‘Little Black Book’ debut among theater, music events this weekend
Theater
THEATER DEBUTS
NEW WORKS WINNER
Thomas Misuraca’s “Little Black Book,” winner of Las Vegas Little Theatre’s 2014 New Works Competition, opens a three-weekend run Friday in LVLT’s Fischer Black Box space.
“Little Black Book” focuses on the misunderstandings that occur when a clueless mother, following her son’s death, invites the people listed in his “little black book” to attend his funeral — and his best friend discovers that many of the deceased’s sexual partners were men, prompting him to try and prevent his friend’s mother from finding out.
David Ament directs the debut of Misuraca’s comedy-drama, which is recommended for mature audiences because of language and sexual situations.
“Little Black Book” will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Las Vegas Little Theatre, 3920 Schiff Drive. Performances also will be at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through May 11. For tickets ($15 for adults, $14 for seniors and students), visit www.LVLT.org or call 702-362-7996.
Music
PHILHARMONIC MAKES
FRENCH CONNECTION
The Las Vegas Philharmonic bids “au revoir” to its love-themed 2013-14 season Saturday with the pops concert “Paris, Je T’aime.”
Accordionist Patrick Harison and Philharmonic concertmaster De Ann Letourneau are featured soloists.
Sarah Hicks, the Minnesota Orchestra’s principal conductor for pops and presentations, will lead the orchestra in works ranging from Debussy’s “Claire de Lune” to Gershwin’s “An American in Paris.”
Also on the Paris-flavored program: Bizet’s “Farandole” from “L’Arlesienne,” selections from the Broadway hits “Les Miserables” and “The Phantom of the Opera” and music from French movie hits such as “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.”
The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave. For tickets ($25-$94), call 702-749-2000 or visit www.lvphil.org.
Theater
‘OZMA OF OZ’ VISITS
RAINBOW COMPANY
If you think “The Wizard of Oz” and “Wicked” are the only adventures in the merry old land of Oz, you haven’t gone far enough over the rainbow.
The Rainbow Company has — and does — with “Ozma of Oz,” which opens a two-weekend run Friday at the Charleston Heights Arts Center.
The modern fantasy explores the relationship between Dorothy, now a teenager, and her elderly Uncle Henry, who are swept off a boat — and into Oz, where time doesn’t exist. Fortunately for them (and for audiences), plenty of adventures do, involving everyone and everything from a wisecracking chicken to the wacky Wheelers and, of course, the wonderfully wise title character.
“Ozma of Oz” will be presented at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St., with additional performances at 7 p.m. May 2-3 and 2 p.m. May 3-4. For tickets ($5), call 702-229-6383 or visit www.artslasvegas.org.
Family fun
WINCHESTER HOSTS
CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL
From face-painting to Renaissance re-enactments, the 21st annual Clark County Children’s Festival brings a world of imagination to the Winchester Cultural Center and Park Saturday.
Founded in 1993, the festival is an annual spring event, offering recreational, cultural and creative activities for kids of all ages.
The Renaissance re-enactment group Black Talon will conduct mock battles, while Kingdom of Albion will offer interactive demonstrations of rope braiding, butter churning and archery.
Percussion workshops, storytelling, exotic animals from Roos ‘n’ More, a fun train, balloon artists, carnival games and costumed performers are on tap, along with pony rides and rock climbing.
Among the entertainers featured on the festival’s outdoor stage: the Winchester Star Catchers youth dance team and the center’s resident vocal groups, the Encore Show Choir and Tiny Tots Glee Club, along with magician Dixie Dooley (the festival’s host) and Caribbean steel drummer Harris Todman.
The Clark County Children’s Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 S. McLeod Drive. Admission and many activities are free, but there are minimal fees for selected activities, rides and concessions. For more information, call 702-455-7340 or visit www.ClarkCountyNV.gov/parks.
Music
RIPPINGTONS BRING
JAZZ TO HAM HALL
After more than 25 years, and 18 studio albums, the Rippingtons — featuring Russ Freeman — continue exploring the limits of contemporary jazz, as they’ll demonstrate Saturday at UNLV.
The Grammy-nominated band will perform selections from the group’s numerous albums, many of them — from “Kilimanjaro” and “Tourist in Paradise” to “Weekend in Monaco” and “Sahara” — titled to reflect Freeman’s sense of wanderlust.
The Rippingtons will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday in Artemus Ham Hall at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Tickets are $25-$75 and may be purchased at 702-895-2787 or at pac.unlv.edu.
— By CAROL CLING
