Tempe This Week: The John Proulx Quartet at the Tempe Center for the Arts

05/22/2012 By Leave a Comment

Jazz lovers take note: this is your chance to see and hear one of the hottest new jazz pianists on the West Coast, John Proulx (pronounced Prue), at the Tempe Center for the Arts this Friday, May 25. John sings in a style reminiscent of the smooth, mellow sounds of a young Chet Baker. His most recent album, titled Baker’s Dozen, is retrospective on Baker.

An accomplished composer, John co-wrote “These Golden Years,” with lyricist D. Channsin Berry. The song was recorded by jazz legend, Nancy Wilson on her Grammy-winning CD, Turned to Blue. Jazz singer, Mary Stallings, recorded “Stuck in a Dream”, a tune John co-wrote with lyricist K. Lawrence Dunham, on her 2005 release, Remember Love.

In addition to performing with his own band, which features some of the top session musicians in Los Angeles, John has performed with such jazz greats as Anita O’Day, Natalie Cole and Marian McPhartland. He recently returned from a four-month gig at the prestigious Feinstein’s at the Loews Regency hotel in Manhattan.

You’ll find many more arts, culture and entertainment events happening in Tempe this week. Here’s a sample. View a complete listing of Tempe events or call 480-894-8158 for more information.

 

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Tempe This Week – LA CAGE AUX FOLLES at ASU Gammage

05/14/2012 By Leave a Comment

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, winner of three Tony awards including Best Musical in 2010, comes to ASU Gammage this week. This fun and breezy show stars the perpetually tan and always charming George Hamilton as Georges, the owner of a glitzy nightclub in lovely Saint-Tropez. When Georges’ son brings his fiancée’s conservative parents’ home to meet his two flashy dads, the bonds of family are tested and the feather boas fly!

La Cage has delighted many audiences in different incarnations and locations for almost 40 years. The original play by French Jean Poiret premiered in France in 1973 and was adapted to a popular French film in 1979. Most of us will recognize it as The Bird Cage, the hilarious 1996 American movie version that featured Robin Williams, Nathan Lane and Gene Hackman. I’ve seen the French and U.S movie versions and found both to be equally funny and thoroughly enjoyable. I’m really looking forward to seeing the Tony award-winning incarnation at ASU Gammage.

There are plenty more arts, culture and entertainment events Monday, May 14 through Sunday, May 20. View a complete listing of Tempe events, or call 480-894-8158 for more information.

 


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Tempe This Week – RAIN, A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES

05/07/2012 By Leave a Comment

There are some big names coming to Tempe this week starting with The Beatles. Beatle fans will experience a Fab Four frenzie when RAIN A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES comes to ASU Gammage, May10-12. Rain is a quartet of musicians who have captured to perfection the group’s look and sound. This multi-dimensional multimedia show includes loads of Beatles tunes along with historical footage and television commercials from the 1960s. It’s a groovy walk down Abbey Road memory lane that covers the group’s earliest beginnings through the psychedelic late 60.

The week ends on a funny note when Saturday Night Live alumnus Kevin Nealon performs at the Tempe Improv. He’s known for his SNL characters The Subliminal Man, Franz of Hans and Franz and the anchor of Weekend Update. He currently stars in Golden Globe nominated Showtime series, Weeds.

There are plenty more arts, culture and entertainment events Monday-Sunday, View a complete listing of Tempe events, or call 480-894-8158 for more information.

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Tempe This Week: Francine Reed

05/01/2012 By Leave a Comment

love my programs: Modern Family, Happy Endings, Revenge, Grimm, Desperate Housewives, to name a few of my faves. However this week’s line-up of arts and entertainment events is giving me mucho motivation to push away from the TV, get off the couch, set the DVR and head to Tempe for live theatre, music and comedy.

I’m totally jazzed that the great Francine Reed will be back in town this weekend performing during Songwriter’s Showcase VII at the Tempe Center for the Arts. She’ll join touring country singer Bob Villa, emerging artist Gary Marsh and local favorites Ryan Fremling and Chris Hosken for two nights of great live music on Friday and Saturday.

Francine is a long-time favorite in the Valley, where she used to live and perform solo and with her sister, Margo. She has also appeared with many top names such as such Miles Davis, Stanley Jordan, Smokey Robinson, Etta James and The Crusaders. During the 80′s Francine recorded and toured with Lyle Lovett and His Large Band. She has recorded numerous solo albums and has also appeared on recordings by Delbert McClinton, Willie Nelson and Roy Orbison.

I think you’ll agree that there are a lot of good reasons to turn-off the tube and enjoy some live entertainment. Here’s a sample.  View a complete listing of Tempe events, or call 480-894-8158 for more information.

 

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Tempe This Week – GREEN DAY’S AMERICAN IDIOT

04/23/2012 By Leave a Comment

Wow! Take a gander at this week’s arts/culture/entertainment line-up. It’s huge and includes GREEN DAY’S AMERICAN IDIOT at ASU Gammage, Jim Belushi at the Tempe Improv, the always popular Annual ASU Student Film Festival at the Harkins Valley Art Theater and Childsplay’s production of The Color of Stars at the Tempe Center for the Arts. This week it’s clearly a matter of having so many excellent choices and too precious little time. What a lovely dilemma!

And there are even more choices; view a complete listing of Tempe events, or call 480-894-8158 for more information.

 

 

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Tempe This Week – ASU Art Museum Opening Receptions and More!

04/17/2012 By Leave a Comment

Tempe’s arts, culture and entertainment scene is packed with exciting events this week, including live music, theatre, dance, comedy, poetry readings and art exhibits. The ASU Art Museum/Ceramics Research Center opens two new exhibitions; Childsplay opens The Color of Stars at the Tempe Center for the Arts and the ASU Lyric Opera Presents The Music Man, to name just a few. Plus there’s all kinds of live music in venues throughout Tempe. Read on and view a complete listing of Tempe events, or call 480-894-8158 for more information.

 

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Spring Training Fans: Take the FREE Trolley from Mill Ave. to Tempe Diablo Stadium

03/12/2012 By Leave a Comment

Angel Spring Training has begun!  Don’t stress over parking, traffic, or where to eat before or after the game- we’ve got you covered.  The Angels Baseball Spring Trolley will make your trip to Tempe Diablo Stadium quick and easy.  Here’s the kicker- it’s all FREE. Free parking, Free trolley, Stress Free.  What are you waiting for?

PARK FREE

Park at any of these designated ParkiT garages and lots*:

Hayden Station Garage – Located on 3rd Street just west of Mill Avenue
Centerpoint Surface Lot – Located on Maple, just south of 5th Street
City Hall Garage – Located on 5th Street and Forest Avenue, 2 blocks east of Mill

*Remember to take your parking ticket for validation at the Trolley stop

RIDE FREE

Catch the Trolley at the northwest corner of Mill Ave. & 5th St. (in front of Lotions & Potions).  Look for the Angels Spring Training Trolley sign.

On each game day, Trollies will pick-up every 20 minutes beginning at 11am until 30 minutes after the end of the game.  The Tempe Diablo Stadium trolley stop will be located at 52nd Street and Campus Dr.

BE STRESS FREE

Plan your day with room for some downtime in the Mill Avenue District.  We have over 100 restaurants, shops, bars, and entertainment venues to round out your leisurely day.  For a complete list of Mill Avenue District restaurants and shops visit MillAvenue.com.

Now sit back, relax, and enjoy your ride to Angels Spring Training. Play ball!

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What’s Happing in Tempe This Week – St. Patrick’s Day in Tempe

03/12/2012 By Leave a Comment

You can always count on Tempe to give St. Patrick’s Day its due and this year is no exception. Venues throughout Tempe will offer more Irish fun than you can shake your grandmother’s Shillelagh at. From Irish bands to bag pipers to Irish dancers, food and spirits, you’ll find it all right here. Of course it wouldn’t be St. Patrick’s Day without Flogging Molly’s big bash at Tempe Beach Park. They’ll be back with Tempe’s own Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers and other great bands. View a complete listing of Tempe events, or call 480-894-8158 for more information.

March 13: Open Jam, Rula Bula Irish Pub
March 14: Michael Powers Group, Dave’s Electric Brew Pub
March 14:  Walk-in Wednesdays Open Mic, Tempe Center for the Arts
March 14: Class Clowns;March 15: Ten for Ten, Tempe Improv
March 15: Third Thursday on Mill Third Thursday St. Patty’s Day Pooch Party and The Biffos, Mill Avenue District
March 15: Avant-Garden: Alaska, Desert Botanical Garden
March 15: Jeff Sullivan;March 16, The Sullivans, Rula Bula Irish Pub
March 15: North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference, Tempe Center for the Arts
March 16: Music in the Garden: The Hey Boyz, Desert Botanical Garden
March 16: Ghetto Cowgirl, Original Alternative Band, Tempe Marketplace District Stage
March 16: Tony Putrino; March 17: Mary Hoffman, Tempe Marketplace Barnes & Noble Fountain
March 16-17: St. Patrick’s Weekend Festival, Thirsty Lion Pub & Grill
March 17: ShamRocked St. Patty’s Day Block Party, Tempe Marketplace District Stage
March 17: Flogging Molly, Tempe Beach Park
March 17: Happy St. Patrick’s Day Music, Celtic dancers; Irish pipers, Rula Bula Irish Pub
March 17: Marble Ice Entertainment presents “Best of the Best,” Tempe Center for the Arts
March 17: Bully Mammoth, Tempe Center for the Arts
March 17-18: Gilbert Gottfried, Tempe Improv

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What’s Happening in Tempe this Week – WICKED Returns to ASU

02/15/2012 By Leave a Comment

WICKED is back by popular demand at ASU Gammage, February 15-March 11. The musical takes place before Dorothy from Kansas arrives in Oz.  It’s told from the perspective of the witches of the Land of Oz: Elphaba, the misunderstood girl with emerald-green skin, and Glinda, the beautiful, ambitious and popular blonde. The story follows the friendship that evolves between the two as they grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

Since opening in 2003, WICKED has won 35 major awards, including a Grammy and three Tony® Awards. The New York Times named WICKED the defining musical of the decade and Entertainment Weekly called it “the best musical of the decade.”   I saw WICKED when it was at ASU Gammage in 2009 and it exceeded my expectations 100 fold. I loved everything about it from the lush production to the beautiful music to its moving, but never maudlin message. In 2009 it broke box office records at ASU Gammage and sold out in record time. So, don’t wait to get your tickets or you might miss out.

The arts and entertainment scene in Tempe is wicked good in every way in the week ahead. Check out this line-up, get off your couch and enjoy some of what’s happening in Tempe this week.

 

 

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What’s Happening in Tempe This Week – The Tempe Improv

02/07/2012 By Leave a Comment

If laughter is the best medicine, then Tempe has a medicine chest full of cures this week at the Improv. On Wednesday, the Class Clowns Comedy Showcase will highlight the best in local talent. This popular event is a mix of seasoned comics who are well on their way and newbies to the stand-up scene. On Thursday, Shang will bring his political and explosive humor to the Improv’s stage. The week ends with Tommy Chong of Cheech and Chong fame teaming up with his wife Shelby to perform the type of humor that made them famous during their Cheech & Chong days. View a complete listing of Tempe events, or call 480-894-8158 for more information.

 

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