Hale’s ‘Beau Jest’ appeals with wit and family theme
BY SRIANTHI PERERA
Thirteen years ago, “Beau Jest” was Hale Centre Theatre’s very first show. It was produced for a second time and it’s running once again through Feb. 13 at the Gilbert theater.
The play, with its central theme of family and relationships, doesn’t fail to appeal, said theater owner Dave Dietlein. It ran for a year in Chicago and was an Off-Broadway hit for two and a half years.
“It has a lot of traditional family influence: tender moments, romance, tradition and comedy, and it’s very cleverly written. All of those elements combine to make for a great evening out,” he added.
Playwright James Sherman’s comedy centers on an orthodox Jewish family in Chicago. Young school teacher Sarah Goldman (played by Laura Anne Kenney) has a problem with presenting her nonJewish boyfriend to her parents. Despite the protests of her boyfriend, Chris Kringle, she employs an escort service to send her a Jewish date for the duration of an evening’s dinner with her parents at
her apartment.
The promised Jewish date, Dr. Steinberg, doesn’t pan out. Instead, Sarah has to make do with unemployed and aspiring actor Bob Schroeder (Aaron Blanco), who’s only too pleased to try out his skills. It turns out that Sarah’s “beau jest” is a terrific impersonator and her parents are highly taken up with the prospective son-in-law. Naturally, this leads to other problems.
Director Jere Van Patten has done his best to present the story in an authentic manner.
“There’s a huge emphasis on the Jewish culture. We have a Seder dinner, we have a Sabbath dinner and there’s all of these Jewish rituals that go into the show,” he said.
Patten took the six-member cast to one of his friends’ homes for a traditional Seder so that they could experience it.
Although the table settings change a few times, the overall show doesn’t have major set changes and everything takes place within Sarah’s apartment.
Thus, conveying the essence of the
Anne Kenney plays Sarah
and Aaron
story is important to appreciate the drama, said Patten, who is the theater teacher at Red Mountain High School in Mesa and adjunct faculty at Mesa Community College.
“It’s all about keeping it honest. It’s about telling the story. It’s all about finding the truth in the material. It’s about keeping it fresh and telling the story from an honest point of view,” he said. “It is very funny but we don’t go for the joke.
When you play the joke it’s all flat. So we just play the truth, play the honesty and that’s what this cast is really good at.”
“Beau Jest” plays Wednesday to Saturday through Feb. 13 at Hale Centre Theatre, 50. W. Page Ave., Gilbert. On Jan. 22, playwright James Sherman will attend and be available for an after-show chat with the audience. Tickets range from $18 to $28. Call (480) 497-1181 or visit www. haletheatrearizona.com for details.
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Laura
Goldman
Blanco plays Bob Schroeder, who impersonates as Sarah’s Jewish boyfriend in “Beau Jest,” now playing at Hale Centre Theatre in Gilbert. Submitted photo
Local painter to set up studio for 10 weeks at fine art show
Renowned artists from across the globe will make the beautiful Sonoran Desert in North Scottsdale home for 10 weeks as they create original pieces of fine art in what has come to be known as one of Arizona’s best venues for collecting fine art.
The Arizona Fine Art EXPO begins Friday, Jan. 22 and runs through Sunday, April 3, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily under the “festive white tents” at 26540 N. Scottsdale Rd., on the southwest corner of Scottsdale and Jomax roads, next to MacDonald’s Ranch.
Season passes cost $10; season passes for seniors and military are $8; and children under 12 are free. Parking is free.
The event features 120 patronfriendly working studios within a 44,000-square-foot space, where guests have a rare chance to meet the artists, see them in action, and learn about their inspiration and techniques.
at the old Papago Park Stables when I was going to ASU.”
She has lived on a small ranch in Gilbert since 1971.
“I decided Gilbert was a great place to raise children. I had a way with animals and raised calves for many of the feed lots around Gilbert. I also raised and trained Appaloosa horses mainly because I loved the colors and would use them in my paintings,” Herst said.
Throughout the 10 weeks, artisans will sketch passionately in pencil, charcoal and pastels; sculpt and fire clay; drill, chisel and carve stone; paint in all media; delicately scrape and etch on scratchboard, stain and etch gourds; design lost wax casting; solder and weld jewelry; assemble mosaics and more. Art is for sale and commissions are welcomed.
See a local painter create original work
Gilbert painter L.C. (Linda) Herst has been participating in the show for 12 years. For Herst, the beautiful setting provides inspiration and she thrives on the camaraderie among her fellow artists.
“The Arizona Fine Art EXPO is a wonderful place to paint and show my work,” Herst said. “It’s a large, diverse show, but it still has a feeling of friendliness and family. I particularly enjoy talking with the other artists and patrons about art.”
Far from her childhood upbringing in Brooklyn, New York, Herst loves living in the Southwest as evidenced by her vibrant, as she calls them, “damn fine western,” and contemporary oil paintings.
“I always loved horses and cowboys as a child, and when I came to Phoenix in 1955, I think I rode every stable horse in the Phoenix area,” she said. “I even got a job
She even did some barrel racing in the small rodeos around Gilbert. “I loved training my horse Lucky Star to be a barrel racer. We never won any blue ribbons, but we both had a great time,” she said.
Herst only paints in oils. “I use many of the techniques of the old masters as far as putting in a wash and building the painting from the darks to the lights,” she said. “Many of my westerns have a traditional subject matter with a contemporary, sometimes abstract, background.”
Enjoying the EXPO experience
In addition to visiting individual artist studios, patrons can stroll throughout one of the Valley’s largest sculpture gardens, which includes a Koi pond with a waterfall surrounded by natural desert. Other highlights include a café, wine tastings, garden parties, book signings, live music every weekend and more. In addition, the nonprofit American Healing Arts Foundation will provide free art classes for veterans during the show.
For 34 years, Thunderbird Artists has played a very important role in uniting gifted artists with patrons across the world by producing award-winning fine art and fine wine festivals. A family-run business, Thunderbird Artists’ success and the encouragement of artists prompted the birth of the Arizona Fine Art EXPO 12 years ago.
For more details about participating artists or events during the show, call (480) 837-7163 or visit www. ArizonaFineArtEXPO.com.
Cowgirl Attitude is one of Herst’s western and contemporary oil paintings from her working studio. Submitted photo
This painting by Herst is entitled Road to Cameron. Submitted photo
Artist L.C. (Linda) Herst lives on a ranch in Gilbert. Patrons can see her painting for 10 weeks during the Arizona Fine Art EXPO, which opens on Jan. 22. The work above is titled Desert Maverick. Submitted photo
ON STAGE
Donny Osmond, Friday, Jan. 8, WHP. Donny Osmond, who is celebrating 50 years as a performer, embarks on his first solo concert performances in four years with “The Soundtrack of My Life Tour.”
On the Air: A Tribute to Bob Hope and Radio Stars of the 1950s, Friday, Jan. 8, HCA. The show is staged as a 1940s NBC radio broadcast complete with an on-stage staff announcer, reading vintage commercial copy of the period with a humorous touch.
Jim Curry: Take Me Home—The Music of John Denver, Saturday, Jan. 9, HCPA. Jim Curry sang John Denver’s parts during the making of the CBS television music “Take Me Home: The John Denver Story.”
Acoustic Eidolon: World Music for the Soul, Sunday, Jan. 10, HCPA. Joe Scott and
Hannah Alkire joined forces in 1998 to form Acoustic Eidolon.
Riverdance, Tuesday, Jan. 12 through Sunday, Jan. 17, MAC. The international Irish dance phenomenon is on its 20th anniversary world tour with an innovative and exciting blend of dance, music and song.
The Abbey Road Band, Thursday, Jan. 14, HCPA. This group is the quintessential Beatles tribute band.
Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband, Friday, Jan. 15, HCPA. Ryan Shupe Band’s style evokes images of Dave Matthews Band gone bluegrass.
Black Violin, Friday, Jan. 15, CCA. Virtuoso musicians Wil B. and Kev Marcus meld highbrow and pop culture through a fusion of classical, jazz, hip hop, blues and R&B.
Peter, Paul and Mary Remembered and Friends, Saturday, Jan. 16, HCPA. Recall memories of “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “Leavin’ on a Jet Plane,” “Puff,” “If I had a Hammer” and “Stewball.”
Timber! A Production of Cirque Alfonse, Sunday, Jan. 17, CCA. The artists perform incredible feats of aerial acrobatics that are directly inspired by the natural raw materials of the forest and the equipment used on the farm.
Gorongosa Reborn: A Cameraman’s Journal, Wednesday, Jan. 20, MAC. Travel to Africa with Emmy Award-winning
wildlife cinematographer Bob Poole.
Deana Martin: Honoring Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, Saturday, Jan. 23, CCA. The show is a combination of musical treasures intertwined with personal reflections and private recollections from a lady who grew up having a familylike relationship with the people to whom she is paying tribute.
Blinddog Smokin’, Thursday, Jan. 28, HCPA. The funk and blues showband shows off a deep and original American repertoire of fatback funk, blistering blues, uptown horns and low-down grooves.
Moscow Festival Ballet’s “Don Quixote,” Friday, Jan. 29, CCA. Leading dancers see ON STAGE page 50
Titan Valley Warheads to ‘Rock the Valley’ again
BY SRIANTHI PERERA
Gilbert Lions’ main fundraising effort for the year gets underway soon.
The sixth annual “Rock the Valley” concert featuring The Titan Valley Warheads and The Rave will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, at the Gilbert High School auditorium, 1101 E. Elliot Rd. Mayor John Lewis will emcee.
A silent auction will feature donations from local businesses and club members. Heritage Financial Services, Gilbert Hospital and Expert Maintenance Systems are the main sponsors of the event.
Club President Tony Hyland said that the group hopes to raise $8,000 to $10,000 for charity. It will benefit the club’s sight and hearing programs that provide testing and aids to needy individuals, college-bound students with scholarships and Camp Tatiyee, a fullservice summer camp for special needs
children in Northern Arizona.
Formed in 1981, The Titan Valley Warheads will play a blend of western swing, bluegrass and old time traditional favorites.
“The Rave,” comprising four musicians from the US, Europe and Panama, will offer covers from the artists of the 1960s and 1970s.
Each year, the club also holds its “White Cane” project to raise funds for the seeing impaired and a garage sale in February at Gilbert Elementary School.
Gilbert Lions was chartered 45 years ago and is part of about 46,000 clubs in more than 207 countries that have a total of more than 1.4 million members.
Tickets for “Rock the Valley” cost $10 and may be obtained at the door. Call Tony Hyland at (480) 892-7533 or Ron Rosinke at (480) 751-8284.
The Titan Valley Warheads will play traditional favorites at the concert. Submitted photo
Fiesta Mexico-Americana with Los Lobos, Saturday, Jan. 30, CCA. The Mexican-American Experience is celebrated through song, dance, music and film highlighting the many notable achievements and contributions of Mexican-Americans throughout U.S. history in this new multimedia production.
Nelson Illusionists, Friday, Feb. 5, and Saturday, Feb. 6, HCPA. Nelson Illusions is a one-of-a-kind theatrical spectacle combining rare and original illusions with award-winning, jawdropping magic.
Lee Ann Womack, Sunday, Feb. 21, CCA. Country Album of the Year
nominee Lee Ann Womack sings hits from her most acclaimed albums.
Close to You: The Music of the Carpenters, Wednesday, Feb. 24, HCPA. Singer and playwright Lisa Rock has compiled a moving tribute to the music and life of Karen Carpenter and brings it to the stage with her sixpiece backing band.
2CELLOS, Saturday, April 9, MAC. Their version of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” went viral in 2011, and the Croatian cellists continue to excel with dynamic music videos and covers.
Alton Brown Live: Eat Your Science, Thursday, May 12, MAC. Fans can expect more comedy, talk show antics, multimedia presentations and music.
VENUES
CCA—Chandler Center for the Arts
250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler Tickets: (480) 782-2680, www. chandlercenter.org
HCPA—Higley Center for the Performing Arts
4132 E. Pecos Rd., Gilbert Tickets: (480) 279-7190 or www. higleyarts.org
MAC—Mesa Arts Center
One E. Main St., Mesa Tickets: (480) 644-6500, www. mesaartscenter.com
“A Plethora of Platters—Ceramic Art by Alvin Pace” will be on display 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, Jan. 12 through March 6, at the Chandler Center for the Arts Gallery, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler. A reception to meet the artist will be 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23.
Pace, an Arizona native, has a master of fine arts degree from ASU and was the head of the art department at Chandler High School for more than 30 years. He has been a long-term advocate and supporter of the arts in Chandler, and is a ceramics instructor at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. His work can be found in the City of Scottsdale Arts Collection, the ASU Ceramic Collection and the Eddie Basha Art Collection.
The Chandler Center for the Arts welcomes Alvin Pace back to present a look at his current art project, A Thousand Platters, as it nears completion.
Info: (480) 782-2695, vision.gallery@ chandleraz.gov or www.chandlercenter.org.
