Theater
History lesson
One thousand years of human progress -- or maybe regression -- will be covered in 100 minutes in "Western Civilization: The Complete Musical (abridged)," opening Friday, July 10, at Anchorage Community Theatre, 1133 E. 70th. ACT is partnering with Midnight Sun Theatre for what's become an annual summer show. The comic farce comes from the wacky minds of Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor of the Reduced Shakespeare Company. It features local stage vets Alex Albrecht, R. Scott Cantrell and Becca Mahar. David Block directs. Tickets, $16, are available at actalaska.org or by calling 868-4913. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday through Aug. 1.
Literary
A writer returns
Former attorney Robin McLean lived for 15 years practicing pottery in the Mat-Su Valley before heading off to Massachusetts to get an MFA. Her first short story collection, "Reptile House," won the elite BOA Editions Short Fiction Prize in 2013 and has just been published. As part of her national tour, McLean is heading back to Alaska for several appearances this month, starting with the UAA Bookstore at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 15. She'll be joined by Alaska State Writer Laureate Frank Soos. McLean's Alaska tour will continue with a reading at the Bear Gallery in Fairbanks at 7 p.m. July 18, a reading at the library in Sutton (her old hometown) at 6 p.m. July 24 and a book signing at Fireside Books in Palmer on July 25.
Opera
Comic coloratura
The Met Opera's summer encore series of previously broadcast offerings will continue at Century 16 with the blockbuster 2008 production "La Fille du Regiment." The delicious farce presents the physical comedy and impeccable coloratura of Natalie Dessay in the title role of a spirited orphan tomboy who has been raised by a regiment of soldiers. Juan Diego Florez -- whose chain of high C's is worth the price of admission all by itself -- is the boy who gets the girl. Showtime is 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 15.