Saturday, September 11, Michael Martin Murphey in concert
As part of a full weekend of events surrounding the Color Las Cruces Plein Air Festival, competition winners will be announced at the VIP Artist Reception, where attendees can meet the artists, sample food from the best restaurants in town, enjoy wine from local wineries and take in a live performance by Western Music Hall of Fame recipient, Michael Martin Murphey. Murphey is today’s number one selling Singing Cowboy Poet and is a six-time Cowboy Hall of Fame Award winner. His Top 10 hit “Wildfire” is still one of the most played songs on classic radio formats and his Cowboy Songs album was the first Gold Album in the Cowboy Music genre since Marty Robbins. Tickets are $40 for singles, $70 for couples and $34 for military, which includes food and beverage samples. Showtime is 7:30pm, doors open at 6pm for reception. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit www.RioGrandeTheatre.com.  

Wednesday, September 15, Cracker in concert
Normally seen flying high above the Rio Grande Theatre stage, local aerialist dance troupe, Project IN Motion, will don their promotional hats to host Alt Rock icons Cracker, live in concert as a benefit fundraiser for the troupe and the J. Paul Taylor Center in Las Cruces. Best known for their top Indie hits “Low” and “Teen Angst,” Cracker’s 13th album Sunrise In The Land Of Milk And Honey has been receiving rave reviews ever since its release in May of last year.  They will be joined on-stage by opening band, The Liars and Project IN Motion Aerialists. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 day of show. Showtime is 7:30pm, doors open at 7pm. For more information visit www.ProjectINMotion.com, or to reserve tickets, visit www.RioGrandeTheatre.com.

Friday, September 17, NMSU Outdoor Rec presents Reel Rock Tour
NMSU Outdoor Rec’s Adventure Arts Series continues with an all new season, showcasing documentaries and guest lecturers on topics ranging from pressing environmental issues to extreme outdoor sports. This year, Reel Rock turns five and co-founders Sender Films and Big Up Productions are celebrating by taking you on a global ride like never before. From death-defying speed link-ups of the wildest faces in the Alps, to Olympian displays of strength and tenacity on the hardest boulders ever climbed, Reel Rock 2010 features a breathtaking journey through the vertical realm with the heroes of rock and snow. For more information, visit www.reelrocktour.com. Showtime is 7pm, doors open at 6:30pm. Tickets are $8 in advance; $10 at the door day of show. For more information call (575)646-4746.  

 Sunday, September 19, Mesilla Valley Musical Arts Benefit
NMSU’s Lisa Van Winkle, along with several friends, will present an Inaugural Concert to help us launch our organization. Wonderful music by outstanding musicians, running the gamut from much-loved classical repertoire to some wild and wacky selections! Complimentary champagne reception following the concert. Proceeds will benefit Mesilla Valley Musical Arts.  Tickets are $15. Showtime is 3pm, doors open at 2:30pm. For more information or to make reservations, call (575) 523-6403.  

Thursday, September 23, Deolinda in concert
Rooted in the traditional musical styles of the Portugese motherland and its overseas territories, from fado and morna to their Brazilian echoes, Deolinda offers a vignette of the Lisbon streets, through the eyes of a young woman of the same name. It is her acoustic songs that are voiced by expressive Ana Bacalhau, assisted by three masters of double bass and classical guitar. Intimate songs with as much flair as saudade and sparklingly brought to life on-stage. Showtime is 7pm, doors open at 6:30pm. Tickets are $15 general admission, $10 NMSU students, faculty & staff, seniors and children. Available at the Pan Am Center ticket office and all Ticketmaster locations.

Sunday, September 26, RGT 5th Anniversary Celebration
It has been five years since the Rio Grande Theatre reopened its doors as a live entertainment venue and the Dona Ana Arts Council is celebrating with an Anniversary Party! Master of Ceremonies Dr. Jim Shearer will host musical group Oldies But Goodies, nine talented musicians who, according to group founder Frank Cachia, “bring back the memories of the past by singing oldies as close as we can to the original records.” A suggested donation of $10 will go toward continued renovations of the Rio Grande Theatre. Showtime is 5pm, doors open at 4 pm. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit www.RioGrandeTheatre.com.

Thursday, September 30, LCCCA presents Daniel Narducci
Classic American baritone, Daniel Narducci, performs songs of legendary heroes and villains from Broadway to Hollywood, including Don Quixote, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde and the Phantom Of The Opera. Since his debut with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, he has appeared with many of the world’s most prestigious orchestras. One the operatic stage, his recent appearances include Sharpless in Madama Butterfly and Escamillo in Carmen. An increasingly active recording artist, he sang the role of Captain Hook on the world premiere recording of Leonard Bernstein’s Peter Pan.  Tickets are $20. Showtime is 7:30pm, doors open at 7pm. For more information or to reserve tickets, call (575)521-4051.  

Every Other Tuesday at the Rio Grande Theatre
September 7 – LC Symphony String Quartet
September 21 – Natalie Masters
Please note: Every Other Tuesday performances always begin at 5:30 pm and are free to the public.  For more information contact DAAC at 575-523-6403. 

Exhibits in the El Paso Electric and Carolene de Mesilla Galleries

The Plein Air Painters of El Paso
To help celebrate Color Las Cruces–Las Cruces first ever Plein Air Competition and Festival– the Doña Ana Arts Council has invited The Plein Air Painters of El Paso to exhibit at the Rio Grande Theatre for the month of September. Officially formed in 1997, The Plein Air Painters of El Paso started off as a small group of Plein Air enthusiasts, but grew steadily until they were exhibiting at such locales as The International Museum of Art and The Chamizal National Memorial, as well as the Department of Interior Museum in Washington, D.C. Thirteen artists will exhibit their works, all created in locations throughout the area.  Most of the scenes are in the El Paso area, but some were done in the Mesilla Valley.

Artists in the show will be Corinne Abeyta-Spinnler, Bob Adams, Louise Bagg, Cheryl Bower, Melinda Etzold, Winfrey Hearst, Candy Mayer, Ann Mitchell, Dee Olga MinYoung-Phillips, Krystyna Robbins, Rami Scully, Kathleen Squires and A. Stein. Some of the members, including Candy Mayer will be participating in the Plein Air competition on September 11th. The show will run through the month of September, 2010, in both the El Paso Electric and Carolene de Mesilla Galleries, beginning with an artist reception on August 6, from 5 to 7pm, as part of the Downtown Art Ramble.

 The Rio Grande Theatre is located at 211 N. Main, in Las Cruces, NM. For clarification, photos or additional information, please visit www.RioGrandeTheatre.com or contact the Rio Grande Theatre Manager, David Salcido, at 575-523-6403.

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