She danced her way into our hearts in the arms of Fred Astaire, setting the standard for grace and elegance on the silver screen. In her surprising true-life story, Arizona Theatre Company’s production, “Backwards In High Heels: The Ginger Musical,” follows Ginger Rogers from the vaudeville stage at the age of 15 through her ascension to Hollywood goddess. The production includes show-stopping dance numbers, great songs and music by George Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Jerome Kern.

    Performances run Oct. 7-24 at the Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe. Tickets start at $35. For more information, call 602-256-6995 or visit www.arizonatheatre.org.

 

‘The Music Man’
Phoenix Symphony
with Phoenix Theatre
Sept. 10-12
Symphony Hall
225 E. Adams St.
602-495-1999
www.phoenixsymphony.org
    The Phoenix Symphony will perform a semi-staged extravaganza of the  musical in collaboration with Phoenix Theatre. Performances are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $18. A shortened version will take place at Symphony Hall at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11 as part of the Target Family series; tickets start at $10.

‘Noises Off’
Through Sept. 12
Phoenix Theatre
100 E. McDowell Road
602-254-2151
    Pushing farce as far as it can go, Noises Off follows the onstage and backstage antics of a fifth-rate acting troupe touring in a new, horribly written sex comedy called Nothing On. Tickets are $46.50-$61.50 each.
 
‘Ballet Under the Stars’
Ballet Arizona
7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25
Steele Indian School Park
3rd St. and Indian School Road
    Ballet Arizona presents its 13th annual series of free park performances. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy a varied program, ranging from classical to contemporary. You won’t want to miss this show that is perfect for the entire family—it is a great way to introduce ballet to your children for the first time.

‘Music for Survival’
Phoenix Chamber Music Society
6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25
Camelback Bible Church
3900 E. Stanford Drive
602-252-0095
www.phoenixchambermusicsociety.org
    A benefit concert for Komen for the Cure featuring the Lafayette String Quartet and cellist Tanya Prochazka. The Lafayette Quartet cellist is a breast cancer survivor and Prochazka is an ovarian cancer survivor. They will perform a full concert and discuss the healing properties of music. Tickets are $25 each, or $10 for cancer survivors.

Herberger Festival
of the Arts
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2
Herberger Theater Center
222 E. Monroe
602-254-7399, ext. 105
www.herbergertheater.org
    The event will feature performances in all three theaters, live music, food, interactive activities for kids, film festival shorts and more.Tickets are $5 for adults and free for children ages 12 and under and will be available for purchase on site.

‘Fences’
Black Theatre Troupe
Oct. 1-10
Playhouse in the Park, The Viad Tower
1850 N. Central Ave.
602 254-2151, ext. 4
www.blacktheatretroupe.org
    This is the story of Troy Maxson, a former star of the Negro baseball leagues who works as a garbage man in 1957 Pittsburgh. Excluded by segregation from the major leagues during his prime, Troy’s bitterness takes its toll on his relationships with both his wife and son who now wants his own chance to play.

‘Pinkalicious, the Musical’
Oct. 1-17
Valley Youth Theatre
525 N. 1st St.
602-253-8188, ext. 2
www.vyt.com
    A story about a little girl whose love for all things pink gets out of control when she turns pink herself. Only Pinkalicious can figure out a way out of this predicament; this tale shows that being yourself is best of all. Performances take place Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are $20 all seats.