'Love: The Catastrophe'

Carson City's own Maria Arrigotti will explore the many facets of romantic love through song this weekend at the Brewery Arts Center.

In 28 popular tunes from musical theater, cabaret and opera, Arrigotti takes a humorous look at dating, marriage, divorce and, ultimately, the joy of being single.

"Love: The Full Catastrophe" - a show developed by Arrigotti and her vocal coach and show director Gary Aldrich - includes musical favorites such as Cole Porter's "Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love)," "Uando Men Vo" from "La Boheme" and "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" from "Pal Joey."

The series of songs tell a romantic tale from courtship to wedded bliss to break up, said Arrigotti.

"There is no dialog, it's all singing," said Arrigotti. "But we make the plot clear. It's all the stages of love."

Thirty-year old Arrigotti said the show isn't her personal story.

"But most of the songs I relate to well," she said.

Audiences may be familiar with Arrigotti, who grew up in Carson City and performed in more than 45 shows with the Western Nevada Musical Theater Company. Her roles included Maria in "West Side Story," Marian Paroo in "The Music Man," Julie Jordan in "Carousel," Mabel in "Pirates of Penzance," and Liesl in "The Sound of Music."

Arrigotti attended University of Nevada, Reno, where she earned a bachelor's degree in both music and mathematics and a master's degree in math. Last year she received tenure with Truckee Meadows Community College, where she has been teaching math for five years.

She placed first in both Nevada and Southwestern State divisions of the National Music Teachers Association vocal competitions and placed third in the national finals.

"Love: The Full Catastrophe," also features pianist Paul DuFau, a San Francisco native who has played various venues there including the St. Francis Hotel and the Fairmont Hotel. Sara Moore, a dance teacher at Western Nevada Performing Arts Center, is the show's dancer and choreographer. Gina Kaskie-Davis, who has choreographed the performing arts center's shows for 15 years, choreographed the dance performed during "Buddy's Blues," a song from Stephen Sondheim's "Follies."

Performances of the show are Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 20 at 4 p.m. at the BAC's Performance Hall. Tickets are $14. For tickets or more information, call

the BAC at 883-1976 or visit the center's

Web site at www.brewery

arts.org.