In Brief: Music, theater, family fun
Dance
BALLET EXPLORES
MEXICAN HISTORY
Rhythm, movement and music combine to bring Mexico's history to life - through the acclaimed artistry of Ballet Folklorico de Mexico - at The Smith Center on Sunday and Monday.
Founded more than five decades ago, Ballet Folklorico - which has become Mexico's cultural ambassador to the world - traces traditions, folklore and social changes through the centuries.
Ballet Folklorico de Mexico will perform at 7:30 p.m. Sunday and Monday in Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave. Tickets ($24-$59) are available by telephone at 749-2000 or online at www.thesmithcenter.com.
Film/music
PHILHARMONIC SPOTLIGHTS
CHAPLIN'S 'CITY LIGHTS'
Charlie Chaplin's creative genius extended far beyond starring in and directing his own sublime silent comedies.
He also wrote the musical scores for many of his movies - and, Saturday night at The Smith Center, the Las Vegas Philharmonic showcases all three aspects of his talents, performing Chaplin's own score during a screening of his 1931 classic "City Lights." Reportedly Chaplin's own favorite, it's the tale of the Little Tramp and a beautiful blind flower seller - and culminates in one of the most celebrated final shots in movie history.
Taras Krysa takes the podium as the Philharmonic's guest conductor; as music director of the Henderson Symphony Orchestra, Krysa conducted Chaplin's "Modern Times" score at a screening earlier this year.
The movie, with live orchestral accompaniment, will be shown at 8 p.m. Saturday in Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave. Tickets are $25 to $94 and are available by calling 749-2000 or going online to www.thesmithcenter.com.
Jazz
CHART-TOPPING FOURPLAY
VISITS UNLV SATURDAY
The Grammy-nominated Fourplay brings its smooth jazz - punctuated by pop, R&B and other elements - to UNLV Saturday.
Fourplay - alias keyboardist Bob James, drummer Harvey Mason, bassist Nathan East and guitarist Chuck Loeb - has topped the Billboard contemporary jazz album charts multiple times, showcasing a style that encompasses traditional and contemporary jazz along with blues, funk and even Celtic influences.
Saturday's concert also includes an early-bird bonus: a 7 p.m. performance by members of UNLV's award-winning jazz program in the lobby of Artemus Ham Hall at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway.
Fourplay takes the Ham Hall stage at 8 p.m.; tickets ($30, $40 and $55) are available by calling 895-2787 or going online to pac.unlv.edu.
Theater
LITTLE THEATRE DEBUTS
JOLLY HOLIDAY COMEDY
"A Christmas Carol" gets a farcical twist - thanks to an assist from "The Government Inspector" and "Noises Off" - in "Inspecting Carol," which opens a three-weekend run tonight at Las Vegas Little Theatre.
In the play, a wannabe community theater actor is mistaken for a National Endowment of the Arts representative - and promptly cast in the theater's production of "A Christmas Carol," triggering multiple comic complications.
"Inspecting Carol" plays at 8 p.m. today and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday on LVLT's Main Stage, 3920 Schiff Drive; additional evening performances are at 8 p.m. Nov. 8-10 and Nov. 15-17, with 2 p.m. matinees Nov. 10-11 and Nov. 18. Tickets ($24 general admission, $21 for seniors and students) are available by telephone at 362-7996 or online at www.lvlt.org.
Jazz
VOCAL JAZZ SOLO NIGHTS
LIGHT UP CSN STAGE
It takes two - two nights, that is - to showcase the CSN Jazz Singers at the College of Southern Nevada's Vocal Jazz Solo Nights.
Although the Jazz Singers ensemble will perform several selections, the two concerts focus on solo performances of everything from blues to musical theater; each participating student will present an individual tune.
The concerts take place at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday in the BackStage Theater at CSN's Cheyenne campus, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave., North Las Vegas. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for students and seniors; for reservations, go online to www.csn.edu/pac or call 651-5483.
Family fun
CLIFFORD AND FRIENDS
SHARE ADVENTURES
He may not look it, but Clifford the Big Red Dog is celebrating his 50th anniversary this year.
Yet he's as young (and as lovable) as ever in "Clifford the Big Red Dog - Live!" The new musical visits The Smith Center's Reynolds Hall Tuesday.
In the show, Clifford and Emily Elizabeth journey to Birdwell Island for adventures with their friends - learning, in the process, how to help others, work together, share and believe in themselves.
"Clifford the Big Red Dog - Live!" will be presented at 6 p.m. Tuesday at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave. Tickets ($17 to $29) are available online at www.thesmithcenter.com or by telephone at 749-2000.
Opera
UNLV OPERA THEATER
CONJURES 'FAIRY QUEEN'
Oh, what fools these nonmortals be.
The fairy characters of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," that is, who populate Henry Purcell's "The Fairy Queen."
Starting Thursday, UNLV Opera Theater will present Purcell's operatic account of feuding fairy monarchs Oberon and Titania, Oberon's impish servant Puck - and the comic consequences that occur when Oberon directs Puck to play a trick on Titania.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and next Friday, Nov. 8, and at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, in the Paul Harris Theater of the Alta Ham Fine Arts Building at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Tickets are $10 for general admission; $8 for seniors, military and UNLV faculty and staff; and free to students with ID. For more information, call 895-2787 or go online to pac.unlv.edu.
- By CAROL CLING
