Arts Briefs: ‘Faustus,’ classical guitarist Xuefei Yang

Selling your soul to the devil may sound like a very Vegas thing to do, but the setup -- and the source -- have been around for centuries.

Starting Friday, however, Las Vegas' Insurgo Theater Movement brings the two together with "Faustus," adapted from Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe's "The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Dr. Faustus."

The production kicks off Insurgo's 2012 season, its first full repertory season at downtown's Plaza.

Based on a German legend, "Faust" focuses on the title scholar (played by Gary Lunn) and Mephistophelis (Norma Wood), who makes Faust an offer he can't refuse: knowledge and power, in exchange for his soul.

Brandon McClenahan directs the Insurgo production, which contains visions of hell, along with adult situations, nudity and depictions of lust. (That explains why it's intended for mature audiences.)

Sandy Stein also contributes an original score; Jenna Wurtzberger serves as choreographer.

"Faustus" will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday on the third floor of the Plaza, 1 Main St. The production continues at 7 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays through March 31. Tickets are $20; additional information is available at 772-3897 or online at http://insurgotheater.org.

Music

Classical guitarist Xuefei Yang of China to perform at UNLV

Xuefei Yang may not look much like a pioneer, but the renowned classical guitarist is just that.

As the first guitarist in China to enter a music school, Yang also became the first Chinese guitarist to launch an international professional career. That brings her to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas on Wednesday for a solo recital as part of UNLV's Classical Guitar Series.

Yang made her first public appearance at 10, at the China International Guitar Festival, and received such acclaim that Spain's ambassador to China presented her with a concert guitar.

She later became the first Chinese student to be awarded a full international scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she now is an associate.

Since graduating from the Royal Academy in 2002, Yang has toured the world and has released five studio albums; her latest, "Bach Concertos," with the Elias Quartet, features her own transcriptions of Bach's works for guitar.

She will perform at 8 p.m. at UNLV's Doc Rando Recital Hall; tickets are $40, with discounts available for students, seniors, military and UNLV faculty and staff.

For tickets and additional information, call 895-2787 or go online to http://pac.unlv.edu.