‘Porgy & Bess’ — The El Paso Opera closes its 16th season and celebrates March as “Opera Month” with a gala benefit concert setting performance of George and Ira Gershwin’s all time classic American classic at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 12-13, at Abraham Chavez Theatre, conducted by Maestro Raymond Harvey. The performance encompasses the essence of Americana from the Negro spiritual to the blues of the Bayou, the jazz sounds of New Orleans and the streets of Broadway. A true American classic, hits include “Summertime,” “My Man’s Gone Now” and “Bess, You Is My Woman Now.” Tickets: $15-$90 (10 percent discount for military, students and seniors age 55 and older). Information/subscriptions: 581-5534 or epopera.org.
Now in his 11th season as Music Director of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Harvey has also appeared as guest conductor with many of America’s leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic’s Young People’s Concerts and the Boston Pops.
In the title roles are Geraldine McMillian as Bess and Roland Burks as Porgy. McMillian made her debut with the New York City Opera as Mimi in La Bohème and returned there as Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly. She is a frequent guest performer with orchestras throughout the world. Burks has performed opera extensively throughout the United States, and is equally at home in the world of musical theater, with such roles as Sweeney in “Sweeney Todd” and Jim in “Big River.”
The cast also features Lori Hicks as Serena and Timothy Robert Blevins as Sportin’ Life.
The performance is coupled with Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F played by Harvey.
El Paso Opera will host a series of performances, lectures, shopping, socializing and more during Opera Month:
• El Paso Museum of Art will host free hour-long “Art of Opera” lectures at noon Wednesdays at the El Paso Museum of Art. The presentations will illustrate the relationship between opera and visual arts by comparing opera styles of the times with what was being produced on canvases.
• A citywide “Shop Opera” fundraiser features locally owned businesses posted on the opera’s website during March.
• This month’s “BRAVO! Alliance Mixer is 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 18, at El Paso Museum of Art, with cocktails and information about the benefits of membership. The BRAVO! Alliance is a national organization of opera supporters that offers ticket discounts to opera performances around the nation.
‘March On-A Salute to the Military’ – 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 12 at UTEP’s Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall. El Paso Wind Symphony presents an evening of patriotic music. Tickets: $12.50 ($7.50 students). Information: 760-5599.
The El Paso Wind Symphony, directed by Dr. Ron Hufstader, includes woodwind, brass and percussion.
Ballet Folklóricos Paso del Norte and Chiruhui — The local ballet folklórico companies join together for their annual production “Juntos Por Mexico,” depicting the art, history, sights and sounds of Mexico through dance and music at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, March 12-14, at the Chamizal National Memorial, 800 S. San Marcial. The troupes will be accompanied with live music by Mariachi Raices de America and Grupo Mixteco. Admission: $5. Information/advance tickets: 588-5743.
‘Tejano Legends’ — Little Joe headlines the Tex-Mex music style tour at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 13, at the County Coliseum. Special guest to be announced Tickets: $20, $30, $40 and $50, plus service charge. (Ticketmaster).
ALSO THIS WEEK
‘Get Motivated Seminar’ — Zig Ziglar, Former First Lady Laura Bush, Dr. Robert Schuller, Rudy Giuliani and UTEP Football Head Coac Mike Price are among the speakers at seminar 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, March 9, at UTEP’s Don Haskins Center. Discount advance prices begin at $4.95 or $19 for all office staff. Information: 1-800-403-1975.
Other featured speakers include author Tamara Lowe, Olympic luge athlete Ruben Gonzalez and business executive Rick Belluzzo.
Juntos Art and Literature Festival — Juntos Art Association will host the art and literature festival March 11-13, bringing artists, writers, and more to the high schools to meet the students and present their work in the various fields of art and literature. A speaker series is planned 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the El Paso Public Library Main Branch, with art and literature booths, a mercado and Mexican art exhibit. Admission to all events is free. Information: 543-5412 or 203-2309.
Saturday’s participating presenters include movie and television filmmaker Jesus Treviño of Los Angeles, Dr. David Carrasco, Chair of the Anthropology Department at Harvard, and Dr. Tomas Ibarra-Frauto of the Smithsonian Institution and Dr. Enrique Cortazar of Mexican Consulate. Also featured is an artist panel with Barbara Carrasco, Carlos Callejo, Tina Fuentes, Gabriel Gaytan and Maria Almeida Natividad, as well as a writers panel with Ben Saenz, Sergio Troncoso and Donna Snyder. Opening dedication is by Rosa Guerrero, and Sun Dancers and book singing close the program at 5:30 p.m.
Related events:
• A screening of Jesus Treviño’s documentary “Visions of Aztlan” about the founding artists of the Chicano movement is 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday a the UTEP Union Theatre.
• Dr. Tomas Ybarra-Frausto will give the lecture “Transnational Imaginaries” at 9:30 a.m. Friday in the UTEP’s Rubin Gallery Auditorium.
• A Chicano/a Art Exhibition and Reception is 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at El Paso Community College’s Administrative Service Center Building A, 9050 Viscount.
Juntos Art Association is a non-profit arts organization in El Paso that is comprised of professional artists, educators, librarians, lawyers and other professionals.
Sun Country Doll Folks — The club’s 36th annual doll show and sale is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 13, at the Holiday Inn Airport, Airway at I-10, exit 25. The event showcases about 20 tables of antique and modern dolls, accessories, clothing and free doll identification and appraisals. Ticket information: 637-3438.
Founded in 1974, club members include many avid doll collectors and doll makers, involved in many charitable activities such as dressing dolls for the Toys for Tots, Operation Santa Claus Toy Drive, contributing to the UTEP Scholarship fund, donating gifts and dolls to needy families at Christmas and creating doll displays.
Diocesan Festival — Catholic Schools of El Paso hosts its annual festival noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 13, at St. Joseph’s School, 1300 Lamar. The event features food, games, entertainment and more. Admission is free. Information: 872-8400 ext. 126
Aztec New Year celebration — Performance artist Michael Herald of Los Angeles will bring his indigenous instruments, music, and storytelling to open for a “Fiesta de Año Nuevo Azteca: Un paso a la nueva era” 2012 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 14, at Mercado Mayapan, 2101 Myrtle. The group Danza Aztec Omekoatl will also present ceremonial dancing followed by a special dialogue panel on 2012 covering the astronomical, spiritual, and cultural implications of the much talked about “doomsday” in the Mayan/Aztec Calendar. Admission is free. Information: 532-6200.
ON STAGE
‘Chronicle of Tin-Tan and the pachuquismo’ — The Consulate General of Mexico presents a lecture, musical and dance with Mexican author Carlos Monsivais at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 10, at Chamizal National Memorial, 800 S. San Marcial. Admission is free. Information: 533-3644.
‘Some Girls’ — The UTEP Department of Theatre and Dance presents Neil LaBute’s comedy March 10-14, at UTEP’s Studio Theatre in the Fox Fine Arts Center. Directed by Fernando Alvarez, Jr. Performances are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Proceeds from the March 10 production benefit the Student Scholarship Fund. Tickets: $8 ($7 non-UTEP students, UTEP faculty, staff and alumni, seniors, military, alumni and groups of 10 or more; $6 UTEP students). All seats general admission. Information: 747-5118 or theatre.utep.edu.
A young man’s career as a writer is blossoming and his beautiful, young fiancée is waiting to get married and rush off to Cancun by his side. What’s the natural reaction? Get cold feet and start calling old girlfriends. Contains adult language and situations.
SPORTS
2010 El Paso Senior Games — The 28th annual games for those age 50 and older run March 10-April 11 at various locations, sponsored by the City Parks and Recreation Department and Sierra Providence Health Network. Top three finishers in each age group receive medals in their event. All participants have a chance qualify to advance to the Texas State Senior Games, which is a qualifying site for the National Senior Games. Applications available at any Recreation or Senior Center with the Parks and Recreation Department. Information: Sandy Rodriguez, 240-3310 or Eliseo Duran, 252-9031.
This year’s Fine Arts competitions include creative writing, poetry and short story.
Sporting competitions are cycling, horseshoes, basketball, bowling, golf, swimming, billiards, volleyball, table tennis, race walk, racquetball, 5K and 10K runs, washers, tennis and track and field.
Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino — The 2009-2010 live horse racing season runs through April 20. Race days are Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (and Wednesday, Feb. 17). First post is 12:25 p.m. each race day. General admission is free to the track and casino. First post time is 12:25 p.m. Turf Club seating is $7.
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.
• Saturday, March 13 — Bill Thomas Memorial Handicap. Purse $50,000 Guaranteed. 3-year-olds and up.
• Sunday, March 14 — Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap. 3-year-old and up. NM-breds.
Lace Up for Kids — The Millennium Optimist Club will host the 5k Run and 1-mile Fun Walk at 8 a.m. Saturday, March 13, at Ascarate Park.
All pre-registered runners and walkers receive race t-shirt. Refreshments available at finish line. Trophy to Overall Male and Female; medals to Top 3 finishers in male & female age groups.
Pre-registration: $20 ($25 day of race). Pre-register at raceadventuresunlimited.com. Early packet pickup noon to 7 p.m. March 12 at Up & Running, 10600 Montwood,. Race day pickup is 7-7:45 a.m. March 13 at the start line. $1 entry fee at Ascarate Park. Information: 821-2269 or 204-5504.
Proceeds benefit the club’s scholarship program and other local youth projects.
Southern New Mexico
Cowboy Days — The 10th annual celebration of Southwest pioneer heritage is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 13-14, at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Rd., Las Cruces. A cowboy breakfast will kick off the festivities 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday with match team roping, Mexican-style rodeo demonstrations, horseback and stagecoach rides, cowboy music and poetry, a large arts and craft show, great food, children’s activities, gunfight re-enactments, cowboy demonstrations, and a trip back in time to witness an 1895 wedding both days. Admission: $4 (ages 4 and younger free). Information: (575) 522-4100 or nmfarmandranchmuseum.org.
A Cowboy Breakfast is 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday. Tickets: $10 in advance; $12 at the door (includes Cowboy Days admission).
The Guerrilla Girls — NMSU Women’s Studies presents the internationally known group of feminist “masked avengers,” bringing the fight for gender justice in the arts to Las Cruces at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 11, at the Court Youth Center, 402 West Court.
The performance marks the 20th anniversary of the NMSU Women’s Studies Program. Tickets: $12 ($5 students); available from Ticketmaster and the Pan Am Center Box Office. Information: (575) 646-3448 or nmsu.edu/~wstudies.
Through facts, humor and outrageous visuals, this historic activist group, famed for wearing gorilla masks, exposes sexism, racism and corruption in politics, art, film and pop culture. The women (artists themselves) take the names of famous deceased female artists to conceal their own identities while keeping the focus on issues. The performers coming to Las Cruces use the names Frida Kahlo and Kathe Kollwitz – two women artists whose works broke international art boundaries.
The program also celebrates Waded Cruzado Gender Justice Week (named for NMSU’s former provost and interim president), along with International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month.
Bill and Kate Isles — The Minnesota-based singer-songwriter duo performs 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 11, at the Community Center, 316 Eleanor, in Hillsboro, N.M. The duo have won many awards and accolades, including the Minnesota Folk Festival New Folk Songwriting Contest. They are getting increasing national attention for their “perfect blend of two voices” as well as their romantic and sensual lyrics. Admission: $5 donation. Information: or (575) 895-5797 or billisles.com.
Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino — Mescalero, N.M. Age 21 and older admitted. (Ticketmaster) Information: 1-877-277-5677 or innofthemountaingods.com.
• Aaron Lewis of Staind — The alternative rocker presents an intimate solo acoustic evening at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 11. Lewis, known for two of Stand’s popular singles, “Outside” and “It’s Been Awhile,” has been nominated for three Grammys. Tickets: $20-$60.
Rudolf Budginas – Las Cruces Civic Concerts present the musical piano prodigy at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 13 ,at the Rio Grande Theatre. Budginas debuted with the Lithuanian National Symphony at age, trained with the Moscow Conservatory and soon rose to fame performing solo concerts. His show, “You, Me & The Piano,” ranges from classical works like Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody” to Billy Joel’s “Piano Man.” Tickets: $20. Information: (575) 521-4051.
Rio Grande Theatre — The renovated historic theater is at 211 Downtown Mall, Las Cruces. Information: (575) 523-6403, (575) 523-0807 or RioGrandeTheatre.com.
• Sharman Apt Russell — 7 p.m. Thursday, March 11. NMSU Outdoor Recreation continues its Adventure Arts Series. Russell is widely anthologized and has received a number of prizes and awards, including a Rockefeller Fellowship. Tickets: $12 day of show.
• LoCura and Nuevo Sol — 7 p.m. Friday, March 12. Direct from San Francisco’s vibrant music scene, en route to the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, the Latin music and dance ensemble LoCura mixes grooves and melodies. Joining LoCura are local-rising-stars, Nuevo Sol. Tickets: $15.
‘Rabbit Hole’ — No Strings Theatre Company will presents David Lindsay-Abaires’ 2007 Pulitzer Prize-winning play Feb. 26-March 14 at Black Box Theatre, 420 N. Downtown Mall, in Las Cruces. Directed by Ceil Herman. Performances are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 7 and 14, and 7 p.m. Thursday, March 11. Tickets: $10 ($9 students and seniors over 65, $7 all seats on Thursday). Information: (575) 523-1223 or nstcbbt@zianet.com.
The play is a tender and sensitive exploration of family coming to terms with the accidental death of their 4-year-old son.
‘Dona Rosita’s Day of the Dead’ — American Southwest Theatre Company brings the popular “Dona Rosita” back at 8 p.m. Friday, March 12, at NMSU’s Hershel Zohn Theatre. Tickets: $15 (Ticketmaster).
The one-woman show is the brainchild of writer/creator Rodrigo Duarte-Clark and actress/comedienne Ruby Nelda Perez. The comedy explores life, death, and everything in between through the eyes of Rosita, the colorful restaurateur with a penchant for storytelling.
An evening with Anne Hillerman — The daughter of the late acclaimed Southwest novelist Tony Hillerman will talk about her father’s legacy and her new book “Tony Hillerman’s Landscape: On the Road with Chee and Leaphorn,” at 7 p.m. Friday, March 12, at Mesilla Community Center. Hosted by the Border Book Festival. Anne Hillerman’s husband, photographer Don Strel, also will be present. The event includes a silent auction and book signing. Admission: $10 donation. Information: (575) 523—3988 or bbf@borderbookfestival.com. Web: borderbookfestival.org.
Tony Hillerman was author of 29 books, including the popular 17 mystery series featuring Navajo police officer, Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn. Anne Hillerman’s book is a collection of photographs by Strel with descriptive text, brief synopsis of the novels, quotes from the books, and Tony Hillerman’s own comments. The book also includes a previously unpublished essay by Tony Hillerman.