Friday, April 1
Downtown ArtRamble
5-7 pm
For the month of April, the El Paso Electric Gallery, located in the lobby of the Rio Grande Theatre, presents “Piercing the Veil of Illusion,” an exhibit by Las Cruces visionary artist Barbara Besser. An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 1, during the First Friday Downtown Art Ramble.
A Children’s Theatre presents The Jungle Book
7 pm
A Children's Theatre of the Mesilla Valley (ACT) presents Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book.” The cast features local children ages 4 to 16. Guest director and ACT founder Constance Hassapopoulos lends her special talent to this classic tale. ACT is a Las Cruces non-profit that has served the youth of Southern New Mexico since 1993. "The Jungle Book" is made possible in part by an award from New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, by the National Endowment for the Arts, and by a grant from the Doña Ana Arts Council. All tickets are $7. For more information, email roditikos1@aol.com or call (575) 644-9561.
Saturday, April 2
A Children’s Theatre presents The Jungle Book
1 pm
A Children's Theatre of the Mesilla Valley (ACT) presents Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book.” The cast features local children ages 4 to 16. Guest director and ACT founder Constance Hassapopoulos lends her special talent to this classic tale. ACT is a Las Cruces non-profit that has served the youth of Southern New Mexico since 1993. All tickets are $7. For more information, email roditikos1@aol.com or call (575) 644-9561.
Sunday, April 3
Barrage 8
6 pm
The Doña Ana Arts Council is proud to continue the 2015-2016 Variety Series at the Rio Grande Theatre with an evening of cutting-edge string instrumentation and high-energy choreography as globe-trotting string ensemble Barrage 8 brings its thrilling live stage show to the Rio Grande Theatre. Barrage 8 – the ‘8’ is a reimagining of the classic string octet – features talented young players on five violins, a viola, a cello and a double bass, driving a rich, powerful sonic palette, further exploring the musical diversity in the show’s compositions and arrangements. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the show begins at 6 p.m. Adult tickets are $32 for Main Floor reserved seats; $22 for Balcony reserved seats; Children 12 and under are $5 for all seats; Students are $11 (with valid ID). Prices include all fees. Tickets may be purchased via the website at www.RioGrandeTheatre.com, at the Rio Grande Theatre box office, 2nd floor at the theatre, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or at the door, starting 1 hour prior to performance. For more information visit the website or call (575) 523-6403.
Tuesday, April 12
Every Other Tuesday: Cantilena Plena
6:30 pm
Cantilena Plena is a five member group, led by James Helder that performs a highly varied, multi-faceted repertoire on a variety of wind, string and percussive instruments. The event is FREE and open to the public. For more information, visit www.RioGrandeTheatre.com or call (575) 523-6403.
Friday, April 15
International Day of Dance
6:00 pm
Sponsored by the City of Las Cruces Museums System, the International Day of Dance is a multicultural and multi-heritage dance event suitable for all ages. The event is FREE and open to the public. For more information, email bcc@las-cruces.org or call (575) 541-2154.
Saturday, April 16
Irene Oliver-Lewis: Dichos de Mi Madre
7:30 pm
The Doña Ana Arts Council’s New Mexico Heritage Series at the Rio Grande Theatre continues with “Cecilia-isms – Dichos de Mi Madre”, a one-woman play by writer and storyteller, Irene Oliver-Lewis. The Las Cruces native honors her parents, Cecilia Triviz Fitch Oliver and Fred Frieze Oliver, in an evening of humor, song, family and memories of the Hispanic culture. “Family stories are like shadows. They are part of you wherever you go,” Oliver-Lewis said. “They echo our lives. They ensure that we remember from generation to generation. It’s just like making tortillas. Who makes them anymore?” She uses dichos – Mexican idioms – as metaphors of “my cultural DNA and to purge my baby-boomer bilingual soul.”
Reserved tickets are $11.50 for balcony seating and $22 for main floor seating (all fees included). For more information, visit www.RioGrandeTheatre.com or call (575) 523-6403.
Sunday, April 17
Mesilla Valley’s Got Talent 2016
3 pm
Mesilla Valley’s Got Talent 2016 is Mesilla Valley Rotary Club’s 14th youth talent show competition. Children from all over the county are invited to participate. Acts often include singing, dancing, improvisational acting and music. Our talented contestants will benefit from coaching by local celebrities. Since 2002, Mesilla Valley Rotary has contributed $71,000 for youth-oriented community service projects with proven track records of success. Tickets are $5 general admission at the door. Doors open at 2 p.m., show begins at 3 p.m. For more information, email Mesilla Valley Rotary Club of Las Cruces representative Rebecca Villalobos at rbvill611@aol.com or call (575) 649-0211.
Friday, April 22
Cirque Zuma Zuma
7:30 pm
Back again after selling out the historic Rio Grande Theatre last season, Cirque Zuma Zuma returns to the Mesilla Valley to wow you once again. You don’t want to miss this unique blend of traditional arts and circus skills done in an African-style. Cirque Zuma Zuma is a high-energy dance act, part Cirque du Soleil, part Harlem Globetrotters, and above all, it is fast-paced and full of acrobatic ingenuity. Adult tickets are $42.50 for Main Floor, and $32 for Balcony; Children 12 and under are $12, all seats; and Student tickets are $22 (with valid ID, Balcony only). All seats reserved. Price includes all fees. For more information, visit www.RioGrandeTheatre.com or call (575) 523-6403.
Tuesday, April 26
Every Other Tuesday: Ray Scroggins & Young at Heart Chorus
6:30 pm
The Young at Heart Chorus entertains residents of assisted living and nursing homes in the Las Cruces area, and has a really good time in the process. The group has been in continuous operation since 1972, with the name of the group, the director, piano accompanist and venues changing through the years. Currently there are 25 members, who perform at four facilities each month. Music changes monthly, selected from a large collection of old songs, generally favorites of the audience and the chorus. Programs are enhanced by varying the themes and by highlighting the talents of individual members with vocal solos or duets, group harmony, and instrumental accompaniment.
The event is FREE and open to the public. For more information, visit www.RioGrandeTheatre.com or call (575) 523-6403.
Friday, April 29
Promoting Art in Las Cruces
Noon
Promoting Art in Las Cruces, a free monthly series presented by the Doña Ana Arts Council, explores different ways for artists and arts organizations to promote themselves and their events, and gives individuals or groups the opportunity to connect with other members of the arts community. The event is held monthly on the last Friday of the month at the Main Street Bistro, 139 N. Main Street, Las Cruces. The event is free and open to the public, however, attendees may order the buffet lunch for $10, plus tip; please RSVP by 10 am the day of the event if you will be ordering lunch. For more information or to RSVP, visit www.RioGrandeTheatre.com or call (575) 523-6403.
Saturday, April 30
Santa Fe Opera: “Unshakable”
10 am
Take a break from Saturday morning shopping at the Farmers’ Market to visit the Rio Grande Theatre when the Santa Fe Opera presents the one-act opera "Unshakeable," about an abandoned theater in New Mexico 25 years from now – three years after the viral pandemic Erasure. As a result, everyone has some degree of memory loss and people are less connected to one another. Wyatt and Meridian, Shakespearean actors and former lovers, have not seen each other since the start of the pandemic. FREE and open to the public. The entire program will last approximately one hour. For more information, visit www.RioGrandeTheatre.com or call (575) 523-6403.
On Exhibit in the El Paso Electric Gallery
The El Paso Electric Gallery presents for the month of April “Piercing the Veil of Illusion,” an exhibit by Las Cruces visionary artist Barbara Besser. An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 1, during the First Friday Downtown Art Ramble.
Barbara Besser, also known as Analeia, has been a New Mexico resident since 1993. She has lived in Silver City and Albuquerque, and now resides in Deming. Barbara is an art educator, ordained minister and Visionary Artist. She has toured the country showing her work, with lecturing and offering her ‘spiritual portraits' as her specialty. “Piercing the Veil of Illusion” represents many years of Barbara’s work in multi-media and three-dimensional techniques. Barbara welcomes you to the Downtown ArtRamble opening to meet and talk. She will be available for spiritual portraits from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 2.
Every month the Doña Ana Arts Council welcomes local artists to exhibit in the El Paso Electric Gallery in the lobby of the Rio Grande Theatre. Regular exhibit hours are 9am–5pm, Monday through Friday.
The Rio Grande Theatre is located at 211 N. Main, in Las Cruces, NM and is managed by the Doña Ana Arts Council. For more information, visit www.RioGrandeTheatre.com or contact the Doña Ana Arts Council, (575) 523-6403, located on the 2nd floor of the Rio Grande Theatre.