It’s like magic. Cooler weather hits, and live theater returns. So for all our fellow theater buffs, here’s a grab-bag of upcoming shows, from the guy who gave us the “Soup Nazi” to Fred Astaire’s favorite dance partner.
First up: Jerry Seinfeld. Even in re-runs, his show never gets old. But if you’d like to hear Jerry perform some brand-new material, hop online now and get tickets for his return to the Dodge Theatre this Saturday at 7 p.m. (To whet your appetite, read “Letters from a Nut,” supposedly ghost-written by Seinfeld under the pen name Ted L. Nancy. I have two of these books, and they’re tears-running-down-your-face funny.)
Next: Dancing cheek to cheek. It’s often said that Fred Astaire gave Ginger Rogers class, and Ginger gave him sex appeal. To find out more about the small town girl who grew up to be one of Hollywood’s most dazzling dancers, check out Backwards in High Heels: The Ginger Musical.
The show features terrific dance numbers and the classic songs that Fred and Ginger brought to beautiful, heart-stopping life. See it Oct. 4-24 at the Herberger Theater.
Finally: Clowns and cats. A perfect family show, Popovich Comedy Pet Theater is an amazing blend of physical comedy, world-class juggling and more than 40 performing pets. Gregory Popovich and his family, fourth generation circus performers from Russia, will bring their show to the Orpheum Theatre Oct. 8-10. Check out this short video about how they find and train their cast of dogs and cats, all rescued from animal shelters. Speaking as an animal lover, it’s a genuinely sweet story.
Wine Tasting at the 
Thanks to Target, the 
I know plenty of people who are fascinated by eight-legged critters and will rush over to see the spider exhibit from the ASU Spider Lab. I’ll be avoiding it like the terrified, overgrown child I really am. But, the rest of this event should make for spine-tingling fun, this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
But in a welcome twist, a new version of Grease is opening this week with actors who are about the same age as the characters they play. From Aug. 13-29, 
Robert Plant & The Band of Joy
Sure, it’s fun to watch stuff blow up. But this July 4th weekend, there’s also an explosion of things to do: live music and nightclubbing, comedy slams and ways to amuse your kids.
If you’d prefer to be fully dressed while drinking, check out the 
The “Strictly Business Happy Hour” is scheduled for the first friday of every month. If you own or you are affiliated with a start-up, small, medium and/or large business in Arizona, don’t miss this event! The GPBCC welcomes members of ALL races.
Hot dogs and baseball
On Friday, June 25th, at 7 p.m., a photography exhibition featuring images created in Jacmel, Haiti, three months after the earthquake by professional photographer and humanitarian Rodney Rascona, will be on exhibit at the historic Icehouse, 429 W. Jackson St., in Downtown Phoenix.
