Murder Ink Productions is bringing back its interactive mystery “Lights, Camera, Murder,” at Fazio’s Catering Hall, 700 W. Warner Rd., on Saturday, April 18.
The $45 admission includes the show and a three-course Italian buffet dinner. Tickets are available at www. fazioscateringhall.com. For discounts for groups of 20 or more, call (480) 9676800.
“Lights, Camera, Murder!” is set at the high school reunion of the fictitious Prickly Pear Prep’s class of 1968. The
murder-mystery begins when guests are greeted at the door by Senior Class President Georgie Gorgeous. Other classmates will be introduced throughout the evening with audience members asked to participate by playing specific characters. When a murder occurs, the audience will be given clues to solve the crime.
“Murder mysteries are so much fun because they let the audience get involved in the story line and become part of the show,” said Marney Austin,
executive producer of Murder Ink Productions.
Attendees are encouraged to dress in the era of the show. Participation in the interactive mystery is not required.
The next production, “Die Nasty in Dallas,” based on the popular 1980s television shows, “Dallas” and “Dynasty,” will be held Saturday, May 16.
Since 1989, Murder Ink Productions has been presenting stage shows and murder mysteries for corporations and private parties throughout Arizona. Other
‘My Name is Rumpelstiltskin’ set for the stage
Act One Youth Theater will present “My Name is Rumpelstiltskin,” which has been adapted and dramatized from the original story by The Brothers Grimm by Lauri Hunter Mershon.
The performances will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, May 8, and Saturday, May 9, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 10, at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale, 8250 E. Rose Ln., Scottsdale.
Act
Youth
Online ticket prices are $5 for kids, students and seniors and $8 for adults. Ticket prices at the door will be higher. Tickets can be purchased at http://
present
actoneyouththeater. org/shows.html.
That ill-tempered wizard, Rumpelstiltskin, is back in this adaptation. Griselda, a 400-year-old witch, tells Rumpelstiltskin that to become the most powerful force in the kingdom, he must possess a child of royal birth.
The wizard plots and schemes. He spreads the word that Laura, the miller’s daughter, can weave straw into gold. Because the kingdom is bankrupt, she’s whisked off to the palace and ordered to spin and spin.
With Rumpelstiltskin’s help she delivers the gold. However, she has a high fee to pay—her first-born child. When Laura marries the prince and produces an heir to the throne, she has 24 hours to guess the wizard’s name or lose her child.
For more information, call (480) 789-1918, email info@ActOneYouthTheater.org, or visit http://ActOneYouthTheater.org.
Act One Youth Theater is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has formed a partnership with, and uses the stage at The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale— Rose Lane Branch. Act One Youth Theater’s mission statement is “to provide all children the opportunity to participate and experience performing arts, at no expense to them or their families
shows include “Who Shot the Sheriff,” a historically accurate western set in the 1880s and “SPY,” which is believed to be the longest running interactive dinner mystery in the United States. They recently presented “A Couple of Blaguards” the stage show written by award-winning authors Frank and Malachy McCourt, on St. Patrick’s Day at Theatre Artists Studio in Scottsdale. For more information on Murder Ink Productions, call (480) 967-6800 or visit www.murderinkproductions.com.
Night of comedy featured at The Forum
A night of laughter, food and drinks is scheduled at The Forum from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 2, with comedians Bob Kubota, from “Last Comic Standing,” Keith Ellis and special guest Lenny Lizzard. Tickets are $20 online at www. funnecting.com/events or $25 at the door. The Forum is located at 700 W. Warner Rd., Chandler.
One
Theater will
“My Name is Rumpelstiltskin” at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale Friday, May 8, through Sunday, May 10. Submitted photo
Learn about drone photography at Art Intersection
Mark Lipczynski will introduce the public to drone photography from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 30, at Art Intersection, 207 N. Gilbert Rd., Suite 201, Gilbert. Drones capture dramatically different perspectives and viewpoints.
There are a number of new regulations about flying drones that individuals need to know before going out into public and taking images or videos.
Lipczynski will share his experience and demonstrate his drone, a DJI Phantom 1, in the Art Intersection atrium. Attendees will be able to view the images after the flight.
Chandler musicians to join pianist at the MIM
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
Pianist Alpin Hong is taking an unconventional approach to his shows at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix on Thursday, April 23, and Friday, April 24.
For “Alpin Hong and the Voices of Tomorrow,” Hong has invited the Chandler High School Choir and the band Harrison Fjord to perform with him those nights.
“I’m going to be bringing locals with me,” said Hong, a Kalamazoo, Michigan, native. “I’ve been known as one of the educational artists who go to the MIM.
“I thought it would be a better representation of me and the MIM and to the Phoenix area I feature other musicians at the concert.”
He said he thought it would be even more enjoyable if he brought a high school choir with him to the MIM, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary.
“Plans are underway to bring Chandler High School, where they have this worldclass choral program led by Lori Lyford. I performed with her group earlier in the year.”
He asked if Lyford and her singers would be willing to perform during the second half of the show. She agreed, he said.
“Alpin has had three concert appearances at the Chandler Center for the Arts in the past six years,” Lyford said in an email.
“When here, he spends a few days
Mark Lipczynski will introduce individuals to drone photography at Art Intersection Saturday, May 30. Submitted photo
Pianist Alpin Hong will perform at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix on Thursday, April 23, and Friday, April 24. Submitted photo
SEE PIANIST PAGE 60
Loeb brings her passion project to the Valley
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
Lisa Loeb has done it all. Since her 1994 hit “Stay (I Missed You)” became a pop culture phenomena, the bespectacled performer has perfected her eyewear collection, written children’s books, starred in television shows, but most of all, became a mom to two children.
She was in her late 20s when she scored the ubiquitous hit—which, incidentally, was the first No. 1 by an unsigned artist—but the success was a learning experience for her.
“I think I just try to follow my heart and do things that I’m interested in doing,” she said.
“Luckily now, as an artist and a business person, there is a lot of flexibility and a lot of opportunities.”
Visiting Arizona is one of her interests. When Loeb brings her familyfriendly show to the Scottsdale Civic Center Amphitheatre on Saturday, April 25, she is planning on reconnecting with old friend Mark Tarbell, the mastermind behind Tarbell’s restaurant in Phoenix, hiking up Camelback Mountain and—if she can persuade her—bring her mom so she can visit the Grand Canyon.
“When you’re working, it does take up a lot of time and energy so you want to do things that you love doing—as much as you can,” she said.
These days she is directing her energy toward a new proper album, the premier of “Camp Kappawanna,” a family musical opening in New York
with the Atlantic Theater Company, and her eyewear line, which is now available at Costco. Her most recent album, “No Fairy Tale”, was co-produced by Loeb
“New Found Glory covered ‘Stay’ and asked me to sing harmony on it, which I did,” Loeb said. “He contacted me to see if he could produce a record for me. I thought it was a great idea. It’s a little more rock and much higher energy. He was wonderful to work with.”
She owes it all to the staying power—no pun intended—of “Stay,” which played key roles in “Hot Tub Time Machine 2” and “Orange is the New Black.”
“What I love is that people have that sentimental connection to it that can bring out all different emotions— everything from heartfelt love and loss,” she said. “There is a humorous side to it, too, when all your girlfriends sang along to it, which we saw in ‘Orange is the New Black.’ It’s become such an icon on its own that you can put it in those situations poking fun. It just has its own life.”
Lisa Loeb performs at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 25, Scottsdale Civic Center Amphitheater, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale. Tickets are $19 to $149. For more information, call (480) 499-8587 or visit www. scottsdaleperformingarts. org.
FRIDAY
and New Found Glory’s Chad Gilbert, in what seems to be an odd pairing.
Lisa Loeb sits with a cast member of “Camp Kappawanna.” Submitted photo
Music in the blood of Gilbert sisters in The Real Thing
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
Melisza Gransbergen and her sister, Jessica, know a thing or two about music.
The Gilbert-based sisters, who hail from Chicago, grew up inspired by their musically inclined parents and grandparents. They are rolling those memories into the cover band The Real Thing.
“Our dad, who plays bass with us now, was always in bands,” Melisza Gransbergen said. “We grew up going backstage to different concerts.
“I remember being little and being backstage at REO Speedwagon. That’s how we grew up. We would fall asleep on the band room floor. After they were done, we’d sneak into the bass drum and fall asleep.”
In the duo’s formative years, their family supplied the girls with guitars, pianos, microphones and even karaoke machines.
“We were locked in our rooms for hours at a time, singing, singing, singing. We made our own mix tapes.”
All of that paid off for the Gransbergen sisters. Melisza manages the band and shares vocal duties with Jessica, performing songs by the likes of Maroon 5, Aretha Franklin, Adele, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Foster the People and Joss Stone.
The six-piece act will perform two shows in Chandler on May 2—The Ivy for its Kentucky Derby party from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Jolie’s Place 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. For more information, visit http:// therealthingazband.com/.
“This is what I do full time,” she said. “I left the corporate world. The company I had worked for let everybody go. They had two new CEOs. I was there for eight years and helped build it up. I managed call centers all around the United States.”
When she was laid off, she saw it as a sign to pursue music full time.
“I wasn’t managing the band at that time,” she said. “It’s just been insane since then—in the best way possible. I love it. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The band is guitarist Terry Bussoletti, singers Melisza and Jessica Gransbergen, drummer Louis Ippolito and bassist Pete Gransbergen. Not shown are keyboardist/saxophonist Jim Morrow and sound technician Jeff Thomas. Submitted photo
working with music students in nearby high schools for an outreach program. Chandler High School Choirs have been included in each of his three previous outreach programs. We have also performed with him on his afternoon assembly performances for junior high and elementary students, as well as giving performances on his evening concert in the CCA. He is delightful to work with and he makes a solid connection with youth and adults alike.”
She said the number of performers will be limited at the MIM.
“Because the MIM stage space is limited we will have approximately 40 students participating,” she said. “The majority of them will be from our chamber choir with additional
students from our men’s choir and the Treblemakers, our top female ensemble. Alpin will be accompanying the choir on “The Ground,” an eight-part piece by Ola Gjeilo.
Joining Hong and the choir is the Chandler-bred multigenre band Harrison Fjord.
“These young men, we share the fact that we’re geek gamers back in the day,” he said with a laugh. “They have grown up to become on of the tightest young bands I have ever met. Their talent base is so broad and they can all really sing.”
Basically, the California-based Hong said, fans can expect a lot in the second half.
“I’m going to blow is wide open for the second half,” he said. “It’s one of my final concerts of my season. I wanted it
to be a thank you for the communities of Scottsdale, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Chandler who helped get me to this point in my career. This show is a culmination of my efforts.”
Success with MIM
Hong is considered to be the artist who has played the MIM the most since it opened.
“I was one of the first artists to play the inaugural season. I’m the second artist to ever record there; the first belongs to Joshua Bell. But I recorded my studio record, ‘Myths and Legends,’ there. It was released about six months ago.”
Hong said he enjoys performing at the MIM because it reminds him of Star Trek’s USS Enterprise.
“That’s the way I describe the building,” he said. “If you could attach engines to it and send it to an alien civilization that would be great. It’s one of the best examples of what humanity can come up with.
“It’s universal expression through music. That’s why I think it’s such a unique building. When you go to a museum, you may or may not identify with certain parts of it. But there, you’ll find something to connect with.”
The performance hall is top notch as well.
“The music theater is incredible,” he said. “Every time I’ve been there, I’ve pushed the boundaries a little more about what a classical piano recital is about.”
Pianist Alpin Hong will be joined on stage by the Chandler High School Choir and the band Harrison Fjord. Submitted photo
ON STAGE
“The Firebird and Paquita,” Sunday, April 19, CCA. The Youth American Ballet Company is taking on two classic ballets: Igor Stravinsky’s “The Firebird” and Marius Petipa’s “Paquita.” Central High School, Thursday, April 23, TN. Central High School will perform jazz music.
Cedric Gervais, Friday, April 24, MDN. The Miami-based producer released his hit single “Molly” in 2012.
International Jazz Day, Thursday, April 30, TN. The Nash joins events all around the globe to celebrate the legendary Billy Strayhorn.
Eric Burdon & The Animals, Friday, May 1, LW. Eric Burdon, who is known for his intense stage presence as the vocalist for the 1960s rock band, the Animals, is an English singer-songwriter. After most of the original band mates quit in late 1966, Burdon and drummer Barry Jenkins recreated the iconic English band.
Kenny Rogers, Saturday, April 25, WHP. Rogers is known for his sweetly raspy vocals in some of his timeless classics “The Gambler,” “Lady” and “We’ve Got Tonight.”
Ballet Etudes’ “Cinderella,” Saturday, April 25, CCA. The classic tale of Cinderella, her clumsy stepsisters, a magical fairy godmother, and a handsome prince comes to life in Ballet Etudes’ fan-favorite production.
Los Lobos, Saturday, April 25, LW. The Chicano rock band returns to Arizona to perform an intimate show.
Scottsdale Community College Jazz Combos, Tuesday, April 28, TN. The Jazz Combos will perform jazz music.
Glendale District High School Honor Jazz Band with Superstition Jazz Orchestra, Wednesday, April 29, TN. The two groups will play an assortment of jazz music.
Michael McDonald, Saturday, May 2, WHP. McDonald is known for such hits as “What a Fool Believes” and “I Keep Forgettin’.”
“War & Peace—Homage to the Great Wars,” Saturday, May 2, CCA. The Chandler Symphony Orchestra, a group of volunteer musicians led by conductor Jack Herriman, will provide “War & Peace—Homage to the Great Wars.”
“Oh, the Places We’ll Go!,” Saturday, May 2, CCA. The Chandler Children’s Choir will sing songs that will inspire attendees to soar “Over the Rainbow.”
“The Three Javelinas Gala,” Saturday, May 2, TCA. Guests will be treated to a cocktail hour, live music, silent auction, Southwestern photo booth and a VIP production of “The Three Javelinas.”
War, Saturday, May 9, WHP. War has had a string of hits such as “Low Rider,” “Spill the Wine” and “Why Can’t We Be Friends.”
Sons of the Pioneers, Saturday, May 9, TPT. The Sons of the Pioneers have been celebrating the songs of the west for more than 75 years.
Fifty-Six, Sunday, May 10, TPT. The group will perform hits from artists like Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Carl Perkins and Elvis.
ON STAGE VENUE INDEX
CCA—Chandler Center for the Arts 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler Tickets: (480) 782-2680, www. chandlercenter.org
HCT—Hale Center Theatre 50 W. Page Ave., Gilbert Tickets: (480) 497-1181, www. haletheatrearizona.com
LW—Livewire
7320 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale Tickets: (480) 970-1112 or www. Livewireaz.com
MDN—Maya Day + Nightclub 7333 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale Tickets: (480) 625-0528 or www. mayaclubaz.com
TAS—Theatre Artists Studio 4848 E. Cactus Rd., Suite 406, Scottsdale
Eddie Money, Friday, May 15, WHP. Money has had such hits as “Baby Hold On” and “Two Tickets to Paradise.”
“The Wizard of Oz,” Thursday, May 21, through Friday, July 3, HCT. Follow the Yellow Brick Road as Dorothy and Toto join Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion on a journey to the magical land of Oz.
Vertical Horizon, Sunday, May 31, LW. Vertical Horizon is a popular alternative rock, post-grunge group who had a string of hits in 1999 and the early 2000s. Some of its hits include “Everything You Want,” “You’re a God” and “Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning.)
The Chainsmokers, Sunday, May 31, MDN. The Chainsmokers put out remixes of popular indie tracks.
Bowling for Soup, Monday, Sept. 21, LW. The Texas-based band Bowling for Soup is known for such hits as “Girl All the Bad Guys Want,” “Almost,” “High School Never Ends” and “1985.” The band is touring with special guests Dolly Roots and Ivory Tribe.
Tickets: (602) 765-0120, www. thestudiophx.org
TCA—Tempe Center for the Arts
700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe Tickets: www.childsplayaz.org/GALA or (480) 921-5761
