October at The Crown Jewel of Downtown™
Tucson, AZ (September 26, 2025) –On Friday, September 19th, guests at the Fox Tucson Theatre’s season reveal event were thrilled to hear about artists coming to the theatre over the next six months. Featuring an exceptional lineup of artists like Kansas, Bruce Hornsby, Dave Koz, Paula Poundstone, Frankie Avalon, Howie Mandel, Ten Tenors, and more, tickets are now on sale to the general public.
October offerings include Mavis Staples, Julia Keafe Jazz Ensemble, Chris Funk the Wonderist, Randy Rainbow, the Twilight movie presented with a live orchestra, and in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, three feature films are: Sleep Dealer and Las Marthas, both billed as Borderlands Film and Conversation Events, and Take it Away presented by Cinema Tucson. Additionally, a very special Sensory Inclusive event Fiesta! con Sonia De Los Santos, designed to create an experience that is welcoming for and accessible by attendees with a variety of forms of neurodiversity.
October also welcomes back the popular Curious Conversations, one inspired by Nurse John and one inspired by William Shatner – both scheduled for upcoming shows at the Fox. The KITT program for youth and families returns with a new show from Blippi! For tickets visit www.foxtucson.com.
October Shows
The Crown Jewel of Tucson™. We make Memories. We make Connections.
We make Tucson Proud.
October 3, 7:30pm – Twilight in Concert SOLD OUT
Experience the legendary romance saga with this epic film-to-concert event – featuring the original movie accompanied by a sensational live band on stage and an enchanting candlelit atmosphere. TWILIGHT IN CONCERT offers a unique opportunity for fans to relive the story that started it all in a cinematic live experience like no other. An exceptional 12-piece ensemble of outstanding rock and orchestral musicians will take the stage to perform the beloved film score in perfect synchronization with the original movie, presented in its entirety on a full-size cinema screen. Be captivated by the magical atmosphere as over a thousand twinkling candles illuminate the grand stage, creating an ambiance that sets the stage for a truly romantic journey.
October 5, 7pm – An Evening with10,000 Maniacs
10,000 Maniacs has a lot in common with Jamestown, New York, the city that spawned them back in 1981. Both are honest and hardworking, a step outside the mainstream, and both possess a bit of magic. “It’s a city of blue-collar poetry,” says keyboardist Dennis Drew. “And that’s what we’re about, real-life stories. We’re a family, we do real work and we keep moving forward.” Bassist, Steven Gustafson added, “we’re all good friends and we love each other, we play for each other, and we’re playing better than ever.”
October 8, 7pm – Las Marthas: A Cinematiic Borderlands Film and Conversation Event
A film by Cristina Ibarra (USA, 2014, 68 min. In English and Spanish, with English subtitles)
In 1939, the Society of Martha Washington was founded to usher each year’s debutantes (called “Marthas”) into proper society at the Colonial Pageant and Ball in Laredo, Texas. Celebrated as “a striking alternative portrait of border-town life” (The New York Times), the film follows two Mexican American girls carrying this gilded tradition on their shoulders during a time of economic uncertainty and tension over immigration. Cristina Ibarra’s landmark documentary, winner of the Cinema Tropical Award for Best U.S. Latinx Film, offers an intimate exploration of identity, belonging, and the contradictions of heritage in a community shaped by both sides of the border. Following the screening of “Las Marthas” will be an audience Q&A and panel discussion with: Director of the film and Educator Cristina Ibarra, Folklorist and Educator Dr. Maribel Alvarez, Documentary Filmmaker, Author, and Educator Jacob Bricca.
October 9, 7:30pm – Mavis Staples
“I’m the messenger,” Mavis Staples says on the eve of her 80th birthday. “That’s my job – it has been for my whole life- and I can’t just give up while the struggle is still alive. We’ve Got more work to do, so I am going to keep on getting stronger and keep on delivering my message every single day.”
That message—a clarion call to love, to faith, to justice, to brotherhood, to joy—lies at the heart of ‘We Get By,’ Staples’ spectacular twelfth studio album and first full-length collaboration with multi-GRAMMY Award-winner Ben Harper. Backed by her longtime
touring band, Staples breathes extraordinary life into Harper’s compositions on the record, delivering roof-raising performances with both a youthful vigor and a commanding maturity. The arrangements here are spare but weighty, matched by Harper’s suitably lean and thoughtful production, and Staples seizes the opportunity to showcase her remarkable and continued evolution as an artist, one still growing and exploring more than half a century into her storied career. ‘We Get By’ is undoubtedly a timely collection, arriving such as it does in the face of deep social divisions and heightened political tensions, but like everything Staples touches, it’s also larger than any particular moment, a timeless appeal to the better angels of our nature that’s universal in its reach and unwavering in its assurance of better things to come.
October10, 7:30pm – The Julia Keefe Indigenous Jazz Ensemble
The Julia Keefe Indigenous Jazz Ensemble is an ensemble of Native and Indigenous jazz musicians from across Indian Country. Performing pieces from their under-appreciated predecessors in jazz, like Mildred Bailey (Coeur d’Alene) and Jim Pepper (Kaw/Mvskoke), alongside works by contemporary Indigenous composers, the band spotlights a vibrant, long-standing tradition of Indigenous improvised music today.
- “A songbird of a jazz vocalist” – The New York Times
- “She gives me hope for the future of jazz.” – Judy Carmichael, NPR
- “Her voice is of another era. One of the only jazz songbirds in Indian Country.” – Revolutions per Minute
- “Native American jazz pioneer… Visionary Keefe continues to expand the jazz spectrum…” – Steve Roby, West Hawaii Today
October 11, 7:30pm – Chris Funk the Wonderist
TV Magician and Musical Illusionist Chris Funk will perform his REDEFINING WONDER show at the Fox Tucson Theatre! REDEFINING WONDER is an engaging multimedia experience that has audiences talking and scratching their heads for years to come. Finally, a MAGIC SHOW WITH LIVE MUSIC! Chris has pioneered the use of instruments like the violin, guitar, sax, and more in his illusions. Whether it’s a violin concerto to a magical dancing sheet of music to impossibly suspending various instruments on stage, his show is in a league of its own. Live-feed cameras and interactive videos bring audiences up onstage and into the action, delivering a show that family audiences can call their own
From NBC’s America’s Got Talent, CW’s Penn & Teller: Fool Us & Masters of Illusion, FOX’s Hell’s Kitchen and Syfy’s Wizard Wars, his unique approach to magic has garnered him performances at Las Vegas’ Planet Hollywood, Venetian, Mandalay Bay, Rio, and Tropicana casinos as well as residencies at Disney. In addition to his own touring, Chris has starred in the major touring magic production Masters of Illusion LIVE.
REDEFINING WONDER is more than just a magic show. Chris shares his story, tying in his passion for music and magic – garnering standing ovations and a reputation for excellence!
October 12, 7pm- Randy Rainbow: National Freakin’ Treasure
Randy Rainbow is a four-time EMMY® and GRAMMY®-nominated American comedian, producer, actor, singer, writer, satirist, host, and New York Times bestselling author known for his popular web series, The Randy Rainbow Show. His debut memoir, Playing with Myself received rave reviews by such venerable outlets as The LA TIMES, which noted that Rainbow “vividly recollects the alienation so many LGBTQ+ youth experience.” Musical theater was an escape for Rainbow that ultimately helped catapult his career. His musical parodies and political spoofs have garnered him worldwide acclaim and four consecutive EMMY® nominations for Outstanding Short.
October 14, 1pm – Art & Wellbeing: A Curious Conversation Inspired by Nurse John at the Fox
With Nurse John bringing healthcare-inspired comedy to the Fox this fall, it’s the perfect time to explore the intersections of laughter, compassion, and the journey of well-being. From hospital hallways to community spaces, care can take many forms. Join us for an open dialogue about breaking stigma, building trust, and finding collective stories that can shape healing. Together, we’ll uncover how humor and human connection can be powerful medicines for individual and community wellbeing.
Elizabeth Burden is a multidisciplinary artist blending studio work with social practice. She is the lead artist for the temporary public art project “We Recover Together” (WRT), happening September and October at locations around Tucson. WRT is the 2025 SaludArte Project, which is designed to foster connection, understanding, and empathy while addressing the stigma surrounding substance use. The art encourages meaningful dialogue about health, wellbeing, and recovery.
October 15. 7pm – Sleep Dealer: A Cinematic Borderlands Film and Conversation Event
A film by Alex Rivera (USA/Mexico, 2008, 88 min. In English and Spanish, with English subtitles.
Sleep Dealer is a groundbreaking cyberpunk science-fiction thriller that reimagines the U.S./Mexico border in a near future where migration is no longer physical but digital. Memo Cruz (Luis Fernando Peña), a young man from rural Mexico, dreams of a better life in the United States. But in this new world order, borders are sealed, and the only way to “cross” is through the net—by connecting his body to a global network, Memo remotely operates machines in America, sending his labor without his presence. A winner at Sundance and the Berlinale, the film blends genre spectacle with urgent social commentary to depict a world shaped by militarized borders, drone warfare, and outsourced labor. Visually striking and politically resonant, this visionary debut feature by Alex Rivera challenges who gets to be the hero in science fiction—and what futures are worth fighting for. Following the screening of “Sleep Dealer” will be an audience Q&A and panel discussion with: Director of the film and Educator Alex Rivera and Border Journalist Melissa del Bosque.
¡Fiesta! con Sonia De Los Santos is a vibrant, bilingual concert experience that brings audiences of all ages on a joyful journey through Latin American music, storytelling, and cultural celebration. Known for her warm stage presence and uplifting spirit, grammy-nominated Sonia invites audiences to sing and dance alongside her dynamic multicultural band.
What makes this program truly unique is its collaborative nature: Sonia not only performs with her core band, but she also partners with talented local guest performers from the presenting community — artists who bring their own instruments, musical traditions, and personal stories to the stage, creating an unforgettable musical tapestry.
At its heart Fiesta! is more than just a concert — it’s a celebration of community, heritage, and the power of music to build bridges across cultures. Sonia’s infectious energy, combined with the collaborative spirit of the show, ensures that audiences walk away not only entertained but also inspired by the universal language of music. Accompanying Sonia’s quintet in Tucson will be Las Azaleas– Tucson’s premier mariachi-inspired, all-woman ensemble! With soaring harmonies, virtuosic instrumentation, and captivating stage presence, they pay tribute to Latina music pioneers, while infusing each performance with their own signature sound. Led by vocalist and mariachi educator Diana Olivares, Las Azaleas are more than a band—they’re a celebration of women’s contributions to Latin music. Their performances are rich with emotion, cultural pride, and infectious energy, reminding audiences of the enduring power of tradition and the joy of live music.
October 21, 7:30pm – Five for Fighting with String Quartet
With support from Lace and Lee and Presented by the Bert W Martin Foundation.
The only way for a story to progress is to turn the page. John Ondrasik— the songwriter and performer known as the platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated, Five For Fighting—knows this well. In the two decades since his first major single, “Superman (It’s Not Easy),” hit the stratosphere, the artist has both evolved and come back ‘round full circle. Creativity, if nothing else, is paradoxical.
October 22, 7pm – Take it Away presented by Cinema Tucson
A film by Adrian Alejandro Arredondo and Myrna Perez (USA, 2025 73 min. In Spanish and English with English subtitles.
Take It Away is a vibrant, deeply resonant documentary chronicling the rise of Tejano and Regional Mexican music through the story of one unforgettable figure: Johnny Canales. As the charismatic host of a wildly popular, nationally syndicated variety show, Canales introduced viewers across the U.S. and Mexico to rising stars like Selena, Ramón Ayala, and Intocable—bringing borderland sounds into countless homes and onto the mainstream stage. Blending dynamic archival footage with revealing new interviews, the film traces the arc of Canales’s legacy alongside the evolution of a genre that has moved from regional roots to international dominance, paving the way for today’s chart-toppers like Peso Pluma and Grupo Frontera. Both a tribute and a critical reappraisal, the film captures a pivotal era in Latin music history—one where charisma, community, and sound collided to reshape the pop landscape forever.
C’mon and join Blippi to make music in your hometown in the brand new live Blippi: Join the Band Tour! Blippi will be joined onstage by Meekah, their singing and dancing buddies and LIVE musicians to explore what makes music, including sounds, rhythms and instruments, through all your favorite Blippi hits. So grab your drumsticks, tune up your guitar, and move those feet with Blippi and get ready for a musical performance that’s fun for the whole family! A post-show Photo Experience is available, choose this option at checkout!
October 28, 1pm – Star Trek & American Culture: A Curious Conversation Inspired by William Shatner at the Fox
Set your Tricorders to Discover! With William Shatner visiting the Fox in November, we are looking to boldly go where no Curious Conversation has gone before! The Star Trek television and film franchise has always explored infinite diversity in infinite combinations. Join astronomer and longtime fan Dr. Kevin Hainline on a journey through the science and cultural impact of Star Trek, as we explore technology, distant planets, alien life, and the ways that the show tackled complicated topics over its almost 60-year history.
Dr. Kevin Hainline is an astronomy professor and researcher on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) NIRCam science team at The University of Arizona. His research focuses on hunting for ultra-distant galaxies from the dawn of time, supermassive black holes that grow hidden by dust, and cold brown dwarfs at the edge of the Milky Way. Kevin has a passion for science outreach education and has spoken about astronomy and our relation to the stars at events around the world.
October 31, 7:30pm – The Phantom of the Opera with Live Wurlitzer Organ Accompaniment
This is sure to be a spooktacular Friday! Come see the fully restored digital screening of Lon Chaney’s 1925 Phantom of the Opera. This renowned classic silent film has English intertitles and will be accompanied by LIVE organ accompaniment, featuring organist Brett Valliant playing the Fox’s own Mighty Wurlitzer organ.
Brett Valliant is an organist enjoying opportunities to play the music he loves on the instrument he loves. Whether at an organ in a concert hall, a majestic church organ, or a mighty Wurlitzer in a theatre, Brett is right at home