‘Cinderella’ shared through ballet at Chandler arts center
BY MEGHAN MCCOY
In the wake of the big-screen adaptation of “Cinderella,” the Gilbert dance studio Ballet Etudes is taking on the popular story of the young woman who loses her slipper at the stroke of midnight.
Ballet Etudes’ performances of “Cinderella” will be held at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, April 25, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 26, at the Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave. Tickets range from $16 to $22.
Mia Domini, a Gilbert resident, will star as Cinderella in the teen’s first leading role.
“It’s a fun role to develop and learn how to act,” the 14-year-old girl said.
The performance begins with Cinderella living with her stepsisters and stepmother.
Mesa resident McKhayla Pettingill, who performs the role of the fairy godmother, said her character is actually Cinderella’s mother in the performance.
“In the beginning of the show, Cinderella is asleep and she is dreaming about her memory of her mother because her mother dies,” the 15-yearold girl said.
“The fairy godmother, before she came and surprised her, she is disguised as a beggar woman, testing to see if she was still the kind, innocent girl,” she said.
McKhayla said the challenging part of
her role is portraying a very loving fairy godmother through her dancing.
“It’s different from other roles I have performed, but really fun to do,” she said.
“When I am performing a specific role, it takes me away from the real world and I enter into a different story through another personality and I can express the character through my dance.”
Mia said Cinderella sees her fairy godmother after her stepsisters and stepmother leave for the ball.
“The fairy godmother gives her a beautiful dress,” she said. “She falls in love with the prince at the ball. The clock strikes midnight and she loses her slipper
and meets the prince days later and falls in love and gets married.”
Mesa resident Madison Cafaro is performing the role of spring, as well as being in the king’s court. She said spring is a bright character that gives Cinderella her shoe.
“It’s really fast and it involves a lot of little jumps (and) travels all around the stage, so it is really fun,” said Madison, 18.
Mia said her favorite part of the performance is when she changes into a beautiful gown, meets the prince and dances with him.
“It’s really fun to be a princess,” she said.
Mia said as a young girl she always watched Disney movies, so her role as Cinderella is exciting.
McKhayla said before she joined Ballet Etudes she remembers watching a performance of “Cinderella.” She said she yearned to be Cinderella or the fairy godmother.
“It’s just really beautiful how dancers are able to express a story without words, but through dance,” McKhayla said.
Meghan McCoy is the Neighbors, Spirituality, Arts and Youth section editor for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at meghan@santansun.com.
Mesa resident Madison Cafaro, 18, will perform as spring during Ballet Etudes’ “Cinderella” production at the Chandler Center for the Arts Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26. Photo by Stefani Bullard Photography
Mesa resident McKhayla Pettingill, 15, will perform as the fairy godmother. Her character is actually Cinderella’s mother in the performance. Photo by Stefani Bullard Photography
Gilbert resident Mia Domini, 14, will perform as Cinderella. Her role was a fun one to develop, she said. Photo by Stefani Bullard Photography
Art Intersection plans
Arizona Railway Museum event
Art Intersection will hold an exclusive event at the Arizona Railway Museum on Sunday, April 26. Submitted photo
Gilbert’s Art Intersection has planned a pinhole photography outing to the Arizona Railway Museum, 330 E. Ryan Rd., Chandler, for Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Sunday, April 26.
Anyone, anywhere in the world, who makes a pinhole photograph on the last Sunday in April, can scan it and upload it to the Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day website, where it will become part of the annual celebration’s online gallery.
The Arizona Railway Museum will open its doors to this Art Intersection exclusive event, so participants will have the entire outdoor museum to take pinhole photographs.
Attendees will be encouraged to submit their photographs from this outing to the Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day website.
Those who wish to attend are asked to send an email to info@artintersection.com.
Childsplay presents the world premiere of ‘Javelinas’
“Hoggywood” lights will soon shine on the Childsplay stage as the company closes its 38th season with a world-premiere musical of “The Three Javelinas.” The popular tale of “The Three Little Pigs” gets a Southwestern spin in this hilarious new musical, which is an adaptation of Tucson author Susan Lowell’s popular children’s books “The Three Little Javelinas” and “Josefina Javelina.”
Performances of “The Three Javelinas” will be held at Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., from Sunday, April 19, through Sunday, May 24. The Saturday performances will be held at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m.
There is a special $12 Storybook Preview performance at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 19, which is sponsored by The Steele Foundation. Each family that attends this Storybook Preview performance will receive a free children’s book.
Single tickets start at $12 and are on sale at www.childsplayaz.org, or at the Tempe Center for the Arts box office, (480) 350-2822. This play is recommended for ages 5 and older.
The show features “Josefina Javelina,” who dreams of a career on stage. Her brother, Juan, wants a quiet place to think, while her brother, Jose, just wants someone to listen to his jokes. When
a series of misadventure leave them to build houses in the desert, they catch the attention of a hungry coyote. This rollicking tribute to the Arizona landscape is sure to delight the entire family.
Childsplay worked very closely with Lowell on the adaptation, which has been in workshop for nearly three years. The playwright is Childsplay Director of Strategic Initiatives and head of its Carol Duval Whiteman New Plays Program, Jenny Millinger.
“The first time I hear Susan Lowell read ‘The Three Little Javelinas,’ something unexpected happened. I went home and wrote a song. I had never written a song before; I didn’t even know I could write a song. Then, I wrote another one. And another one.
And now, more than two years later, ‘The Three Javelinas’ is opening at Childsplay,” Millinger said.
She was inspired by Lowell’s books to write a play that celebrates the sights and sounds of the desert southwest through the re-imagination of a classic children’s tale. The three javelinas, who sing in the “Javelina Band,” will be accompanied on stage by a live band. Families can expect to hear a musical style reflective of the rich musical history the southwest has to offer.
“Having spent most of my life surrounded by the wonderful music of this region, it was not difficult to find inspiration to begin the development of ‘The Three Javelinas’ sound,” said composer Todd Hulet.
“In an effort to fully honor the area’s music, we explored a wide range of styles from the roots of mariachi to the traditions of the Tohono O’odham. We even discovered a complex history of new gems like the Southwest’s influence on rockabilly musicians and the folkglam songstress Katie Lee.”
“The Three Javelinas” bursts onto the stage with an all-star cast, featuring Molly Lajoie as Josefina; D. Scott Withers as Jose; Tommy Strawser as Juan; Kyle Sorrell as Coyote and Jim Gentry as The Boy Who Brings the News. Childsplay Associate Artist and Playwright-in-Residence Dwayne Hartford is directing.
Alvin Ailey theater to perform at Mesa Arts Center
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, known as one of the world’s most popular dance companies, will share its inspiring artistry with audiences on a 19-city national tour that includes performances in Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater at 8 p.m. Friday, April 10, and Saturday, April 11. Arizona Community Foundation’s Black Philanthropy Initiative is the event sponsor for the Mesa performance. Tickets are available at www.mesaartscenter.com or by calling (480) 644-6500. Mesa Arts Center is located at One E. Main St., Mesa. Prior to the launch of the theater’s exciting new season, Artistic Director Robert Battle visited the White House to accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor on behalf of Alvin Ailey. Bestowed 25 years after the passing of the company’s legendary founder, President Barack Obama proclaimed that “through him, African-American history was told in a way that it had never been told before—with passionate, virtuoso dance performances that transfixed audiences worldwide.”
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater carries on its namesake’s pioneering legacy of uplifting, uniting and celebrating the human spirit as Ailey’s extraordinary dancers bring life to a wide variety of new productions and classic works. In addition to performances of Ailey classics, including Alvin Ailey’s signature American masterpiece “Revelations” from 1960, other encore performances
will include Ronald K. Brown’s spiritually charged “Grace” from 1999; Ulysses Dove’s explosive “Episodes” from 1989; Aszure Barton’s “Lift” from 2013 and Ohad Naharin’s unique and innovative “Minus 16” from 1999 and Ailey Company Premiere from 2011.
Pre- and post-performance events begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 10, and include a swing dance lesson given by the Arizona Lindy Hop Society on Mesa Arts Center’s North Patio and performances by Bruce Gates Big Band with special guests Dennis Rowland on the Alliance Pavilion
Stage. A post-performance reception with food and beverages will be available for purchase. A ticketed pre-performance dinner is also available on Friday, April 10, and Saturday, April 11. For more information, visit www. alvinailey.org.
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will have two performances at the Mesa Arts Center in April. Photo by Rosalie O’Connor
Foreigner owes its success to ‘master craftsman’ Jones
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
Foreigner is sort of showing its modern-rock appeal by touring with Kid Rock later this summer, and rhythm guitarist/saxophonist Thom Gimbel said there’s a simple reason why the band is still relevant.
“I attest our longevity to a lot of things,” said Gimbel, who was calling from California. “The writing that went into the songs—the construction and the creation—is one.”
He calls guitarist/songwriter Mick Jones “a master craftsman” and a
wordsmith, and has just as complimentary terms of former vocalist Lou Gramm who co-penned songs.
“The songs were written in a way that they weren’t overdone,” he said. “They were straight ahead. There weren’t too many frills, bells or whistles. They were just great songs and great performances.”
Foreigner fans can get a sneak peek at what they’ll see this summer when the band, known for hits like “Urgent” and “Jukebox Hero,” headlines the Good Life Festival at Encanterra Country Club on Saturday, April 18. Formed in 1976 by
Jones, the stepfather to musician Mark Ronson, Foreigner still manages to keep each show fresh.
“Each audience is a new group of people,” Gimbel said. “That automatically makes it kind of fresh. There’s a fresh sea of faces. There’s a new batch of energy that we’re going to feel.
“The performance is going to be slightly different each night. Kelly (Hansen, singer) is going to interact with the audience in a slightly different way each night. It’s always enthralling.”
Gimbel continues on with his list of ways that the musicians keep their career sprightly, laughing in between each reason.
“I love sports, too,” he said. “But you usually have to have a winner or loser. The thing I love about a live concert is
hopefully everybody wins. It’s all this uplifting energy. That never gets old. If it does, that’s when you’re supposed to stop playing concerts.”
He called the band “cooking,” boasting not only Gimbel, Jones and Hansen, but bassist Jeff Pilson, keyboardist Michael Bluestein, drummer Chris Frazier and lead guitarist Bruce Watson.
The setlist features a slew of Foreigner hits, which also include “Feels Like the First Time,” “Cold as Ice,” “Double Vision” and “Waiting for a Girl Like You.”
“Great songs and great performances stand the test of time,” Gimbel said. “It’s a very economical way of looking at things. Mick just doesn’t overdo it. People still remember us because we’ve been playing for decades in a city near you. We’re gotten to know a lot of people and they’ve seen us year after year. The entertainment value is still there. People want to see us again.”
Foreigner performs at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at Encanterra Country Club, 36460 N. Encanterra Dr., San Tan Valley. Tickets are $35 to $65. For more information, visit www.thegoodlifefest.com.
Foreigner is also performing with Kid Rock at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26, at Ak-Chin Pavilion, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. Tickets are $20. For more information, visit www.livenation.com.
Christina Fuoco-Karasinski is the executive editor of the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at christina@ santansun.com.
Lynch modest about country music fame
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
Rising country star Dustin Lynch can call his mom his biggest fan. And nobody got a bigger thrill out US Weekly dubbing him one of 2014’s Sexiest Men of Country than her.
“I get a lot of (crap) from my band members,” Lynch said with a laugh. “But my mom’s pretty pumped up about it.”
The 29-year-old Lynch saves tickets for his mom for most of his gigs, including Country Thunder in Florence, where he’ll perform from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, April 12, in the prime spot—right before Luke Bryan.
“Yeah, it’s great,” he said about the placement. “I think we’ve been to Country
Foreigner performs twice this year—once at Encanterra Country Club on Saturday, April 18, and at Ak-Chin Pavilion on Wednesday, Aug. 26. Submitted photo
Dustin Lynch, who’s playing Country Thunder, was named one of country music’s sexiest musicians. Submitted photo
LYNCH PAGE 65
“The Velocity of Autumn,” Friday, April 10, through Sunday, April 26, TAS. Alexandra, an aging, but still feisty artist, is set on spending her remaining years in her Brooklyn brownstone and she’s mixed up some Molotov cocktails just in case her family gets any other ideas. Barricaded in her apartment and provisioned only with her fleeting memories and homemade bombs, Alexandra’s defenses begin to crack when her long absent son crawls in through the window.
Chandler Symphony, Saturday, April 11, CCA. The Chandler Symphony Orchestra is comprised of volunteer musicians led by conductor Jack Herriman.
“Pump Boys and Dinettes,” Wednesday, April 15, through Sunday, May 24, TPT. Fresh off a hit Broadway revival, this fun and energetic musical about life on the roadside tells the story of four gas-station attendants (the “Pump Boys”) and two waitresses (the “Dinettes”) and the country, rock and pop music that gets them through the day.
“Greater Tuna,” Thursday, April 16, through Sunday, April 26, TPT. Take a trip down south to Texas’ third smallest town, Tuna, and meet its
quirky and ever-expanding cast of characters hosted by Thurston and Arles on their talk radio show, all played by two actors.
Sam Hunt, Thursday, April 16, DBWR. Sam Hunt and special guests Kelsea Ballerini and Georgia Chrome will play during the block party. Hunt, a country singer-songwriter, has written songs with the likes of Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban and Billy Currington.
“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.”
Cedric Gervais, Friday, April 24, MDN. The Miami-based producer released his hit single “Molly” in 2012.
Kenny Rogers, Saturday, April 25, WHP. Rogers is known for his sweetly raspy vocals with some of his timeless classics “The Gambler,” “Lady,” and “We’ve Got Tonight.”
Ballet Etudes’ “Cinderella,” Saturday, April 25, CCA. The classic tale of beautiful 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.
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 singersongwriter. After most of the original bandmates quit in late 1966, Burdon and drummer Barry Jenkins recreated the iconic English band.
“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.
Eddie Money, Friday, May 15, WHP. Money has had such hits as “Baby Hold On” and “Two Tickets to Paradise.”
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.
ON STAGE VENUE INDEX
CCA—Chandler Center for the Arts 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler Tickets: (480) 782-2680, www. chandlercenter.org
DBWR—Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row Tempe 4420 N. Saddlebag Trail, Suite 105, Scottsdale Tickets: (480) 945-4200 or www. dierkswhiskeyrow.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 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
TPT—The Palms Theatre 5247 E. Brown Rd., Mesa Tickets: (480) 924-6260, www. thepalmstheatre.com
WHP — Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler Tickets: (800) 946-4452 or www. wingilariver.com/wild-horse-pass
Chandler Center for the Arts. Submitted photo
‘Lights, Camera, Murder!’ returns to Fazio’s
Murder Ink Productions is bringing back its popular interactive mystery, “Lights, Camera, Murder!” Saturday, April 18, in Chandler. The production is part of a new mystery/ comedy event series held one Saturday a month at Fazio’s Catering Hall, 700 W. Warner Rd. “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.
fun because they let the audience get involved in the story line and become part of the show,” said Executive Producer of Murder Ink Productions Marney Austin. Attendees are encouraged to dress in the era of the show. Participation in the interactive mystery is not required.
“Lights, Camera, Murder!,” an interactive mystery will be held at Fazio’s Catering Hall in Chandler on Saturday, April 18. Submitted photo
Admission includes the show and a three-course Italian buffet dinner. Tickets are $45 and are available at www.fazioscateringhall.com. For discounts for groups of 20 or more, call (480) 967-6800.
“Murder mysteries are so much
Thunder before, a few years back. Maybe. Maybe I’m making that up. It’s a big party.
“I love what music festivals are all about—the hang before and after the concert. I love getting out there in the middle of the campgrounds. That’s what’s so neat about country music. The fans always show how supportive and loyal they are. They’re just like me. I like to get the party started early—and then I take that energy to the stage with me.”
Since releasing his platinum debut single, “Cowboys and Angels,” Lynch has racked up more than 20.5 million views on YouTube/VEVO and sold more than 2.2 million digital singles.
Lynch calls his music a combination of traditional influences and an edgy, fresh intensity. He showcases this theme throughout his sophomore album “Where It’s At,” which debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes Country Albums Chart.
“This is going to be a life-changing year for us,” he said. “This year is all about growing our fanbase and taking our music to people who haven’t seen us yet.”
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 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.
But he doesn’t shoulder the responsibility. He said his team is to thank for his success.
“They believe in me as a person, my songs,” he said. “I do have a great team. It’s not because of me, but the people who are out working for me.”
He likens his team to his fans, in that his management, production and promotions folks invest in more than just his music.
“They’re interested in your lives and what you’re about,” he said. “I think that’s why country artists have more longevity. There are fans who care about you as a person. Maybe they relate to your songs. Who knows? I’m just glad it happens.”
Dustin Lynch performs from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, April 12, at Country Thunder, 20585 E. Price (Station) Rd., Florence. For ticket information, visit www.arizona.countrythunder.com.
Christina Fuoco-Karasinski is the executive editor of the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at christina@ santansun.com.
