Local events for week of Nov. 6-12

The Fresno Bee

11/05/09 12:01:30

'Lord of the Dance'
7:30 p.m. Tuesday / Saroyan Theatre, 700 M St. / (559) 485-8497, ticketmaster.com / $30-$52.50

This spinoff of the popular "Riverdance" features a story line of good vs. evil, with the Lord of the Dance pitted against a dark lord. There's also a "good girl" and a "temptress" to throw in some sex appeal. The show last played in Fresno in 2005.

'The Mikado'

7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday / Fresno City College Theatre / (559) 442-8221 / $10, $7 students and seniors

Don't forget the Lord High Executioner this weekend. The Fresno City College Opera Musical Theatre Workshop presents Gilbert & Sullivan's "The Mikado." And you don't want to disappoint a guy with a blade.

Circus with a twist

7 p.m. Friday and Nov. 13 / Friday: Rivergold School Theater, 31800 Road 400, Coarsegold, 658-7013. Nov. 13: Coarsegold School Theater, 45426 Road 415, Coarsegold / $8, $5 seniors and students / 658-7013

Although this Urban Circus production features clowns, comedy, lions, jugglers and three ring circus acts, this is not your typical kids' circus. The story line follows two sisters who have been banned from Hollywood and lure innocent performers into their circus. The performers eventually find out they cannot escape and are trapped.

Learning through art

Friday-Sunday / Various locations, call for times and details / free / (559) 738-0211, ext. 105, www.sequoiariverlands.org

Learn more about the natural and cultural aspects of the Kaweah watershed at the first Kaweah Land and Arts Festival. There will be a series of storytelling events told through a variety of artistic formats, including visual art, poetry, prose, song, folklore, history and music. Performers include Tim, Z. Hernandez, Paul Buxman and Sylvia Ross.

Laughs with the Ladies

7 p.m. Saturday / Chukchansi Park $17.50-$57.50 / (559) 320-8497, tickets.com

It's ladies' night at Chukchansi Park on Saturday, as the Hot Tamales Live comedy show makes a Fresno stop. It features female comedians such as Kiki Melendez (right), Carla Collins, Monique Marvez, Amy Anderson and Tiffany Haddish. The stand-up show is an extension of the "Hot Tamales Live" comedy special, which was organized by actress Eva Longoria and aired on Showtime.

Fresno gets sweded

5 p.m. Saturday / Starline, 831 E. Fern Ave. / Free / swedefest.com

Looking for a homegrown, community-driven event that's original to Fresno? Then consider Saturday's Swede Fest at Starline. It's an off-kilter event where amateur filmmakers make short parodies (known as "swedes") of popular movies, then get together to show them off.

It's inspired by the Jack Black movie "Be Kind Rewind," in which video store employees have to remake all the movies in the store. Fresno was the first city to hold a Swede Fest, and Saturday's is the fourth installment.

Traditional Armenian tunes

8 p.m. Sunday / Fresno State Concert Hall / kitka.org, (510) 444-0323 / $20, $18 seniors

Armenian folk singer Hasmik Harutyunyan and the Kitka Choral Ensemble will perform an evening of traditional Armenian music. One of Armenia's leading folk singers, Harutyunyan is known for her renditions of Armenian lullabies.

Return of Crossroads

8 p.m. Saturday / Crossroads, 3315 N. Cedar Ave. / $7 / myspace.com/crossroads.bar

Fresno lost a music venue when Crossroads closed in August, but now the club is roaring back under new ownership.

The new Crossroads opens this weekend and has lined up a Saturday night of hard rock with Infinite Aggression, Khyral, Cursed and the reunion of local band Crucial Point.

Also coming up at Crossroads:

Thursday: Reggae act Pato Banton

Nov. 13: Cover band Hard Times

Nov. 14: Steel Messiah, Gutterfish, Max Kaos and Khryal Reach for the Stars with Tizer

7 p.m. Friday / Veteran's Memorial Auditorium, 2425 Fresno St. / $30 / (559) 457-3420 ext. 523

Instrumental jazz band Tizer will headline tonight's "Reach for the Stars" benefit concert at Veterans Memorial Auditorium.

"Reach for the Stars" is a program for special-needs students at Tehipite Middle School, headed by teacher Ron Mortanian.

For tonight's concert, six-piece band Tizer will play a mix of jazz, world beat and pop/rock. Band members have played with the likes of Yanni, Loggins & Messina and Paul Simon.

Special day for Moorcroft pottery

10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday / Tamsen Munger Fine Gifts, 7909 N. Blackstone Ave. / (559) 439-8935, tamsenmunger.com / free

For 10 years, Tamsen Munger has been connecting Valley collectors with Moorcroft art pottery. She even visited the Moorcroft factory in England with her associate, Bob Wash, who died in March. Now Munger, who has run her gallery for nearly 30 years, is retiring by year's end, and the Moorcroft company is giving her a special day in her honor. Moorcroft representative Jan Say will be on hand with a selection of exclusive designs.

Warnors presents 'Organ Spectacular'

4 p.m. Sunday / Warnors Theatre, 1400 Fulton St. / (559) 264-2848 / $10, $5 students

Fans of organ music won't want to miss "An Organ Spectacular." The San Joaquin Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists is presenting a concert featuring the Warnors Theatre's 1920 Robert Morton organ. The program celebrates all styles of organ music.