Theater offerings include 'The Hairy Ape' and 'Romeo and Juliet'

For those who bemoan the lack of culture in Las Vegas, this month you can try something a little different: playwright Eugene O'Neill's "The Hairy Ape."

Aaron Tuttle directs this drama in what he believes is the first staging of this work here.

"This is a show about one man's struggle to climb the evolutionary social ladder," Tuttle said.

Like most of O'Neill's dramas, this one is dark and deep. It is written without an intermission and contains eight scenes with a lot of dialogue. As we roll into election season, Tuttle sees real-life parallels to the classic play. He said, "We find identity and safety within certain groups. Yes, a lot of this still exists. We just hide it better."

A Vegas resident for six years now, Tuttle is an accomplished director who helms shows on the Strip and in the community.

"The Hairy Ape" runs Feb. 29 through March 9 in the BackStage Theatre of College of Southern Nevada's Cheyenne campus, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Feb. 29, March 1, 7 and 8. Matinees are at 2 p.m. March 2 and 9. Admission is $8-10. Call 651-5483.

Headliners

The London and Broadway casts of "Beatlemania" come together in Las Vegas for one performance of "Get Back " on Friday and Saturday at The Club inside Cannery Casino. Shows are at 8 p.m. All seats are $10 and are available at the door.

Theater

Shakespeare's beloved "Romeo and Juliet" stops this month at CSN's Nicholas J. Horn Theatre on the Cheyenne campus, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave. Presented by the Utah Shakespearean Festival Touring Company, shows are at 8 p.m. Friday and at 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $10 for adults; $8 for seniors/students. For information, call 651-5483.

UNLV's Nevada Conservatory Theatre stages William Inge's 1950s classic "Come Back, Little Sheba" in the university's Judy Bayley Theatre. Controversial for its time, the show touches on sexuality and alcoholism. Performances are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and Feb. 14-16 with 2 p.m. matinees Sunday and Feb. 17. Admission is $20-$30. Call 895-2787.

"Bleacher Bums" is a comedic look at hard-core Chicago Cubs baseball fans. It swings away at the Las Vegas Little Theatre, 3844 Schiff Drive, on Feb. 15 through March 2. Showtimes vary. The cost is $19-$22. Call 362-7996.

Freebies

Bring your family and four-legged friends to a Doggy Day Celebration from 10 a.m. to noon, Feb. 16, at Centennial Hills Park, North Buffalo Drive at Elkhorn Road. There will be doggy contests, face painting and games. Meet KVBC-TV Channel 3 meteorologist John Fredericks and his dog LJ. Dogs must be leashed and wear a current rabies tag. Call 229-1705.

The third annual Cadillac Through the Years car show returns from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. The event is located on Main Street at The District, at the Las Vegas Beltway and Green Valley Parkway in Henderson.

Dance and Dining

New flavors are being added to the World Vibration Concert Series with World Cuisine, a Brazilian cooking demonstration. This event heats up at noon on Sunday at the Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 S. McLeod Drive.

Brazilian music sounds out at 2 p.m. Cost for the cooking and sampling is $15. Concert-goers who would like to just taste the food can arrive by 1:30 p.m. and pay $10. Concert tickets alone are $7-10. Register for the cooking demo by Thursday by calling 455-7340.

Art

The Las Vegas Art Museum, 9600 W. Sahara Ave., presents the local debut of British-based artist Paul Morrison through April 27.

Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $3-6. Children 12 and younger may enter free with paying adult. Info: 360-8000.

Barbara Scherzer is an entertainment writer who lives in Las Vegas. You may reach her at BeeBeeLee@cox.net.