American High School Theatre Festival

Performing arts briefs

The Las Cruces Community Theatre, 313 N. Downtown Mall, presents "Avanti!," a witty comedy where what happens in Rome needs to stay in Rome. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10 adults, $9 seniors, students and military. Children 6 and under $7. Info: (575) 523-1200.

The "Howling Coyote Coffeehouse/Open Mic" takes place at 6:30 p.m., performances begin at 7 p.m. Friday at the Christican Church, 1809 El Paseo Road. Free. Held every first and third Friday of the month. Info: Bob Burns, (575) 525-9333 or (915) 799-5684.

Blue Clear Sky with Marty White, a country band, will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday in Downtown El Paso on the Arts Festival Plaza for the Dancing in the City Outdoor Summer Concert Series. Tickets are $6 per person or $10 per couple. Up next in the series: June 25 will feature Grupo Soncache, on July 9, Ivon Ulibarri & Café Mocha (salsa/cumbia), July 23, Hillside Gamblers (rockabilly), July 30, Havana Son (Cuban salsa). Info: (915) 541-4481.

Spur Ride will play country western music from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Munson Center, 975 S. Mesquite St. Admission is $6.

The Dixie Bee-Liners will play bluegrass/American music at Ardovino's Desert Crossing restaurant at 7 p.m. Sunday. Beer and food specials. Reservations recommended. Info: (575) 589-0653.

The Kat Crosby Blues Band will give a performance at 7 p.m. Sunday at the First Christian Church, 1809 El Paseo Road, as part of the Mesilla Valley Jazz and Blues Society's Summer Blues Festival. The group draws inspiration from blues greats such as T-Bone Walker, B.B. King and STevie Ray Vaughan. Admission is $1 for students, $5 for members and $8 general admission. Info: Jim Helder, (575) 373-2188.

A CD release party and concert for cello quartet La Cella Bella's new album "Dreaming," will start at 7 p.m. Thursday at The Bean Cafe, 2011 Avenida de Mesilla. $5 admission.

"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" will be presented by No Strings Theatre Company at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays June 24 through July 10. There will be a Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m. on July 3 and 10 and an additional show at 7 p.m. on July 7. Tickets are $10 regular admission, $9 for students and seniors. Reservations/info: (575) 532-1223.

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES

The Las Cruces High School Theatre presents the 2011 Summer Theatre Camp from June 20 to 30 from 9 a.m. to noon at Mikey's Place, 3100 Harrelson St.

ron bashford: Just a little bit more

So, some of you know that my brother, who teaches high school drama in Santa Rosa, CA, is taking a group of students to perform at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland this summer. Due to the woeful state of finances in California, his school is offering no financial support -- and the demographics of his school mean that parents cannot afford to pay either. Since the opening of Elsie Allen High School in 1994, the drama department, under the direction of Rob Burt, has been fostering creativity and helping students develop intellectual and social skills to carry them into the world beyond. This full-time program is designed to serve the needs of a highly diverse student population (about 75% Latino) by providing as many opportunities as possible to develop acting, directing, writing, designing, and interpretive skills. What really sets Elsie Allen apart from other programs is the rigorous ever-evolving playwrighting curriculum that has produced several award winning plays. As there is no better way to learn theatre than to create it, all Drama Production students write a fully realized one-act play. This year we will also be taking submissions from the advanced drama class. The top four or five are selected for production in the annual Elsie Allen Playwrights One-Act Play Festival. Mr. Burt casts and produces the plays. The students do everything else. Early in the process the writers collaborate with a student director of the play. Each student in the cast is responsible for a different design or technical element; hence the students learn how to develop the work organically, always honoring the words of the playwright. At the Lenaea High School Drama Festival at Sacramento State University Elsie Allen’s original productions have been very well received earning many awards for playwrighting, directing, acting and overall performance. After Leslie McCauley, the Artistic Director of the Santa Rosa Junior College Theatre Department, nominated Elsie Allen an extensive application was submitted to the American High School Theatre Festival Board of Advisors. This group, made up of college theatre professionals, chose Elsie Allen to be one of a 75 American high schools out of over 2000 nominees to perform at the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the largest theatre festival in the world, based on its outstanding playwrighting program, awards, and educational philosophy.

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