Tip-Offs

'Sesame Street' opens May 10 at Blaisdell Arena

"Let's Be Friends" will be the theme of the new "Sesame Street" musical opening at 7 p.m. May 10 at the Blaisdell Arena.

The production, running for 14 performances, features Elmo and Zoe starting up an exclusive friendship club that only allows monsters with orange or red fur.

In the process, viewers meet the family of "Street" inhabitants including the Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Ernie and Bert and more.

Through songs, dances, laughter and patter, "Friends" serves up practical lessons on teamwork, loyalty, acceptance and practicalities of life — such cleaning up one's room.

Playdates:

• May 10, 7 p.m.
• May 11, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
• May 12, 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• May 13, 1 and 4:30 p.m.
• May 17, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
• May 18, 7 p.m.
• May 19, 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• May 20, 1 and 4:30 p.m.

Tickets: $14, $12; opening night, all seats $10.

Reservations: 526-4400 (Ticket Plus).

Information: 591-2211 (Blaisdell).

'Real Beef' next at Yellow Brick

"Real Beef," a play by David DeBlieck, will be presented at 8 p.m. May 4, 5, 11 and 12 and 4 p.m. May 6 and 13 at the Yellow Brick Studio Theatre in Kaka'ako.

The solo performance blends reality and fantasy with theatrical storytelling, dealing with a gay boy who discovers love. The first tale is about a teen boy who fantasizes about erotic wrestling as part of his bedtime grooming; the second explores the courtship of a science nerd and a farm boy in the rural Midwest.

The production is being directed by Jill Rolston-Yates. DeBlieck has produced several theatrical pieces here and is a member of the Iona Pear Dance Theatre. Tickets: $10, $8 for students and seniors. Reservations: 538-1980.

'Evita' musical will open May 10

Mary Chesnut will portray the title character in Army Community Theatre's "Evita" musical, premiering May 10 at Richardson Theatre, Ft. Shafter.

The cast also will feature Josh Harris as Che, and Rep. Alex Santiago as Juan Peron.

The musical, by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, chronicles Eva Peron's rise to fame and power, culminating in her early death.

Performances will be 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, through May 26.

The show, a hit on Broadway and a popular film, boasts a string of hit songs, including "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina." Stephanie Curtis Conching is director, Lina Jeong Doo is musical director, Derek Daniels is choreographer.

Tickets: $15, $12; $8, $6 for children. Reservations: 438-4480.

'Man From Atlanta' set to premiere

"The Young Man From Atlanta," a drama by Horton Foote adapted and directed by Vanita Rae Smith, is the next Sunday @ 2 Matinee Readers Theatre production, premiering at 2 p.m. May 13 at Richardson Theatre, Ft. Shafter.

The Army Community Theatre production will feature Jim Hutchison, Richard Pellett and Jill Esser Frierson. The drama, winner of a 1995 Pulitzer Prize, is about a Houston couple coping with the drowning death of their son.

It repeats at 2 p.m. May 20 and 27. Tickets: $8. Reservations: 438-4480.