City of Las Vegas Cultural & Community Events April-May 2010

City Of Las Vegas Cultural Arts & Community Events April 5-11

Tony Scodwell Big Band Tribute Concert At Charleston Heights Arts Center April 10

            Tony Scodwell’s Big Band will perform a tribute concert to renowned big band leader Harry James on Saturday, April 10, at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, located at 800 S. Brush St. Scodwell played trumpet in the James orchestra for many years. Also on the “Wild About Harry” program, which begins at 2 p.m., will be song stylist Lisa Mayer. She and the band will perform the hits made famous by James, such as “You Made Me Love You,” “Sleepy Lagoon,” “It Seems As If I’ve Heard That Song Before” and many more.  Tickets are priced at $10 in advance and $12 on event day. For tickets and more information, call (702) 229-6383.

            Other upcoming events include:

Ethnic Express Folk Dancing (ages 13+)

Wednesday, April 7, 6:30 to 8:45 p.m.

Tickets: $4 per person, per day

Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St., (702) 229-6383.

Catch the Ethnic Express for an international evening of fun! Dances include Armenian, Bulgarian, Chinese, Greek, Russian, Serbian and Turkish, to name a few.

Symphony Park Lecture Series

Preserving Our City's Colorful History: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at The Mob and Neon Museums
Wednesday, April 7; Doors open at 5 p.m., Lecture at 5:30 p.m.
Free admission. Open to the public.

Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St., (702) 229-6469.

The lecture features a panel discussion with 24-year FBI veteran Ellen Knowlton, president of the 300 Stewart Avenue Corporation, the non-profit board that is overseeing the museum’s development and operations; Mob Museum Creative Director Dennis Barrie who is co-creator of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland and the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C.; and Nancy Deaner, the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs manager who has been instrumental in the development of both The Mob and Neon Museums. Sponsored in part by Las Vegas CityLife and Nevada Public Radio. For more information, visit www.symphonypark.com.

Rainbow Company Youth Theatre Presents “The Orphan Train”

April 8, 9 and 10 at 7 p.m. and April 10 and 11 at 2 p.m.

Tickets: $3 for children age 12 and under; $5 for teens and seniors; $7 for adults.

Reed Whipple Cultural Center, 821 Las Vegas Blvd. North, (702) 229-6211.

On May 28, 1914, an “orphan train” left New York City and traveled to westward to Midwest towns. On board were unwanted, orphaned children, hoping for a home — any home, anywhere. Chugging between encounters of anxiety, laughter, rejection and acceptance, the stories of nine children unfold in this heartwarming, moving play about the dreams of finding a family. Tickets are available by mail, telephone or in person. Call 229-6211 for tickets and more information.

Hobby Club Expo (ages 50+)

Friday, April 9, 10 a.m.

Free admission for attendees; $2 for food ticket, $10 for a club table.

Lieburn Senior Center, 6230 Garwood Ave., (702) 229-1600.

Learn about the wide variety of hobby clubs in Las Vegas. Clubs who wish to have an exhibition table should register by March 25. Refreshments will be available.

Scottish Country Dancing (ages 13+)

Friday, April 9, 6:30 to 8:45 p.m.

Cost: $5 general admission, $4 for Southern Nevada Old Time Contra Dancers members.

Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St., (702) 229-6383.

Cosponsored by Southern Nevada Old-Time Contra Dancers, the National Folk Organization, and the city of Las Vegas. This class is not suitable for younger children unless they have previous dance experience. Scottish Country Dancing is the beautiful “ballroom” dance of Scotland. The dances may be lively and joyful or gentle and graceful. From the first chord to the final bow or curtsey, dancers are inspired by the driving reels, jaunty jigs, snappy strathspeys or lilting slow airs. And thanks to the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, any dancer can be welcomed by a local group almost anywhere in the world.

Free Family Movie in the Park - "Ice Age, Dawn of the Dinosaurs” (all ages)

Friday, April 9, 8 p.m.

Centennial Hills Park, 7101 N. Buffalo Drive, (702) 229-1087.

Enjoy the family film, "Ice Age, Dawn of the Dinosaurs” in the park on a giant screen. Bring your blankets or folding chairs.

Spring Celebration Family Festival (all ages)

Saturday, April 10, noon to 4 p.m.

Free park admission and activities.

Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs, 9200 Tule Springs Road, (702) 229-8100.

Bring the family to beautiful Floyd Lamb Park to enjoy a free, down-home community celebration that features amusement rides, inflatables, games, square dancing and make-it-and-take-it children's crafts. Park admission and all activities are free. Call 229-8100 for information. Presented by the city of Las Vegas.

‘PRIDE (and prejudice)’ Exhibit April 29-May 1 In Downtown Las Vegas

Photographs By Lamar Marchese Highlight St. Petersburg, Fla., Gay Pride Parade

“PRIDE (and prejudice),” a photo essay by photographer Lamar Marchese, will be exhibited April 29-May 1 at the Historic Fifth Street School Auditorium, located at 401 S. Fourth St. in downtown Las Vegas. The exhibit is sponsored by the city of Las Vegas in conjunction with Las Vegas Gay Pride 2010. Access to the exhibit will be available on Thursday, April 29, from 5 to 7 p.m., April 30 from 3 to 10 p.m., and May 1 from 1 to 4 p.m. The exhibit is open to the public during the Pride Parade on April 30, but parking will not be available at the Historic Fifth Street School parking lot, due to the parade route.  

The public is invited to a free opening reception for the exhibition on April 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. The reception is sponsored by the city of Las Vegas Gay & Lesbian Employees Alliance, with support from Eurie Creative.

“PRIDE (and prejudice)” documents the 2009 Gay Pride Parade in St. Petersburg, Fla., one of the largest such events in the Southeast. It focuses primarily on parade participants and spectators, but also includes protestors. The 30 large-format digital photographs illustrate the wonderful diversity of humanity and capture visually some of the joyful and sober emotions of the day.

Marchese, the founder and first general manager of Nevada Public Radio, has returned to the medium of photography since retiring in 2007. His interest in photographing people comes from his curiosity about the nature of the human subject and character. His interest is in photographing ordinary people in public settings, resulting in a merging of portraiture and photojournalism. His artistic and visual influences are Diane Arbus, Yusef Karsh and Federico Fellini. For more information on the photo exhibit, call (702) 229-1012.

Two-Time Grammy Winner Bill Harley To Perform

At Historic Fifth Street School

Tickets On Sale Now For May 22 Family Concert

            Tickets are on sale now for a May 22 performance by renowned entertainer Bill Harley at the Historic Fifth Street School. The city of Las Vegas will present “A Family Concert — Songs and Stories with Two-time Grammy Winner Bill Harley” on Saturday, May 22, at 7 p.m. at 401 S. Fourth St. Tickets are priced at $3 per person or $10 for a family four-pack. Tickets may be purchased online at www.artslasvegas.org or by calling (702) 229-3515. This program is funded in part by a grant from the Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

            Winner of two Grammy Awards, Harley uses wry humor in original songs and storytelling to paint a vibrant and hilarious picture of growing up, schooling and family life. Equally entertaining to children and adults, Harley tours nationwide as a performing artist and keynote speaker. He is well known as a regular commentator for National Public Radio’s "All Things Considered" and is often featured on Public Broadcasting Service television programming. A prolific author and recording artist, he is also the recipient of the Magic Penny Award from the Children’s Music Network and was inducted into the National Storytelling Network's Circle of Excellence. His recordings and children’s books have garnered numerous other national awards. Harley is a strong advocate for musical, literary, and cultural literacy for children and families. For more information on the artist, visit www.billharley.com.

Nevada Public Radio 

For more information on the Cultural Arts in Las Vegas please visit Nevada Public Radio. NPR has detailed listings of many cultural and civic events hosted by area non-profits click on this link http://www.knpr.org/common/psa/listNEW.cfm and if you are planning an event in the next few months, be sure to get your free listing in Nevada Public Radio's Desert Companion magazine by submitting the information here at http://www.knpr.org/culture/eventaddnew.cfm  

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