Arts briefs: Theater, dance and more

Theater

LITTLE THEATRE ENDS

SEASON WITH '39 STEPS'

The focus shifts from suspense to spoofery with "The 39 Steps," a zany riff on Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 movie classic, which closes the Las Vegas Little Theatre's 2011-2012 season.

The tongue-in-cheek whodunit (adapted by Patrick Barlow) features more than 150 characters - played by a four-member cast - as hapless hero Richard Hannay finds himself running for his life when he stumbles onto a murderous conspiracy (complete with an onstage plane crash), and into a whirlwind romance.

The show opens a three-weekend run at 8 tonight at Las Vegas Little Theatre, 3920 Schiff Drive. Performances continue at 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, plus 8 p.m. May 10-12 and May 17-19, with additional 2 p.m. matinees May 13 and 20. Tickets ($24 for adults, $21 for seniors and students) are available online at www.lvlt.org; call
362-7996 for more information.

Dance

TRUE TALE INSPIRES

CSN HOLOCAUST BALLET

A teenage Russian ballerina's harrowing attempts to evade Nazi capture during World War II - and her experiences after she was imprisoned in a concentration camp - inspire "Xenia Goes West," to be presented tonight and Saturday at the College of Southern Nevada's Cheyenne Campus.

Presented by the Concert Dance Company and the CSN Dance Ensemble, the ballet focuses on Xenia Chlistowa , who related her wartime experiences to choreographer Kelly Roth when Roth studied with her at Arizona State University.

With a score by contemporary Russian composer Alfred Schnitke , "Xenia Goes West" features CSN faculty associate Jennifer Roberts as the title character and guest artist Marko Westwood as the concentration camp commandant.

The dance concert will be presented at
7 tonight and at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday in CSN's Nicholas J. Horn Theatre, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave., North Las Vegas. Tickets are $10 ($8 for students and seniors) and are available by calling 651-5483.

Music

HENDERSON SYMPHONY

TUNES UP TONIGHT

It's symphony-under-the-stars time as violinist Solomyia Ivahiv joins the Henderson Symphony Orchestra as guest soloist for a free "Master Series" program tonight at the Henderson Pavilion.

Ivahiv will perform Sergei Prokofiev's Violin Concert No. 1 in D major with the symphony, under the direction of conductor Taras Krysa . Rounding out the 25th-anniversary season program: Anatoly Liadov's tone poem "The Enchanted Lake" and Leos Janacek's "Sinfonietta."

Gates open at 7 p.m. at the Henderson Pavilion, 200 S. Green Valley Parkway; the concert begins at 8 p.m. Admission is free (a $10 donation per person is suggested); for more information, call 267-4849 or visit www.hsorch.org.

Family fun

BOULDER CITY HOSTS

SPRING JAMBOREE

Boulder City celebrates its small-town spirit - and spring's arrival - this weekend with the annual Spring Jamboree.

From Little Miss (and Mister) Boulder City contests to a car show and parade, the free festival serves up a variety of attractions during its two-day run in Bicentennial Park, next to City Hall.

Rides, games, bounce houses and slides - to say nothing of trains and clowns - will provide diversion for younger attendees, along with a "Bark in the Park" dog show. In addition, more than 80 booths will feature arts and crafts, antiques and collectibles, while all-day entertainment is set for the gazebo stage. And never fear - food and drink booths also will be open for business during the event.

The Spring Jamboree takes place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday in Bicentennial Park, 401 California St. Admission is free; more information is available at www.springjamboree.com.

Music

Soulful SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK TO perform

The six soulful members of Sweet Honey in the Rock don't need anything but their voices (except maybe the occasional hand-percussion instrument) to raise the roof - and the audience's spirits.

Wednesday, Las Vegans will be able to experience the a capella group's Grammy-winning blend of blues, spirituals, rap, reggae, African chants and jazz improvisation.

Taking its name from the Bible's Psalm 81 (which begins "Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise"), Sweet Honey in the Rock was founded in 1973 in Washington, D.C.

From the start, the singers focused on the music of the black church and the civil rights movement; a new single, "Are We a Nation," explores immigration issues and was inspired by Arizona's controversial SB 1070, now under review by the U.S. Supreme Court.

They'll perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave. Tickets, priced from $27 to $65, are available by phone at 749-2000 or at www.TheSmithCenter.com.

- By CAROL CLING