El Paso Scene Weekly for Jan. 30-Feb. 5, 2012
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‘Wicked’ — The Broadway blockbuster that reveals the untold story of the Oz witches comes to El Paso Feb. 1-12, at the Plaza Theatre, based on the bestseller by Gregory McGuire. Group tickets available to purchase in spring of 2011. Information: wickedthemusical.com.
Tickets Cost: $57.50-$77.50; $125 premium (Ticketmaster).
The musical directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello is winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy Award and three Tony Awards. Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz. One, born with emerald green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. “Wicked” tells the story of how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.
CONCERTS
‘Wild Thing, You Make My Heart Sing’ — El Paso Wind Symphony performs at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, at UTEP’s Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall. Tickets $12.50 ($7.50 military, students and seniors). Information: 760-5599 or elpasowindsymphony.com.
Conjunto Primavera — The norteño group performs at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, at El Paso County Coliseum, with El Paso’s Los Reileros del Norte. Conjunto Primavera was founded in Ojinaga, Chihuahua in 1978 featuring singer Tony Melendez, accordionist/keyboardist Felix Contreras, saxophonist Juan Dominguez, bajosexto player Rolando Perez, bassist Oscar Ochoa and drummer Adan Huerta. Tickets: $32; BYOB. (Ticketmaster).
Also performing is La Furia del Norte, Grupo Piramides, El Grupo La Base and El Paso’s Los Rieleros del Norte.
‘A Magnificent Choral Festival’ — Bruce Nehring Consort presents a concert of Massed Choirs featuring guest organist, conductor and composer Dr. Michael Burkhardt at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5, at Western Hills United Methodist Church, 524 Thunderbird. The Consort Singers conducted by Nehring will perform “God of Rhythm, God of Sound.” Guests include the Handbell Choir of Western Hills United Methodist Church, conducted by Jim Regin. Tickets: $15 ($10 senior/military; $5 students). Information: 534-7664. Ticket information: 532-5874 or brucenehringconsort.org.
Internationally known for his innovative and inspiring hymn festivals, Burkhardt is an accomplished choral clinician, composer and organ recitalist. He is Director of Worship and the Arts at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Livonia, Michigan and Artistic Director of the Detroit Handbell Ensemble.
Burkhardt will conduct and perform this unique Massed Choir Festival in which the entire community may participate. Rehearsals are 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 4 and 1:15 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5, at Western Hills UMC. Participation cost is $20 per person, which includes all music and a complimentary festival ticket for a guest. Registration is 8 a.m. Saturday for those who have not registered in advance.
El Paso Chamber Music Festival - El Paso Pro-Musica’s 23rd annual festival presents world-class chamber musicians through Feb. 5. Concerts, recitals and other special events will be offered at various venues, in addition to the popular Music Film Series and free Bach’s lunch performances at El Paso Museum of Art. This year’s guests include Kim Kashkashian, Alfredo Oyaguez, Soovin Kim and Lara Downes. Information: 833-9400 or eppm.org.
• A “Harlem on My Mind” concert with Lara Downes is 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, at El Adobe Recording Studio, 5301 El Paso Dr.
• Lara Downes presents “13 Ways of Looking at the Goldbergs” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, at Western Hills United Methodist Church.
• Zuill Bailey joins the Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra as guest cellist at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4-5, at NMSU’s Atkinson Music Recital Hall in Las Cruces.
The Music Film series is 7 p.m. Thursdays at the El Paso Museum of Art. Admission is free. Feb. 2 — “Shine”
Free Bach’s Lunch concerts are noon Thursdays at the El Paso Museum of Art. Feb. 2 — Lara Downes.
Tricky Falls — 209 S. El Paso. Doors open at 7 p.m.; showtime at 8 p.m. for most shows. All shows are all-ages, unless listed otherwise. Information: 351-9909. Tickets for most shows available at All That Music, Bowie Feathers and Maria’s Closet, and online at holdmyticket.com.
• Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls — The British indie artist performs at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, with opening act El Paso band The Lusitania. Tickets: $12.
• Anthony Green — The indie rocker’s “Beautiful Things Tour” is Saturday, Feb. 4, with The Dear Hunter. Tickets: $15.
ALSO THIS WEEK
Crossland Gallery — El Paso Art Association’s gallery is 500 W. Paisano (in the Art Junction of El Paso). Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Admission is free. Information: 534-7377.
Showing Feb. 3-25:
• In the Bissell Gallery: EPAA Member Exhibit featuring works by Jacques Barriac, Paulina Castillon, Gerardo Chavez, Joseph Patrick Mitchell, Candy Mayer, Ed Saucedo, Diana Zampini and more.
• In the Cox Gallery: “Pearls of Ice,” works Julie Caffee-Cruz and Lori Wertz.
• In the Williams Gallery: Artists of the Month Art Nuñez and Rudi Leidelmeyer.
Opening reception is 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3. One work from these exhibits will be chosen for the 2012-2013 EPAA Yearbook cover.
Barrio Tour — El Paso Chicano(a) History Preservation Project and San Juan Neighborhood Association hosts an hour-long tour of one of El Paso’s oldest Mexican American neighborhoods at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, starting in plaza next to the San Juan Recreation Center, 701 N. Glenwood. Suggested donation: $5. Information/RSVP: 258-0989 or rayerojas@gmail.com.
Tour will include talks on dairies, San Juan Catholic Church, Hawkins School, coming of I-10, famous sanjuaneros and more. A roundtable with senior San Juan residents will take place after the tour.
SPORTS
UTEP Men’s Basketball – The Miners host UAB at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Don Haskins Center. Tickets: $14-$50 (Ticketmaster). Information: 747-5234 or utepathletics.com.
El Paso Michelob Ultra Marathon and 1/2 Marathon — The 6th annual multi-state marathon and half-marathon and Jarritos 5K run/walk is Sunday, Feb. 5. Information: 274-5222 or elpasomarathon.org.
Registration through Feb. 3 is $80 full marathon; $55 half-marathon and $40 5K.
Registration during the pre-Race Expo is $65 full marathon; $55 half-marathon and $40 5K.
Military discount of $5 per race.
The new marathon route for this Boston Marathon qualifier starts atop the Franklin Mountains down Transmountain Road, passes through Fort Bliss, to the beautiful Austin Terrace neighborhood and finishes in historic Downtown El Paso.
The new half marathon route begins and ends at the marathon finish line located in downtown El Paso’s Union Plaza District and will take runners to the Austin Terrace neighborhood and back.
The 5K event is through downtown past the Magoffin Home, San Jacinto Plaza and the Plaza Theater.
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.
Southern New Mexico
Magician Gary Carson — The illusionist presents his family-friendly, Las Vegas-style “Reality Magic Show” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, at Rio Grande Theatre, 211 N. Downtown Mall in Las Cruces, as a fundraiser for Jornada Elementary School Tickets are $12. Information: (575) 621-3205.
Carson’s credits include the opening of the MGM Grand hotel and more than 8,000 shows over a 2-year period, as well as numerous TV appearances.
The Ragbirds — The contemporary folk/roots band performs at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, at WNMU Fine Arts Center Theatre, Silver City. Presented by Mimbres Region Arts Council. Led by dynamic and energetic front woman and multi-instrumentalist Erin Zindle, The Ragbirds utilize an arsenal of instruments from around the world and are a fusion of folk rock and pop that hooks over danceable world rhythms stirred with a Celtic fiddler’s bow. Tickets: $20 ($15 members; $5 students/children). Information: (575) 538-2505 or mimbresarts.org.
Mikey’s Sheesh-ka-Deesh — Mikey’s Place, 3100 Harrelson in Las Cruces, hosts an artistic dance and music celebration 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, as part of “For The Love of Art” Month, dessert, coffee, tea and wine. Admission; $10. Information: (575) 644-9561 or mikeysplacenm.com.
There will also be an historical display of African American artists with information on each artist, and works by Las Cruces artist Georjeanna Feltha in honor of Black History Month.
LCSO with Zuill Bailey — Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra, directed by Lonnie Klein, welcome renowned cellist Zuill Bailey Feb. 4-5, at NMSU’s Atkinson Music Recital Hall. Bailey is the Artistic Director of El Paso Pro Musica and Professor of Cello at UTEP. Bailey will perform the Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op.33 by Camille-Saint-Saëns. The orchestra completes the program with Claude Debussy’s “Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun,” Richard Strauss’ “Suite from Der Rosenkavalier” and the Radetzky March, Op. 228 by Johann Strauss, Sr. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $35-$45. Information: (575) 646-3709 or lascrucessymphony.com.
A luncheon with Maestro Klein is 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, at Ramada Palms Hotel Conference Center, featuring a preview of concert music. Cost: $16; no reservation needed.
The public is invited to the dress rehearsal performance at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, at the recital hall. Tickets: $15 ($5 students with valid ID).
Downtown Ramble — The City of Las Cruces hosts an evening of music and art 5 to 7 p.m. the first Friday of the month at the Las Cruces Downtown Mall. Information: (575) 523-2950.
‘First Fridays’ in Silver City — Several of historic Downtown Silver City’s restaurants, shops and “Red Dot” galleries will stay open late the first Friday of each month as part of the monthly “First Friday” shopping event. Free live music and other special events also planned each month. Information: 1-800-548-9378 or silvercitymainstreet.com.
El Paso Scene
Weekly digests
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Phone: (915) 542-1422. FAX: 542-4292.