As I write this post it’s 52 degrees.
52!
That’s a New England basement, not Downtown Phoenix.
Worry not, fellow Downtowners. If you believe our local weather prognosticators, the generally poopy weather that has plagued us this week will soon be moving out to make way for the glorious sunshine and highs in the mid-70s we’re accustomed to.
Which is fortunate, because Downtown is blessed with a treasure trove of fun things to do this weekend.
THURSDAY
Comic, late-night talk show host, author, vodka lover and self-appointed floozy Chelsea Handler skewers celebrities, friends and family alike in a show at Dodge Theatre.
Since we’re talking about weather, Class 6 Theatre presents It’s Always Sunny In Phoenix, three short plays by award-winning playwright David Ives, who has been making people laugh for 15 years.
FRIDAY
Kobe Bryant and the detestable Lakers bring Showtime to the Valley for a tussle with Steve Nash, Grant Hill, and that Stoudemire fella Suns fans should be thankful the team didn’t trade away for 50 cents on the dollar.
Actors Theatre Company presents Secret Order, a bio-medical psychological thriller about an upstart scientist on the verge of curing cancer. Intrigued? Read Downtown Blogger Liz Fichera’s review here.
SATURDAY
Need to get in shape? People of all fitness levels can head to Civic Space Park for Personal PowerTraining Boot Camp with trainer Scott White at 6:30 a.m. or 7:30 a.m. Boot Camp classes are $10 a person, with multi-class packages available. If you’d rather not go the Biggest Loser route, check out the FREE Community Yoga Project that happens at 10 a.m. every week. Just bring a yoga mat or towel.
Want a part-time job working for the 2010 Census? Representatives will be recruiting workers at the Phoenix Public Market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. While you’re there, grab a Caramel Addiction brownie from Sherrye’s Kitchen.
The finest amateur pugilists in Arizona will be on display at Alice Cooper’stown for Independent Events’ Olympic Style Boxing at 2 p.m.
SUNDAY
Rained out last weekend, the Wheels of Britain car show has been rescheduled for Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Heritage & Science Park.
Adam awakes one morning to find himself alone and locked in a strange, sterile room with four beds. One by one, three more people join him – but nobody knows why they are there. Want to know more? Go see Indivisible at the Herberger at 2 p.m.
There’s no better place to wind down a weekend than at District American Kitchen, where on Sundays bottles of red and white wines are half-priced.
Second City Has Arizona Pegged
Tuesday, May 4th, 2010The opening number declares that Arizona is perfect, nothing is ever wrong in Arizona, well, except for those times when things are not perfect and when things are wrong.
If you appreciate good satire and are in the mood for laugh out loud entertainment, get tickets to see Second City Does Arizona or Close But No Saguaro. Second City is a comedy group, so this isn’t a show with a main character and a beginning, middle, and end. It’s a sketch comedy show, like watching Saturday Night Live, only funny.
Most of the sketches (but not all) are related to Arizona culture and politics. (They even sang a rap song about
javelinas!) The writers of the show were in town in January scoping out our fine city and state and they spent time in Phoenix and Tucson.
They mined some comedy gold and wrote sketches that poke fun at some new Arizona laws, McCain, Brewer, speed cameras, snow birds, the summer heat, life in Sun City, and even a jab at Alice Cooper.
All the actors really shine in improvisation. (As they should, it’s kind of what the Second City is all about.) The actors took one woman up on stage and convinced her to run for Governor, and in accordance with Clean Election Laws asked the audience for 250 $5 checks (they got $15!) then asked the unsuspecting volunteer a few questions. Based on her answers the actors made a political commercial, then a smear campaign before our very eyes. One of the final sketches was built around some ideas the audience yelled out: Queen Creek, a parent-child relationship, and the phrase “You’re so pretty.” I still chuckle when I think about the hilarious situations they managed to make with those ideas.
I left the theatre feeling jolly and giggling to myself as I walked over to Hanny’s for a drink.
Tags: Clean Election Laws, downtown phoenix, Hanny's, herberger theater, Herberger Theatre, Jan Brewer, Second City Does Arizona
Posted in Arts & Culture, Community Commentary, Featured | 4 Comments »