Cirque du Soleil: ‘Dralion’ — The legendary performance troupe returns to El Paso Feb. 15-19, at Don Haskins Center. The show’s name is a combination of the dragon, symbolizing the East, and the lion, symbolizing the West. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets: $35-$145; special “front row” tickets available with souvenir program. Discounts for ages 2-12, military and seniors; family four packs also offered. (Ticketmaster) Information: cirquedusoleil.com/dralion.
“Dralion” draws its inspiration from Eastern philosophy and its never-ending quest for harmony between humans and nature as the four elements that govern the natural order take on a human form.
Coin Show - The International Coin Club of El Paso’s 49th annual Coin Show is Feb. 17-19 at El Maida Shrine Center, 6331 Alabama, with more than 60 tables of coins, paper money, medals and tokens by dealers from Maine, Pennsylvania, California, Indiana, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
Hours are 1 to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The 2012 show will commemorate the centennial of New Mexico’s statehood; limited edition commemorative medal for sale. Admission is free; raffle tickets for more than $1,000 worth of coins available for purchase. Information: 533-6001.
The 4th annual kids auction is planned at 2 p.m. Saturday for ages 7 to 14 (limited to the first 50 who register). Registration requires answering 10 questions about New Mexico placed by the club members at educational exhibits. The kids auction is a no-cost auction; script provided for the bidding.
The International Coin Club of El Paso, Inc. meets at 6:30 p.m. the first Monday of every month at the Travelodge Motel-La Hacienda, 6400 Montana. Coin talk and auction follows business meeting around 7 p.m. Visitors welcome.
Downtown Walking Railroad Tour — The Railroad and Transportation Museum of El Paso will host the walking tour of sites related to railroad history at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, starting at Cleveland Square, near the Museum of History and Downtown library branch. Learn about two stage station sites, the Transcontinental rail line built by Chinese workers in 1881 for the Southern Pacific, El Paso & Southwestern Depot in the 1881 train yard, 1880s buildings and a Victorian neighborhood, Mule Car and Streetcar lines and more. The tour consists for two hour-long walks with lunch break in between.
Registration begins at 10:15 a.m. Cost: $5 (discount for students, teachers and military; free for children). Information: 422-3420, 256-4409 or elpasorails.org.
Poetry Slam with Joshua Ballard and Chris Rockwell — Free Hole Slam hosts a poetry workshop with the award winning poets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, at The Percolator, 217 N. Stanton (between Texas and Mills), followed by an open mic at 7 p.m. Ballard and Rockwell will be featured at 8 p.m. Admission is free. Information: 494-6762 or freeholeslam.com.
Senior Love Conference — El Paso Community College’s Senior Adult Program’s 17th annual conference is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, at EPCC Administrative Service Center Auditorium, 9050 Viscount, featuring workshops, exhibitors, volunteer awards, door prizes and more. Information/registration: 831-7801 or maryy@epcc.edu.
CONCERTS
Speaking Rock Entertainment Center - 122 S. Old Pueblo Road. Ages 18 and older welcome. Admission is free. Information: 860-7777 or speakingrockentertainment.com.
• “Let It Be” Beatles Tribute Band and “Still Surfin’” Beach Boys Tribute Band — Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 14-15
• Terri Clark — The country artist performs Thursday, Feb. 16
• “Cash and Friends” Johnny Cash Tribute band — Friday, Feb. 17.
UTEP Department of Music — Performances are at 7:30 p.m. at Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall, except as noted. Tickets for most performances are $5 ($3 seniors/military/non-UTEP students; free for children/UTEP students/faculty/staff), unless listed otherwise. Ticket information: 747-5606 or utep.edu/music.
• Thursday, Feb. 16 — UTEP Wind Symphony.
• 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19 — UTEP Chambers Players
Digital Leather — The synth punk act performs Friday, Feb. 17, at M’s Lips Lounge, 510 N. Stanton, in promotion of the new CD “Modern Problems” with guest Boring Boyfriends. Showtime/ticket information: 566-0376.
Chamber Choir concert — El Paso Choral Society’s Chamber Choir and Orchestra, conducted by Prentice Loftin, performs Bach’s “Magnificat,” Daniel Pinkham’s “Wedding Cantata” and Mozart’s “Violin Concerto #4” at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, at Trinity First United Methodist Church, 801 N. Mesa. Tickets: $15 ($10 seniors and military; $5 students). Information/tickets: 479-0156.
The Chamber Choirs has performed with El Paso Opera, El Paso Symphony Orchestra, Las Cruces Symphony and other major music organizations over the past 15 years.
Bach’s Magnificat, the canticle of the Virgin Mary based on Luke 1:46-55, was written for the 1723 Christmas Vespers. The work features five soloists, a five-part choir, and an unusually large orchestra for its time.
Pinkham’s Wedding Cantata, written in 1956, is based on Biblical passages from Songs of Songs. The musical composition in four movements expresses the dynamics of the love between a man and a woman.
Mozart’s Violin Concerts #4 was written in 1775. Mozart includes movements of serenity and warmth, and references to popular airs of the day.
The Iveys CD release party — The El Paso band announces the release of their second CD at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, at Scottish Rite Theater, 301 West Missouri. Tickets: $15 ($10 students with valid ID). Parking available next door at City Hall and behind Insights Museum after 5 p.m. Information/reservations: All That Music & Video, 594-9900 or the theater at 533-4409.
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
• Children of Bodom — The thrash metal band’s 15th anniversary tour is Saturday, Feb. 18, in association with Full Metal Jackie. Special guests include Revocation, Eluvieitie and Threat Signal. Tickets: $19 in advance; $24 at the door.
St. Valentine’s Day Choral Concert — Sun City Singers, formerly Community Chorus El Paso, presents an afternoon of love songs from Broadway musical plays and the traditional repertoire at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 1810 Elm. Admission is free; donations welcome. Information: Carl Smith, 261-3963 or suncitysingerselp.com
Sun City Singers is in its third year of performing a wide variety of choral music. The chorus welcomes singers from age 8 and up to rehearsals Monday evenings, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall.
Sean Jones — Showtime El Paso presents the R&B/soul singer at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, at the Abraham Chavez Theatre. Ticket information (all seats general admission): 544-2022 or ShowtimeElPaso.com.
Jones will perform the memorable classics of Motown and R&B from artists including Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and many more. Jones previously fronted R&B vocal group “In Essence”, a five-member vocal group renowned for their spectacular harmonies.
Black History Month Showcase — Fort Bliss Family and MWR host a showcase of African American visual and performing arts 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at the Centennial Club 11199 Sgt E. Churchill on Fort Bliss, with an Afro-centric cultural art display and dancers, inspirational poetry readings, dramatic interpretations, singers and an afro-centric fashion show. Childcare is available at an hourly rate, for children registered with CYSS. Admission is free and the public is invited. Information: Darline Goyea, 568-6353 or darline.goyea.naf@mail.mil, or Cathie Garner, 309-8439 or cathie.garner@us.army.mil.
A “Soul Food” dinner buffet offered 5 to 7 p.m. Cost: $9.95.
ON STAGE
‘Pachuco Zoot: A Tale of Identity’ - The UTEP Department of Theatre and Dance presents its spring dance performance Feb. 10-19 in the Fox Fine Arts Wise Family Theatre. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $12 ($10 UTEP faculty/staff, seniors, military, groups of 10 or more and non-UTEP students; $9 UTEP students and children age 4 to 12). Information: 747-5118 or theatredance.utep.edu.
The headliner piece for this year’s concert is a dance theatre work that traces the origination of the Pachuco culture from its origin in the El Paso/Juarez region to the creation of the highly theatrical Zoot Suit culture. To complement this piece, UTEP faculty and guest artists will present newly choreographed pieces highlighting various themes and dance forms.
‘The Perfect Crime’ — El Paso Playhouse, 2501 Montana, presents the Warren Manzi thriller Feb. 10-March 3 at El Paso Playhouse. Directed by Jan H. Wolfe. 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.
Has psychiatrist Margaret Thorne Brent committed “the perfect crime”? When her husband turns up dead, she gets caught in a game of cat of mouse with a deranged patient, and the inspector that is assigned to the case.
‘Love Letters’ — El Paso Playhouse, 2501 Montana, presents its annual presentation of A.R. Gurney’s sentimental play at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, Directed by Christine Jakuta. Tickets: $7. Information: 532-1317 or elpasoplayhouse.com.
Sister Nancy Murray — Sister Nancy Murray, O.P., sister of actor/comedian Bill Murray, performs her one-woman play “Rooted In Love: The Life & Martyrdom of Sister Dorothy Stang” Feb. 12-13, as a fundraiser for Juarez’s Centro Santa Catalina.
Performances will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12, at the YISD administration building theater, 9600 Sims; and 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, at St. Pius Church Community Parish Hall,1050 N. Clark. Tickets are $15, available through centrosantacatalina.org or by mail from Centro Santa Catalina, 1207 Alabama, El Paso, TX 79930. Information: 564-9003 or centrosantacatalina1@gmail.com.
Sister Dorothy was a member of the Ohio Province of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur when she left the United States to work with peasant farm families in northern Brazil. Her efforts to form base Christian communities, improve sustainable farming methods, defend basic human rights and work for social justice incurred opposition from ranchers and loggers. On Feb. 12, 2005, she was shot and killed by two gunmen.
Sister Nancy performed her show on St Catherine of Siena at the 2009 Centro Santa Catalina fundraiser. Centro Santa Catalina is a faith-based community in Juárez, founded in 1996 by Dominican Sisters for the spiritual, educational and economic empowerment of economically poor women and for the welfare of their families.
‘Hamlet’ — Eden Enterprises presents Shakespeare-on-the-Rocks winter off-season production of the Shakespeare tragedy Feb. 16-18, at Chamizal National Memorial, 800 S. San Marcial. Directed by Vanessa Keyser. Performances are 7 p.m. nightly, plus a 3 p.m. matinee Saturday. Pre-show talk 30 minutes prior to each performance. Admission: $10 ($8 full-times students with ID, seniors 65 and older, active-duty military; $6 groups of ten or more with advance reservations. Information: 502-3406 or shakespeareontherocks.com.
Group reservations: 474-4275.
SPORTS
El Paso Golden Gloves Tournament — The 70th annual showcase for regional amateur boxers is Feb. 17-19, at El Paso County Coliseum. Events begin at 7 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Amateur boxers from throughout the region vie for titles in the Junior Olympic, Novice and Open Classes. Champions in the Open Class will represent El Paso at the state tournament in Fort Worth. Former regional titlists will be honored Sunday with a Parade of Champions. Tickets: $10 ($5 military, seniors, students). Information: Ladislao Vicencio, 203-0493.
El Paso Rhinos - El Paso’s Junior League ice hockey team home games are at the Sierra Providence Events Center, next to the Coliseum, 4100 E. Paisano. February game times are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $5 general admission; $10, $15 and $20 reserved. Information: 479-PUCK (7825) or elpasorhinos.com. Feb. 17-19 - Fort Worth Brahmas
Race for the Cure — The 19th annual Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s 5K Race for the Cure is Sunday, Feb. 19, at Cohen Stadium, 9700 Gateway North. The fundraiser has become one of the region’s biggest races. Events include a 5K competitive run at 8 a.m., and a 5K and1-mile noncompetitive run/walk at 8:30 a.m. Grounds open at 6 a.m. Survivors’ Celebration/Awards are 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Parking is at Cohen Stadium, EPCC Transmountain Campus and Northpark Mall (shuttle service provided from EPCC and Northpark).
Entry fees: $35 for competitive 5K, $30 for noncompetitive 5K/1-mile, $10 for Kids for the Cure (ages 5-12); $35 for Sleep in for the Cure.
Registration/information: 533-4433 or komenelpaso.org. Online registration available through noon Feb. 9.
On-site registration is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11-12, at Sunland Park Mall; and 2-8 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16-18, at Cielo Vista Mall.
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
Spencer Theater for Performing Arts — Airport Hwy 220 in Alto, N.M. (about 12 miles north of downtown Ruidoso). Free public guided tours are 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays (except show dates). Information: (575) 336-4800, (888) 818-7872 or spencertheater.com.
• Valentine Soiree — The Spencer Guild’s 11th annual dinner-dance is 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12. The celebration includes a gourmet three-course dinner, complimentary cocktail and dancing to the Michael Francis Trio. Tickets: $50.
NMSU/Warner Hutchison Contemporary Arts Festival — NMSU Special Events’ 2nd annual artist festival focusing on contemporary music with multi-media interaction from other disciplines is 7:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, Feb. 13-15, at NMSU’s Atkinson Recital Hall. Admission is free, but donations to the Warner Hutchinson Music Scholarship Fund appreciated. Information: (575) 646-2901 or (575) 646-4814
• Monday features the works of John Cage, Kurt Schwitters, the world premiere of a work by Tom Smith and a performance by electronic music duo “Pincushioned.”
• Tuesday offers works by James Grant, Lon Chafflin and the world premiere of a work by Warner Hutchison.
• Wednesday features an exploration of the text of Federico Garcia Lorca in conjunction with NMSU Music Department, Dance Department and Creative Media Institute. Featured performers include Links Transmedia Ensemble, La Catrina String Quartet, Pincushioned, Kristen Loree, Monika Mojica, Fred Bugbee, Rhonda Taylor, Martha Rowe and Jim Shearer.
Mardi Gras in the Clouds — The Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce will bring a little New Orleans to the mountain community Feb. 17-19 with its 11th annual Mardi Gras celebration. The family celebration will include costumes, cake walk, battle of the bands, children’s parade, bead throwing, masks, and Cajun style food, piñata bash, shopping and more under the big tent on “Burro-Bon” Street. Admission is free for all events. Information: (575) 682-2733 or cloudcroft.net.
The event opens at 4:30 p.m. Friday with introduction of 2012 King and Queen and “crazy hat” walking parade and under the big tent.
A Cajun Cooking contest is 5:30 p.m. Friday, featuring main dishes, soups, gumbos and desserts and more. No entry free.
An adult dance is 7 to 11 p.m. Friday at The Lodge Resort’s Red Dog Saloon, with music by Desert DJ.
The official Mardi Gras Parade is 2 p.m. Saturday along Hwy 82 and Burro Street, with this year’s theme “It’s Magical.”
The street celebration is 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday under the big tent.
Glenn Miller Orchestra — The band under the direction of trombonist Gary Tole performs many of the original arrangements of hits by the legendary Glenn Miller at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, at Rio Grande Theatre, 211 N. Downtown Mall in Las Cruces. Tickets: $30. Information: (575) 523-4760 or riograndetheatre.com.
Considered one of the greatest bands of all time, the current Glenn Miller Orchestra was formed in 1956 by the Miller Estate and has been touring consistently ever since, playing an average of 300 live dates a year.
New York Voices - The Grammy Award winning vocal ensemble performs at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, at NMSU’s Atkinson Music Recital Hall. Part of NMSU Cultural Series. Tickets: $15 ($10 NMSU students). Information: (575) 646-4413 or panam.nmsucom.edu.
Celebrating their 20th Anniversary in 2009, New York Voices is renowned for their excellence in jazz and the art of group singing. Their interests are rooted in jazz, but often Brazilian, R and B, classical, and pop influences are infused with equal creativity and authenticity.
Brad Paisley — The famed country singer/guitarist brings his 2012 tour to the Pan Am Center in Las Cruces at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, along with guests three-time CMA winners The Band Perry and American Idol winner Scotty McCreery. Tickets (on sale Dec. 3): $35, $55 and $65. (Ticketmaster).
Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino — Mescalero, N.M. Shows begin at 8 p.m. Age 21 and older admitted. Prices listed do not include service charge. (Ticketmaster) Information: 1-877-277-5677 or innofthemountaingods.com.
• Joe Nichols — The country artist, , known for his singles like “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” and “Gimmie That Girl” and “Take it Off,” performs Friday, Feb. 17. Tickets: $25-$60.
Andrey Ponochevny — Las Cruces Civic Concert Association presents the Russian classical pianist and Bronze Medal winner of the 2002 International Tchaikovsky piano competition in Moscow at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, at the Rio Grande Theatre, 211 N. Main in the Las Cruces Downtown Mall. Tickets: $20. Information: (575) 521-4051.
Ponochevny was honored as the featured pianist at the General Assembly of the World Federation of International Music Competitions in Washington, D.C.
‘Shadowlands’ — The Las Cruces Community Theatre presents the drama by William Nicholson Feb. 3-19. Directed by Patrick Payne. Performances are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: $7-$10. Information: (575) 523-1200 or lcctnm.org.
The story follows noted author C.S. Lewis as he meets his American fan, Joy Gresham, whom he befriends and eventually marries. The story also deals with his struggle with personal pain and grief, particularly when Joy suffers from cancer.
‘Love Letters’ — The 12th annual Valentine’s Day production is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, at the Black Box Theatre at 430 N. Downtown Mall in Las Cruces. No Strings Theatre Co. continues its tradition of A.R. Gurney’s 1988 evocative, touching and frequently funny lifetime exchange of letters between Andrew Makepiece Ladd III and Melissa Gardner. Refreshments served after the show. Tickets: $10 ($9 students and seniors over 65). Reservations recommended. The production often sells out. Reservations/information: (575) 523-1223 or no-strings.org.
This year’s production stars Alan and Karen Caroe.