5 17 2014 stsn p57 63 arts

Dance Studio 111 celebrates two decades of success

BY ALISON STANTON

Twenty years ago, Kimberly Lewis opened her school of dance on Ray Road in Ahwatukee. In 2010, she moved to a new location on Chandler Boulevard in Ahwatukee, and changed the name to Dance Studio 111.

Over the past two decades, Lewis’ studio has grown from one that offers just dance lessons to a whole performing arts center that features musical theater, voice lessons, guitar lessons, an annual all-children’s performance of “The Nutcracker” and much more.

“We are not just about dance,” Lewis says.

To celebrate 20 years in business and honor the many people who worked with Lewis along the way, Dance Studio 111 will present the 20-Year Anniversary Production at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 30, and Saturday, May 31, at the Chandler Center for the Arts.

“The show will feature some of the best routines that we have put together over the past 20 years, and it will include past and present dancers,” Lewis says.

There will be a wide variety of music and dancing styles, including some of the best daddy-daughter dances.

“It will be a fun show, and just a great way to celebrate 20 years in business.”

As she was planning the show, Lewis says she found herself reminiscing about the past two decades.

“I still cannot believe that it’s been

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS: On May 30 and May 31, past and present dancers from Dance Studio 111 will perform in the 20-Year Anniversary Production at Chandler Center for the Arts. Submitted photo

that long, and I’ve just been so fortunate. So many of my staff has stuck with me for years and I have members of my original dance team that are still by my side, and former students who now work for me. We are just such a family unit.”

Lewis says she is looking forward to the performances, and having the opportunity to share with the audience many of the highlights of the past 20 years.

“I get so excited to come to work; I love my dance studio and my dance studio family, and I literally walk around

every day saying ‘thank you’ to God every day. I’m just so blessed and so fortunate.”

Amy McDonald says she and her girls love Dance Studio 111. The Ocotillo resident used to work for Lewis, and now her two daughters Kaiya, 6, and Braelynn, 4, dance there and will be in the production.

“I think 20 years for any small business is an amazing accomplishment,” McDonald says.

She adds that Lewis does a great job running the studio.

“She still has teachers from the first year at the studio and I think that is also amazing.”

The Chandler Center for the Arts is located at 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler. For tickets, call (480) 782-2680 or visit www.chandlercenter.org. For more information about Dance Studio 111, visit www.dancestudio111.com

Alison Stanton is a freelance writer who lives in the East Valley. She can be reached at Alison@SanTanSun.com

Actor visits UltraStar for ‘X-Men’ premiere

BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON

The film “X-Men: Days of Future Past” is getting ready to make its muchanticipated debut in a few weeks. Booboo Stewart, who portrays “James Proudstar/ Warpath” in the film, will appear at Ultrastar Multi-tainment Center in Maricopa from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 24, to sign autographs and pose for photos.

There is also an opportunity to enter a contest to attend the premiere and sit with Stewart, who played “Seth” in the “Twilight” films, in a luxury suite at UltraStar.

“It’s an incredible film. ‘X-Men’ is going to be really entertaining,” Stewart says. “It’s darker than the previous ‘X-Men’ films and I’m really excited for fans to see it.

“‘Warpath’ is one of the lucky mutants in the future. Unfortunately, mutants are being hunted in the future and he’s joined together with the X-Men to stay alive. ‘Warpath’ is like the ultimate fighter. All his senses are heightened—his strength, sight, smell, everything—and he’s just trying to survive,” says Stewart.

In his role, he was also able to use his extensive martial arts skills. The actor says he had a great time filming “X-Men: Days of Future Past.” Although a seasoned movie veteran, Stewart was in awe of the “X-Men’s” Montreal set.

“The initial getting to set and being walked around...I just couldn’t believe I was there and it was so mind blowing getting there and meeting everybody and actually being on set,” Stewart says.

“I got to hang out with Ian McKellen a lot. How can you not have fun working with Ian McKellen? Hanging out with him;

Vet speaks at ‘Flat Stanley’ performance

that was pretty epic.”

Enter by Thursday, May 22, and win a seat for you and a friend to watch the premier of “X-Men: Days of Future Past” in a StarClass Suite with Stewart during the premiere at UltraStar at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 24. Enter at www. MeetBoobooAtUltraStar.com. Five winners will be announced on UltraStar’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/ UltraStarMultiTainmentCenter.

Stewart and his family are considered friends of UltraStar. “I got connected with UltraStar and their team for their grand opening,” Stewart notes. “You can’t go to UltraStar and not have fun. It’s a really cool place.”

UltraStar is a state-of-the art entertainment center with 12 movie auditoriums featuring stadium-style seating along with 12 StarClass Balconies for guests 21 and older. The balconies feature wine, beer and convenient inseat ordering. Other attractions include casual gourmet dining at the 347 Grill, 24 lanes of bowling at Ten Pins Down, including eight VIP bowling lanes designated for group events and parties, laser tag in UltraStar’s Urban Arena, a family arcade and guests 21 and older can gather with friends and meet at UltraLounge. UltraStar Multi-tainment Center is located next door to Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino at 16000 Maricopa Rd. in Maricopa. Visit www.ultrastarakchin. com or call (520) 494-7827 for additional information.

Lynette Carrington is a freelancer for the SanTan Sun News. She can be contacted at lynette@santansun.com.

The Palms Theatre, 5247 E. Brown Rd., Mesa, will welcome Iraq war veteran Brian Owens Friday, May 23, as a guest speaker at “The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley.”

The play is the theater’s final Children’s Theatre production of 2014.

Owens has a special connection to the “Flat Stanley” project: He received Stanley in 2004 from an 8-year-old in Huntsville, Arkansas while serving in the Army and stationed in Baghdad. He rediscovered Stanley 10 years later, when he was going through the contents of his worn-out wallet and found the character where he’d safely tucked him a decade ago. Owens tracked down the now 17-year-old who had sent him Stanley and returned him to the high school senior last year, along with a letter describing Stanley’s incredible journey.

Owens will join the cast on stage and tell his unique story following the performance.

The early matinee of “Flat Stanley” is Friday, May 23—lunch at 10:30 a.m.; show at 11:30 a.m. A family matinee will be performed Saturday, May 17, as well as the final performance Saturday, May 24—lunch at 12 p.m.; show at 1 p.m. Tickets are $18, which includes a kid friendly lunch buffet. After each performance the cast will introduce themselves and take questions from young audience members, as well as sign photographs and pose for photos.

Tickets can be purchased online at www. thepalmstheatre.com, by phone, (480) 924-6260, or at the box office.

Unpredictable Change: Metal sculptures by Arizona artists

The Vision Gallery, 10 E. Chicago St., Chandler, is welcoming metal artists Jose Benavides, Doug Brannan and Kevin Caron Saturday, May 17, in a reception to unveil “Unpredictable Change,” a new exhibition featuring their sculpture work that will run through Saturday, July 5.

The artists have each found unique and compelling ways to tell stories through metal. The collection of sculptures seeks to convey the messages about life and joy that the artists envisioned, both individually and as a collective statement.

Benavides, whose exhibition pieces are made entirely of found objects, has a long history as an artist in Arizona. Starting his career as an engineer and evolving his works beyond the scope of the average, he has continued to express himself through a wide range of artistic mediums. Find out more at www.joseart.com.

Brannan of Doug’s Refried Robots scours flea markets and yard sales. He has worked furiously, creating a plethora of mixed-media robots created out of lost items from the age of analog. Learn more about his work at www.refriedrobots.com.

Caron creates art as a way of expressing his perception of the world. “I focus on the sensuality of shapes, the gentle rise and fall of their sides and junctures,” he says. “I enjoy the challenges of creating monumental public works, which allow me to work in a scale and variety of proportion that smaller pieces sometimes resist.” Visit his page at www.kevincaron. com.

All three artists will be in attendance for the opening reception May 17 to answer questions. For more information, call (480) 782-2695 or visit www.visiongallery.org.

Rivera sees Joel as consummate songwriter

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Saxophonist Mark Rivera has worked with some of the rock’s most legendary musicians— Billy Joel, Peter Gabriel, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney among them. While anyone would expect the New Yorker to have bragging rights, Rivera is humbled and thrilled to hear compliments about his debut album “Common Bond.”

He says he believes that if “Common Bond” gets into the right listeners’ ears, that feeling would be widespread. He’s not saying that to be arrogant. He’s just being honest.

“You have to find people that this resonates with,” says Rivera, who sings and plays multiple instruments on the collection. “I think that’s the key.”

“Common Bond” is an eclectic mix of his rock, pop and soul influences rolled up into a new package of eight original songs and two covers.

Rivera and producer Jimmy Bralower (Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood) have assembled an impressive cast of friends and colleagues to join in on the record, including a rare appearance by Joel playing a Hammond B3 organ on Rivera’s cover of the Jimi Hendrix classic “Spanish Castle Magic.” Starr, Robert Randolph, Nils Lofgren and Steve Lukather all contribute their talents as well.

A 32-year member of Joel’s band, Rivera says “Common Bond” was a longtime “work in progress.” Rivera, who also arranged the horns for Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer,” penned songs over the course of his decades-long career. But there’s one thing he hopes for: To be considered an ounce as talented as Joel. He calls Joel one of

the foremost songwriters in pop history because he writes solely with his hand. He doesn’t have songwriting partners like Lennon-McCartney.

“In my opinion, as Tony Bennett said, he is the walking American songbook,” Rivera says about Joel.

“I come away (from shows) first of all, with a feeling that I share a stage with an old friend.”

Joel provides a snapshot into listeners’ lives, he says. In return, fans have a connection to Joel. The singer creates moments for his fans, who associate life moments with the concerts.

“I’ve been to Rome and I’ve seen works of artists,” Rivera says. “It takes me someplace. To see Billy perform live, (fans) know who their girlfriend was, who their boyfriend was, whatever, the connection they had to the music.

“I’ve seen 9 year olds singing the songs with their grandparents. The other night, we were playing ‘Good Night Saigon’ and there were firemen, policemen and women and military personnel. The response that people had was amazing. They don’t forget the Vietnam War and it reminds them of 9/11. It reminds them that this guy is a true historian. He’s an inspiration for the songwriter. I’m still trying to pick up the crumbs the first week he started writing.”

Billy Joel performs at 8 p.m. Sunday, June 1, at US Airways Center, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. Tickets are $49.50 to $119.50. For more information, call (800) 745-3000 or visit www. ticketmaster.com.

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski is the executive editor of the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at christina@santansun.com.

Summer heats up at the MAC

The Mesa Arts Center is bringing in some class acts and crowd favorites during June and July.

Hugh Laurie with the Copper Bottom Band

7: 30 p.m. Tuesday, June 3

Ikeda Theater $35-$65

Hugh Laurie, who has played the piano for most of his life, is predominantly self-taught and has gone on to have an incredibly successful music career. In 2011, he released a New Orleans Blues album “Let Them Talk.” The album features both musical and vocal collaborations. “Let Them Talk” has become a global hit landing Top 10 chart positions in nine markets as well as Top 40 chart positions in a further 11. To date, the album has peaked at No. 16 on the U.S. Billboard album chart and has topped the Billboard blues album chart since launch.

Lyle Lovett and His Large Band

7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 24

Ikeda Theater $48-$78

A singer, composer and actor, Lyle Lovett has broadened the definition of American music in a career that spans 14 albums. Coupled with his gift for storytelling, the Texas-based musician fuses elements of country, swing, jazz, folk, gospel and blues in a conventiondefying manner that breaks down barriers. Lovett has appeared in 13 feature films, and on stage and television.

Tori Amos: Unrepentant Geraldines Tour

In partnership with Danny Zelisko

Presents 8 p.m. Friday, July 2

Ikeda Theater $35-$85

Tori Amos has sold more than 12 million albums, has played over 1,000 shows and has won numerous awards. Amos continues to be adored, picking up new fans along the way, romanced by her messages of empowerment, tenderness, acerbic assertiveness, and of course her utterly peerless sound.

Fold, Paper, Scissors

Various Artists Through Aug. 10 in the Main Gallery

Free

Although the act of cutting and folding paper has a long rich history, contemporary artists have only recently explored paper as an expressive medium. From intricately and precisely cut paper “drawings” to mathematically mindboggling folds to a single sheet of paper, the artists in this exhibition are pushing the boundaries of this sparse material far beyond the limits of its everyday purpose.

Boundless: The Book Transformed in Contemporary Art

Various Artists Through Aug. 10 in the South Gallery

Free

Even with the emergence of the digital age, books are considered tangible artifacts that preserve our literary culture, and oftentimes, are revered as works of art themselves. This exhibition challenges the traditional purpose of

books by transforming them into the mediums behind extraordinary 3-D sculptures. By physically altering their appearance, the artists have bestowed each book with a new life and meaning.

Metal and Beyond: Betsy Douglas Through Aug. 10 in the North Gallery

Free

An Arizona icon in the metals field, Betsy Douglas’ illustrious career spans more than five decades. From her sleek, modern silver designs to computer circuit board jewelry, this exhibition captures the last 35 years of Douglas’ career with selected examples that demonstrate her ever evolving style and craftsmanship.

Turning the Page: Sculpture by Marilyn da Silva Through Aug. 10 in the SRP

Free

Marilyn da Silva’s work is based on telling stories through imagery and representational elements. Creating narrative works from metal, da Silva’s imagery often includes books, birds and houses used to tell her stories. Her trademark surface treatment of gesso and

colored pencil creates a rich palette for her sculptures and wearable pieces.

In/Visible Installation by Sara Rockinger Through Aug. 10 in the Project Room

Free

An installation by Colorado artist Sara Rockinger, In/Visible features 3-D translucent figures that are layered with embroidery, silk screen and video projection. Local interviews and video footage are projected onto the figurative forms, creating a haunting experience that explores overlapping issues like race, immigration, U.S. history, personal history and invisibility.

Mesa Arts Center is located at One E. Main St. in downtown Mesa. The Mesa Arts Center mission is to inspire people through engaging arts experiences that are diverse, accessible, and relevant. For more information, visit www. mesaartscenter.com.

Strait Country returns to the Palms Theatre

Acclaimed tribute to country music’s

living legend

Strait Country returns to The Palms Theatre 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 23, with their acclaimed tribute to country music’s living legend George Strait.

Strait Country has been thrilling audiences and selling out concert venues throughout Southern Arizona for the past three years.

The group, built around Kevin Sterner’s vocal style which is amazingly similar to George Strait’s, features Rich Brennion on pedal steel guitar and Bill Emrie on fiddle. These two instruments are key to the signature sound that has been Strait’s trademark throughout his incredible 30-year career. They are what makes Country Music “country” and why he has always made them an integral part of his music. This allstar band is rounded out with Steve Wendling on bass and harmony vocals, Dennis Van Vactor on keyboards and Ralph Gilmore on drums and vocals.

This concert showcases hit after hit from an incredible catalog of 58 No. 1 and 83 top 10 hits spanning Strait’s 30-year career. Hear all-time favorites “Ocean Front Property,” “Amarillo By

Morning,” “The Chair,” “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” and “I Cross My Heart,” as well as more recent hits such as “Run,” “Give it Away” and “I’m Here for a Good Time,” to name just a few.

Sterner uses stories and anecdotes about the songs and life of this “Living Legend” and audiences have said that they feel that they are actually at one of Strait’s shows.

Dinner at 6 p.m.; concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets to Strait Country can be purchased online at www. ThePalmsTheatre.com, by phone (480) 924-6260, or at the Box Office located at 5247 E. Brown Rd., in Mesa. Ticket price is $39 for dinner and show; $30 for show only seating, $35 for premium show only seating.

The Palms Theatre is located at 5247 E. Brown Rd., on the southeast corner of Brown and Higley roads in the Alta Mesa Plaza. The theater is easily accessible from the Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) or the U.S. Highway 60 (Superstition Freeway) via the Higley Road exits. Parking is free.

Reliving the Roaring ‘20s

The Arizona Classic Jazz Society will present Howard Miyata playing trombone with 52nd Street Jazz Band at its Sunday, June 22, jazz party. While sitting or dancing in air-conditioned comfort, be taken back to the Roaring ‘20s, into the swing era of the 1930s and the Dixieland revival of the 1940s.

Miyata has played trombone with the High Sierra Jazz Band since 1989 and is also the tuba player in the Au Brothers Jazz Band. The three Au brothers are all horn players and credit their Uncle Howard for their appreciation of traditional jazz.

Miyata is well known for the facial expressions that accompany his vocals, especially during “The Yama Yama Man.” He was honored as Musician of the Year at Dixieland Monterey in 2013.

The party takes place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 22, at the Crowne Plaza San Marcos Golf Resort, One San Marcos Pl., Chandler. Cost is $10 ACJS members; $15 nonmembers (become a member on June 22 and get in free; yearly membership $35 couple, single $25). For more information, go to www.azclassicjazz.org or call (480) 620-3941.

Ballet Arizona dancers choreograph upcoming performances

‘Innovations’ showcases new works at the Dorrance Theatre

For the first time, Ballet Arizona presents “Innovations,” an evening devoted entirely to one-of-a-kind choreography created by four Ballet Arizona dancers. New choreography is the life of a ballet company and the most important contribution they can make to the future of dance.

Under the direction of Ballet Arizona Artistic Director Ib Andersen, the company artists that are presenting their choreography are Tzu-Chia Huang, Nayon Iovino, Myles Lavallee and Astrit Zejnati.

“All four of these artists have a

passion that we have seen come through in their extraordinary performances on stage in such ballets as ‘Cinderella,’ ‘La Bayadère’ and the many other works we present each season,” says Andersen.

The four performances are as dynamic as the dancers themselves. The untitled piece of choreography by Huang is about the emotional journey in life and love; Iovino’s “Interlayers” is an expressive performance that represents freedom of the mind; Lavallee captures the span of human emotions from comedy to tragedy in

his untitled work; and Zejnati’s “Bright Colors” is a light-hearted performance that highlights life’s colorful moments. “Innovations” is also a celebration of the generous support of the Dorrance Family Foundation, which helped make the Dorrance Theatre—a laboratory for artistically vibrant dance—a possibility. Within the theater walls, audiences have the opportunity to engage with Ballet Arizona in entirely new ways by observing professional rehearsals up close and personal, gaining insight into the creative process and encountering dance more personally than ever before

in an intimate setting of only 299 seats. Ballet Arizona will give 10 performances of “Innovations” from May 22 to June 1 at the Dorrance Theatre in Phoenix. Tickets start at $55 for the general public and $50 for subscribers. Tickets may be purchased by calling (602) 381-1096, by visiting www.balletaz.org or at the Ballet Arizona box office.

CCR’s Clifford is proud of his band’s legacy

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Spending his winters in Scottsdale’s Gainey Ranch, Creedence Clearwater Revisited drummer Doug “Cosmo” Clifford has longed to play Talking Stick Resort’s Salt River Ballroom.

“We wanted to get into that venue for so long and our good old friend Danny Zelisko got us in there,” says Clifford, who summers in Reno. “I’m excited about it. I could easily walk there, but I won’t be there in June—except to play.”

Thanks to the longtime Phoenix promoter, Creedence Clearwater Revisited will bring the hits to the venue at 8 p.m. Sunday, June 15.

“We play hit after hit after hit,” Clifford explains. “That’s what we do. We play 21 songs—all hits and some of them are better known than others. But hits are hits. It makes it fun. It’s a little surprise when people forget about songs and then there are other songs that were genuine hits.

“Either they’ll go, ‘Oh, I didn’t know they did that one,’ or, ‘Oh, I forgot that they did that one. Then, of course, there are the obvious ones like the ‘Proud Marys,’ ‘Who’ll Stop the Rains’ and the ‘Fortunate Sons.’ Those are the obvious ones.”

Clifford is the co-founder of Creedence Clearwater Revisited, which he started in 1995 with fellow former Creedence Clearwater Revival bassist Stu Cook. The

band didn’t intend to play for the public. Instead it wanted to focus on private shows, but Creedence Clearwater Revisited snowballed.

It was brought to a complete halt, temporarily, two years later when a legal injunction by John Fogerty, the exCreedence Clearwater Revival singer, forced the group to change its name to Cosmo’s Factory. However, the courts ruled in Cook and Clifford’s favor and it returned to CCR—Creedence Clearwater Revisited.

The music of CCR—whichever one listeners prefer—has stood the test of time. Clifford says he sees fans ranging from ages 8 to 80 at his shows and he has a theory for that.

“They’re good songs, kudos to John Fogerty as a songwriter; the fact that we were a band who started playing instruments and being a band at age 13 gave us a unique sound,” Clifford explains.

“We’re very dedicated to making that sound successful. It took us 10 years from when we started to when we had the first hit. We maintained that work ethic throughout the projects and hence we have the legacy of music that we have.”

Clifford, who is in the Rock and Roll, the Grammy, the Independent Record and Distributors and the Classic Drummer halls of fame, still, admittedly, gets a kick out of hearing his music on the radio.

“Our music has staying power and the ultimate test for the pop medium is the test of time,” he says. “We seem to be weathering that challenge.”

But, Clifford says, he never bought into the “rock star” label.

“In four days, I’ll be celebrating my 46th wedding anniversary,” he says proudly, before adding he’s expecting his fifth grandchild. “I’ve been with my wife for 52 years. We went steady for six years. Before we were married we were teenagers. We were high school sweethearts. That puts me in a certain class.

“Not too many rock stars do that, that’s

Heard set to open LEGO exhibit for summer

LEGO bricks, the popular building toy that came to life in February in a major U.S. motion picture release, will be the inspiration of a family friendly, interactive exhibit to open Saturday, May 24, at the Heard Museum in Phoenix.

“BUILD! Toy Brick Art at the Heard,” to be presented in the museum’s Lincoln Gallery, will feature local American Indian, Mexican-American and non-Indian artists transforming their artworks using the versatile toy bricks. This exhibit will also feature two LEGO brick creations by wellknown brick artists Nathan Sawaya and Sean Kenney.

A members-only opening and reception is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, May 24, followed by a public opening at 1 p.m. The exhibit will be on display through Sept. 28.

Native artists Steven Yazzie (Navajo) and Autumn Dawn Gomez (Comanche/

Taos Pueblo/Navajo) and MexicanAmerican artist Lalo Cota will be creating their first artworks with LEGO bricks while local LEGO brick artist Dave Shaddix will be transforming Navajo artist Marlowe Katoney’s “Angry Birds” textile into a LEGO brick mosaic. Also included are works by Cactus Brick, a Tempe-based LEGO brickbuilding club.

Interactive activities—from June workshops to July “block parties” to an August building contest—combined with the exhibit’s already-assembled sculptures will bring to both children and adults a close-up demonstration of the bricks’ amazing capabilities of form, color and design.

Admission

As this is a special exhibit, the following adjusted admission rates will be charged to visitors May 24-Sept. 28. These rates include

admission to “BUILD!” plus the rest of the museum: Adults $23, seniors $18.50, students with ID $12.50, children ages 6-12 $12.50, children ages 1-5 and American Indians $5, children younger than 1 and Heard Museum members free.

Those visiting the Heard this summer as part of the following programs and special entry days will still be required to pay a gate fee of $5 per person to visit “BUILD!:” Blue Star Families, Teacher Appreciation month, Target Summer Sundays, Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day, Culture Pass.

Those who purchase a Heard Museum Family Membership for only $75 will receive free admission to “BUILD!” all summer, including a special members-only reception on May 24. During the reception, members get the first opportunity to construct pieces of a “mystery mosaic” activity that will be led by Dave Shaddix. To join, visit https:// members.heard.org or call (602) 251-0261.

for sure. I’ve never bought into it. Plus, you start believing all that stuff, you lose yourself and you miss everything that’s truly meaningful in your life. Part of that is my career. I’m fortunate in my career and in my personal life. I keep it at the right place where it should be. I fully enjoy it. I love playing and I love our fans. I’m living the dream as it were.”

Creedence Clearwater Revisited performs at 8 p.m. Sunday, June 15, at Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Indian Bend Rd., Scottsdale. Tickets are $40 to $125. For more information, call (480) 850-7734 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Workshops

Children ages 7-13 are encouraged to register for “BUILDING with Toy Bricks” summer workshops held each full week in June. Each session, produced by Bonanza Education in partnership with the Heard, are designed to provide a one-of-a-kind summer program with four components of fun based on the exhibit: general building activities, stop-motion animation, a tour of the Heard Museum and art expression with LEGO bricks as media. Fees for each one-week workshop are $95 for museum members, $110 for nonmembers. Space is limited. Sign up and get additional information at heard.org/build.

Other activities

Details about July “block parties” and August building contest will be posted at www.heard.org/build.

The Heard Museum is located at 2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. For more information, call (602) 252-8840 or visit www.heard.org.

Wild animals live in every neighborhood

Learn about them at Kids Club powered by National Geographic Kids

Throughout the Valley, local malls, including Chandler Fashion Center, are exploring the outdoors.

Chandler Fashion Center, along with Arrowhead Towne Center, Flagstaff Mall, Paradise Valley Mall, SanTan Village and Superstition Springs Center, have partnered with National Geographic Kids to offer a free funfilled educational Kids Club program for parents and children.

Kids become scientists searching for answers about the fascinating wild creatures found in their own neighborhoods and backyards in May and June at Kids Club. Participants will learn fun facts about backyard animals, dance, participate in singalongs, and much more.

For a complete list of Kids Club dates and times, visit www. MallKidsClub.com and follow your favorite shopping centers on Facebook and Twitter to receive the most up-to-date information.

The times and days of the events are as follows:

• Arrowhead Towne Center, 10 a.m. Mondays

• Chandler Fashion Center, 10 a.m. Wednesdays

• Flagstaff Mall, 10 a.m. first Friday of the month

• Paradise Valley Mall, 10 a.m. Thursdays

• SanTan Village, 10 a.m. fourth Friday of the month

• Superstition Springs Center, 10 a.m. Thursdays

ON STAGE

“Schoolhouse Rock Live!” through Sun., May 25, TCA. Rock out to favorites like “Conjunction Junction” and “Just a Bill,” as Childsplay presents an updated twist on many popular hits.

“Hollywood Costume,” through Sun., July 6, PAM. See your favorite film characters in a blockbuster exhibition at Phoenix Art Museum, showcasing costumes from films like “The Big Lebowski,” “The Dark Knight Rises” and “Gangs of New York” as well as interviews and behind-the-scenes insights from costume designers.

“HA HA’S Improv Troupe Show,” Sat., May 17, VYT. Valley Youth Theatre’s comedy troupe for teens tickles funny bones with off-the-wall improvisations.

“Peter Pan,” Fri., June 13, to Sun., June 29, HTC. To close out its 25th anniversary season, Valley Youth Theatre presents a musical adaptation of the classic story about a mischievous boy who flies with a fairy named Tinkerbell and leads a gang of Lost Boys on Neverland—and his archnemesis, Captain Hook.

Second Arizona Sketch Comedy Festival, Wed., June 25, to Sun., June 29, OCC. Study and celebrate comedy in this festival with six shows, three workshops and four venues over five days. Check the website for locations and details.

ON STAGE VENUE INDEX

HTC—Herberger Theater Center 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix Tickets: (602) 252-8497, www. herbergertheater.ticketforce.com

OCC—Outliars Comedy Club Chandler, Mesa, Scottsdale, Glendale (480) 784-7258, www.outliarscc.com

PAM—Phoenix Art Museum 1625 N. Central Ave., Phoenix (602) 257-1222, www.phxart.org

TCA—Tempe Center for the Arts 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe Tickets: (480) 350-2822, www.tca. ticketforce.com

VYT—Valley Youth Theatre 525 N. First St., Phoenix Tickets: (602) 253-8188, www.vyt.com