‘Pride and Prejudice’

staged at Xavier

The Xavier and Brophy Theatre Departments present “Pride and Prejudice,” by Jane Austen, Thursday, March 4, Friday, March 5, and Saturday, March 6, all at 7 p.m.  There will also be a matinee performance on Saturday, March 6 at 1:30 p.m.

Performances will be held in the Kemper and Ethel Marley Theatre in the Virginia G. Piper Performing Arts Center located on the Xavier campus, 4710 N. 5^th St. Tickets are available at the door; tickets may also be purchased by calling the Jackson Box Office at 602-240-3161. Tickets are $7 for all patrons. There will be general seating.

         This well-loved story takes place in 1813 England. Five daughters anxious to find five husbands learn about themselves, their family, others, and the debilitating nature of the ever-present pride and prejudice in their restrictive culture.

All of the 34 cast members are students who attend either Xavier College Preparatory or Brophy College Preparatory. Janice Robillard, Xavier College Preparatory drama teacher, will direct. Choreography will be created by Kristina Nagaran Ulrich, a former Xavier graduate and current artist in residence.

 

Graffiti, dance battles

at Phoenix College

Community members are invited to join Phoenix College students, faculty and staff to experience the urban hip hop culture of Phoenix at the Graffiti Up event, 1-8 p.m. Friday, March 5. Live graffiti battles, break dance battles and music will be showcased at the free event, which will take place at Phoenix College, 1202 W. Thomas Road. 

The event will launch with the graffiti battle starting at 1 p.m. as local graffiti artists Brandon Cruz, Gabriel Alvarado and Joseph Perez spray paint 8’ x 9’ graffiti murals on the mobile walls of the Eric Fischl Gallery at Phoenix College. PC alumnus Gabriel Zamora will also exhibit recent artwork in the side gallery. The graffiti battle will end at 6 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to judge the murals, and the winner will be announced.

The event will also include one-on-one and two-on-two break dance battles to live music by a local DJ. Break dance winners will be selected by three judges and attendees’ majority vote. Artists and dancers will receive a $100 cash award for being selected to participate in the event.

For more information about the Graffiti Up event at Phoenix College, contact Hernandez at 602-285-7283.

 

NNT stages classic

tale of obsessive love

Nearly Naked Theatre presents the World Premiere of a new adaptation: “PHÆDRE,” based on the play Phedre by Jean Baptiste Racine. Cursed by the goddess Aphrodite, Phædre, the dying queen of Athens, falls in love with her stepson, Hippolytus. Her love grows into a dangerously passionate obsession that will destroy fathers, sons and kingdoms with its fury. One of the most enduring and powerful stories of classical mythology, this production of “PHÆDRE” will switch between classical and modern language, and between ancient and modern eras. An obsessive love story recalling the poetry of Euripides and the violent energy of Fatal Attraction. For mature audiences only.

              “PHÆDRE” opens on Saturday, March 6 and runs Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 6 or 2 p.m. alternating, until Saturday, March 27. (Matinee on Sunday, March 14 at 2 p.m.) All performances are at The Little Theatre at Phoenix Theatre, 100 E. McDowell Road. General Admission tickets start at $25. For tickets, call Phoenix Theatre’s box office at 602-254-2151. For additional information go to www.nearlynakedtheatre.org.

 

Curves hosts food drive

to benefit local families

Curves is encouraging women in the local area to show their philanthropic strength by participating in the annual Curves Food Drive. And, even though donating food to families in need is its own reward, the clubs are offering compelling incentives for both existing and potential members who participate.

From March 1 to 31, Curves locations in the area will collect non-perishable items and monetary donations for food banks in the local area. The goal, according to Curves Founder Diane Heavin, is for the community to come together to help families in need. According to Heavin, members who donate a bag of groceries or make a minimum donation of $30 during the month of March will receive a reusable Curves grocery freezer bag for free.

Non-members who do likewise between March 8 and 20 can join Curves for free. Curves will waive the cost to join.

For more information about and the Curves Food Drive, contact: Marie Kennedy, Curves of Phoenix, 3031 E. Indian School Road, Ste. 16, 602-956-1010 or 9ZMHXZML@curvesmail.com; Trisha Greek, Curves of Phoenix, 1227 E. Northern Ave., 602-861-1500 or 97JHDPO@curvesmail.com; Shannon Todarello, 3636 N. Central Ave, Ste. 160, 602-222-4383 or curves3636@aol.com; or Keri Holloran, 5555 N. 7th St., #136, 602-274-4383 or kpcurves@cox.net.

 

‘The Hobbit’

on stage at VYT

Valley Youth Theatre presents “The Hobbit,” weekends from March 19 through April 4 at VYT’s theater in downtown Phoenix, 525 N. 1st St. (southeast corner of First and Fillmore streets). This production is a dramatized version of the book by J.R.R. Tolkien, author of the “Lord of the Rings books.” Before Frodo’s famous journey to destroy the Ring, Bilbo Baggins lived his own adventure with the legendary wizard Gandalf. Based on Tolkien’s story, Bilbo battles evil and danger in this prequel to the popular “Lord of the Rings” series.

Performance times are: Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 12 and 3 p.m., and Sundays at 12:30 and 4 p.m. Tickets are $18 per person, adults and children, and can be ordered through Valley Youth Theatre’s box office at 602-253-8188. For more information visit www.vyt.com.

 

Spring Fling set

for March 27

              The Sunnyslope Community Center and Tumbleweed/Safe Place present a free family event 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, March 27 at the center, 802 E. Vogel Ave.

              There will be flycasting and USTA tennis demonstrations, break dance and bumpout basketball competitions, carnival games and bouncy houses, arts and crafts activities, a children’s resource/health fair, food, and entertainment.

              In addition, there will be a Kids Candy Hunt, broken into the following age groups: 11:15 a.m., ages 3-5; 11:45 a.m., ages 6-8, and 12:15 p.m., ages 9-11. Bring your own baskets or bags to put the candy in.

              For more information on this free family event, call 602-262-6661.

 

Take full childbirth course in one weekend

If you are giving birth, fit your childbirth class into one weekend. This month’s class is presented from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 27, and noon to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, March 28. Class meets in the Birthing Center’s Education Room on 3-East at the John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital, 250 E. Dunlap Ave.

Space is limited, and preregistration and prepayment are required by calling 602-870-6300. Cost is $60 per couple.