El Paso Scene Weekly for Jan. 23-29, 2012

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Beatnik Night — The eclectic drum circle Echos in the Park performs at a night of poetry and music hosted by Free Hole Slam Tuesday, Jan. 24, at The Percolator, 217 N. Stanton. Artists, performers, writers and musicians are invited to a stream of consciousness writing session at 6 p.m. followed by a poetry slam at 7 p.m. where everyone is invited to read their work while being accompanied by the drum circle. Admission is free. Information: 494-6762 or freeholeslam.com.
  Young adults and children interested in the roots of slam poetry or the beat poets are encouraged to attend.

‘Magnificent Mexico: 20th Century Modern Masterworks’ — A trio of Modern Mexican Art exhibit opens at the El Paso Museum of Art Saturday, Jan. 28. “Magnificent Mexicana: Visiones de lo Mexicano from the Borja Collection” brings together works never before seen outside Mexico. Dibujos Divinas: 20th Century Drawings, from National Museum of Art in Mexico City (MUNAL) spans the period from 1900 to 1945. “Diego Rivera and the Cubist Vision” focuses on eight paintings produced by Diego Rivera in the first quarter of the 20th Century. Admission: $10 for non-member adults age 13 and up, $5 for members age 13 and up. Free for age 12 and under, and free for active military and their families with ID. Information: 532-1707 or elpasoartmuseum.org.

El Paso Chamber Music Festival - El Paso Pro-Musica’s 23rd annual festival presents world-class chamber musicians Jan. 12-Feb. 5. Information: 833-9400 or eppm.org.
• El Paso Symphony Orchestra members perform the Bach Double Violin Concerto at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 27-28, at the Plaza Theatre. See separate listing.
• The Complete Beethoven Violin sonata in two parts: Part I features Ik-Hwan Be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, at Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall; Part II features Soovin Kim at 7:30 p.m. Monday, at First Baptist Church. Tickets: $30 ($25 seniors/military; $5 students).
  The Music Film series is 7 p.m. Thursdays at the El Paso Museum of Art. Admission is free. Jan. 26 — “The Art of the Violin.”
  Free Bach’s Lunch concerts are noon Thursdays at the El Paso Museum of Art. Jan. 26 — Soovin Kim

El Paso Symphony Orchestra - The Symphony performs with guest conductor Michael Butterman, at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 27-28, in the Plaza Theatre. Butterman, conductor of the Boulder Philharmonic and Shreveport Symphony, is one of six candidates for EPSO’s new conductor. Butterman and guest violinists Soovin Kim and Ik-Hwan Bae, Violin present Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043, Peck’s “The Glory and the Grandeur; Concerto for Percussion Trio” and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, op. 64, E minor. Tickets: $15-$40. ($8-$10 for students). Information: 532-3776 or epso.org.
  Butterman is entering his sixth season as Music Director for the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra and also for the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, and is in his 12th season as Principal Conductor for Education and Outreach for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the first position of its kind in the United States. Beginning with the 2009-2010 season, he assumed the additional post of Resident Conductor for the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. 
  The “Opening Notes” discussion with Butterman and Assistant Conductor Andres Moran is 6:30 p.m. both nights in the Philanthropy Theatre. Discussions are free and open to the public.
  Symphony subscribers can meet the guest conductor 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at a pre-dress rehearsal reception in the Plaza Theatre lobby. Subscribers can stay for the dress rehearsal at 7 p.m.

Downtown Artist Market — The City of El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department new market for area artists are Saturdays on Anthony Street in the Union Plaza area. Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Information: 541-4481.

Belly Dance Extravaganza 2012 — Dance Alive and special guests present an evening of dance and music at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Chamizal National Memorial, 800 S. San Marcial. Admission: $10. Information: 566-1742 or 544-0364.
  Dance Alive is led by Lorraine Alvarez Portilla, local performer and dance instructor.
  Lorraine will lead free workshops 10-11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 28-29, at the Chamizal on “Belly Dance Favorite Moves & Yoga for Belly Dancers.”
  Six other dance workshops will be presented Jan. 28-29 at the Chamizal by guest instructors. Cost is $10 each or $50 for all six.
  Saturday: 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Ginnina, “Zils”; 12:30-1:30 p.m., Anala, “Ooey-Gooey Chifti”;1:45-2:45 p.m., Selena Kareena, “Veil Combinations.”
  Sunday: 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Nisreen, “Accents & Rhythms in Drum Solo”; 12:30-1:30 p.m., Nancy, “Funky Fusion”; 1:45-2:45 p.m., Kareesha, “Total Requests Live.”

The Deadmeat Tour — Electronica house musician Steve Aoki and dj/producer Datsik share the bill at 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at El Paso County Coliseum. Tickets: $30-$40. (Ticketmaster)

Kim & Foxman — The British DJ performs Saturday, Jan. 28, at Low Brow Palace, 111 E. Robinson, with opening acts Mr. B, J-En, Goldsmith and Ed Chalace. Showtime is 9 p.m. Tickets available online at ticketbully.com. Information: 356-0966 or lowbrow.elpaso@gmail.com.

Josh Abbot Band — Saturday, Jan. 28, at Whiskey Dick’s, 580 George Dieter. Early arrival recommended. Tickets: $15 ($25 ages 18-20).Shows begin at 10 p.m. Tickets available at (ticketbully.com). Information: 921-9900.

Tim Thompson — The winner of 2007’s “El Paso’ Got Talent” contest performs original music and covers 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at Scottish Rite Temple Theatre, 301 W. Missouri, accompanied by members of PT and The Cruisers. Proceeds benefit the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas. Admission: $15 ($10 students with valid ID). Information: (9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday) 533-4409 or elpasoscottishrite.org.

Jay’s Pix — Film historian, educator, writer, archivist, collector Jay Duncan brings back his weekly film series after an 8-year absence at 1:30 p.m. Sundays, at International Museum of Art, 1211 Montana. Each screening includes commentary, anecdotes and film facts from Duncan. Admission is free. Information: 532-6747 or jayspixpresents@yahoo.com.
  January’s films celebrate 2012 as the 85th anniversary of the Academy Awards with a series of films recognized and bestowed the Academy Award for “Best Film,” including the very first recipient.
  Jan. 29 — “Wings” (1927). The only silent film to win Best Picture. Two All-American boys (Charles “Buddy” Rogers and Richard Arlen) in love with the same girl (Clara Bow) enlist in the Army Air Corps during World War I. It also features an early appearance by Gary Cooper. Nominated for two Oscars.

UTEP Department of Music — Brian Downen, tenor, and Diane Helfers Petrella, piano perform as part of the guest artist series at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, at Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall. The program will feature Benjamin Britten’s “Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo,” six songs from Jacques Leguerney’s “Poemes de la Pleiade,” Liszt’s “Petrarch Sonnets” and operatic arias of Mozart. Tickets: $8 ($5 military and seniors; $3 UTEP faculty, staff, students, and ages 6 and younger). Ticket information: 747-5606 or utep.edu/music.

EPSYOs Winter Concert - The El Paso Symphony Youth Orchestras, under the direction of Andres Moran, presents its winter concert, “Spanish Nights” at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, at the Abraham Chavez Theatre. Tickets: $12 ($7 students/seniors/military). Information: 525-8978 or epsyos.org.
  All 300 members of the EPSYOs will perform classics such as Rossini’s “Overture to the Barber of Seville” and Beethoven’s “Overture to Egmont.” UTEP professor of piano Dr. Dena Kay Jones will perform “Nights in the Gardens of Spain” by Spanish composer Manuel de Falla.


ON STAGE

‘Lute’ — UTEP Dinner Theatre presents the World Premiere of the new version of musical comedy by Sir Tim Rice (formerly known as “Blondel”) Jan. 27-Feb. 12. The original version’s American Premiere was held at UTEP in 1984. Showtime is 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. A dinner matinee is 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, and non-dinner matinee is 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12. Tickets $28-$40 dinner shows; $14-$24 non-dinner matinee. Information: 747-6060.
  The story takes place in England in 1189 and features a magnificent and murky collection of medieval characters. The star is the minstrel Blondel, who plucks his lute all over Europe while on a desperate quest to locate England’s missing king, Richard The Lionheart. Also involved in the tale are Fiona, his long-suffering girlfriend, the evil Prince John, a confused Assassin, four be-bopping Monks and even, in a minor role, Robin Hood.
  Rice wrote the original version with music by the late Stephen Olivier. Lute! also features music by Matthew Pritchard. Gregory Taylor directs, with musical direction by Patricia Ann Provencio and choreography by Lisa Lopez.
  Rice is best known as co-creator of “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Evita” with Andrew Lloyd Webber. The three-time Tony Award winner came to El Paso in January to work with Taylor on the stage of the revised musical.

‘Murder on the Nile’ — El Paso Playhouse, 2501 Montana, presents the Agatha Christie murder mystery Jan. 6-28. Directed by Frieda Voeks. When a new bride is murdered while on her honeymoon, it is up to her guardian to find out who the murderer is, before the boat reaches its destination. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $10 ($8 seniors, $7 military/students with ID). Information: 532-1317, elpasoplayhouse.com.

‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ — El Paso Community College Theater Ensemble presents Tony Award-winning musical comedy Thursday through Saturday, Jan. 26-28, at the EPCC Transmountain Campus Forum Theatre, 9570 Gateway North. Directed by Hector Serrano. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 ($5 students, seniors and military). Information/reservations: 831-3205.
  In this hilarious musical, six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grownups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn’t everything and that losing doesn’t necessarily make one a loser.

Sports

El Paso Rhinos — El Paso’s Junior League ice hockey team takes on the Park City Moose at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and 5:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26-27, at Sierra Providence Events Center, next to the Coliseum, 4100 E. Paisano. Tickets: $5 general admission; $10, $15 and $20 reserved. Information: 479-PUCK (7825) or elpasorhinos.com.

UTEP Women’s Basketball — UTEP hosts UCF at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, at the Don Haskins Center. Ticket information: 747-5234 or utepathletics.com.

R.J. Toddler Trot — The Montwood High School Families Battling Cancer hosts its 2nd annual 5K run and 1 mile walk in honor of the R.J. Seeburg Family at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, at Montwood High School, 12000 Montwood. Trophies for overall male and female racer and largest team; medals for top three finishers in each category. Refreshments available at finish line. All pre-registered runners and walkers by Jan. 27 receive race t-shirt Cost: $20 individuals ($15 per person for teams of 10 or more). Race day registration: $25. Information: Mike Coulter, 274-5222 or 881-4590.Online registration at raceadventuresunlimited.com.
  Registration forms should be turned in to Mrs. Gonzalez in A207, Mrs. Trujillo in C210 or Rose De La Rosa
in the Montwood High School Business Office.
  Packet pick up is 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, at Montwood High, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at Up and Running East, 1475 George Dieter, Suite O, and 7 to 8 a.m. on race day at the starting line.

Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino — The 2011-2012 live horse racing season runs through April 17. Race days are Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. First post is 12:25 p.m. each race day. General admission is free to the track and casino. Turf Club seating is $7. Information: (575) 874-5200 or sunland-park.com.
  Simulcast racing begins at 10 a.m. everyday. General admission and parking are free. Information: (575) 874-5200.
  To get there, take the Sunland Park exit from I-10, go south (left turn coming from Downtown) and follow the signs.

Southern New Mexico

The Blues Brothers Revue — The Official tribute to Jake and Elwood Blues, The Blues Brothers is 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the Flickinger Center for Performing Arts, 1110 New York Ave. Alamogordo. Information: (575) 437-2202 or flickingercenter.com. Wayne Catania and Kieron Lafferty become the dynamic duo of blues music. Tickets: $15, $22, $27 and $40.

Ron Scott and Classique — The ensemble performs a benefit concert for the local Candlelighters at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the Black Box Theatre, 430 N. Main in Las Cruces. The concert also features George Aiuvalasit and his classical Chromatic Harmonica. Aiuvalasit and Scott played together as the R & G Good Company Duo in 2006 in Las Cruces, before Scott went on the road. CDs available after the performance. Tickets: $10 at the door. Information/reservations: (575) 523-1223.

Stayin’ Alive — The world’s top Bee Gees tribute band performs 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Spencer Theater for Performing Arts in Alto, N.M. This tribute to the great Gibbs is an intimate, immediate experience of the brothers live in concert with matching vocals, swirling lights and sexy moves. Tickets: $66 and $69. Information: (575) 336-4800, (888) 818-7872 or spencertheater.com. Disco buffet is at 5 p.m. Cost is $20

Look Who’s Dancing 2012 — The celebrity dance event is 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, at NMSU’s Pan American Center. Las Cruces community leaders and local personalities and their DanceSport partners compete against each other in friendly contest. DanceSport students choreograph the dances, instruct, and perform with the local celebrities. Tickets: $9-$14. (Ticketmaster). Information: (575) 646-1420 or dance.nmsu.edu/lookwhosdancing/.

‘Nifty Fifties’ benefit — The fundraiser for the Rio Grande Theatre, 211 N. Downtown Mall in Las Cruces is Sunday, Jan. 29, with classic cars lining Main Street, ‘50s food and fashion show, and performance by DooWop band “Remember Then.” Master of Ceremonies is Jim Shearer. The seven-piece group is in their fourth year together and specializes in top favorites of the era. Outdoor events begin at 1 p.m. with concert at 2 p.m. Tickets: $10. The public is encouraged to come dressed in their favorite 50s garb. Information: (575) 523-6403 or riograndetheatre.com.
  Hot rods line Main Street for an automotive blast from the past, courtesy of the People’s Recording Company and the locally produced feature film “Desert Demonz,” along with photo ops with Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and Elvis.

‘The Sisters Rosensweig’ - No Strings Theatre Company presents the comedy by Wendy Wasserstein Jan. 20-Feb. 5 at the Black Box Theatre, 430 N. Downtown Mall, Las Cruces. Directed by Nikka Zimmer. Performances are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29 and Feb. 5, and 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2. Tickets: $7-$10. Information: (575) 523-1223 or no-strings.org.
  The New York Times called this play “a captivating portrait of three disparate sisters reuniting after a lengthy separation and coming to terms with their differences, respect and love for one another. The laughter is all but continuous.”

Copyright 2012 Cristo Rey Communications

epscene@epscene.com
P.O. Box 13615, El Paso TX 79913
Phone: (915) 542-1422. FAX: 542-4292.