2012 Spring Season of Music Under the Stars begins on Mother’s Day, May 13

Who: Tucson Pops Orchestra Spring 2010 Concert Season

What: FREE concerts under the stars for the whole family

When: Sundays, May 13, 20, 27 and June 3, 10 and 17, at 7:00 p.m.

Where: DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center, Reid Park (E. 22nd x Country Club)

Tucson, AZ — Sunday, May 13th marks the opening of the spring season of the Tucson Pops Concerts in the Park. The Orchestra, under the direction of Laszlo Veres, celebrates its 57th year of performing free concerts in the park. The public is invited to enjoy “Music under the Stars” at the DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center, in Reid Park, on Sunday evenings beginning at 7:00 pm from May 13th through June 17th. The concert schedule is as follows:

May 13- Mother’s Day Concert – Featuring the Catalina Foothills “Falcon” Steel Band, under the direction of Dr. Tina Walton performing a medley of island inspired music. The orchestra will perform A Salute to Glenn Miller, My Yiddishe Momme, selections from the Sound of Music and more to round out the evening dedicated to moms everywhere.

May 20 – Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus under the direction of Dr. Julian Ackerley. The internationally acclaimed group will sing selections of some of their favorite tunes. The orchestra will perform Overture to Boccaccio by von Suppé, Somewhere in Time by Barry/Custer, Jamaican Rumba by Benjamin and more.

May 27 – An Evening with Nancy Davis Booth, one of Tucson’s most popular guest vocalists. She will perform several Puccini operatic numbers including “Musetta’s waltz” from La Bohème, and Vissi D’arte” from Tosca; in addition to several contemporary classics including My Funny Valentine by Rodgers, George Gershwin’s I Got Rhythm and more.

June 3 –Maestro’s Favorites – Featuring a variety of Conductor Laszlo Veres’ favorite tunes including the world premiere of “Legends”, An Overture and Festivals, both by Richard Faith, along with Medleys from Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady, Moscow Nights and more.

June 10 – Stars of the Pops – The Tucson Pops Orchestra takes center stage at this concert featuring a collection of new and old favorites including selections from Sweet Charity, soundtrack highlights from The Lion King and more.

June 17– Future Star – Clark Evans, Cellist performing the Cello Concerto by Dvorak. The orchestra will conclude the 2012 spring season of “Music under the Stars” with Quest for Camelot – Selections, Tango Jealousie, and the ever popular 1812 Overture (complete with “cannon” fire) by Tchaikovsky.

The spring 2012 concert series is sponsored by Long Companies, Rosemont Copper, the Friends of the Pops and Tucson Parks and Recreation with additional support from the Arizona Commission on the Arts and the Tucson Pima Arts Council.

The DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center is located off Country Club just north of 22nd Street. Parking is available at the Randolph Park Golf Course parking lot, Alvernon Way just north of 22nd Street with shuttle service to the band shell beginning at 5:30pm.

For more information on the Tucson Pops Orchestra visit the website at http://www.tucsonpops.org. Bios and photos of guest artists are available upon request.

Contact:

Norma Gentry
ProVentures, Inc.
520-318-9445
ngentry@pvinc.net

And Happy Mother’s Day to all who attend the concert tomorrow night, especially mothers, stepmothers, adoptive mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers, even mothers-in-law and foster mothers.

Who doesn’t love jello? But in wrestling? This event benefitng Southern Arizona Aids Foundation (SAAF) is in its 25th year, and counting…so it must be successful. How did I miss the first 24 matches?

Teams of wrestlers raise funds to wrestle in a pit of Jell-O, often with extraordinary costumes and characters. Between wrestling matches our Drag Diva Hostesses run a live auction featuring a variety of unique items selected to please the crowd.

For all that jello fun, check it out on May 12, 3 p.m. pre-party, with the jello wrestling beginning at 4 p.m. till 8 p.m., all at Kennedy Fiesta Park, 3700 S. La Cholla.

Buy advance tickets online at $20 at a discount (website www.jello-wrestling.org), or $25 at the door/gate.

History of this event from their website:

In 1987, Reno Gannon, a bartender at Tucson bar Rumor Hazzit, returned from a vacation in Mexico with an exciting new idea for a fundraising event. The concept? Jell-O Wrestling!

Reno spoke with Rumor Hazzitt owner Bruce Peg and his management staff of Peter Sitig and Michael Bennett about putting on the event as a fundraiser to help people living with HIV/AIDS. Bruce, Peter, and Michael liked the idea and organized the first Jell-O Wrestling Extravaganza in 1987. Shanti, one of the 3 local AIDS Service Organizations that would later merge to form the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF), was the recipient of event proceeds.

Reno was an energetic, fun-loving, intelligent man in his early 20s when he brought this idea to the community. Committed to doing something to help, he and the owners and management of Rumor Hazzit made the event a reality. At age 23, Reno died from AIDS. The year following his death, the event became a memorial to him.

Reno’s legacy of hope and dedication to raising public awareness about HIV/AIDS continues through this wonderful event. In the past 9 years alone, Jell-O Wrestling has raised more than $260,000 for the programs and services of SAAF.

Thinking about this jello wrestling inspired me to make some lime jello (for consumption) this morning.

Starting May 11 at the Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway:

The real-life story of “legendary musician, activist and revolutionary” Bob Marley, directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland)

Co-presented by Zia Record Exchange

Bob Marley’s universal appeal, impact on music history and role as a social and political prophet is both unique and unparalleled. MARLEY is the definitive life story of the musician, revolutionary, and legend, from his early days to his rise to international superstardom. Made with the support of the Marley family, the film features rare footage, incredible performances and revelatory interviews with the people that knew him best.

From Academy Award-winning director Kevin Macdonald (One Day In September, The Last King of Scotland) comes the story of a towering figure of musical history, whose music and message has transcended different cultures, languages and creeds to resonate around the world today as powerfully as when he was alive.

Bob Marley was a half black/half white Jamaican, a very talented reggae musician, father of several children one being musician Ziggy Marley. Years ago I read a biography about him so I know he died very young at age 36 from melanoma in his toe, which spread throughout his body. He died on May 11, 1981, coincidentally 31 years from the day this movie opens at the Loft. And for those of you who are Marley fans, you probably know that he prophesied his own death at age 36.

More on Bob Marley (the “King of Reggae”) at wikipedia (click here).