9th Annual OBOH "Our Blackness, Our Heritage" Showcase and Step Show. 2/28/26

From: BARBEA WILLIAMS <dancebmw@cox.net>
Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2026 12:14 AM
Subject: 9th Annual OBOH "Our Blackness, Our Heritage" Showcase and Step Show. 2/28/26

 

BARBEA WILLIAMS PERFORMING COMPANY

Arizona's Premier-Centered Arts and Culture Organization

NOT TO BE MISSED!

 

9TH ANNUAL OBOH

"Our Blackness, Our Heritage"

SHOWCASE & STEP SHOW

Step • Stroll Dance • Drum • AfriKarnival

 

100 YEARS OF CELEBRATION

"10 Decades of acKNOWLEDGEment"

This landmark celebration marks exactly 100 years — from the 2nd Week in February 1926 to February 28, 2026 — honoring Carter G. Woodson's founding of Negro History Week, now Black History Month + 365 days. We explore a full century of knowledge through dance, fashion, music, song, step, stroll, and educational games for our communities.

Join us as we journey through 10 Decades of Fashion, 10 Decades of Dance, 10 Decades of Music, and 10 Decades of Song — from "Colored" to "Negro" to "Black" to "Afro" and beyond.

EVENT DETAILS

 

Date	Saturday, February 28, 2026
Schedule	AfriKarnival: 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM  |  Main Showcase: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Venue	Utterback Middle School
Address	3233 S. Pinal Vista, Tucson, AZ 85713
Phone	(520) 628-7785
Email	blkcultuc@gmail.com
Tickets	https://buytickets.at/oboh8thannual/2038747

 

TICKET PRICING

Category	Advance (by 2/22/26)	Door Price
Adults	$15	$20
Youth (Ages 6–18)	$5	$10
Children 5 & Under	FREE	FREE

Youth & Group Discounts available — inquire at the door or by phone.

 

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Divine 9 Organizations performing step routines representing decades of Greek-letter legacy
• Youth Step and Dance Teams showcasing the next generation of artists and cultural ambassadors
• AfriKarnival: An immersive cultural carnival featuring African-inspired dance, drum, and performance
• 10 Decades of Fashion — a visual journey from 1920s through today
• 10 Decades of Music and Song — live and performed across generations
• Guest Artists traveling from Phoenix to Sierra Vista, Cuba to Puerto Rico
• Educational games celebrating community knowledge and heritage
• A tribute honoring Carter G. Woodson and the Divine 9's contributions to Black history

 

ABOUT BARBEA WILLIAMS PERFORMING COMPANY

Barbea Williams Performing Company (BWPC) has long served as Arizona's premiere arts and culture organization, dedicated to elevating and celebrating Black arts, heritage, and community. Through annual events like OBOH, BWPC empowers current and future generations of artists, students, innovators, and leaders by preserving and amplifying the rich legacy of African American culture.

 

"Let's celebrate 100 years and Beyond."

Tickets: https://buytickets.at/oboh8thannual/2038747

Call: (520) 628-7785   •   Email: blkcultuc@gmail.com

Facebook & Instagram: Barbea Williams Performing Company (@bwpcbarbea)

 

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TucsonStage home: www.TucsonStage.com

Recent announcements: http://tucsonstage.blogspot.com/

 

 

Mettler Studios offering SUMMER DANCE TEACHER TRAINING

METTLER STUDIOS, INC.   |   Tucson Creative Dance Center   |   3131 N. Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ

 

SUMMER DANCE

TEACHER TRAINING

Mettler-Based Creative Dance  •  2026

 

An Immersive Training in the Art of Creative Dance

Mettler Studios invites dancers, movement educators, somatic practitioners, and arts educators to join us for an immersive two-week summer training in Mettler-based creative dance — a transformative approach to movement rooted in improvisation, artistic discipline, and the full expression of the human body.

Developed by pioneering dance artist Barbara Mettler, this approach awakens creativity, cultivates kinesthetic awareness, and makes the art of dance accessible to all. Through daily movement studies, group improvisation, relaxation, and reflective discussion, participants will study, embody, and deepen their understanding of Mettler's core principles within a warm and supportive learning community.

 

At a Glance

📅  DATES Monday – Saturday July 13 – 25, 2026 Sunday, July 20 is a mid-course day off	🕘  DAILY SCHEDULE 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Includes a 1.5-hour mid-day break Each day: movement studies, relaxation, discussion, and integration time
📍  LOCATION    Tucson Creative Dance Center  —  3131 N. Cherry Avenue, Tucson, Arizona

 

Course Structure

WEEK ONE Foundations & Core Material Week One introduces participants to Mettler's foundational principles and core material — exploring the kinesthetic sense, force, time, space, and the organic relationship of movement to sound, environment, and fellow dancers.

WEEK TWO Deepening & Application Week Two deepens the work through extended group improvisation, theme development, and possible practice teaching opportunities — building confidence as both a creative dancer and a Mettler-based educator.

 

 

💻  Virtual Follow-Up Sessions:  Three 2-hour Zoom sessions are included after the in-person training to support continued learning, integration, and community connection. Dates and times to be announced.

 

Your Faculty

This training brings together three accomplished Tucson-based dance artists and educators, each deeply rooted in the Mettler tradition and active in the broader creative dance community.

Mary Ann Brehm Ph.D.	Karenne Koo CMDE	Gregory Colburn B.S. Dance Therapy
President of Mettler Studios and the heart of this training program. Dr. Brehm has taught at the Tucson Creative Dance Center since 1990, holds a Ph.D. in Dance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and is a former member of the Barbara Mettler Dance Company. She is co-author of Creative Dance for Learning: The Kinesthetic Link and serves on the Board of the International Association for Creative Dance (IACD).	Co-Founder and President of Dancesequences Inc., a Tucson-based nonprofit advancing inclusion through dance. A Certified Mettler-based Dance Educator with 500+ hours of training, Karenne serves on the Board of Mettler Studios and IACD, and has led dance residencies in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Peru. Recipient of the Inaugural 2022 J. Mare Founder's Award from Ben's Bells Project.	A versatile Tucson-based movement artist holding a degree in Dance Therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Gregory has performed with leading Tucson companies including New ARTiculations, ZUZI!, O-T-O, and Stories That Soar!, and has collaborated with Movement Salon, a dance improvisation group. He also teaches Bikram Yoga and brings deep somatic and therapeutic insight to his teaching.

 

 

Who Should Attend

This training is open to a wide range of participants. No previous dance experience is required — only curiosity, openness, and a willingness to move. Ideal candidates include:

• Dance teachers and movement educators seeking to expand their pedagogical toolkit
• Somatic practitioners, physical therapists, and dance/movement therapists
• Artists and educators in allied disciplines: music, visual arts, theater
• Students and emerging professionals exploring creative dance as a practice
• Experienced dancers seeking a deeper grounding in improvisational artistry
• Anyone passionate about community-centered, inclusive approaches to movement

 

 

Tuition & Discounts

First Week Only	$350
Full Two-Week Course	$550
IACD Member Discount	−$30
Scholarship assistance is available. Please inquire when registering.

 

 

Housing & Logistics

Housing information is available for out-of-town participants. Please indicate your interest as early as possible to ensure availability. Tucson's summer brings warm desert evenings, lower hotel rates, and a quieter city — an ideal environment for deep artistic work and renewal.

 

How to Register

Register Online www.barbaramettler.org/teacher-training When registering, please indicate that you are paying for the July Teacher Training. For questions about content, housing, scholarships, or travel:  mabdance@aol.com

 

Join us in Tucson this summer for two weeks of movement, artistry, and community.

We look forward to dancing with you.

 

Mettler Studios, Inc.  •  Tucson Creative Dance Center  •  3131 N. Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ

Register: www.barbaramettler.org/teacher-training   |   Contact: mabdance@aol.com   |   #MettlerDance  #CreativeDance  #DanceEducation

 

 

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TucsonStage home: www.TucsonStage.com

Recent announcements: http://tucsonstage.blogspot.com/

 

 

SPATS and SCR Productions present Love Letters by A.R. Gurney

 

Performances:
Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Sunday, March 22, 2026 at 3:00 PM

Location:
SPATS Theater
730 E American Avenue, Oracle, AZ

Tickets: $15 – Cash or check at the door
Reservations: Text or call 520-403-9719

Meet the Cast

Joanne Mack Robinson (Melissa Gardner)

Joanne Mack Robinson has had the pleasure of performing on various Tucson stages, including Live Theatre Workshop as Dot in Savannah Sipping Society, Cait in Bloomsday, Patty in Walter Cronkite Is Dead, and Joyce in Body Awareness (the last two directed by Sam Rush). She has also appeared with Roadrunner Theater in Perfect Timing and St. Francis Theater in Luna Gale. Joanne is a film, television, and voice actor and before moving to Tucson eight years ago was active in the northern Arizona theater community. Favorite productions include Silent Sky, The 39 Steps, Goodbye Charlie, Rumors, and The Miracle Worker. She received national recognition for roles in It Had to Be You and Self-Help and was the founding director of Park Avenue Theater, a children’s musical theater company. Offstage, Joanne is a writer and video producer. She is delighted to be working with Sam once again, this time sharing the stage in this complex and timeless play.

Sam Rush (Andrew Makepeace Ladd III)

Sam Rush began his theatre journey in Oracle, Arizona performing as Huck Finn in Tom Sawyer. He spent much of his adult life in Massachusetts where he co-founded and ran a professional theatre company for over 28 years. As a director, favorite productions include Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play; Laughter on the 23rd Floor; Good People; Red; Noises Off; Arcadia; Spinning into Butter; Distracted; and Shiloh Rules. Favorite acting roles include Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Little Foxes, Clybourne Park, The Quality of Life, and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). Film credits include Labor Day, Beginner’s Luck, and The God Question. Sam is an accomplished acting teacher and during the pandemic developed a thriving handyman business in Tucson. He has worked with Live Theatre Workshop directing Walter Cronkite Is Dead and The Other Place.

 

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TucsonStage home: www.TucsonStage.com

Recent announcements: http://tucsonstage.blogspot.com/

 

 

Arizona Arts and UA College of Fine Arts hiring artists, educators, and scholars.

Arizona Arts

Arizona Arts and its College of Fine Arts is seeking talented individuals to join our vibrant community of artists, educators, and scholars. 

Whether you’re an experienced professional or an emerging leader in your field, our open faculty positions offer the chance to inspire the next generation of creators and innovators.

Check out the opportunities below — current as of Feb. 2, 2026 — and feel free to share with interested parties.

ARIZONA ARTS LIVE

Event Attendant

• Arizona Arts Live is accepting applications for their Customer Service Representative II position. This position will perform and supervise the selling of event tickets. This is an on-call position which requires availability during the day, evenings and weekends. Frequent hours needed are 11:45a-3p, some evenings and weekends. INFO / APPLY

SCHOOL OF DANCE

Assistant Professor of Dance

• The School of Dance at the University of Arizona seeks applicants for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Dance position, beginning in the Fall 2026 semester. We welcome applicants from a broad spectrum of dance practices with expertise in Jazz, Hip-Hop, Commercial styles and/or Vogueing. The successful candidate will teach studio practice and lecture courses and create concert performance works. The candidate will contribute to the School of Dance through teaching, creative or scholarly research, collaborative initiatives, and service to the community as assigned at the School, College, and University levels. A nationally ranked program, the School of Dance fosters a student-centered and engaged learning environment that encourages problem-solving, critical thinking, and conceptual analysis skills. We maintain a unique focus on performance, choreography, and pedagogy to prepare students for professional careers. INFO / APPLY

SCHOOL OF MUSIC

Assistant Professor of Music, Orchestra Conductor/Director of Orchestra Activities

• The University of Arizona School of Music invites applications for Assistant Professor of Music-Orchestra Conductor/Director of Orchestral Activities (full-time, 9-month, tenure track). The successful candidate will be an inspirational and dynamic visionary artist as an orchestral conductor who has a growing record of sustained excellence in musicianship through orchestra performance, teaching and scholarship at the university level; demonstrated success providing leadership or administrative oversight within an orchestra program at the university level; work collaboratively with faculty and students; recruit and teach outstanding undergraduate and graduate students; create/maintain an active national profile as a conductor, scholar, and pedagogue; teach graduate orchestral conducting and literature, weekly seminar and lessons for MM and DMA students; and related duties as assigned by the Director of the school. The School of Music is accredited by NASM and is one of the country’s top comprehensive music programs, home to approximately 60 innovative faculty members who are leaders in their fields as educators, scholars, and active performers, 300 undergraduate music majors, and 130 master’s and doctoral students.  INFO / APPLY

Assistant Professor of Music, Violin

• The University of Arizona School of Music invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor of Music—Violin (full-time, tenure track). The successful candidate will be an established artist and teacher of national or international prominence who will teach and recruit outstanding undergraduate and graduate students, maintain an active profile as a performing artist and teacher, conduct weekly master classes, coach chamber music, participate in service to the school, university, and greater community, work collaboratively with faculty and students, and related duties as assigned by the Director of the school. The School of Music is accredited by NASM and is one of the country’s top comprehensive music programs, home to approximately 60 innovative faculty members who are leaders in their fields as educators, scholars, and active performers, 300 undergraduate music majors, and 130 master’s and doctoral students. INFO/APPLY

Assistant Professor of Music, Choral Conductor

• The University of Arizona School of Music invites applications for Assistant/Associate Professor of Music-Choral Conducting/Director of Choral Activities (full-time, 9-month, tenure track). The successful candidate will be an artist as a choral conductor with a growing record of sustained excellence in choral performance, teaching, and scholarship, success providing leadership or administrative oversight within a choral program at the university level and ability to work collaboratively with faculty and staff, and who will recruit and teach outstanding undergraduate and graduate students, create/maintain an active national profile as a choral conductor, scholar, and pedagogue, teach graduate choral conducting, choral literature, weekly lessons and seminar for MM and DMA students, and related duties as assigned by the Director of the school. The School of Music is accredited by NASM and is one of the country’s top comprehensive music programs, home to approximately 60 innovative faculty members who are leaders in their fields as educators, scholars, and active performers, 300 undergraduate music majors, and 130 master’s and doctoral students. INFO/APPLY

 

https://arts.arizona.edu/current-openings-with-the-college-of-fine-arts/

 

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TucsonStage home: www.TucsonStage.com

Recent announcements: http://tucsonstage.blogspot.com/

 

 

ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY presents THE ROOMMATE

 

ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY

PRESENTS

 

THE ROOMMATE

 

By Jen Silverman

Directed by Marsha Mason  |  Four-Time Oscar-Nominated Actress & Veteran Director

 

 

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

 

A wickedly funny and deeply moving story about second chances and self-discovery.

This comedy follows an empty-nesting Midwestern woman who takes on a lodger to help with expenses. But when the East Coast stranger arrives with a past shrouded in mystery, their unlikely friendship turns into a hilarious journey of reinvention, risk, and unexpected consequences. Reminiscent of The Odd Couple and Netflix's Grace and Frankie, The Roommate is a sharp, subversive, and unforgettable theatrical event.

 

1	Written by Jen Silverman, The Roommate is a sharp and subversive comedy about two women whose unlikely friendship turns into a thrilling midlife reinvention.
2	The play premiered at Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival in 2015 and has since become one of the most produced contemporary plays in the U.S.
3	Silverman is also a novelist and TV writer — credits include Tales of the City on Netflix and Tokyo Vice on Max.

 

PERFORMANCE DATES

 

TUCSON Temple of Music and Art	TEMPE/PHOENIX Tempe Center for the Arts
March 15 – April 4, 2026 March 15 — Teacher Preview (7 PM) March 17 — Second Preview (7:30 PM) March 18 — Community Night & Director Conversation March 19 — Opening Night (7:30 PM) March 20 — Pride Night (7:30 PM) Additional performances through April 4	April 11 – 26, 2026 April 11 — Teacher Preview (12 PM) April 11 — Opening Night (7:30 PM) April 15 — Community Night (7:30 PM) April 17 — Pride Night (7:30 PM) Additional performances through April 26

 

CAST

 

Sara Gettelfinger Robyn  |  ATC Debut	BROADWAY: Most recently as Barbara in the Tony Award-winning Water for Elephants. Known for Morticia in The Addams Family, Cruella de Vil in The 101 Dalmatians Musical, and roles in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Nine, and Fosse.
Angela Pierce Sharon	ATC: Catherine in Proof (2002). TV/FILM: Law & Order, Manifest, The Blacklist, NCIS New Orleans, Blue Bloods, 30 Rock, and more. AWARDS: Obie Award winner, Boston Film Festival honoree, Arizona Theatre Award winner.

 

CREATIVE TEAM

 

Marsha Mason Director	Four-time Oscar-nominated actress (Cinderella Liberty, The Goodbye Girl, Chapter Two, Only When I Laugh). ATC: Director of An Act of God (2016) and Chapter Two (2017). Was Associate Director of The Roommate on Broadway with Mia Farrow and Patti LuPone.
Jen Silverman Playwright	Playwright, novelist, and screenwriter. The Roommate ran on Broadway at The Booth Theatre. Other works include Highway Patrol (The Goodman), Collective Rage: A Play in 5 Betties, and The Moors. TV credits include Tales of the City (Netflix) and Tokyo Vice (Max).
Alan E. Muraoka Scenic Designer	Two-time Emmy-nominated art director and production designer. Regional: Denver Center, Virginia Stage Company, The Old Globe. Opera: LA Opera, Opera Colorado, Chautauqua Opera. TV: Production designer for NBC's New Amsterdam.
Suzanne Chesney Costume Designer	Brooklyn-based designer with over two decades in theatre and television. Recent credits: The Bookstore (NJ Rep / 59E59), The Christine Jorgensen Show (Cleveland Playhouse), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Pittsburgh Public).
Paul Miller Lighting Designer	ATC: Blues in the Night, Scrooge, King Charles III. BROADWAY: Designed 5 shows, Associate/Assistant on 22 others. National tours include Hairspray, Elf, Sweeney Todd, Rent, and Shrek.
Daniel Perelstein Jaquette Sound Designer	ATC's 2025-2026 Resident Artist. ATC: Heist, Blues in the Night, Dial M for Murder, Intimate Apparel, Private Lives. Professor of sound design at Arizona State University since 2019.

 

TICKETS & INFORMATION

 

Box Office Hours Phone: Mon – Fri, 10 AM – 5 PM Tucson: Mon – Fri, 12 – 5 PM (in-person) Tempe: Tue – Fri, 10 AM – 5 PM (in-person) 1-833-ATC-SEAT  (1-833-282-7328)

Get Your Tickets Online: atc.org/show/the-roommate Season Subscriptions & Flex Passes available for both Tucson and Tempe/Phoenix. Sponsors: I. Michael & Beth Kasser (Season), Shirley Estes & The Richard P. Stahl Charitable Fund (Production)

 

ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY

atc.org  •  @arizonatheatre

Tucson  |  Tempe/Phoenix

 

 

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TucsonStage home: www.TucsonStage.com

Recent announcements: http://tucsonstage.blogspot.com/

 

 

Arizona Opera casting professional cover artists for its OperaTunity education production

Casting Call – Cover Artists (OperaTunity Education Program)

https://azopera.org/about/jobs-auditions/call-cover-artists-operatunity

Arizona Opera is seeking professional cover artists for its OperaTunity education production, Rusalka: The Littlest Mermaid — a student‑friendly opera designed to inspire young audiences through themes of courage, transformation, and following one's dreams.

Cover artists will fully prepare assigned roles and participate in initial rehearsals. Following rehearsals, artists will rotate into scheduled education performances and serve as on‑call performers as needed throughout the season.

This position is part of Arizona Opera's Education & Community Engagement program and offers paid performance opportunities, professional opera credits, and collaboration with a leading regional opera company.

Available Roles:

• Soprano – Rusalka
• Soprano – Sister/Prince's Sister
• Mezzo‑Soprano – Sea Witch
• Pianist

Engagement Dates:

Rehearsals: January 5 – 16, 2026

Performance Period: January 5 – May 15, 2026

Compensation:

• $200 rehearsal fee
• $200 monthly stipend (includes one guaranteed performance day per month)
• $50 for each additional performance day

Performance schedules will be coordinated monthly with artists. Additional substitute opportunities may be available depending on production needs.

Interested artists should contact:

Cassie Hollerbach

Director of Education & Community Engagement, Arizona Opera

chollerbach@azopera.org

 

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TucsonStage home: www.TucsonStage.com

Recent announcements: http://tucsonstage.blogspot.com/