Party Like It's 1912
Music in the Canyon
Noon to 4 p.m., Sunday, March 4
Near the Sabino Canyon Visitors' Center
5700 N. Sabino Canyon Road
749-8700
The walls of Sabino Canyon will ring with the sounds of Western, mariachi and bluegrass music this weekend at the 17th annual Music in the Canyon concert.
The focus of this year's concert is Arizona's centennial, said Dave Bushell, president of the Friends of Sabino Canyon.
To convey a sense of Arizona's heritage and its 100 years of statehood, the musical lineup includes an old-fashioned Western band (the Lazy S Gang), Native American dancers (the Redhouse Dancers), mariachi (from Tucson High School) and bluegrass (Cadillac Mountain). The concept is to provide music that Arizonans of 100 years ago would have listened to, Bushell said.
The concert will be held at the old Lowell Ranger Station, about a half-mile up the main road from the visitors' center. Bushell said the station has a "ranch" feel, with a barn and corrals. The station usually maintains a low profile, because most canyon visitors are focused on the hiking, he said.
Attendees are encouraged to wear Western wear and other outfits that would have been popular in the early 1900s.
"I'm going to put on my cowboy hat and boots," Bushell promised.
In addition to enjoying the music, concertgoers can buy food catered by El Saguarito and eegee's, Bushell said.
If you plan to attend, you might want to get there early to nab a parking space. Past Music in the Canyon events have drawn from 1,500 to 3,000 people, Bushell said.
The event is free, excluding regular canyon visitor fees, but there is a suggested donation of $5 per person, or $10 per family. —R.K.
High Fashion for a Cause
Main event at 6 p.m., Sunday, March 4
Tucson Convention Center
Grand Ballroom
260 S. Church Ave.
628-7223
Möda Provocateur, a charitable event benefiting the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF)—and known as Tucson's answer to the high-fashion shows of New York and Los Angeles—will be held at the Tucson Convention Center's Grand Ballroom for the first time in its nine-year history.
Möda was created by Avalon Studio's Kevin Casey, who began organizing it after a similar event organized by a for-profit organization resulted in a donation of $3,000 to SAAF. A native Tucsonan, Casey believed he had better connections to local salons and boutiques, and would be able put on an event that would increase the proceeds for SAAF.
So far, it appears that he's right. Möda, a 100 percent nonprofit event made possible by volunteers and in-kind donations, has raised more than $333,000 for SAAF through previous shows.
Casey said previous Möda events have involved up to 200 models, 100 hairdressers, 20 makeup artists, 30 dancers and scores of technicians and engineers—all volunteers.
"There are probably as many volunteers as audience members," Casey said, exaggerating only slightly. He expects about 700 people to attend this year's event
"This year, we've auditioned nearly 90 (models) who wanted to donate their time," he said.
Those selected end up spending between six and 20 hours rehearsing in the days before the show, not to mention rehearsals on the day of the show.
The theme of this year's event is "Stand by Me," which pays tribute to caregivers who spend their time helping people who have HIV/AIDS. Texas vocalist Rachel Avonne will perform at the pre-show dinner, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Tickets are $35 to $135. —D.M.
Women's History on the Big Screen
LUNAFEST: Short Films by, for, About Women
7 p.m., Tuesday, March 6
Loft Cinema
3233 E. Speedway Blvd.
621-5656
March is Women's History Month, and to help celebrate it, the Loft Cinema is hosting the short-film festival LUNAFEST: Short Films by, for, About Women.
The festival spotlights works by female filmmakers that focus on women's health, sexuality and body image, and how women can break boundaries, said Leigh Spencer, of the UA's Women's Studies Advisory Council.
Spencer said 100 percent of the proceeds will go to charity: For every dollar raised, 85 cents will go to the Women's Studies Advisory Council, and 15 cents will go to efforts to fight breast cancer.
The festival consists of nine films that give viewers a glimpse into the lives of a diverse group of women.
For instance, the main character in I Am a Girl is Joppe, a 13-year-old girl who wants to ask out a boy named Brian. Joppe's problem: She doesn't know how to tell Brian that she was born a boy.
Every Mother Counts: Obstetric Fistula looks at a deadly birth complication that affects between 50,000 and 100,000 women each year. It's a heartbreaking film that focuses on real women's stories, according to the LUNAFEST website.
"All of these films have won awards at various film festivals," Spencer said.
In past years, LUNAFEST has raised about $4,000 for Tucson charities, after expenses, Spencer said. On a national level, the festival has raised more than $456,000 for the Breast Cancer Fund, and more than $785,000 for nonprofit women's organizations. The festival is sponsored by LUNA, a nutritional bar for women.
Tickets are $10; or $5 for students. Advance tickets are available through the Women's Studies Advisory Council, not the Loft. —R.K.
Accomplished in Her Own Right
8 p.m., Friday, March 2; 3 p.m., Sunday, March 4
Berger Performing Arts Center
1200 W. Speedway Blvd.
882-9721
Lucie Arnaz, the daughter of entertainment icons Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball, is making her Tucson debut with Latin Roots—on the same weekend that she'll be presented with the Invisible Theatre's "Goldie" award.
The award, named for the mother of Invisible Theatre managing artistic director Susan Claassen, is given yearly to guest artists—either from the Tucson community, or from elsewhere—who excel in both their art and their investment in the community.
"My mom really understood the unconditional love and support that it takes to dedicate your life to the arts," Claassen said. "Lucie Arnaz is so passionate about her work and about education. By the way she's living her life with such passion and compassion, she honors her own parents."
Arnaz began her career with a recurring role on The Lucy Show, opposite her mother, and has since performed in film, on Broadway and as a nightclub act; she has two CDs to her credit. She has also produced documentaries about her famous family.
Latin Roots takes a look at her background, featuring clips that show Arnaz's early childhood and career, as well as footage of her father performing.
"We don't often have an opportunity to delve into the musical roots of an artist, as we do with her. It really just pulsates through her veins," Claassen said. "Even though she indeed comes from entertainment royalty, she is herself entertainment royalty. Audiences are in for a treat on every single level."
Admission is $42; discounts available for groups of 10 or more. —D.M.
