Actors labor through challenging operetta

Before composer/lyricist collaborations like those of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, there were the 19th century operettas of William Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan.

This week, the UA Opera Theater will present "The Gondoliers", an operetta, or light opera, set in the fictitious kingdom of Barataria in the late 18th century.

With convoluted subplots, two gondoliers hoping to be king of Barataria, and a twist ending, the operetta will incorporate acting, singing and dancing - three disparate theater elements. The combination has some performers standing fidgety and self-conscious outside of their comfort zones. [Read article]

Rock 'n' roll will never die. The adage may only be three-fifths true for Detroit legends the MC5. Even though singer Rob Tyner and guitarist Fred Smith have passed on to Rock 'n' Roll Heaven (Cleveland), the group has recently reformed under the moniker DKT/MC5, and they continue to kick out the jams around the world.

The band is perhaps one of the most politically notorious bands of the 1960's, a decade known for its seemingly endless supply of idealistic political folk and rock. In an age when stoned-out ideas of peace and love reigned, band manager and guru John Sinclair urged "a total assault on the culture by any means necessary, including rock 'n' roll, dope and fucking in the streets." [Read article]

Sometimes people have an urge to test themselves. They try to climb something large and dangerous, join the Marines, drink the weight of a cougar in gin, etc. Steven Spielberg's latest test for himself is to make a film about being trapped in an airport. The "trapped in a ... " film is a worthy adversary, as we've seen from bombs like "Phone Booth" and "Cube".

Spielberg thought it was about time to conquer the beast, and who better to star than Tom Hanks, who (as luck would have it) recently made a movie about being trapped on a desert island? [Read article]

I met Jimi Hendrix at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet! That's right. This past weekend I went to the Swap Meet, located off South Palo Verde Road, and met the musician in the flesh. True, it was hot at 11 a.m., but with a cold bottle of water, my parasol and a lovely breeze, I had a great time checking out some of the cool, creepy and ridiculous stuff people try to sell and/or swap.

People usually think of old car parts, socks in bulk and little homemade crafts when they think of swap meets or flea markets. But because just about anyone with $12 can set up, vendors at the Swap Meet can sell and/or swap just about anything. [Read article]

Beastie Boys - To the 5 Buroughs

Sounds Like:Every single one of their previous albums.

See Also:Every single one of their previous albums.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Check it out. Wha-Wha-Wha-Wha-What's it all about? Here's the thing: It's not exactly that I think the Beastie Boys are good or bad. I just think they're really strange.

But maybe that's the attraction. They were, after all, the first white rap group. "White people can rap," you ask? Maybe not. But they try. And apparently that's all that matters. [Read article]

Chronic Future - Lines in My Face

Chronic Future used to be a novelty band. They were Kris-Krossing their way to the top of Phoenix's airwaves at 13 with "Scottsdale," a song about rich Scottsdale kids.

It was a terrible and hilarious song that gave them 15 minutes. And that was that. But wait ...

The kids have grown up, and (somehow) signed to Interscope Records. Now in their early 20's, the voices have changed while the sound remains the same: immature rap-rock without a hint of originality. [Read article]