SAM's Picks for the best of the weekend

Some suggestions for this weekend and next couple of weeks around Carson City and elsewhere. Check entries in the daily Nevada Appeal for more details, but this should be enough for planning this weekend and the next several. Also, see nevadaappeal.com for updates of video games, movie news, musical events and reviews.

Sam Bauman, entertainment editor

- Brüka Theatre presents "Dirty Blonde," a Tony-nominated comedy with music that explores the phenomenon that is Mae West. It was written by Claudia Shear, is directed by La Ronda Etheridge with music direction by Bill Quinby.

"Dirty Blonde" plays March 1 at 8 p.m. Doors open a half hour before curtain time. Tickets are $18 for students and seniors, $20 for general admission and $25 at the door. For mature audiences only. The Brüka Theatre is at 99 N. Virginia In Reno. Call 323-3221 or see www.bruka.org.

-The Brewery Arts Center presents a KOZZ Grand Slam event " rock legend Les Dudek in Saturday March 15.

Guitarist Les Dudek played with some of rock and pop's biggest names (Stevie Nicks, Steve Miller, Dave Mason, Cher, Boz Scaggs, and the Allman Brothers Band), in addition to issuing solo albums. His great guitar work and raw yet polished sound mesmerizes audience and has done so for over 30 years.

Opening the show is KOZZ's own Max Volume with his group, the Max Volume Band.

Les Dudek appears at 7:30 p.m. in the Performance Hall at the Brewery Arts Center, 511 W. King St. i Tickets are $23 reserved seating. A $3 discount is available for BAC members, students and seniors.Call 883-1976 or visit www.breweryarts.org.

- California's original surf/punk power trio Agent Orange plays at Whiskey Dick's in South Lake Tahoe Friday March14 at 9 p.m. South Lake Tahoe's Hyenas will support the show with their own blend of "Punk 'n' Roll." Tickets are $12 at Whiskey Dick's and at www.ticketweb.com. These events are for 21 and over.

- The BAC Stage Kids announce the production of "Snow White," a colorful adaptation of the classic fairy tale.

The show runs two weekends, March 14-22, in the Donald W. Reynolds Black Box Theatre at the Brewery.

The cast is children ages 6 to 10, who are cast in such roles Snow White, The Prince, The Wicked Queen, and, of course, the Seven Dwarves.

Leading the cast and crew of more than 30 area children are Rebecca Martin, 8, and Sarah White, 8, as Snow White, and Aubrey Alotta, 9 and Emma Sperry, 9 as the Wicked Queen.

Also featured is a host of talented of young actors, dancers, singers and comedians enthusiastically retelling this favorite fairy tale.

"Snow White" will run March 14-15, 20-21 at 7 p.m. and March 16 and 22 at 2 p.m. at the Brewery, 449 W. King St. Tickets are $8 general admission and $5 for students, seniors and BAC members at the BAC office or on at www.breweryarts.org/bacstagekids. Call 883.1976.

- The Mile High Jazz Band and vocalist Jakki Ford will be joined by local poets for an evening of jazz and poetry on the topic of "Spring Cleaning."

The presentation is at Comma Coffee Tuesday March 11 8: to 10 p.m.. Comma Coffee, 312 S. Carson Street, is across the street from the state legislature building. Admission is $5 general, $4 for members of the Mile High Jazz Band Association, and free for those age 18 and under. Swing dance instruction from 6 to 7:30 p.m. is $5 additional.

David Bugli, leader and pianist for theband, said, "The Spring Cleaning theme alternates poetry readings and music, and the audience discovers the connections."

Award-winning local poets Krista Benjamin, Rita Geil, Suzanne Roberts, and Jan Smith will be featured. Call 883-4154, or visit MileHighJazz.com.

- The Capital City Community Band will present it's annual Children's Concert Sunday March 9 at 3 p.m. in the Boldrick Theater in the Carson Community Center. This concert celebrates music in our children's lives and will feature young musicians from Carson City.

The concert will feature the combined elementary choirs from Bordewich-Bray, Fremont, Fritsch, and Seeliger Elementary Schools.

Violinists Kerstin and Karsen Law will perform a violin duet. Kerstin and Karsen are second graders at Seeliger.

Flautist Tiffany Moore will perform "Sicilienne" by Gabriel Faure.

The Fremont Brass is includes Michael Irvin, Jake Jones, J. J. DePew, Tavin Williams, Brittany Duerr, Jesse Radosevich, Conrad Franz, Diego Rodriguez, and Samantha Lowe. This group of fifth graders has performed in venues in Carson City.

The concert, under the direction of Richard Doede, will include a variety of music. The concert is free and is sponsored by the Carson City Parks and Recreation Department. Cll 883-2219.

- The self-serving wine bar Reserve at Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno welcomes Benziger Vineyards, Raymond Vineyards, Whitehall Lane and Norman Vineyards in March.

Saturday, March 8, Benziger partners with the Wine Bar to share its quality wine for guests to taste.

Napa Valley's Raymond Vineyards brings a selection of wines to the Wine Bar Saturday March 15.

Reserve presents Whitehall Lane, a small family-owned winery in Napa Valley's historic Rutherford appellation, for a tasting March 22.

Norman Vineyards, in the hills west of Paso Robles on California's Central Coast, wraps up the month with a sampling Saturday March 29.

The wine tasting events at Reserve are free and open to the public from 5 to 8 p.m. Reserve is open daily from 4 p.m. to midnight in the lobby of the Resort. Call 789-2000 or visit www.grandsierraresort.com.

- The Reno Chamber Orchestra continues its 2007-8 season with concerts Saturday March 8 at 8 p.m. and Sunday March 9 at 2 p.m. at the University of Nevada, Reno's Nightingale Concert Hall.

The Orchestra's music director, Theodore Kuchar, will conduct the RCO in the "Adagio" by Leos Janacek and the "Suite from le Bourgeois Gentilhomme" by Richard Strauss. Internationally acclaimed pianist Fabio Bidini will also be featured in Beethoven's "Emperor" Concerto.

Call 348-9413 or see RenoChamberOrchestra.org. Discounted tickets are available for senior citizens and students, and everyone 18 years of age and younger can attend RCO concerts for free. For students over the age of eighteen, $5 student rush tickets will be available one hour before each concert.

- Pioneer Family Dance will hold it's monthly dance Saturday March 1 from 7 to 10 p.m.

Caller Susan Petrick will bring her fun dances from Reno. Dancing starts at 7 with beginner moves. Simple dances build to more complex.

The live band will consist of guitar, mandolin, stand up bass and fiddle, pssibly even drums.

Contra dance is a heart healthy activity at the Brewery Arts Center Ballroom, 449 W. King St. Adults are $8, kids free with an adult or $5 without. Call 830-7939

- "The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron," is at the Eldorado Casino in Reno through March 23. Tickets go for $29.95 to $35.95. Call 786-5966.

- Ani DiFranco appears a the Lawlor Events Center in Reno Thursday April 10 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $235 in advance, $37 a the door. Call 784-4444 or see Tickets.com.

- George Winston, he of the romantic piano, appears at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts in Reno July 20 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $32 in advance, $32 on show date. Tickets are the Pioneer Center.

- America's most beloved musical, "Annie," is back in 30th anniversary tour, giving a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic musical about never giving up hope. The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie will be coming to the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts in Reno for five performances from April 18-20.

Performance schedule is Friday April 18, 8 p.m.; Saturday April 19, 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday April 20, 1 and 6 p.m.

Tickets go on sale March 3 at the Pioneer Center box office, online at www.pioneercenter.com, or by phone at (877) 840-0457. Ticket prices range from $40 to $80 and are subject to service charges. Groups of 20 or more should call 686-6600.

- Contact Sam Bauman at 881-1236 or Sbauman@nevadaappeal.com.