By Chip Chandler — Digital Content Producer
Here's your quick-read look at your choices of activities, events and arts productions through March 9.
- Noises Off: Here's how funny this Michael Frayn backstage comedy is: I laughed my way into a headache. Seriously. Act 2 is so insanely bonkers that I could barely catch my breath, was frequently doubled over in laughter and went home with a nagging headache. But it was worth it, without a doubt. The cast members — Michael Newman, Debbie Perry, Ryan Sustaita, Amber Laugesen, Zeke Lewis, Emily Escobal, Michael Westmoreland, Jorden Whetston and Jonathan Mobley — are all right on point, espcially Laugesen, whose performance as dumb blonde Brooke Ashton was some kind of genius. It helps that Frayn's play is one of the best-written farces I can think of, but without a cast and a director (Jeff Jarnagin) who can keep the train running along, it would be a total wreck. Don't miss this one: It's absolutely spectacular. Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday on the ALT Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle. (It was moved up a week from the originally announced schedule.) Tickets are $19 for adults, $16 for students and seniors, and $13 for children Thursdays and Sundays, and $21 for adults, $19 for students and seniors, and $15 for children Fridays and Saturdays. Thursday's tickets are 2-for-1 with the special code "SARDINES." Call 806-355-9991.
- Restaurant Roundup: Celebrate the 10th anniversary of this fundraiser for culinary student scholarships and other charities with food and drink from more than 50 Amarillo restaurants and wineries, a Top Chef Amarillo competition, live music and more. The event runs from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the Rex Baxter Building on the Amarillo Tri-State Fairgrounds, 3301 S.E. 10th Ave. Tickets are $30. Call 806-672-4118.
- First Thursday Art Show: See the latest in contemporary works featured at The 806 Coffee & Lounge, 2812 S.W. Sixth Ave.
- First Friday Art Walk: Pay tribute to the late Ann Crouch, The Galleries at Sunset Center and art walk founder, at this month's walk, set for 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at the galleries, 3701 Plains Blvd. While there, check out other new exhibitions, as well.
- Showcase of Music: West Texas A&M University student and faculty musicians will show off their talent Friday at the 37th annual Showcase of Music at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St. Tickets are $10 and available at the door, at the WT music office (Room 202 of the Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex) or at Tarpley's Music, 3800 W. Interstate 40. Call 806-651-2840.
- Make-A-Wish Car Show: The Panhandle Council of Car Clubs Car Show, better known as the Make-A-Wish show, runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex, 401 S. Buchanan St. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children. Proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish North Texas in Amarillo. (Watch out for construction along Buchanan and either add drive time or find an alternative route.)
- First Saturday Kids Programming: Young visitors can participate in a special monthly activity from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Wildcat Bluff Nature Center, 2301 N. Soncy Road. The event is free with admission ($4 for adults, $3 for seniors and children). Call 806-352-6007.
- March 4: Kicker ArenaCross: The motorbike race returns to tear up the track at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Amarillo National Center on the Tri-State Fairgrounds. Tickets are $18 for adults and $13 for children or $20 for adults and $15 for children on Saturday, plus fees. Call 806-378-3096.
- Chamber Music Amarillo's Hummin' High and Low: CMA musicians Vesselin Todorov (violin and viola), Jeffrey Lastrapes (cello), Nick Scales (bass), Susanna Self (flute), Carrie Dillard (oboe), Becky Casso (horn) and Choong-Ha Nam (piano) will collaborate on Francis Poulenc's Sonata for Flute and Piano, Giovanni Bottesini's Gran Duo for Double Bass and Violin and Johann Nepomuk Hummel's Septet No. 1 in D Minor. It's an unusual set of selections and instruments, artistic director David Palmer said in my preview. The concert begins at 8 p.m. Saturday following a 7 p.m. pre-concert lecture in the Fibonacci Space, 3306 S.W. Sixth Ave. Tickets are $35 for adults and $10 for students. Call 806-236-3545.
- Speakeasy: Equality Texas will offer an evening of cocktails, along with a murder-mystery game, with this annual fundraiser, set for 8 p.m. Saturday in the Amarillo National Bank Skyline Room, 410 S. Taylor St. Tickets are $70. Call 806-570-7889.
- Amarillo College Suzuki Program: The Suzuki students will celebrate the program's 40th anniversary at Amarillo College with a spring recital at 3 p.m. Sunday in the AC Concert Hall Theater on the Washington Street campus. The event is free. Call 806-371-5340.
- Friends of Aeolian-Skinner Opus 1024: FASO's season continues with British organist David Briggs showing off his with extensive improvisational experience (here's my preview). The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 1601 S. Georgia St. Tickets are $30 for adults and $10 for students. Call 806-376-6316, ext. 105.
- In the Mood: This musical revue focuses on the American big-band era, featuring such tunes as "Chattanooga Choo Choo" and "Moonlight Seranade," performed by a 19-person cast and orchestra. Here's my preview for more info. The show is set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St. (Watch out for construction along Buchanan and either add drive time or find an alternative route.) Tickets are $29.50 to $45.50, plus fees. Call 806-378-3096.
- Song Collaborators Consortia Art Song Festival:Evening performances for this group's conference will be held at 8 p.m. Wednesday through March 10 in the Fibonacci Space, 3306 S.W. Sixth Ave. Soprano Twyla Robinson and pianist Jerome Tan will present "A Celebration of the Early American Parlor, Saloon and Stage" at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Several attendees will perform German art songs in a traditional liederabend at 8 p.m. March 9. And about 20 attendees will join together for a cabaret, An Evening of Questionable Music, at 8 p.m. March 10. Performances are free. Call 806-651-2831.
- Amarillo Bulls: The Bulls will face the Wichita Falls Wildcats in a 7:05 p.m. March 9 match in the Civic Center Complex Coliseum. Tickets are $13 to $23 or $9 for children. Call 806-242-1122. (Watch out for construction along Buchanan and either add drive time or find an alternative route.)
- Other ongoing exhibitions include Nacidos Charro: Born Charro at American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum, 2601 E. Interstate 40 (here's my preview); The Great War and the Panhandle-Plains Region and A Picture from Home: Snapshots of the Great War on the Plains at PPHM (here's my preview); and Little Builders, Brain Teasers 2 and Strange Matter at Don Harrington Discovery Center, 1200 Streit Drive (here's my preview).
Chip Chandler is a digital content producer for Panhandle PBS. He can be contacted at Chip.Chandler@actx.edu, at @chipchandler1 on Twitter and on Facebook.
