimes are 8p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.Tickets: $5-$10. Information: 532-1317, elpaso-playhouse.com.

EPSYOs Season Finale — El PasoSymphony Youth Orchestras’ season finale con-cert is 7 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at the PlazaTheatre. Information: 525-8978 or epsyos.org.

‘Jersey Boys’ — The Tony Award-winning hitabout Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The FourSeasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, TommyDeVito and Nick Massi concludes Broadway inEl Paso’s 10th anniversary season May 29-June1, at the Plaza Theatre. Showtime is 2 and 7:30p.m. Thursday and Sunday; 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and8 p.m. Saturday. This is the story of how fourblue-collar kids became one of the greatestsuccesses in pop music history. They wrotetheir own songs, invented their own soundsand sold 175 million records worldwide – allbefore they were 30. The show features theirhit songs “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “RagDoll,” “Oh What a Night” and “Can’t Take MyEyes Off You.” Contains authentic “profaneJersey language”. Tickets: $40 and $60 mati-nees; $50 to $75 evenings. (Ticketmaster)

‘Vidas Perfectas (Perfect Lives)’ — ElPaso Opera’s Opera on the Edge and BallroomMarfa presents the Robert Ashley’s ground-breaking opera that treats us to new percep-tions on the relationship between music and

language in May. Details to be announced.Ticket information: 581-5534 or epopera.org.

Silver City Blues Festival — The 19thannual event Memorial Day weekend in SilverCity is sponsored by the Mimbres Region ArtCouncil. Information: (575) 538-2505 or mim-bresarts.org.

June 2014

‘Ruthless! The Musical’ — Las CrucesCommunity Theatre closes its season with themusical comedy by Joel Paley and Marvin LairdJune 6-22. Directed by Autumn Gieb. Eight-year-old Tina Denmark knows she was born toplay Pippi Longstocking, and she will do any-thing to win the part in her school musical —including murdering the leading lady.Performances are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdaysand 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: $10 ($9 seniors,students, military; $8 per person for groups of10 or more; $7 children under six).Information: (575) 523-1200 or lcctnm.org.

‘House of Blue Leaves’ — No StringsTheatre presents the John Guare farce June 6-22 at the Black Box Theatre in Las Cruces.Directed by Tom Smith. Tickets: $12 ($10 stu-dents and seniors over 65). Information/reser-vations: (575) 523-1223 or no-strings.org.

Summer Repertory — El Paso CommunityCollege Performers Studio’s 2014 SummerRepertory Season runs in June and July at theTransmountain Campus Forum. This season willinclude award-winning musicals “Pippin,”“Nunsense A-Men!” and more. Information:831-5056 or epcc.edu/theater.

July 2014

‘Pop Goes the Fort’ — El Paso SymphonyOrchestra, conducted by Bohuslav Rattay, willperform patriotic and Broadway pops music7:30 p.m. Friday, July 4, at Fort Bliss’s BiggsPark. Admission is free and the public is wel-come. Information: 532-3776 or epso.org.

‘Chess’ — UTEP Dinner Theatre closes theseason with the musical by ABBA’s BennyAndersson and Björn Ulvaes, with lyrics by SirTim Rice July 11-27. Showtime is 7 p.m.Wednesday through Sunday. Call for dates fordinner and non-dinner matinees. Tickets: $33-$45 ($30-$40 Wednesday and Thursday andSunday dinner matinees; $16-$26 non-dinnermatinee). Information: 747-6060 orutep.edu/udt.

Gilbert and Sullivan Company of ElPaso — The company celebrates its 45th witha classic G&S comic opera in the summer.Details to be announced. Information: 591-6210 or GandSelpaso.org.



The name may be slightly different butthe mission is the same: El Paso ChopinPiano Festival will continue to bringquality piano performances this fall cele-brating the legacy of Frederic Chopin.

Sponsored by El Paso CommunityCollege and El Paso Chopin FestivalSociety, the El Paso Chopin PianoFestival (formerly El Paso Chopin MusicFestival), will host a trio of fall recitalsOct. 5 and 19 and Nov. 2.

The festival’s opening recital Oct. 5features “Polish Virtuoso,” KrystianTkaczewski. The Tarnow, Poland nativestudied in both Poland and the UnitedStates, and has performed in 15 coun-tries. His debut performance at CarnegieHall in 2007 was very well received, andAnthony Aibel of the New York ConcertReview wrote Tkaczewski “showeddevotion and a natural affinity for themusic of his homeland.”

On Oct. 19 is a performance byacclaimed pianist Mei-Ting Sun. Sunbegan his performing life at age fivedebuting at the prestigious Spring ofShanghai Festival in 1986. He has sinceplayed in many of the world’s greatestconcert halls on five continents and 19countries.

His numerous awards include first prizeat the 7th National Chopin PianoCompetition in 2005. One of his careerhighlights was tour across the globe per-forming the complete works of Chopinfor solo piano published during Chopin’s

lifetime in 2010 in honor of Chopin’s’200th birthday and performing two com-plete 32 Sonatas of Beethoven series inNew York and Shanghai in 2001.

The Boston Globe described his workas “ a miracle of lightness, speed andprecision of articulation and pianisticshimmer.”

The festival concludes Nov. 2 withaudience favorite and El Paso ChopinFestival founder Lucy Scarbrough.Scarbrough is known for her standing-room-only concerts. In addition to hernumerous awards for her musical abili-ties and community service, Chopinserved on the Chopin Foundation of theUnited States’ Selection Jury for theSeventh and Eighth National ChopinCompetitions in 2005 and 2010. She wasalso recognized by the President of theUnited States for her humanistic contri-butions to the arts in El Paso.

“Lucy Scarbrough is a highly respectedmusician,” commented EvanstonSymphony conductor Hans Levy Heniot.“When she is going to perform, weknow the Recital Hall will be filled.”

Festival concerts are at 7 p.m. onSaturdays at Chamizal NationalMemorial, 800 S. San Marcial.Admission is free, but people areadvised to arrive early; concerts arealmost always standing room only. Formore information, contact the festival at584-1595, [email protected] orelpaso-chopin.com.

Chopin Fest offers 3 free concerts

Amigos de la FundacionMascareñas, A.C.

Friends of the Mascareñas Foundation inJuarez present a schedule of culturalevents, plus the annual “Expoarte” visual,performing and culinary arts event.

Information: (001-52-656) 612-3175 or612-4075 in Juarez; 544-5118 in El Paso.Online: [email protected] or fmas-carenas.org.

Matices Culturales 2013• Sept. 7: Guitarist Paco Padilla• Sept. 28: Son del MontónAll performances are at the Benito Juarez

Auditorium at el Parque Borunda inJuarez. Tickets are 800 pesos. The 2014series to be announced.

Bruce Nehring ConsortThe consort was founded by El Paso Pro-

Musica founder Bruce Nehring who hasbeen a strong influence in El Paso’s classi-cal and choral music scene since 1967. Theconsort presents to El Paso the master-works of the centuries and pursues themarriage of sound and setting by holdingconcerts in some of the community’s mostbeautiful churches and chapels. Mailing address is P.O. Box 3708, El Paso,TX 79923. Information 532-5874 orbrucenehringconsort.org.

El Paso Chopin PianoFestival

The El Paso Chopin Piano Festival wasfounded in 1995 by Dr. Lucy Scarbrough,Musician in Residence at El PasoCommunity College, and is sponsored byEl Paso Community College and El PasoChopin Piano Festival Society. In its histo-ry, more than 20,000 music lovers haveenjoyed the Festival’s tradition of finemusic presented free of charge.Mailing address is 260 Puesta del Sol, ElPaso, TX 79912. Information: 584-1595,[email protected] or elpaso-chopin.com.

2013 Performances• Oct. 5: Krystian Tkaczewski• Oct. 27: Mei-Ting Sun• Nov. 10: Lucy Scarbrough

Performances are at Chamizal NationalMemorial, 800 S. San Marcial. Admissionis free, early arrival recommended.

EPCC Dept. of DramaEl Paso Community College’s

Performer’s Studio directors are KeithTownsend, Hector Serrano and LisaMcNiel. In addition to performances dur-ing the school year, the department hostsand annual Summer Repertory series.Information: 831-5056 or epcc.edu/theater2013-2014 Season

• Sept. 20-29: The Boys in the Band• Oct. 24-Nov. 3: Little Shop of Horrors• Feb. 20-March 2: Cotton Patch Gospel• April 4-13: Butterflies Are Free2014 Summer Repertory shows includePippin, Nunsense A-Men and more. Datesto be announced.

Performances are at EPCC’sTransmountain Forum Theatre, 9670Gateway North (off Diana). Tickets are$15 ($7 EPCC students/faculty/staff andseniors with ID; $10 non-EPCCstudents/military with ID). Box officeopens at 6 p.m. evening shows; 12:30 p.m.matinees.

El Paso Convention andPerforming Arts Center(CPAC)

CPAC produces, promotes, markets andmanages events in the El Paso ConventionCenter, Plaza Theatre, Abraham ChavezTheatre, McKelligon CanyonAmphitheatre and other city of El Pasoowned venues. Broadway in El Paso, nowin its 10th anniversary season, is presentedat the Plaza Theatre for Performing Arts.Other venues operated by the Conventionand Performing Information: 534-0609or elpasolive.com

Broadway in El Paso 2013-2014• Oct. 27: Straight No Chaser• Nov. 3: Million Dollar Quartet• Dec. 9: Green Day’s American Idiot• March 17: Bring It On The Musical• April 22: Rock of Ages• May 28-June 1: Jersey Boys

Five show packages are $195-$315; fourshow packages (minus “Jersey Boys”) are$150-$245. Straight, No Chaser can beadded to each package for $37.50-$47.50.Season tickets information: 231-1111.Individual tickets available throughTicketmaster: 544-8444 orticketmaster.com.

El Paso PlayhouseEl Paso Playhouse, El Paso’s longest-run-

ning community theate, is at 2501Montana, El Paso, TX 79903. Information:532-1317, [email protected] elpasoplayhouse.com

Season Schedule• July 5-27: All My Sons• Aug. 16-Sept. 7: The Odd Couple• Sept. 27-Oct. 31: Night of the LivingDead• Nov. 8-30: Beyond Therapy• Dec. 13-22: The Best Christmas PageantEver• Jan. 3-25: Spider’s Web• Jan. 31-Feb. 2: Three Viewings• Feb. 14-March 8: Almost, Maine• March 28-April 19: Harvest Queen• May 9-31: Deathtrap

Tickets: $10 ($8 seniors, $7 military/stu-dents with ID).

El Paso OperaNow celebrating its 20th anniversary sea-

son, El Paso Opera is made possible withthe support of the City of El PasoMuseums and Cultural Affairs Departmentand the Texas Commission on the Arts. InOctober, 2014, the Opera and UTEP willcollaborate for a special presentation ofOpera Bhutan. Director is DavidGrabarkewitz.

The Opera’s offices are at 310 N. Mesa,Suite 601. Information: 581-5534, 01-1800-681-9250 (in Mexico),[email protected] or epopera.org

Season Schedule• Sept. 8: Encores & Overtures• Nov. 9: Sherrill Milnes hosts 20th

Anniversary Gala for “Opera for All”• April 10 & 12: La Boheme• Feb. 20-March 27: Novella Bohéme• March 30: Georgianna S. DavanelosYoung Artists Concert• May 2014: Vidas Perfectas

Performances are at Camino Real GrandBallroom for “Encores and Overtures,”Abraham Chavez Theatre for Opera ForAll and “La Boheme,” First BaptistChurch for Young Artists Concert andArdovino’s Desert Crossing for “NovellaBohéme.” “Vidas Perfectas” performancesin Marfa and El Paso; locations to beannounced.

“Encores & Overtures” tickets: $125($300 couples; $12.50 table for 10).“Opera for All” tickets are $35 ($150combo with post-show dinner). “LaBoheme” tickets are $20-$90, ($18-$81for subscribers). Vidas Perfectas perform-ance free for season subscribers.

El Paso Pro MusicaFounded in 1977, El Paso Pro-Musica

has established itself as the premierechamber music organization in the region.Along with a dynamic Main Series Season,the El Paso Pro-Musica Chamber MusicFestival each January includes worldrenowned musicians, educational outreach,free “Bach’s Lunch” programs at the ElPaso Museum of Art, and a free filmseries. Artistic Director is Zuill Bailey.Executive Director is Felipa Solis.

Offices are at 6557 North Mesa, El Paso,Texas 79912. Information: 833-9400, 833-9425, [email protected] or eppm.org.

Season Schedule• Oct. 4: Golden Age Exhibit SpecialConcert Zuill Bailey• Oct. 15: EPPM 100 event; Zuill Baileyand Navah Perlman• Oct. 30: Julliard String Quartet• Jan. 9-Feb. 4: El Paso Pro-MusicaChamber Music Festival• March 15: Carter Brey

Performances are planned at El PasoMuseum of Art, Fox Fine Arts RecitalHall-UTEP, Atkinson Recital Hall-NMSU,Scottish Rite Temple, Plaza Theater withother venues to be announced.

Tickets are $25 ($20 seniors and military,$5); available in advance or at the door atall concerts. Oct. 15 performance tickets:$100. Season tickets are $225 ($180 sen-iors/military, $45 students) for El PasoMain Series and Festival; $75 ($60 sen-iors/military, $15 students) for Las CrucesSeries shows; $300 ($240 seniors/military,$60 students) for El Paso/Las Cruces andFestival shows. Ticket Packages availablethe EPPM office, by calling 833-9400 oronline at eppm.org.

El Paso SymphonyOrchestra

Now in its 83rd season. The symphony’spre-concert events include the BackstagePass dress rehearsal and casual dinner,“Opening Notes,” pre-concert discussionsone hour before the classical concerts.

After a two-year search, the SymphonyWelcomes its new conductor, BohuslavRattay.

Mailing address is P.O. Box 180, El Paso,TX 79942. Information: 532-EPSO (3776),[email protected] or epso.org.

Season Performances• Sept. 20-21: Guest pianist VadymKholodenko, Van Cliburn Gold Medalist• Oct. 18-19: Guest violinist GioraSchmidt• Nov. 22-23: Guest musician Peter Soave,bandoneon • Jan. 24-25: Guest cellist Zuill Bailey andguest violinist Kurt Nikkanen• Jan 29-Feb. 1: 74th annual YoungPeople’s Concerts• Feb. 21-22: “Carmina” with UTEPChoral union and Concert• March 30: Side-By-Side Concert withEPSYO• April 25-26: Guest Andrew Spencer, tim-pani

Individual tickets are $15, $20, $30, $35and $40. Season tickets are $63, $87,$150, $171 and $201. Ticket information:532-3776.

El Paso Symphony YouthOrchestras

The El Paso Symphony Youth Orchestraswere founded in 2005 as an EducationalProgram of the El Paso SymphonyOrchestra. Its current director is AndresMoran. New to the orchestra are conduc-tors Cindy Cabada and Osvald Mendoza.The symphony includes talented youngmusicians age 8-22 from throughout the ElPaso area. Information: 525-8978 orEPSYOs.org.

2013-2014 Season• Nov. 17: Fall Concert• Dec. 7: Holiday Concert• Feb. 2: Winter concert• March 30: “Side-by-Side” Concert withEl Paso Symphony Orchestra• May 10: Season Finale Concert

Performances are at the Plaza Theatre forthe Performing Arts, 125 Pioneer Plazaand Abraham Chavez Theatre. Ticketinformation to be announced.

El Paso Wind SymphonyThe El Paso Wind Symphony, founded byits current director Dr. Ron Hufstader in1995, is a professional concert band com-posed of music teachers and business peo-ple from the El Paso area. The basic sea-son for the El Paso Wind Symphony con-sists of 5 concerts. These performancesinclude a Holiday concert along with other“theme” concerts at UTEP’s Fox Fine ArtsRecital Hall. They also perform at theChamizal each July 4. The 2013-2014 sea-son to be announced. Mailing address isP.O. Box 22038, El Paso, TX 79913.Information: 760-5599 or elpasowindsym-phony.com.

El Paso Youth BalletThe ballet is the resident company of El

Paso Conservatory of Dance, directed byMarta Katz. The ballet is open to interme-diate and advanced dancers ages 11-21.The conservatory is at 1060 DoniphanPark Circle Ste H, El Paso, Texas 79922.Performances are at UTEP’s MagoffinAuditorium. Tickets are $10, $15 and $20



Guide to PerformingArts Organizations

for “Cinderella” and $15, $20 and$25 for“The Nutcracker.” Information: 760-6062or elpasoconservatoryofdance.org. • Cinderella, Oct. 25-27• The Nutcracker, Dec. 19-20.

Gilbert and SullivanCompany of El Paso

The Gilbert and Sullivan Company of ElPaso (G&S) was founded in late 1969 byits first artistic director, the late JoanQuarm. The company is committed to pro-ducing and presenting the operettas of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan and otherallied endeavors to the general public. Artistic Director is Stephanie J. Conwell.

Mailing address is 10132 Cork El Paso,TX 79925. Information: 591-6210, 584-9319 or GandSelpaso.org.

Performances are held each summer in ElPaso and Las Cruces.

Kids-N-Co.Kids-N-Co. is a non-profit organization

that provides a quality theater experienceand hands-on theatrical training to areayouth. Camps and classes are offered for 5to 21-year-olds. Five mainstage plays arepresented each season by teenagers andadults. Mailing address is P.O. Box971333, El Paso, TX 79997. Information:351-1455, kidsnco.org [email protected].

Performances are at Kids-N-Co.Education and Performance Center, 1301Texas and the Chamizal NationalMemorial. Season and ticket informationto be announced.

JSEnterprises, ELPJSEnterprises presents its Inaugural

Season of recitals and concerts focused onthe classical, vocal arts. Information:[email protected].

The season begins with Viva Verdi! abilingual and multi-media Lecture/Recitalcentered on the illustrious life and careerof opera composer Giuseppe Verdi Oct. 20at First Christian Church, 901 Arizona.Admission is free.

Future concerts will include PopularSongs of Yesteryear and Solo Voice & theString Quartet. Dates and locations to beannounced.

Lola Productions, Inc.For over 13 years, Lola Productions has

been committed to the arts and culture inEl Paso by presenting internationallyrenowned theatrical and musical stage pro-ductions ranging from jazz and off-Broadway, to family-oriented stage extrav-aganzas and speakers. Lola Productions isthe presenting company of JuanitaVasquez. Information: [email protected].

Season and ticket information to beannounced.

Music Forum El PasoMusic Forum El Paso begins it 25th sea-

son this year and is a non-profit presenterof free concerts. Its mission is to promoteclassical music and musicians in thegreater El Paso area through performances,educational outreach and fundraising

efforts. Information: musicforum-elpaso.org. Performances are at El PasoMuseum of Art. Admission is free, butmemberships for supporters available start-ing at $15. Season to be announced.

Showtime! El PasoFormerly El Paso Community Concerts,

the organization began in 1934 as part ofthe nationwide Community Concerts net-work. The El Paso association renameditself in 2003 but remains a non-profitorganization dedicated to the foundingprinciples of Community Concerts, provid-ing a variety of top-class entertainment ata very affordable season subscription rate.

Mailing address is P.O. Box 3797, ElPaso TX 79923. Information: 544-2022 orshowtimeelpaso.com

2013-2014 Season• Sept. 19: Abbey Road• Oct. 24: Back to the Future• Dec. 5: The Gothard Sisters• Jan. 23: Jesse Lynch Jazz 101• Feb. 20: Umi Garrett• March 28: The TokensAll performances are at the Abraham

Chavez Theatre, 1 Civic Center Plaza.Season tickets are $85 ($35 youth and stu-dent). Family season packages are $205.Parking passes are $25 (covers all fiveshows). Individual tickets to beannounced.

UTEP Dinner TheatreThe University of Texas at El Paso

Dinner Theatre, originally called the UnionDinner Theatre, started in 1983 when cur-rent dinner theatre director Gregory Taylorwas a graduate student at the university.

The Theatre’s Union Ballroom is at 207Union West, El Paso, TX 79968-0552 (onthe UTEP campus). Information: 747-6060, utep.edu/udt, [email protected].

2013-2014 Season: • Oct. 18-Nov. 3: 9 to 5 The Musical• Jan. 31-Feb. 15: Smokey Joe’s Cafe• April 25-May 17: Les Miserables• July 11-26: ChessAll performances are at the Union

Ballroom. Tickets: $30-$45 for dinnershows; $16-$26 non-dinner matinee.Tickets available at the University TicketCenter: 747-5234 or utep.edu/tickets.

UTEP Department ofMusic

The UTEP Department of Music is locat-ed in the Fox Fine Arts Center, which con-tains a 485-seat Recital Hall. The adjoin-ing 1,200-seat Magoffin Auditorium hous-es the department’s opera, ballet and largemusic ensemble productions. Ensemblesinclude: UTEP Ballet, The Jazz LabEnsemble, Marching Miners andSymphonic Band, Wind Ensemble,Chorale, Chorus and Jazz Singers.Department Chair is Lowell Graham.

The department is located Fox Fine ArtsCenter, Room M301, 500 West UniversityAve, El Paso, Texas 79968-0552.Information: 747-5606, [email protected] music.utep.edu.

Performances are at UTEP’s Fox FineArts Recital Hall and MagoffinAuditorium. Season and ticket informationto be announced.



Carol McNeal

The cornerstone of live entertainmentacross all major cities in America is aBroadway series. But why doesBroadway work? And why has theBroadway in El Paso series presented byEl Paso Electric become so popular?

The simplest answer is that throughouthistory people have demonstrated astrong interest in musical entertainmentand New York City, specificallyBroadway Avenue, responded to thatinterest. As more and more musicalswere developed in New York, peoplefrom all over the continent flocked to theBroadway theatres, but not everyonecould afford the expense of a trip to NewYork City, hotel accommodations,expensive theatre tickets and all the inci-dental expenses involved in such a trip.

Today in El Paso we are fortunate tobenefit from the forward-thinking entre-preneurs who worked with Broadwayproducers in New York to make it possi-ble to bring the Great White Way to ourcity. But it wasn’t an easy task they pur-sued and while years of experience andthe resulting knowledge have now easedthe process, it remains an awesomeundertaking. Venue planning begins totake place two years in advance in mostcases, and for bigger shows, an earlierstart is required. All shows have to bespecially redesigned to travel, auditionsfor touring talent have to be conducted,agreement with venues throughout thecountry have to be considered, every sethas to be constructed to fit into a tractor-trailer and, in many cases, the on-siteconstruction process must be completedin seven or eight hours. Travel for thecasts and crew is a test of theirendurance because many shows rest in acity for only one or two nights. Localcrews report to work in the very earlymorning hours and often work aroundthe clock to prepare and restore the the-atre for Broadway productions.

So by now you are probably thinkingthat there are a lot of obstacles to pro-ducing Broadway touring shows and thatis certainly a valid thought. So whybother, you might be asking. Broadwaymusicals, even those with trusty, oldfamiliar titles continue to be in very highdemand in our country and across theworld. We like to see stories, old andnew, unfold. We like to hear familiarshow music and we embrace the oppor-tunity to see Broadway shows in ourhometown.

Broadway subscribers in El Paso canenjoy the same coveted seats year afteryear, they are offered the opportunity topurchase their season tickets over a peri-od of time each year, they have theopportunity to become familiar withother subscribers and, best of all, when ashow is added onto the series, sub-scribers are offered a chance to purchasetickets prior to any public sales.

Broadway in El Paso has evolved fromits early roots in El Paso to today’s pres-entation of longer-running professional

equity shows like “Mamma Mia,”“WICKED” and “Jersey Boys”. Thisevolution has taken place because ofstrong support and demand provided byBroadway audiences in El Paso.

The 2013-2014 Broadway in El Pasoseries will offer El Pasoans musicalopportunities for everyone. “Straight NoChaser” (Oct. 27) returns to our city as aresponse to amazing feedback from theEl Paso audience that saw their show lastyear. And just a week later, the unforget-table “Million Dollar Quartet” (Nov. 3),Tony Award-winning story of ElvisPresley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewisand Carl Perkins performing red-hotrock ‘n’ roll in a Nashville recording stu-dio for one and only one night offers theaudience a peek into the lives of fouramazingly talented performing artists.

The highly acclaimed smash Broadwayhit, “Green Day’s American Idiot” (Dec.9) comes to us directly from Broadwayand is based on Green Day’s GrammyAward-winning, multi-platinum albumfeaturing hits like “Boulevard of BrokenDreams,” the show “takes the Americanmusical where it’s never gone before.”

“Bring It On: The Musical” (March 17)will offer colorful characters, freshsounds and explosive dance with aerialstunts that is described as “bitingly rele-vant.” Friendship, forgiveness and deter-mination are highlighted in the “Bring ItOn: The Musical” journey.

Described as “the worldwide partymusical,” “Rock of Ages” (April 22) is afive-time Tony Award winner (2009) thatoffers audiences an “awesomely goodtime about dreaming big, playing loudand partying on!” The show features thegreatest of the great ’80s music.And finally, blockbuster “Jersey Boys”

(May 28 – June 1, 8 shows) loads intothe Plaza Theatre for the first time. ATony winner for Best Musical (2006),Jersey Boys has stolen the hearts ofaudiences throughout the world. This isa “don’t miss’ show for all theatre fans.

Excitement is building for Broadway inEl Paso and it’s due to the phenomenalsupport of local audiences that thesegreat and current shows have agreed toperform on our beautiful Plaza Theatrestage. The future is bright and continueddemand and support will ensure that theseries will continue to grow and prosperwhile attracting the biggest and best ofBroadway with attractive and reasonablepricing.

Why Broadway? Because we ElPasoans, like others throughout theworld, simply love it!

Carol McNeal is Director, Facilities

Sales and Marketing, EPCPAC

Broadway in El Paso is annual hit series

Straight No Chaser performs Oct. 27


UTEP Department ofTheatre and Dance

Each season, the department, hosts avariety of popular and original plays thathighlight the many talents of the universi-ty’s students and faculty. Department chairis Dr. Joel Murray.

This year, the department will help UTEPcelebrate its 100th anniversary with a“Countdown to the Centennial “ season

Mailing address is 500 West UniversityAve., Fox D 371, El Paso, TX 79968.Information: 747-5146 or utep.edu/theatre

2013-2014 Season• Sept. 25-29: Living Out• Oct. 25-Nov. 3: The Scarlet Letter• Dec. 15-21: A Christmas Carol• Feb. 7-16: The Tale of Pobrero ElCampesino• March 21-30: The Arabian Nights• April 25-May 4: Here We Almost AreAll performances are at UTEP’s Fox Fine

Arts Wise Family Theatre or StudioTheatre. Tickets: $13 ($11 seniors, mili-tary, group, UTEP alumni and non-UTEPstudents; $9 UTEP students; ages 4-12)Theatre box office: 747-5118.

Southern New Mexico

American SouthwestTheatre Company

Formed in 1984 by Tony Award winningplaywright Mark Medoff and Dr. BruceStreet, American Southwest TheatreCompany is a company of theatre profes-sionals and guest artists that work along-side NMSU’s Department of Theatre Arts.Department Head is Tom Smith.

Mailing address is Box 30001, Dept.3072, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001.Information: (575) 646-4515, 1-800-525-ASTC or theatre.nmsu.edu/astc

2013-2014 Season: • Sept. 27-Oct. 6: Red• Nov. 1: James and the Giant Peach• Nov. 22-Dec. 8: A Christmas Carol• Feb. 21-March 9: Aunt Raimi• April 18-May 4: The MisanthropeAll performances are the NMSU Center

for the Arts, 1000 E. University Avenue inLas Cruces. Tickets: $17 ($14 seniors 65and older and NMSU faculty/staff; $10students 3-17 and NMSU students; $5 highschool students). Tickets: $10. Seasonpackages available.

Doña Ana Arts Counciland Rio Grande Theatre

Doña Ana Arts Council, Inc. (DAAC) isa non-profit organization working toimprove the quality of life in Las Crucesand Southern New Mexico through theperforming, visual and literary arts.

Mailing address is P.O. Box 1721, LasCruces, NM 88004. Information: (575)523-6403, [email protected] or [email protected] or riograndetheatre.com

2013-2014 Performance Series:• Sept. 21: A Salute to Sun Records• Nov. 23: Blue Corn, The Journey• Dec. 7: Santa Fe Opera Holiday Show• Feb. 2: Cirque Montage• May 2: AJ CroceAll performances at the Rio Grande

Theatre, 211 N. Downtown Mall in LasCruces, N.M. Prices vary depending on

event. Every Other Tuesday performancesare free. Ticket information: (575) 523-6403.

Flickinger Center forPerforming Arts

The Flickinger Center, which celebratesits 25th anniversary this year, was createdto offer area communities a place to enjoyworld-class entertainment, from local tal-ent to performers from around the world.The center’s summer Tailgate Series bringlive music to the Alamogordo Museum ofSpace History.

The center is at 111 New York Ave. inAlamogordo, NM 88310. Information:(575) 437-2202 or flickingercenter.com.

2013-2014 Premiere Series:• Sept. 17: Solas• Oct. 22: Ring of Fire• Nov. 23: My Sinatra• Dec. 17: Mariachi Christmas• Jan. 17: Cirque Montage• March 8: Vocaldente• March 20: Letters Home• April 1: Rave On• May 6: Wild Women of Song

Season tickets are $115-$251. Individualsshow tickets vary.

Grant County CommunityConcert Association

Mailing address is P.O. Box 2722, SilverCity, NM 88062. Information: (575) 538-5862, [email protected] orgcconcerts.org.

2013-2014 Season:• Oct. 15: The Diamonds• Nov. 6: Anthony Kearns• Jan. 24: Jesse Lunch Jazz 101• Feb. 22: Umi Garrett• April 3: Pavlo and His Band• April 24: (season extra); MidoriAll performances are at WNMU’s FineArts Center in Silver City, N.M. Individualtickets: $20 ($5 students 17 and younger).Season packages are $45.

Las Cruces Civic ConcertAssociation

Established by Las Crucens in 1945, thenon-profit, all volunteer presents nationaland international musical events, and hasbeen entertaining Las Cruces for morethan years. Mailing address is P.O. Box16112, Las Cruces, NM 88004Information: (575) 521-4051Venue: Rio Grande Theatre, 211 N.Downtown Mall,

2013-2014 Season• Sept. 22: Yang and Olivia Liu• Nov. 19: RichterUzer• Feb. 20: Laurie RubinAll performances are in the Rio Grande

Theatre, 211 N. Downtown Mall in LasCruces. Individual show tickets: $20; sea-son tickets: $55.

Las Cruces CommunityTheatre

Now in their 51st season, the theatre wasfounded in 1963 by New Mexico StateUniversity graduate student MichaelCoquat. The theatre has performed in itscurrent location in the Las Cruces



UTEP’s Department of Theatre andDance is helping to celebrate the univer-sity’s 100th birthday with theirCountdown to the Centennial Season for2013/2014.

Development Director AdrianaDominguez said they feel every fortu-nate every year to have an annual danceconcert highlighting their department’sgrowing and very talented dance pro-gram with “The Tale of Pobrero ElCampesino,” will be a featured perform-ance celebrating UTEP’s Centennial Feb.7-16, 2014 in the Fox Fine Arts WiseFamily Theatre.

This performance of original choreog-raphy is inspired by Stravinsky’s“Pestruska,” Gershwin’s “ThreePreludes,” and UTEP’s close relationshipwith the Kingdom of Bhutan. The titlepiece is billed as a “new ballet of politicsand love in revolutionary Mexico that’sbased on ballet’s beloved puppet,Petrushka.” In addition, a new dance,“The Call of the Raven,” is based on theprinciples of the pre-Buddhist religion ofBon still practiced in Bhutan.

“Through ‘The Tale of Pobrero ElCampesino,’ we are able to spotlight ourextremely gifted dance faculty while tak-ing the audience through a cultural andhistorical (with many liberties) journeythat celebrates 100 years of UTEPthrough the stunning art of dance,”Dominguez said.

Other performances at the Wise FamilyTheatre this season feature guest per-formers, new looks at timeless classicsand performances that have become afamily tradition with “The ScarletLetter,” “A Christmas Carol” and “TheArabian Nights.”

The department’s adaptation ofNathaniel Hawthorne’s “The ScarletLetter” by Phyllis Nagy is Oct. 25-Nov.3 and takes acontemporaryslant as it fea-tures an adultPearl, Hester’sillegitimatedaughter, asnarrator of theplay. The roleof Hester willbe played byprofessionalactress KathrynSmith-McGlynn, who has guest-starredin shows such as “Friday Night Lights”and “In Plain Sight.”

“A Christmas Carol,”the tale ofEbenezer Scrooge’s journey of joy andrevelation, has become a UTEP holidaytradition, with this year’s performancesset for Dec. 15-21. Based on CharlesDickens’s story, this elaborate produc-tion has been adapted for stage by ChuckGordon.

In the spring is Mary Zimmerman’sadaptation of “The Arabian Nights”March 21-30. The story ofScheherazade’s endeavor to save herown life through strategic storytellingand prolonged endings over the courseof 1,001 nights will include a mixture of

both familiar and “not-so-familiar”fables.

Studio Theatre productions include theseason-opener “Living Out,” a look at“undocumented immigrants who enterthe United States everyday in order toseek better lives for them and their fami-lies.” The story, to be performed Sept.25-29, is of one such immigrant and thewoman who hires her as a nanny.According to the play’s description dif-

ferences in race, class and status keepthe women from truly knowing eachother, although they are similar in someways. Both women must also “make dif-ficult decisions while realizing that sacri-fices may come at a greater price.”

The spring Studio Theatre productionand season finale is the world premier ofan original play written and directed byDepartment Chairman Joel Murray.“Here We Almost Are,” is set for April25-May 4 and takes a look at those long-ing to return to the turbulent times of the1960s. Two aging divorced “hippiewannabes,” who are broken down on adeserted logging road on their way toYasgur’s farm (home of the iconic 1969Woodstock Festival), find a piano has“simply appeared” on the roof of theirairstream trailer.

“This sets off a bizarre night of every-thing from rattlesnake bites to psyche-delic drug trips to a sexually frustratedserial killer with a tree branch for a leg,”the play’s synopsis reads. “Against thisbackdrop of craziness, the couple des-perately tries to rekindle the spirit of the’60s in order to revive their long-goneromance and discover why they havebeen put on this earth.”

In addition to this season’s dynamicofferings, Dominguez said the depart-ment will continue to grow and surpriseaudience as the university enters its sec-ond century.

“The Department continues to strive tobe student-centered to develop students’original voices,” she said. “We plan tocontinue to provide our students with anationally and internationally competi-tive education.”

With both student and audience devel-opment in mind, the department is readyto take on the future.

“Through diverse and innovative pro-ductions and opportunities, the UTEPDepartment of Theatre and Dance hopesto continue serving the talented studentsof UTEP and engaging the Paso DelNorte community for the next 100years,” Dominguez said.

Showtime for most performances is 8p.m. with Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m.

Ticket prices for all shows $13; $11 fornon-UTEP students and groups of 10 ormore, UTEP Faculty/Staff, seniors andmilitary; $9 UTEP alumni with card,UTEP students and children age 4-12.There will also be additional buy-one-get-one-free ticket specials offeredthroughout the season including UTEPAlumni Night, UTEP Faculty and StaffNight, Military Night and El Paso CityEmployee Night. For information, call747-5118 or visit theatredance.utep.edu.

UTEP Theatre & Dance begins

Countdown to the Centennial

Smith-McGlynn


Downtown Mall since 1977, and is an all-volunteer non-profit organization. The the-atre is at 313 Downtown Mall in LasCruces. Mailing address is P.O. Box 1281,Las Cruces, NM 88004-1281.

2013-2014 Season• Aug. 2-18: Dames at Sea• Oct. 4-20: The School of Lies• Dec. 6-22: Come Blow Your Horn• Jan. 31-Feb. 16: The Foreigner• March 28-April 13: The Lion In Winter• April 24-27: One Act Play Festival• June 6-22: Ruthless! The Musical

Season tickets $50 for adults and $45 forseniors, military and students. Individualshow tickets are $10 for adults, $9 for sen-iors, military and students, $8 each forgroups of ten or more and $7 for childrenunder age 6.

Las Cruces SymphonyOrchestra

The Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra atNew Mexico State University, under thedirection of Maestro Lonnie Klein, offersclassical, pops concerts, youth/family con-certs and a Chamber Orchestra concert.

Mailing address is P.O. Box 1622LasCruces, NM 88004. Information: (575)646-3709, [email protected] or lascrucessymphony.com.

2013-2014 Season• Sept. 28-29: Eric Ruske, horn• Oct. 27-28: Philippe Quint, violin• Nov. 14: Youth Concert• Dec. 7-8: Ilya Yakuskev, piano• Jan. 17-19: Irving Berlin’s “Annie GetYour Gun”• Feb. 8-9: Amit Peled, cello• April 5-6: Ryan Anthony, trumpet• May 3-4: Janet Sung, violin

Performances are at New Mexico StateUniversity Atkinson Recital Hall, 1075 N.Horseshoe; and the Las Cruces ConventionCenter, 680 E. University in Las Cruces.Season tickets are $165-$240; $35, $40and $45 for individual Classics Series con-certs; $35, $45 and $55 for “Annie GetYour Gun.”

Mimbres Region ArtsCouncil

The Mimbres Region Arts Council justcompleted its 34th year and has been ratedthe No. 1 Local Arts Council in NewMexico by New Mexico Arts multipletimes. Offices are at 1201 Pope Street,Silver City, N.M. Mailing address is POBox 1830, Silver City, NM 88062.Information: (575) 538-2505, [email protected] or mimbresarts.org

Season:• Sept. 13-15: Pickamania• Oct. 25: Las Cruces SymphonyOrchestra, presented with GCCCA• Nov. 8: Golden Dragon Acrobats• Memorial Day weekend: Silver CityBlues FestivalFolk Series:• Oct. 18: Kris Delmhorst and JeffreyFoucoult• Jan 17: Mike + Ruthy• March 7: Red Molly• March 21: Terri Hendrix

Performance series shows are at WNMUFine Arts Center in Silver City; FolkSeries are at the Buckhorn Saloon in PinosAltos. Folk Series and Performance Series

tickets are $20 ($15 MRAC members);Blues festival and Pickamania! perform-ances are free.

NMSU Department ofMusic

The New Mexico State UniversityDepartment of Music was established asan independent department in 1962. Inaddition to its many vocal and instrumen-tal ensembles, the Atkinson Music RecitalHall is also home to Las CrucesSymphony Orchestra, Dona Ana LyricOpera, Mesilla Valley Concert Band andNew Horizons Orchestra.

Performances are at the NMSU AtkinsonMusic Recital Hall in Las Cruces.Information: (575) 646-2421 ornmsu.edu/~music/. Season schedule to beannounced.

No Strings TheatreCompany

No String Theatre Company is a commu-nity-based non-profit organization dedicat-ed to expanding theater horizons in LasCruces. Artistic Director is Ceil Herman.

Mailing address is 430 N. DowntownMall in Las Cruces, 88001. Information:(575) 523-1223, no-strings.org [email protected]

2013-2014 Season• Aug. 23-Sept. 8: Greater Tuna• Oct. 11-27: Heroes• Nov. 29-Dec. 15: Nora• Jan. 24-Feb. 16: Romance/Romance• March 14-30: The Women of Lockerbie• April 25-May 11: MurderersPerformances are at the Black BoxTheatre, 430 N. Downtown Mall in LasCruces. Individual show tickets are.Tickets: $12 ($10 students and seniorsover 65). Season packages available.Reservations: (575) 523-1223 or no-strings.org.

Spencer Theater for thePerforming Arts

The Spencer Theater for Performing Artsopened in 1997, creating a year roundvenue for a variety of world-class perform-ances. The theater is at 108 Spencer Road,Airport Highway 220 in Alto, NM 88312Information: (888) 818-7872 or (575) 336-4800 or spencertheater.com

2013-2014 Fall/Winter/Spring Season:• Oct. 2: Gypsy Romance• Oct.18: Thriller• Nov. 16: Broadway Revisited • Nov. 29: Jim Curry’s Tribute to JohnDenver• Dec. 14: Three Redneck Tenors• Dec. 21-22: Ruidoso Dance Ensemblepresents The Nutcracker• Jan. 21: Man of La Mancha• Feb. 14: The Fantasticks• Feb. 23: Glenn Miller Orchestra• March 2: Hair• March 15: Ruidoso Dance Ensemblepresents The Firebird and Rodeo• March 22: Bella Electric Strings• March 31: Westside Story• April 19: Hank and My Honky TonkHeroes• May 3: Gary Lewis and The Playboys

2014 summer season to be announced.Individual ticket prices vary. Season tick-

et packages available.


By Rosemary Flores, EPSO

After a two-year search, the El PasoSymphony Orchestra has a newMusic Director, Bohuslav Rattay.

A native of the Czech Republic, 41-year-old Bohuslav Rattay is a busy ambassa-dor for classical music, working withorchestras across the globe to producesymphonic works of all kinds to a diverseaudience. Our newly appointed MusicDirector also serves as Music Director forthe Midland Symphony Orchestra and theLake Charles Symphony Orchestra.Bohuslav combines impassioned and vir-tuosic musicianship with a determinationto bring great music into the lives of allpeople. He brings to El Paso 31 years ofmusical training that began with playingthe bassoon at age 10, he studied at thePrague Conservatory for six years, playedin an orchestra for 15 years, and holdsdegrees from Rice University in Houstonand the Peabody Institute of Music inBalitmore. He is also a pretty good bari-tone singer! He made a living by singingwhen he first moved to the United Statesin 1993.

Bohuslav was born into a musical fami-ly in Prague. His father played trombone,his grandfather played violin and hisuncle is a concert cellist and a member ofa famous string quartet. Bohuslav knowsmusic but he also loves to cook, sail, hike,ride his motorcycle and travel.

Bohuslav made his first appearance asofficial music director at the free 4th ofJuly concert at Biggs Field in front of acrowd of over 12,000, many of whomwere the brave men and women whoproudly serve our country. He spent sev-eral weeks in El Paso over the summerplanning a tremendous season for us,which includes collaborations with the ElPaso Museum of Art, the University ofTexas at El Paso and El Paso Pro-Musica,and house hunting.

Bohuslav returned to El Paso in mid-August to move into his new home, getacclimated to his new surroundings, andprepare for the El Paso Symphony’s2013-2014 season, which opens at 7:30p.m. Sept. 20 and 21 at the Plaza Theatrewith pianist Vadym Kholodenko, the2013 Gold Medal Winner of the VanCliburn International Piano Competition,performing Tchaikovsky’s PianoConcerto No. 1. Appropriately titled“Heart of Gold” this concert also fea-tures another Tchaikovsky favorite,Symphony No. 6 “Pathétique.”

On October 18-19, Bohuslav andMichael Tomor, director of the El PasoMuseum of Art, will team up for a pre-concert discussion on “AmericanModern, Art & Music” at 6:30 p.m. atthe El Paso Museum of Art. The sym-phony concerts will follow at 7:30 p.m.at the Plaza Theatre with music byAmerican composers Barber (ViolinConcert featuring Giora Schmidt) andHoward Hanson (Symphony No. 2“Romantic”).

In November, Bohuslav brings us “LaDanza Clasica,” featuring bandoneon

player Peter Soave performingPiazzolla’s Concerto for Bandoneon andOrchestra, Aconcagua with its distinctivetango rhythms. The Nov. 22-23 programalso includes Mendelssohn’s SymphonyNo. 4 “Italian,” which incorporatessaltarello — a leaping Italian folk dance— and elements of a tarantella, a devil-ishly fast dance from southern Italy.

El Paso Pro-Musica’s music directorand concert cellist Zuill Bailey will joinBohuslav and the symphony on the stageJanuary 24-25 for the 9th annual collab-oration between the El Paso SymphonyOrchestra and El Paso Pro-Musica’sChamber Music Festival. After 15 years, the El Paso Symphony

Orchestra will again perform Carl Orff’spopular choral work Carmina BuranaFebruary 21-22. This will be the firsttime, though, it will be performed on thePlaza Theatre stage. Considered a spec-tacle, the Symphony will be joined byUTEP’s Choral Union and ConcertChorale, Dr. Elisa Fraser Wilson, as con-ductor plus outstanding guest singersfrom the El Paso/Juarez region.

Bohuslav has plans to “Raise the Roof”for the season finale April 25-26, whichfeatures timpanist Andrew Spencer per-forming Grammy Award-winning com-poser Michael Daugherty’s “Raise theRoof.” Daugherty is an American com-poser, pianist and teacher. He is influ-enced by popular culture, Romanticism,and Postmodernism, and is one of themost widely performed American con-cert music composers of his generation.Daugherty’s notable works include hisSuperman comic book-inspiredMetropolis Symphony for Orchestra.

Bohuslav Rattay has planned an ambi-tious season is ready to lead EPSO andEl Paso’s growing arts community confi-dently into a promising future. We hopeyou will join us for his freshman season!For a complete listing of the El PasoSymphony’s 2013-2014 season andinformation visit our website atwww.epso.org or call us at (915) 532-3776.

Rosemary Flores is Operations Managerfor the El Paso Symphony Orchestra.

EPSO opens seasonwith new conductor

Bohuslav Rattay



Documents

El Paso Scene 2013-2014 Performing Arts Guide