Ruben Reyes' "Pancho Goes to College" was filmed in Tucson.

Our picks for the top entertainment events of the week

‘Pancho Goes to College’ screens here again

For those who haven’t seen Ruben Reyes’ award-winning film, “Pancho Goes to College,” here’s another opportunity – and it’s free. Cine Rasquacho Internacional y Casa Maria will screen the movie, which has drawn comparisons to Spike Lee’s “School Daze,” under the stars at the soup kitchen. Director Reyes and many of the actors will be present, including Regina Romero and Pancho del Rancho. A Rasquacho-style reception will feature free hot dogs, popcorn with lemon and cold lemonade. When: 7 p.m. Friday Where: Casa Maria/Guadalupe Free kitchen, 410 E. 26th St. Price: free Info: 624-0312

Films by UA students showcased at TCC

A teen genre musical, a meditation on Jewish identity, a fantasy epic about a fiddler turned dragonslayer and a comedic series of commercial spots are all on the movie menu as University of Arizona film students premiere their works, Students graduating from the UA School of Media Arts bachelor of fine arts program will screen their senior thesis films at the annual “I Dream in Widescreen.” The students wrote, directed and crewed their own films. A Q&A session with the filmmakers follows the presentation. When: Doors open at 6 p.m. Friday, with the screenings beginning at 7. Where: Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. Price: free Info: 626-1405 www.uanews.org

Arts in the Zoo features concert, exhibit, wine

Music can sometimes tame beasts – and we’re not talking about the four-legged variety. Human animals will be treated to a soothing concert of classical music as the Reid Park Zoo hosts an evening under the stars with the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy a wine reception and private art exhibition by local artists, including nature photographer John Chapman and world-renowned artist Diana Madaras. When: Gates open at 6 p.m. Saturday, with the concert from 7-9:30 Where: Reid Park Zoo, 1030 S. Randolph Way Price: $20 adults, free for children 1 and younger Info: 791-3204, www.tucsonzoo.org

The event will be at Himmel Park, near East Speedway and North Tucson Boulevards. It will start at 5:30 p.m. with music and performances, and the candles will be lit at 7:30 p.m.

The memorial is aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination associated with AIDS; ensuring access to treatment; increasing resources to HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis; and promoting greater involvement by affected communities, SAAF said in a news statement.

Similar candlelight memorials will be held in more than 1,200 communities worldwide.

AIDS group to hold

candlelight memorial

Cox Communications is hosting the free movie from 6-8 p.m. at the park, 1700 S. Swan Road. The 5.53-acre park also has barbecue grills and picnic sites.

Salazar, speaking from inside the statue’s crown, made the announcement Friday morning on NBC’s “Today.”

The statue was closed to the public after 9/11 because of security concerns. The base, pedestal and lower observation deck have since been reopened.

Salazar says about 30 visitors an hour, chosen by lottery, will be allowed inside the crown. He says that number eventually will increase.

Improvements to the crown will be made before and after the reopening.

Salazar also is visiting New York’s Ellis Island to discuss stimulus funding for the historic immigration center.

Mariachi Tesoro de Tucson is among the three groups performing Monday.

Our picks for the top entertainment events of the week

Gaslight Theatre hosts Mariachi Extravaganza

The sounds of youth will be showcased during The Gaslight Theatre’s Mariachi Extravaganza Concert. Scheduled to perform are youth groups Mariachi Sonido de Mexico, Mariachi Cielo de Mexico and special guest Mariachi Tesoro de Tucson. Members’ ages range from teen to college. When: 7 p.m. Monday Where: 7010 E. Broadway Price: $18 adults, $14 children 12 and younger Info: For reservations, call 886-9428.

‘Rita of the Sky’ returns to the big screen

The multiple-award winning “Rita of the Sky” at the recent Arizona International Film Festival will play again this weekend. At the festival the film won Best Feature Documentary and Best of Arizona awards, playing twice to sold-out houses. This documentary by Tucson filmmaker Kathryn Ferguson details the tragic story of a Tarahumara woman from the wilderness Copper Canyon area of Mexico who followed an old cattle drive trail from her home to the middle of Kansas, where she was arrested and wrongly institutionalized for 10 years. Ferguson will attend all screenings and answer questions afterward. When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday Where: the Screening Room, 127 E. Congress St. Price: $8 Info: 882-0204.

Boys Chorus Pops Concert on Saturday at TCC

The Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus’ annual Pops Concert will include all of its groups in a “show of lighter music.” Sing and Swing will be the theme of a segment of the program featuring a salute to the big band swing era. In addition, the choristers will perform their signature Western songs and trick rodeo roping. When: 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday Where: Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. Price: $15 and $18, with tickets available at all TCC and Ticketmaster outlets and the Boys Chorus office, 5770 E. Pima St. Info: 296-6277

A young inspired author, Dylan Blankenship of Desert Willow Elementary, wrote a story about "My Friend the Magic Box."

If doughnuts and Pop-Tarts had a smackdown, who would win? How about pizza and spaghetti?

Stories that Soar, a local theater program featuring snippets of plays written by schoolkids, will answer those questions when it offers two performances at the University of Arizona on May 9 showcasing the best of its work this school year.

“When adults write about kids, it’s very different from when kids write themselves. It’s very entertaining for everyone, and it offers a great glimpse into the world of kids,” said Sharon O’Brien, artistic director for Stories that Soar.

The stories are collected over a period of several weeks at elementary and intermediate schools, then developed into plays with live actors, music and sound effects. The actors then return to the schools for assemblies featuring the submitted plays. The group has performed in 10 local schools and three in Phoenix this year.

Actors come from a variety of backgrounds and range in age from 19 to 50, O’Brien said.

Darby Blaker, who graduated in December with a UA bachelor’s degree in speech and hearing sciences, joined the group at the suggestion of a friend. She was quickly hooked, she said.

The plays are a great way to bring out kids’ feelings and thoughts, which are basically the same feelings and thoughts adults have, Blaker said.

“I think it’s every kid’s dream to see something they created brought to life,” she said.

The UA performances will offer two or three stories from each of the schools the group worked with this past year, O’Brien said.

Topics range from the serious – war and immigration – to the whimsical – a fight between spaghetti and pizza.

A reception with balloons, face painting, raffles and a silent auction to benefit Stories that Soar begins an hour before showtime.

Stories that Soar has been active for eight years. The group has a stable of about 20 actors, though only about 10 will be in the UA shows.

The food fights became part of the program after several kids submitted plays based on fights between their favorite foods, O’Brien said.

“It’s a three-round favorite food smackdown. Doughnuts and Pop-Tarts decide to be friends; it’s too hard to fight,” she said.

To find out the winner in the pizza-spaghetti matchup, head to UA on May 9.

Timothy Jones of Soleng Tom Elementary wrote about a mail carrier who gets lost in space.

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IF YOU GO

What: “Best of Stories that Soar!”

When: 2 and 7 p.m. May 9

Where: University of Arizona Marroney Theatre, 1025 N. Olive Road.

Price: $8 for adults, $5 for kids ages 12 and younger. Available at Mrs. Tiggywinkle’s Toys, 4811 E. Grant Road; Antigone Books, 411 N. Fourth Ave. or at the door May 9.

Info: 975-9970, www.storiesthatsoar.org

Harleys will congregate inside and outside the Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave., and riders will head out of town to explore the region in all directions, rally coordinator Nick Feldaverd said.

Most of the rally events are for H.O.G. members only, but the public is welcome to check out the bike show from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday in the TCC parking lot and check out the vendors at La Placita Village, 110 S. Church Ave.

There will also be a motorcycle parade through downtown at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Harley Owners Group in Arizona used to hold its annual rallies in Williams, but moved the event to Tucson in 2007.

“There are some tremendous riding areas in southern Arizona that many people don’t know about,” Feldaverd said. “One of the biggest things we enjoy is having our bike games inside (at the TCC).”

Feldaverd said 500 riders have pre-registered, but he thinks total participation will fall short of the 1,500-plus that took part the prior two years.

“I would say 1,500 is really high this year because it is really tough for everyone,” Feldaverd said of the economy.

The rally is offering guided and self-guided rides up Mount Lemmon and Kitt Peak, north to Biosphere 2 and south to Sonoita, Tombstone and the Titan Missile Museum and to other locales.

The rides fill Thursday and Friday, and Saturday events move to the TCC for the morning bike show and the afternoon bike games.

The vigil runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at Children’s Memorial Park, 4851 N. 15th Place. The program includes remarks from survivors, music, a memorial balloon release and candle lighting.

The 25th annual vigil is part of the National Crime Victim Rights Week.

For more information, contact 740-5729.

RYN GARGULINSKI

Hold on to your broom sticks and trash can lids, because STOMP members just might try to swipe them from you.

Our picks for the top entertainment events of the week

Bring in da noise, bring in da STOMP – again

The creative eight-member troupe uses everything but conventional percussion instruments – matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters, hubcaps – to fill the stage with varied rhythms. When: 8 p.m. Friday, 5 and 9 p.m. Saturday, and 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Where: Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd. Price: $28-$51 Info: 621-3341, www.uapresents.org

‘Hick-Spanic’ comic Reymundo at Laffs

Born in Acapulco, Mexico, and partially raised in Kentucky, self-proclaimed “Hick-Spanic” Alex Reymundo has plenty of material to glean from his upbringing. He’s been featured on the Showtime and Comedy Central special “The Original Latin Kings of Comedy,” along with the likes of George Lopez and Paul Rodriguez. He also received an ALMA Award for “Outstanding Comedy Special” last year. This is a Laffs’ special appearance, one show on Cinco de Mayo. When: 7 p.m. Tuesday Where: Laffs Comedy Club, 2900 E. Broadway Price: $15 Info: www.laffstucson.com/

‘Amancio’ tells of gay man’s murder in Yuma

As a young boy, Amancio Corrales emigrated from Mexico to Yuma with his parents in search of a better life. The gay Amancio dreamed of one day being a performer in Las Vegas, but the 23-year-old’s dream was cut short on May 6, 2005, when his body was found floating in the Colorado River near Yuma. He had been brutally beaten and stabbed. For the first time, the story of activist Michael Baughman’s journey to seek justice on behalf of Amancio’s family is revealed in the documentary, “Amancio.” Baughman and Corrales’ family will attend the screening. When: 7:30 p.m. May 7 Where: The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Price: $10 Info: 322-5638, www.loftcinema.com

Harvest, in Oro Valley, features organic and locally sourced food.

The 2009 Art in Oro Valley Competition & Exhibition runs through April 30 at Ventana Medical Systems, 1910 E. Innovation Park Drive, with viewing hours from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.

The exhibit features work from more than 80 local artists in three competition themes: Water, Oro Valley and High School Open Subject. If you hurry, you can still check out the exhibit with your favorite starving-artist friend, then treat her/him to a big meal at one of these five nearby eateries. Or just skip the exhibit and go straight for the food.

ANGELINA’S RISTORANTE

12152 N. Rancho Vistoso Blvd., Suite 170, 742-9595, 11 a.m.-midnight Sundays -Thursdays, 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Fridays-Saturdays (late night menu after 10 p.m.)

Features a nice variety of 27 upscale tapas and award-winning artisan pizza.

CIBARIA CUCINA ITALIANA

12985 N. Oracle Road, 825-2900, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 4:30-9 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays

Try the Polenta Capponata, sautéed Italian sausage, eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, red onions and mushrooms in a marinara sauce served over creamy polenta.

DRAGON VILLAGE RESTAURANT

12152 N. Rancho Vistoso Blvd., Suite 180, 229-0388, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, noon-9 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays

Specialties to try include Westlake Shrimp & Beef Soup, Bacon Shrimp Roll and House Lettuce Cups, with shrimp, chicken, beef, onions and peppers in a spicy sauce.

HARVEST RESTAURANT

10355 N. La Cañada Drive, 731-1000, 3-9 p.m. Mondays-Thursday, 3-10 p.m. Fridays, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays

Handmade Gnocchi is a great way to start the meal at this newbie, which emphasizes organic and locally sourced food

SPICE BISTRO

10325 N. La Cañada Drive, 297-3777, 5-9 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays

Linguine Allo Scoglio features a generous collection of well-prepared shrimp, scallops, mussels and clams, and the calamari starter is excellent.