Echo Magazine October 2016 by OUTvoices Phoenix (former Echo Magazine)

Express Yourself ... 2016-2017 Arts Season Preview

LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT | VOL. 28, #1 | ISSUE 685 | OCTOBER 2016 | COMPLIMENTARY

scottsdale center for the performing arts

scottsdale museum of contemporary art

16th Scottsdale International Film Festival October 6–10

Proudly presenting the films: Angry Indian Goddesses, The Slippers and Women Who Kill

Adam & Anthony Live

Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of RENT

Saturday, November 19, 8 p.m. Two original stars of RENT singing Broadway hits

Photo: Claire Warden

Fall Opening Celebration Friday, October 14, 7 p.m. – Free Mix and mingle with artists and curators of SMoCA’s fall exhibitions Push Comes to Shove: Women and Power and Architecture + Art: Everything Falls into Place When It Collapses.

Storm Large

Saturday, January 14, 8 p.m The vocal superstar with her fierce new band

Patti LuPone

Don’t Monkey with Broadway

Saturday, January 28, 8 p.m. The Tony Award-winning Broadway legend

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo Thursday, January 26, 7:30 p.m. Friday, January 27, 8 p.m.

The world’s foremost all-male comic ballet troupe

Good ’N Plenty Artist Award Friday, October 21, 7 p.m. $10, Members $8

Empower artists while you enjoy delicious desserts and strong coffee! Vote on projects presented by six local creatives to determine who walks away with the Good ’N Plenty cash prize. Got an idea? Visit bit.ly/GoodNPlenty to submit by Oct. 2.

Guerrilla Girls Art and Activism Workshop

Saturday, November 19, 10 a.m. $35, Members $30 Learn about the legendary Guerrilla Girls’ style of art that fights discrimination with humor and activism while you produce your own project with guidance from the group’s founding member, Frida Kahlo. Guerrilla Girls at the Abrons Art Center, photo © Andrew Hindraker, 2015.

Plan your Scottsdale Arts experience today! Click ScottsdaleArts.org Call 480-499-TKTS (8587) Visit 7380 E. Second St.

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inside this issue Issue 685 | Vol. 28, #1 | October 2016

features NEWS

“Beckoned Embrace” by Lorraine Inzalaco.

Photo by Rachael Smith.

8 Letter From The Editor 12 News Briefs 14 Datebook 20 Tucson Pride 24 Rainbows Festival 28 AIDS Walk 2016 PREVIEWS AND REVIEWS 88 Without Reservations 92 Opening Nights 94 At The Box Office

96 Scottsdale International Film Festival 98 Between The Covers

Celebrate As National LGBTQ History Month, October promises up a wide variety of celebrations – and you’re invited!

Photo by Matthew Murphy.

Create From zines and music to canvas and film, we have a diverse collection of mediums and the queer artists behind them.

Photo by Rose Torres.

COMMUNITY 100 Talking Bodies 102 All Over The Map

ON THE COVER October marks LGBTQ History month as well as Echo’s annual Arts Issue. Cover design by Jake Rojas.

Glimpse We’ve turned the spotlight to the stage to showcase this season’s must-see productions and shows.

Indulge If a single word could summarize the 2016-2017 arts calendar, “indulge” would be it. Your senses await!

Express Yourself ... 2016-2017 Arts Season Preview

LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT | VOL. 28, #1 | ISSUE 685 | OCTOBER 2016 | COMPLIMENTARY

OCTOBER 2016

EchoMag.com

inside this issue

echomag.com web exclusives Photo courtesy of Los Diablos Saints.

PHOTO GALLERIES

[sic] at Live Theatre Workshop.

Did the Echo cameras catch you out and about at this month’s events? Find out at echomag.com/ gallery/2016-photos. COMMUNITY CALENDAR

The Saints Came Marching In Phoenix’s Los Diablos bring NAGAAA World Series trophy home from Texas. echomag.com/diablos-saints

All The State’s A Stage We’ve got 17 reasons to add an out-oftown show to your next road trip itinerary. echomag.com/arizona-theater-2016-2017

From pageants to advocacy, this is where the community goes to find out what’s going on in the gayborhood. echomag.com/ community-calendar. COMMUNITY DIRECTORY Looking for a local group to join? Have a group that’s seeking new members? Either way, this is the place to connect: echomag.com/ community-directory. MARKETING SOLUTIONS Find out why Echo is the publication your future clients are already reading. echomag.com/ marketing-solutions.

A Household Divided Find out the importance of nominating an executor for your will in “Money Talks.” echomag.com/money-talks-oct-2016

online now

Paula Poundstone Find out what the award-winning comic told Echo about her current tour and her Oct. 1 show in Mesa. echomag.com/paula-poundstone

EchoMag.com

OCTOBER 2016

notes from the

managing editor By KJ Philp

LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT PUBLISHER: Bill Orovan ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Bill Gemmill

ach October, Team Echo invites you to join us in celebrating the three things that are most important to us.

The first is LGBTQ History Month, an observance of the gay rights movement – spanning from the first LGBTQ march on Washington in 1979 to this year’s National Coming Out Day, observed on Oct. 11.

The second is Echo’s birthday. Believe it or not, this month marks 27 years since Bill Orovan produced the very first issue. We’re thankful for all of you who have supported Echo – by reading, advertising, distributing or contributing – throughout the years. Cheers to many more birthdays, too. The third celebration is Echo’s annual arts season preview (which you are holding in your hands). One of Echo’s longest running and most-loved traditions is our arts issue. In the pages ahead, we celebrate all forms of art and creative expression, as well as the artists (most of whom are local) who create or perform it. Because that’s a tremendous amount of people, venues, mediums and events to cover, we had to double the size of our usual issue to bring you all this coverage. Let’s take a tour: Celebrate There’s a whole lot happening in the month ahead and you’re invited. We’ve highlighted the biggest and best events heading to Phoenix and Tucson, including details on Phoenix’s annual Rainbows Festival, Tucson’s Pride in the Desert and Pride on Parade and both the Phoenix and Tucson AIDS Walks. You’re going to want to mark your calendars and be a part of these celebrations.

Create Join us in our annual tribute to the creators of art of all mediums. From zines and music to canvas and film, you’ll find a diverse collection of artistic expression and hopefully become acquainted with an artist whose work you weren’t previously familiar with. Glimpse We’ve turned the spotlight to the stage to give you a sneak peek at this season’s most-anticipated productions and shows. Our resident expert Richard Schultz offers his suggestions for must-sees in and around Phoenix. Bonus: He also dishes on out-of-town shows at echomag.com/ arizona-stages-2016-2017. Indulge If a single word could summarize this year’s arts calendar, “indulge” would be it. In this section you’ll find a 2016-2017 listing for every entity that opted to participate in this great resource. If we missed you, be sure to get in touch with our sales department (at 602-266-0550) to be included next year. This letter wouldn’t be complete without a huge thank you to everyone who made this milestone issue possible. Thank you to the local venues and groups, that made sure to get us their calendar of events; to the artists, who opened up and shared their passion and talent with us; and to Team Echo, who all went above and beyond to make this issue the best it could possibly be. Thank you all.

EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR: KJ Philp CONTRIBUTORS: Cait Brennan Tia Norris Anthony Costello Hans Pedersen Tamara Juarez Terri Schlichenmeyer Richard Schultz Laura Latzko Liz Massey Michael J. Tucker Devin Millington Rachel Verbits Melissa Myers Megan Wadding David-Elijah Nahmod Danika Worthington ART DEPARTMENT SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Jake Rojas PHOTOGRAPHY: LaQuan Photography, nightfuse.com and Stephanie Anne Donoghue ADVERTISING DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING: Ashlee James ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES: Gregg Edelman Randy Robinson NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE: Rivendell Media, 212-242-6863

ECHO READERSHIP: 40,000 SUBSCRIPTIONS: $29/year ACE PUBLISHING, INC.

KJ Philp is the managing editor of Echo Magazine and can be reached at editor@echomag.com.

MEMBER:

Join the conversation with #EchoMagAZ.

facebook.com/echomagazine twitter.com: @echomagaz Instagram: @echomagazineaz Linkedin: Echo Magazine 8

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Echo Magazine is published by ACE Publishing, Inc. Echo is a registered trademark of ACE Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Written permission must be obtained in advance for partial or complete reproduction of any advertising material contained therein. Opinions expressed therein are not necessarily those of the publisher or staff. ACE Publishing, Inc. does not assume responsibility for claims by its advertisers. Publication of a name, photograph of an individual or organization in articles, advertisements or listings is not to be construed as an indication of the sexual orientation, unless such orientation is specifically stated. Manuscripts or other materials submitted remain the property of ACE Publishing, Inc.

news briefs

Wells Fargo donates $500k for Phoenix-area revitalization efforts Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and Wells Fargo’s lead region president Pam Conboy presented $500,000 in grant funds to seven local nonprofits Aug. 21. The local nonprofits included Arizona Women’s Education and Employment, Mission Create -The Armory, Greater Phoenix Urban League, one n ten, Native American Connections, Teach for America: Phoenix and UMOM New Day Centers, Inc. Grant recipients were identified in collaboration with the City of Phoenix to support three key areas: small business and economic development, workforce development, homelessness and transitional housing. one n ten received a $50,000 grant to support its transitional housing for homeless LGBTQ youth.

“Each one of these grants will help a great organization and address a key priority for our city – including support for veterans, education, uplifting women and families and reengaging under-served communities,” Mayor Stanton said. “Through NeighborhoodLIFT, Wells Fargo is bringing our community closer together and helping Phoenix grow its economy at all levels.” The NeighborhoodLIFT program for Maricopa County follows the Phoenix NeighborhoodLIFT program, launched in 2012, that created 375 homeowners as a result of an $8 million investment by Wells Fargo. Maricopa County is now one of 45 communities across the country that will benefit from more than

Representatives from nonprofit grant recipients, including one n ten’s Nate Rhoton and Linda Elliott (fourth and fifth from left) being presented a check by Wells Fargo’s Pam Conboy and Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton. Photo courtesy of Wells Fargo.

$307 million Wells Fargo has committed through its LIFT programs. “Wells Fargo cares about our communities and we are making these investments to continue the revitalization effort to strengthen Greater Phoenix,” said Pam Conboy, Wells Fargo Arizona Lead Regional President. “These nonprofits are actively leading efforts to help stabilize

Phoenix Pride Organization Introduces New Advisory Board Phoenix Pride has announced the creation of a new advisory board to help lead the organization’s efforts following the closing of the Phoenix Pride LGBT Center. “The advisory board will serve as a short-term adjunct to Phoenix Pride’s Board of Directors,” according to an Aug. 29 press release, “and will aid the organization as it resets goals and priorities in the wake of the center’s closing.” The individuals named to serve on the advisory board, according to the organization, represent a cross-section of local community and business leaders, and service on the Advisory Board is on a strictly volunteer basis. As of its inception, the advisory board members will include Brendan Mahoney, Rebecca Wininger, Sheila Kloefkorn, Bill MacDonald, Grant Miller, David Horowitz and Jeremy Helfgot. “We are extremely grateful to the entire Phoenix community for the support we’ve continued to receive, 12

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and especially to the individuals who have stepped up to help guide us through this difficult period as we evaluate the future of the Pride center and turn our primary focus to continuing our successful annual events,” said Justin Owen, Phoenix Pride executive director. As a newly appointed advisory board member, Wininger acknowledged concerns about the organization’s future as well as the center’s closure. “This is a critical moment for Phoenix Pride, and the community has deep and warranted concerns about the organization’s future,” she saidsaid. “While I am confident that the institution will continue on in its mission, the closing of the Pride center presents a number of issues that must be addressed openly and effectively, in order to turn this moment of challenge into one of opportunity for future success.” For more information on Phoenix Pride and its programs, visit phoenixpride.org.

housing, create jobs and provide education programs, and we believe these grants with add up to make a big impact.” For more information, including details on how to apply for the NeighborhoodLIFT program, visit neighborhoodLIFT.com or contact Trellis at 602-258-1659. To find out more about one n ten, visit onenten.org.

ONE Community’s Event Honors Local Heroes Each October, in honor of LGBTQ History Month and National Coming Out Day (Oct. 11), ONE Community hosts its annual Spotlight on Success luncheon and Local Heroes Awards ceremony. This year’s event will take place Oct. 28 at the Sheraton Grand Phoenix. The event will honor 11 individuals – nine who are receiving a Local Hero award, and two who will receive the Change Agent award. This event, “according to onecommunity.co, “celebrates LGBT[Q] history, our present LGBT[Q] and allied business leaders, their commitment to community ... ”

TAKE IT ONLINE To read Echo’s interviews with the 2016 award recipients, visit echomag.com/ spotlight-2016.

news

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Express Yourself ...

datebook

sept. 30

Tucson Pride presents the 16th annual Pride on Parade and block party beginning at 7 p.m. along Fourth Avenue in Tucson. tucsonpride.org oct. 1

Tucson Pride presents the 39th annual Pride in the Desert from noon to 6 p.m. at Reid Park, 900 S. Randolph Way in Tucson. (See story, page 20.) tucsonpride.org oct. 15–16

Rainbows Festival, presented by Phoenix Pride, will take place from noon to 6 p.m. at Heritage Square Park, 113 N. Sixth St., in Phoenix. (See story, page 24.) phoenixpride.org/events/rainbows-festival

sept. 24

sept. 27

Safe Talk with Safe Out, a half-day alertness and prevention training to help increase knowledge, comfort, and ability to reach out to someone experiencing suicidal thoughts, will take place at 3864 N. 27th Ave. in Phoenix.

ONE Community presents the debut of its Young Professional Multicultural Network, a millennial-specific networking event, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at The Newton, 300 W. Camelback Road, in Phoenix. onecommunity.co

lgbtqconsortium.com oct. 1 sept. 24

Paula Poundstone, award-winning comedian and regular panelist on NPR’s No. 1 show, “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me,” will take the stage at 8 p.m. at Mesa Art Center’s Ikeda Theater, 1 E. Main St., in Mesa. (See story at echomag.com/paulapoundstone.).

Tegan and Sara, featuring Shura, will take the stage at Livewire, 7320 E. Indian Plaza, in Scottsdale. Doors open at 7 p.m.

mesaartscenter.com

livewireaz.com

oct. 6–10

sept. 25

Pride Guide’s second annual Tucson LGBT Wedding & Honeymoon Expo will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa, 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd., in Tucson..

The Scottsdale International Film Festival’s opening night will take place at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St., with all other screenings at Harkins Shea 14, 7354 E. Shea Blvd. (See story, page 96.) scottsdalefilmfestival.com

gayarizona.com oct. 7–8

oct. 8 Join Equality Arizona in celebrating 25 years, and its Silver 16 Award recipients, beginning at 5 p.m. at Vintage 45, 45 W. Buchanan St., in Phoenix. bit.ly/phxsilver oct. 9 AIDSWALK Tucson, benefiting the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation, will begin at 8 a.m. at Joel D. Valdez Main Library. The walks will conclude with the AIDS Memorial Quilt opening ceremony at 10 a.m. (See story, page 28.)

aidswalktucson.saaf.org oct. 12–16 The 2016 Deaf Queer Men Only convention, which will include an opening ceremony, workshops and other social activities, will take place at various locations throughout phoenix.

dqmo.net oct. 23 AIDS Walk Arizona and 5K Run, presented by Aunt Rita’s Foundation, will take place from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Third Avenue and Washington Street in downtown Phoenix.

auntritasevents.org Through sept. 30

CaZo Dance Company presents Asylum: The Undertaking, the story of a reporter who was locked up in an asylum because she was suspected of being a lesbian, at Phoenix Center for the Arts, 1202 N. Third St., in Phoenix. (Use promo code “HorrorFan” for $3 off.) cazodance.com 14

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Visions of GRANDeur, curated by Marshall Shore, is on display through Sept. 30 at Chartreuse Gallery, 1301 Grand Ave., in Phoenix.

chartreuseart.com events

out and about Equality Arizona’s Good Soul Summer Aug. 16 at the McKinley Club, Phoenix. Photos by nightfuse.com.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

out and about TIHAN’s Turnabout 2016 – The Pink Party Sept. 4 at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel – Reid Park in Tuscon. Photos by Stephanie Anne Donoghue.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

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9. 24

S R I R A C H A F E S T I VA L AT H E R I TA G E & S C I E N C E PA R K

1 0.1

C H I L E P E P P E R F E S T I VA L I N R O O S E V E LT R O W

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C O M E T O G E T H E R B E N E F I T C O N C E R T AT P R E S S R O O M

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C I T Y L I G H T S M OV I E N I G H T S : G H O S T B U S T E R S AT C I T YS C A P E

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R A I N B O W S F E S T I VA L AT H E R I TA G E & S C I E N C E PA R K

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N O C H E E N B L A N C O AT H A N C E PA R K

10.23

P H X Z I N E F E S T AT I C E H O U S E

10.29

Z O M B I E WA L K 8 I N WA R E H O U S E D I S T R I C T

D T P H X . O R G / L I V E I T U P

P R E S E N T E D BY

CELEBRATE 20 A TUCSON TRADITION 24 A CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY 28 EVERY STEP COUNTS 34 LGBT WEDDING & HONEYMOON EXPO

Fairy Bones, left to right: Robert Ciuca, Chelsey Louise, Matthew Foos and Ben Foos. Photo by Rachael Smith.

EchoMag.com

OCTOBER 2016

Photo by Kym Jones.

A Tucson Tradition

New board prepares for 39th annual Pride in the Desert By Megan Wadding

ach October, LGBTQ History Month, attendees from near and far head to southern Arizona to participate in two of the state’s oldest Pride celebrations. For 2016, Tucson’s Pride presents its 16th annual Pride on Parade and block party Sept. 30 and its 39th annual Pride in the Desert Oct. 1, which returns to its original location at Reid Park this year. “Arizona is very special in the sense of community,” said John Foley, Tucson Pride president. “Pride definitely brings people from all over our state. With the decision to return to our roots at Reid Park, we are expecting quite a few [attendees] this year.” An International Procession This year, Tucson Pride will broadcast live coverage of the parade around the world. "Everything is broadcasted live through internet connection," explained Foley. "WMRX [Radio Network] will be announcing each parade entry as it passes by Sky Bar and Brooklyn Pizza." According to Foley, more than 250 people will be marching in the parade, which will run from along Fourth Avenue from Second to Ninth street. The afterparty, which will feature DJ Remix, his crew and DJ Lady Finger, will take place 7 p.m. at Sky Bar and Brooklyn Pizza. Admission, $5 dollar cover, will benefit Tucson Pride.

"Get Ready" According to Foley, this year’s theme, “Get Ready,” was picked in accordance with all of the new things that Tucson Pride has planned, including “a new look, a new 20

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vision, and new energy.” The energy will certainly be off the charts on the festival's main stage, which will host performances by Velo, Debby Holiday and Kennedy Davenport. “We have three majorly talented artist gracing our stage this year,” Foley said. “[And] I have two very wonderfully talented board members in charge of all entertainment: Lucinda Holliday and Tempest DuJour. I have come to trust their judgment and their incredible abilities.” Holliday and DuJour will also be sharing the stage this year as co-emcees. In his new role as Tucson Pride president, Foley said one of his goals for the organization is growing the size of the celebration. “I would really like to see Tucson Pride have a no-fee admission policy in the next two years,” Foley said. “I want the festival to grow. Each year we should be out doing the past year in parade, festival, entertainment and fundraising.”

Seasons of Change Earlier this year, Tucson Pride announced a new board of directors. “These people have such a dedication that I can’t help but think of them as special,” said Foley. “They have poured their time, energy and sweat into this year’s Pride. They are a remarkable team to work with, not to mention, they all are tremendous advocates for our community.” Foley, who was brought on as the organization’s president July 17, said he has many big goals for the organization.

“I became president because it was time for new blood and imagination to move Tucson Pride forward,” he explained, adding that he wants to “re-set the bar of standards” that are currently in place. Items on Foley's to-do list, include a new plan to use the entire next year to focus on fundraising and having more community involvement. "Our mission, first and foremost, is to be completely transparent in our business practices," Foley said. "This community has stood by Tucson Pride for 39 years, [so] it is high time that our organization starts giving back." Another goal of Foley’s is to having the Tucson Lesbian and Gay Alliance organization “recognized as an organization of leaders driven by cultural diversity.” Foley added that all of the Pride board's goals are a collaboration of each and every person in the organization. “Our organization needs this community and our community needs a gay pride organization they can be proud of supporting,” he said. Tucson’s 16th annual Pride on Parade 7 p.m. Sept. 30 Along Fourth Avenue, Tucson. Tucson’s 39th annual Pride in the Desert festival Oct. 1 Reid Park 900 S. Randolph Way, Tucson facebook.com/tucson.pride celebrate

Velo Returns to Tucson Before he hits the road to promote his new EP, Woof, Velo will return to Tucson, Oct. 1, to take the stage at 39th annual Pride in the Desert festival. Echo caught up with the Tucson native to find out what audiences can expect from his homecoming performance. Echo: I read that you are originally from Arizona. Do you come back often? Velo: I was born in Mexico, but lived [in Arizona] my whole life and even went to NAU. I was raised in Tucson [but] I don't come back a lot. [Since leaving for] college and then moving to Seattle, I probably visit [every] two to three years. Echo: Are you looking forward to performing in your hometown? Velo: I'm so excited to come back … to come back in this regard, it's kind of crazy. It's surreal actually, to be honest. Echo: How would you describe your music to someone who hasn’t heard it?

Velo: My music is eclectic. It's definitely hip-hop but it has a very dance and electro feel to it. Echo: Who are some of your musical inspirations? Velo: As far as mainstream goes, Drake is a huge inspiration. I'm a huge fan of [Jennifer Lopez] because she's Latin and everyone has to have their pop diva. As far as gay artists go, Cazwell, the rapper, is actually the main reason I started doing music, I had never seen a gay rapper before. Echo: How did you get started in music? Velo: When I was a kid, I listened to Selena. I always wanted to be one of those Latino singers. But I never actually did anything [musical] at all until 2011, when I won Seattle Pride Idol … [Then] I bought a Mac and I started playing around with music and doing covers. After that, I started making music videos for my covers and it all kind of evolved. I started working on original music and recently started writing my own stuff.

Photo courtesy of facebook.com/ randomvelo. Photo by Cadeography.

Echo: What can you tell me about Woof? Velo: I wrote all [five] of the songs, so I'm excited. A lot of it is going to be different for me, because I took a very different approach for some of these duets. I'm doing a lot more gay male-oriented stuff with the lyrics. Some of my solo stuff is about love and heartbreak. I went through a breakup that inspired a lot of my music. Echo: Rumor has it that you're working on a new full-length

Debby Holiday to take the Pride stage Echo Is this your first visit to Arizona? Holiday: I have not been to Arizona in quite some time. I know that I've been to Phoenix, but I don't think I've ever been to Tucson. I travel so much that I might have been, but just forgot. Echo: You have performed at many Pride celebrations over the Photo courtesy years – what's your favorite thing of facebook.com/ debbyholidayfanclub. about performing for your LGBTQ Photo by Denice Duff fans? Holiday: I'm a big supporter of Pride events, I've done like five Prides in the past three months. I've been doing Prides for a long time. I just did New Orleans Pride in June, right after the Orlando shooting … As we turned onto Bourbon Street, there was a roar of people, the biggest they have ever had … I sang my dad's song “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” between a guy wearing a turban and a girl in a bikini. That's one of my favorite things about Pride events … [they] show that we're so much alike. I'm a straight, halfblack, half-Irish woman. I enjoy Prides very much.

The next stop on International singer/ songwriter, Debby Holiday’s tour is Tucson, Oct. 1, as part of the 39th annual Pride in the Desert celebration. Echo caught up with Holiday to find out what attendees can expect from her Pride performance.

album. Is that true? Velo: I have about [10] songs in the works … I have a duet with Pablo Hernandez coming out and a duet with Rhea Litre coming out on the album too. Echo: What will you be singing at Tucson Pride? Will we get to hear any of you new music? Velo: At Pride, I'm going to be singing mostly new, original stuff … I'll bring [a cover] just in case, because it's always fun to hear familiar stuff.

Echo: What was it like growing up as the daughter of Jimmy Holiday? Were you a musical child? Holiday: I grew up with it. My dad was a successful songwriter … I didn't really have a choice. He threw a guitar and piano at me and, next thing I knew, I was writing music. Echo: What can you tell me about your new album? Holiday: I have a double album that will be out next month called Free to Be. I've been working on it for two and a half years. It's half rock, half dance… I've got some great guests like John Waite, from The Babys and from “Missing You” fame, Ty Taylor and a bunch of amazing singers who are life-long friends ... And then a bunch of amazing DJs and producers are helping me out on the dance side. So, I'm pretty excited. The release is supposed to be Sept. 20. Echo: Any idea yet what you will be singing at Tucson Pride? Holiday: I'll probably mix it up. I'll probably do a couple of dance songs and I'll probably throw in a Bette Midler tune or something. Megan Wadding is a freelance writer and travel addict with a degree in journalism. Follow her on Twitter at @MeganWadding. EchoMag.com

OCTOBER 2016

Get your Pride on SATURDAY • OCTOBER 1 • 2016 REID PARK • NOON to SUNSET $10 online • $12 at gate • $10 students, seniors & military Kids 12 & under FREE • Tickets & more at TucsonPride.org

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Don’t miss Friday Sept 30 • 7-8pm Begins: 4th Ave & 2nd St Concludes: 4th Ave & 9th St

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SPOTLIGHT ON

LOCAL HEROES AWARDS 6TH ANNUAL

Join us at our 6th annual business luncheon where we applaud ONE Community LGBT and allied business, and community heroes their commitment to diversity, inclusion and equality for all Arizonans. October 28th | 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Sheraton Grand Phoenix

Purchase tickets at www.ONECommunity.co CENTER STAGE SPONSORS

FLOODLIGHT SPONSORS

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Photo by nightfuse.com

A Celebration of commUNITY

Annual festival aims to empower, educate and entertain By Tamara Juarez

he month of October, which is LGBTQ History Month, holds special meaning to the community it honors. From remembering our trailblazers and acknowledging our individual journeys from the closet to increasing visibility and setting our sights on the work that lies ahead, this month continues to serves as an important point for reflection and celebration. Each year Rainbows Festival, presented by Phoenix Pride, provides LGBTQ and allied community members the opportunity to come together and do just that – reflect and celebrate. The two-day event will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 15 and 16 at Heritage Square Park, located near the intersection of Seventh and Washington streets. Admission is free and pets are welcome. In the same format as previous years, the 2016 Rainbows Festival will feature a variety of entertainers, vendors and activities for attendees of all ages. Rainbows Festival provides people with the opportunity to engage with LGBTQ-friendly businesses, meet other members of the community and enjoy a fun-filled weekend at zero cost, said Justin Owen, Phoenix Pride’s executive director. “We encourage everyone to come down and check it out, because we’ve made some great upgrades over the past couple of years,” he said. “Our main stage and community stage [have] grown substantially with local entertainers, our food and beverage options have increased and we have exciting new exhibitors who people may have never heard of before.” PetSmart, the event’s presenting sponsor, invites attendees to bring their four-legged family members out to visit Pet Pride, a special off-leash area reserved for pet vendors, adoption

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agencies and the Miss and Mister Phoenix Pet Pride Pageant. Dani Logan, Phoenix Pride program manager, said she was excited to announce their collaboration with PetSmart and hopes the inclusion of animals will contribute to the event’s main goal, which is to bring about a sense of inclusion, love and acceptance.

Empower “I think it’s really important to note that Rainbows is not just another event,” she said. “It’s our mission in action: to unite and engage individuals and organizations to empower, educate and support Arizona’s LGBT[Q] community.” For anyone looking for community, Logan said it they’re sure to fine it at Rainbows Festival. “Aside from being able to connect with different organizations and resources around the Valley, there is also that feeling of community and camaraderie,” she said. “It’s hard to feel alone at those events … you are guaranteed to find a patron, or volunteer, or entertainer or staff member who will happily welcome you to their community.” Additionally, attendees will find numerous resources and networking opportunities with local businesses and groups who will participate in Rainbows Festival as vendors.

Educate Phoenix Pride works alongside hundreds of volunteers and businesses each year to organize Rainbows Festival, the Phoenix Pride festival and parade, the Miss and Mister Phoenix Pride Pageant, the annual Pride Brunch and other LGBTQ events. Throughout the past eight years, the organization has raised more than $325,000 to help fund grants, scholarships and local other LGBTQ

organizations. Community support is vital and helps continue a cycle of giving, Owen added. “We fund back into the community by helping people further their education and awarding grants to nonprofits that may not have the opportunity to have fundraisers as often,” he said.

Entertain Performers include world-renowned DJ Audrey Napoleon, alternative-pop band Fairy Bones – named “Best Local Band” of 2015 by Phoenix New Times – and acts by some of the Valley’s most popular drag queens and kings. For the third year, Echo Readers’ Choice Award winner and 2008 Miss Phoenix Gay Pride Afeelya Bunz will host the main stage and will bring “Afeelya & Friends” to audiences in the Lath House Pavilion. “I love to see people laugh at the crazy things I come up with and love to see the audience participate in the show,” she said. “The key is to have everyone laughing and enjoying themselves.” Ultimately, Bunz said she’d like people to leave this year’s festival with a better understanding and appreciation for the fact that everyone in our diverse community can all come together and unite in celebration. Rainbows Festival 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 15-16 Heritage Square Park 113 N. Sixth St., Phoenix phoenixpride.org/events/ rainbows-festival Tamara Juarez s a student at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. During her spare time she loves to read, hike and make bad puns. celebrate

Photo by Space Yacht. Photo courtesy of facebook.com

Meet Audrey Napoleon By Tamara Juarez Clad in dark lace and sleek leather, Audrey Napoleon gives the appearance of a Noir fashion model – edgy and radiating with a quiet confidence that shines brightest under stage lights. However, despite her extensive wardrobe, you will not find Napoleon strolling down a runway. Instead, she can be caught dancing behind a soundboard, mixing energetic beats with contagious tunes to uphold her title as one of the highestranking female DJs in the music industry. Napoleon, who has gained an international fanbase for her talent as a vocalist, music producer and electro-pop DJ, is best known for her 2012 EP Ornamental Egos, her single “Dope A La Mode,” which named one of the Top 10 Tracks of the Year by DJ Magazine and her song “Only You,” which was featured in the season finale of supermodel Naomi Campbell’s television series “The Face.”

The 26-year-old artist will be headlining the main stage at Heritage Square Park as part of the 2016 Rainbows Festival entertainment lineup. “I feel very excited and honored to perform for the LGBTQ community in Phoenix,” she said. “I’m looking forward to experiencing the whole event and getting to meet everyone there.” Napoleon has been an LGBTQ supporter for many years, long before her rise to fame, but Rainbows Festival will be the first pride show she’s been a part of as an entertainer. “I have been wanting to do this for quite a while now, because I’m a big advocate for the community, so I’m very honored,” she said. When asked about her motivation as a DJ, Napoleon said she is driven by a strong passion for her work and a sense of gratitude toward fans, especially those who have used her music to find

peace and acceptance within themselves. “I am constantly in awe of how strong and beautiful and positive my fans are,” she said, “and I think it’s so important, especially in the incredibly tough times that we’re going through, that we help each other. We need to be kind to people, and that’s what really inspires me. With the platform that I have, I want to help others, just like

Fairy Bones returns to Rainbows By KJ Philp The last time Fairy Bones took the stage at Rainbows Festival, lead singer Chelsey Louise was proposed to by a fan in the crowd. “I unfortunately couldn’t accept at the time, but I’m still accepting requests,” she said. That was 2013 and, needless to say, a lot has changed for the band since. Echo caught up with Louise ahead of the band’s second Rainbows Festival appearance – they’ll be taking the

community stage at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 15 – and here’s what she had to say. Echo: Congrats on all the recent success! What has been the most surprising part of the journey thus far? Louise: Thank you! I think the most continually surprising thing is when people sing along to our songs and genuinely like our music. Still baffles me. Echo: You all look and sound better than ever! Has the past year and a half felt like charm school or more like puberty?

music has done for me.” Napoleon said she is determined to get people to dance, have fun, and forget about any worries for the Rainbows Festival weekend as the community celebrates unity, love and life. For more on Audrey Napoleon, her upcoming EP, or how to win exclusive merchandise, visit audreynapoleon.com.

Louise: At this point, when we listen back to Dramabot, it’s like we are so far away from that place now musically and mentally. I had been writing about what was happening to me at the time, what had happened in the past. That album was very cathartic … So, puberty, for sure. I’m extremely proud of the new songs we have, they’re much more mature songwriting wise and lyrically. I’m ridiculously anxious to play them live. Echo: Rumor has it that you have new music you have slated for release Oct. 14. What can you tell us about those two singles? Louise: Yes! The new singles are called “8 Ball” and “Pink Plastic Cups.” Right now you can hear ‘em exclusively on KWSS 93.9 FM. (So call and request, ya?!) We’re having our [all ages] singles release party the day before Rainbows Festival, Oct. 14, at the Rebel Lounge! Echo: Anything else you'd like say to your fans who are reading? Louise: We may not have as colorful hair, but we are still as colorful on the inside … Hit us up on Instagram [@fairybonesmusic] if you see this article and we’ll give you a free sticker for reading the coolest LGBTQ magazine in the Southwest!

TAKE IT ONLINE Left to right: Robert Ciuca, Chelsey Louise, Matthew Foos and Ben Foos. Photo by Rachael Smith.

To read the rest of Echo's interview with Fairy Bones, visit echomag.com/chelsey-louise. EchoMag.com

OCTOBER 2016

Photo b y Bill Tra vis

. Bill Travis Photo by

Every Step Counts AIDSWALK Tucson celebrates 28 years of raising awareness and funds By Danika Worthington

his year marks the 28th anniversary for AIDSWALK Tucson, presented by Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF), making it one of Tucson’s oldest walks at a time when much-needed fundraising dollars are split among more and more causes. Monique Vallery, associate director of development for SAAF, said the foundation expects between 1,500 and 2,000 people to participate in the Oct. 9 walk and raise a total of $150,000. This is the fifth year the walk will be part of Tucson Meet Yourself, a three-day food and folklore festival that brings in 100,000 visitors. “To have a walk be 28 years old and to never miss a beat is really remarkable,” Vallery said.

Education and Resources SAAF will also offer free HIV testing, condoms and lube. Last year, the foundation tested 117 people for HIV at the event. “It’s a great opportunity to be in such a high[ly] visible festival that is mainstream,” Vallery said, later adding, “This is a great public forum, in essence, to stand up and help continue to break down that stigma and continue to educate people.” Education is important to preventing the spread of the infection, Vallery explained, but so is keeping dollars coming in so the foundation can continue to offer its services. In addition, Vallery added, it’s a combination of ignorance and stigmas that can make people hesitant to contribute. Sometimes people don’t donate because they don’t perceive HIV and AIDS as problems anymore, she continued, adding that she gets regularly asked if HIV is still around. In these instances, she said, she reminds them that the disease is still spreading, even if it’s not talked about. More likely than not, she added, people know someone living with the disease but just don’t realize it. 28

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The lack of awareness is not just limited to Tucson. Aunt Rita’s Foundation in Phoenix, which runs AIDS Walk Arizona, echoed these sentiments. “It becomes harder and harder these days to raise money for HIV causes because, perception being reality, if people perceive that HIV is no longer an issue, they may see that there is not a need for HIV funding,” said Glen Spencer, executive director of Aunt Rita’s Foundation.

Fighting New Infections According to John Sapero, office chief for HIV prevention at the Arizona Department of Health Services, 15 percent of the more than 16,000 Arizonans living with HIV are in Pima County. The county has the second most cases of HIV in the state, following Maricopa County. Sapero emphasized that there were 100 new cases of HIV in Pima County in 2014, the most recent year available. He added that the rate of new infections is fairly consistent throughout Arizona. Many of the individuals contracting the disease in Arizona are between the ages of 13 and 29, Sapero added. But according to Vallery, the demographics in Tucson skew differently – instead, growing among heterosexual adults older than 50. Because of this, Vallery said it’s important to reach as broad of an audience as possible. “It is hard to get corporate sponsors because of the fact that businesses are shifting where and what they can give to … There’s so many people in need,” Vallery said. “We’re very fortunate to have our community partners to be able to support us for a long time but there’s not a lot of them.” This year, though, Vallery said she is excited about a partnership with Walgreens. The drugstore chain will sell red bracelets across Arizona from Sept. 25

to Oct. 9 and donate the proceeds to the Phoenix and Tucson AIDS walks. All of the money from the bracelet sales and the AIDSWALK will go toward funding SAAF’s services. The walk is the largest of the foundation’s five major fundraising events throughout the year. AIDS Memorial Quilt Following the walk, SAAF will host its annual quilt opening ceremony in honor of those who have lost their lives to AIDS. Each year, Vallery said attendees will come in from across Tucson, and throughout the rest of the state, to see their loved one’s panel on of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. “To me, the quilt opening ceremony is the most beautiful part of the event,” Vallery said. There will be five memorial quilts from the NAMES Project Foundation, which is based out of Georgia. Memorial quilts, which are made up of four quilt panels, travel all over the world, Vallery explained. Vallery specifically requested quilts that included names of individuals with ties to Tucson. Also on display will be 25 local quilt panels that SAAF cares for year-round bearing more than 275 names. SAAF will then present the quilts and read the names.

AIDSWALK Tucson Oct. 9 Starting line: Joel D. Valdez Main Library – Jácome Plaza, downtown Tucson aidswalktucson.saaf.org AIDS Walk Arizona and 5K Run Oct. 23 Starting line: Third Avenue and Washington Street, downtown Phoenix auntritasevents.org celebrate

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to remind people that this is a serious public health concern in our community.” Also new this year will be the option of a special shirt for individuals who want to self-identify as living with HIV, Spencer said. “We think that a publically overt display of an individual willing to self-identify is a potentially powerful message for people to help destigmatize the HIV infection,” Spencer said. Richard St evens and Barb Eldrid ge at the 2010 AIDS Walk. Phot o cour tesy of Aunt Rita's .

Aunt Rita's ups fundrasing goals and adds new celebration to 2016 walk

he 2016 AIDS Walk Arizona and 5K Run, presented by Aunt Rita’s Foundation, will hit the streets of Phoenix Oct. 23. This year marks the organization’s most ambitious fundraising goal and a new afterparty celebration to match. Aunt Rita’s is aiming to raise $400,000 this year, a feat Glen Spencer, executive director of Aunt Rita’s foundation, admits won’t be easy. The walk raised $375,000 during its most successful year – in 2008 when it returned from a five-year hiatus – but typically brings in around $330,000 with more than 6,000 participants.

ran the Rychard team. There were also some tears, the co-chairs recalled, and a friendship formed. While Eldridge and Stevens continue their friendly competition for Phoenix's top fundraising spot, they both said they’re looking forward to joining forces in support of Aunt Rita’s this year. “We need to do everything that we can and keep this [education] going and keep the awareness [increasing],” Eldridge said. “The statistics are so unbelievably high that it just upsets me.”

A Winning Combination

This year, Aunt Rita's invites participants to enjoy the new addition of a beer garden and food trucks following the event. According to event organizers, the goal was to create an environment that encourages participants to stick around and learn more about HIV – something Stevens said he’s been encouraging for years. “I think people want to do something when it’s over. They want to celebrate. They want to mark the achievement,” Stevens said. “[There’s] nothing wrong with having a little celebration.” According to Spencer, the walk and after party will have a festival atmosphere with local entertainment on the main stage, food, beer and vendors. “It’ll be fun,” Spencer said, “but we want

It’s no coincidence that year’s co-chairs – Richard Stevens (aka Barbra Seville) and Barb Eldridge – are the two most successful fundraisers in the event’s history. Eldridge formed Team Rychard and has been participating in AIDS walks since her son, Rychard, passed away in 2004 at age 36. In 2009, Stevens created the Barbra Seville’s Wonderful 100 team as “a way to harness the energy and enthusiasm of his friends and supporters.” After their first neck-and-neck year, Stevens said he just ‘had to meet this Rychard guy.’ Instead he met Barb. The two shared a laugh that Richard Stevens ran the Barbara Seville team while Barb celebrate

A New Reason to Celebrate

A Platform for Educating According to Spencer, the AIDS Walk serves as both a fundraiser and an educational opportunity. “People under 30 just don’t perceive HIV as a disease of their generation and instead perceive it as a disease of my generation,” Spencer said. The number of young people who don’t take the disease seriously enough bothers Eldridge. “They think now that there’s medicine out, they think, ‘Oh, if it happens to me I’ll just take the pill,” she said, adding that it takes a lot more to live a healthy life with HIV than just a pill. A little more than 16,000 people are living with HIV in Arizona, 70 percent of whom reside in Maricopa County, according to John Sapero, office chief for HIV prevention at the Arizona Department for Health Services. Sapero added that he estimates 3,000 people have the disease but don’t know it. In 2014, the most recent year available, there were 750 new cases of HIV in the state, 570 of which were in Maricopa County, Sapero explained. Of those new cases, 38 percent were people between the ages of 13 and 29. Sapero also emphasized that the disease disproportionately affects African Americans, Hispanics and Latinos – both nationally and in Arizona. According to Spencer, a black man who has unprotected sex with another man has a 50/50 chance of getting HIV. He also said the American Indian community is three times more likely to contract HIV than the Caucasian population. But someone who is HIV positive, Sapero said, can reduce the risk of spreading the disease by 92 percent if they take the proper medicine. And if they use condoms as well, then they can reduce the risk to less than 2 percent. Proceeds from the walk will be distributed among the organization’s 16 partner agencies, which provide prevention education and services to people affected by HIV and AIDS. “I know that the money we’re raising [is] a drop in the bucket to really fight this fight,” Stevens said. “But I think it sends the message to people that we care about them.” Danika Worthington, a graduate from ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, has contributed to the Denver Post, Arizona Republic and Phoenix Business Journal. EchoMag.com

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bar photos Pride Guideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s LGBT Wedding & Honeymoon Expo Aug. 21 at Arizona Grand Resort & Spa. Photos by nightfuse.com.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

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CREATE 36 THE ZINE SCENE 38 THE DOYENNE 40 PAINTING OUTSIDE THE LINES 42 THE ROYAL ROAD 44 ARIZONA DRAG STARS

“Beckoned Embrace” by Lorraine Inzalaco.

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OCTOBER 2016

Left to right: Brodie Hubbard, Charissa Lucille and Marna Kay. Photo courtesy of facebook.com/phxzinefest.

Phoenix’s first-ever zine fest offers LGBTQ community a space for visibility and conversation By Anthony Costello

lthough Phoenix is best-known for it’s rocky, desert landscapes peppered by saguaros and desert foliage, it will finally get a much needed dash of color in the form of LGBTQ literary art when the first-ever PHX Zine Fest debuts Oct. 23 at the Ice House in Phoenix. A zine is a small magazine on any topic, typically created and published by one person, that has a limited circulation. Zines come in all shapes and sizes and there are no rules when it comes to creating one. The concept for the event – that’s purpose is to celebrate LGBTQ artistry, literary topics and DIY culture – first came about as Charissa Lucille (pictured), self-described zinester, and her friend, Marna Kay, were exploring other zine

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scenes around the country. “[We] have gone to many different cities with big zine cultures … and attended zine fests, like Berkley Zine Fest and the Portland Zine Symposium, over the past few years. After so many zine fests we realized Phoenix was lacking a big event like this,” Lucille said. “We’ve had a few smaller ones like this in Phoenix throughout the year but we wanted to have our own, make it huge and bring in people from different cities just like the events in these other cities had.”

An AmaZine Opportunity Lucille and Kay, who are the co-owners of Wasted Ink Zine Distro in Tempe, teamed up with Long Beach, Calif., zinester Brodie Hubbard to bring PHX Zine Fest to fruition. “We have diverse skillsets and we share them among each other so we’re always learning different ways to improve and what we can create together,” Lucille said. Their teamwork has paid off, as the trio has already exceeded their own personal expectations for the event. “Over a year ago we decided we wanted to make this happen and now we have 75 vendors, which is a huge success to initially start with,” Lucille said. Many of the vendors appearing at the fest are coming from Mexico, New Mexico, Nevada and California. “We wanted to have a 50/50 representation with local creators and other creators from different cities and countries, which we have achieved,”

Lucille said. “A lot of what we’ll see are artists coming from California where the zine scene is very aggressive about challenging ideology. People here are creating art about really tough topics and we’ve seen growth in the content of what people are willing to tackle.”

Putting LGBTQ in Print Additionally, the fest will celebrate LGBTQ culture and ideas with thought provoking, ideology-challenging pieces in the form of poetry books, photobooks, screen printed pieces, patch booking and more. “PHX Zine Fest is a place where underrepresented or marginalized voices finally take center stage,” Lucille said.

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“A lot of times we don’t have voices in mainstream media and if we do it’s not always presented correctly. Here, artists are in control and it allows us to represent ourselves in our own voices on topics that we value.” The event will also include a free zine library where patrons can view collections of zines provided by Wasted Ink Zine Distro and other participating vendors. Lucille’s own zine, Fem Static, takes a look at a variety of topics through a feminist lens – including kink and cosplay, transgender and non-binary topics, global feminism and body positivity – will be among those provided. The free nature of zines is what Lucille said she loves most about them. “Zines are great because there’s really no rules to them. Some can be the size of a post-it note or the size of a traditional magazine,” she explained. “They’re typically full of illustrations, articles and artwork; they’re a true expression of art from the creator because they have sole control of their magazine.”

Queer Visibility & Conversations According to Joseph (Joe) Dick (pictured below), Phoenix native, yogi, writer and artist, the fest is an opportunity to celebrate the many different aspects of the LGBTQ community that regularly go unseen. It was his time as a yoga instructor combined with his own experiences with polyamory that inspired Dick to create his first zine, Queer Fears, which breaks down and examines the traditional notions of modern relationships and reframes them in an LGBTQ framework. “My own personal journey inspired it, having coming out a year ago,” Dick said. “Transitioning, turning a friendship into a marriage was a huge learning experience for me. The zine is a platform to highlight and examine relationships, connections and the internal struggle to become a more perfect version of yourself.” Because there are so many issues surrounding the way members of the LGBTQ community look at themselves,

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A sneak peek of the ”PaperDolls” series from Queer Fears by Joe Dick.

Dick said, and Queer Fears is his contribution to that conversation. “There’s a lot of hypersexualization and body shaming within the LGBT[Q] community,” Dick said. “This was a way to get people to look at themselves more objectively and the zine gives me a more visual opportunity to illustrate those ideas.” Dick hopes his zine broadens the horizons of fellow, local LGBTQ Phoenicians when he debuts the first issue at PHX Zine Fest. “What I’m really looking to do with the zine is to make the everyday invisible, visible,” Dick said. “ … The internal is not always so visible and one of the crimes of it is [that] we don’t get to talk about it or really have a conversation about it. Those conversations don’t happen in traditionally heterosexual spaces, so Queer Fears is all about visualizing those fears, talking about them and facing them out in the open.” For zinesters like Lucille and artists like Dick, PHX Zine Fest is about shining a spotlight on other aspects of the LGBTQ Phoenix community that otherwise get lost between the pages of the predominantly heterosexual culture we live in. “It’s important we bring the flavor of our experience into every venue we can. Representation and seeing queer themes is so important,” Dick said. “I would hope someone walking through the event could see a trans model or queer woman of color to not only see how diverse our

community is but to also realize there’s someone just as diverse as they are and realize that we’re really not alone.” The festival, which is free and open to all ages, will include performances by local bands, discussions, guest speakers and workshops. PHX Zine Fest 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 23 Ice House 429 W. Jackson St., Phoenix phxzinefest.com Anthony Costello is an award-winning writer, a graduate of ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and a fraternity brother of Sigma Phi Beta, a gay, straight, bisexual and transgender fraternity.

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Photos courtesy of The Doyenne.

The Doyenne Gender non-conforming hip-hop artist brings original flavor to local music scene By Laura Latzko

s defined by Merriam-Webster, a doyenne is “a woman who has a lot of experience in or knowledge about a particular profession, subject, etc.” For Phoenix-based recording and performing artist The Doyenne, born Syeed Poole, that profession is being himself. “I’ve always thought of [The Doyenne] as being the most prestigious and experienced version of myself there could ever possibly be,” he said. “Still, I suppose that’s not entirely true to the actual definition of the word and I’m romanticizing it for my own purposes.” His intention in choosing the name, he explained, “was never to claim superiority in any professional field, but rather to claim and validate the present me as the culmination of every me before,” and “a way to be loud and up front with my own femininity.” And he has done a fine job of that in his 10 years in music. From wigs and costumes to politically and sexually charged lyrics, he has made a name for himself by unapologetically bringing his perspective as an openly gay hip-hop/electronic music artist, songwriter and producer to audiences of all varieties.

The Back Story At an early age, The Doyenne began singing in his church choir and continued to pursue choir and vocal ensemble in high school, which is also when he began dance classes.

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He moved from Flint, Mich., to Arizona with his immediate family in 2000 and graduated from Glendale’s Independence High School in 2003. In 2006, while enrolled in Glendale Community College’s music business program, he started producing his own music under his label, House of Creation. By 2011, he was booking gigs – many of which were for punk and alternative music crowds. Doing these shows, he said, helped him stick out from other performers, which ended up exposing him to new audiences. “I feel like you have to fend for yourself a lot when you are the only gay, black person with white, punk kids,” he said. “I would walk in with a kimono and a long wig on and they would be like, ‘Who is this?’” The Doyenne went on to regularly perform at The Trunk Space and local house parties. While he credits strong female music icons such as Janet Jackson, Missy Elliott, Peaches, Kesha and Beyoncé, for influencing him musically, it’s local drag queens, including Mia Inez Adams, that have had a significant impact on the artist’s stage presence. “That’s how I learned how to be on the mic, from listening to them,” he said.

The Performance As an entertainer, The Doyenne incorporates wigs, kimonos and

choreographed moves into his shows. “I always did something … to embrace being different,” he said. “That was a big part of it.” In the past, the artist has often performed in spaces with open dance floors, which allow him to interact with the crowd. “I would make everybody get in a circle around me, and we would just dance together,” he said. “When you are on a stage, you are above everybody. It feels restrictive and strange [and] that’s one thing I’m not super into.” The most enjoyable part of performing, he said, is being on the same level as the audience and being able to see their reactions to the show. While The Doyenne has collaborated with other artists for sets at the Phoenix Pride and the Rainbows festivals, he has predominately brought his music before straight Valley audiences – with the occasional show in Tucson and Flagstaff. “The problem with not performing in a room full of LGBTQ people [is that] I never got the opportunity to really see if my message really connected with [LGBTQ] people or if they would really get it,” he explained. “It’s something I want to find out because that’s who it should be for, people just like me.” The Doyenne’s future goals include increasing his out-of-state performances

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and getting his music out to the LGBTQ community. Additionally, he shared that he is currently working on a concept for a new show, which would incorporate singing, rapping, costume changes and choreographed dance numbers. The Music Although The Doyenne has taken a break from performing for the past year to focus on school, in May he released his latest EP because he has some things to say. “There’s so much going on. Everyday, a trans woman has been killed. Every day, a person of color is getting hurt or killed,” he said. “You see how unfair stuff is, and you see how withdrawn people are, and they don’t say what’s on their minds. It’s the only thing I have going for me is [saying] what’s on my mind.” The new EP features seven new songs, including “PreGameShow,” “FREE. RADICAL,” “SHADOWS” and “AFTERGLOW.” While staying loyal to his signature high-energy sound, The Doyenne’s music has matured as he has evolved to reflect his growth as both a person and an artist. “I want people to see not just the quality of the music but the growth of the person who initially didn’t think they could [make it],” he said. While The Doyenne is still trying to find his voice as an artist, he acknowledges how far he has come in a short about of time. The artist has provided glimpses of his personal journey through 10 separate album releases, the most recent of which include DARKWORLD, ArtHo and The Renaissance in 2015 and SLOW, From You, strange kind of love. and 4202016 in 2016.

The Message Writing and producing his own music as an independent artist under his own label has allowed The Doyenne the freedom to tackle timely and controversial issues with his lyrics.

“ … The past few months have weighed on me with what’s happening to my hometown, the police brutality and the Orlando shooting … with everything that’s happened I feel that every vulgar, rude, introspective thing I have to say is pretty much all I can do.” A recent visit to his hometown, he said, reignited his passion and drive to speak up through his music. “I went home to Flint earlier this year to bury my grandfather and the headlines don’t do the crisis justice,” he said. “My hometown is dying, my people are dying and it’s extremely frustrating.” Moving forward, The Doyenne expects social issues to be a major influence on his music. “I’ve been slowly, but surely, putting together a debut album with the intent to get it out there and try and say some of the things that I’ve been wanting to say,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s going to be exactly saying this is what’s going on now, but there’s definitely going to be an energy about it. There’s a defiance now. I’m not angry, but I have to say something.” A driving force behind his music, he said, is the hope that he is giving a voice to those who, in many cases, don’t have one. And sharing glimpses of his personal story has allowed him to connected with audiences on a deeper level. All of The Doyenne’s music is available at thedoyenne. bandcamp.com. For more information on The Doyenne, find him on Facebook at facebook.com/Augustrian or on Twitter as @syeed.

November 12, 2016 Orpheum Theatre

Fall|Winter Preview

November 21, 2016 | Symphony Hall

November 25 – 27, 2016 | Orpheum Theatre

Laura Latzko is a Phoenix-area freelance writer, originally from Michigan, who holds a bachelor’s degree in English and communication studies from Hollins University and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.

January 13 – 15, 2017 | Orpheum Theatre Contact us to purchase tickets or for more information on our shows. Phoenix.TicketForce.com 800-262-6225 |

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OCTOBER 2016

Painting Outside The Lines

Tucson artist dedicates career exploring ‘The Lesbian Gaze’ By Liz Massey

ainter Lorraine Inzalaco, who has called Tucson home for the past 20 years, doesn’t shy away from a forthright explanation of why nude females have formed her primary subject matter over the course of her career. “Painting lesbian imagery is about females together,” she said. “And it goes against the patriarchal art world rules that have stated it was not OK for any female to paint nudes. Throughout history, females were restricted to flowers, still-life, landscapes and making crafts ... I was aware that this was not acceptable subject matter for female artists, so I, and other female artists since the 1950s, have attempted to challenge this oppressive standard.” After receiving a fairly traditional arts education at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, the University of Cincinnati and Queens College in New York, Inzalaco has spent much of her working years as an artist creating intimate scenes between female figures. These paintings reflect what she refers to as “the lesbian gaze,” an artistic viewpoint that emphasizes creating art that highlights women as subject, and is created primarily for other women to enjoy. “Our culture has been pressured to see females through male eyes,” she said. “Feminists and lesbians began to … see themselves through the eyes of ‘self’ and other females, and ask ‘who are we as females, as queers and as other identities?’” Inzalaco has answered that question through her paintings, which feature an assortment of women, nude and clothed, solo figures and couples, who are living their lives – lounging, entwined in bed together, reading, looking intimately at each other

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from under brimmed hats. Many of them exude what she calls a “moment of mutual invitation,” that might be subtle to outsiders, but is irrefutable and unmistakable for those in the know. “I’ve made choices, as an out lesbian, to include romantic, although not always sexual, content,” she said. “The touch of one figure toward another – that moment of mutual invitation – it’s not about the outside world, but about the people involved in it.”

A Love Affair with Art Inzalaco, who grew up in suburban New Jersey, fell in love with making visual creations at an early age. Her kindergarten teacher set the stage for her future explorations, she said. “Our teacher would have us lie on the floor, and she would set out a huge sheet of paper for each one of us, and have us get out our eight-crayon Crayola box and draw while she played classical music, and repeatedly told us to ‘draw what you feel,’” Inzalaco recalled. “I was thrilled to be drawing and mesmerized by the entire process.” As a child and young adult, Inzalaco had other teachers who encouraged her art, although her family discouraged anything that did not lead to the path of heterosexual

“Heavenly.”

marriage and motherhood. Already firmly established in her dream to become an artist by the time she was in high school, she met her first lesbian partner (whom she was with for two decades) at age 17, and after graduation, the two of them “eloped” to Ohio, where Inzalaco studied at the Art Academy of Cincinnati. Her partner appeared in many of Inzalaco’s paintings and sketches during those years. “She was beautiful – my muse,” Inzalaco said, “She would pose for me. She’d read and converse with me, and I would paint.” Although much of her training in college focused on developing her technique, Inzalaco was already drawing on her own life as a woman-loving woman for subject matter. And that eventually led to trouble: during her Master of Fine Art degree program at Queens College, she was placed on probation for her choice of painting scenes from her life, which rarely included male subjects. “They told me that ‘your painting world is male exclusive,’” she recalled. “They were punishing me for painting the beautiful, authentic life I was living.”

“The Poetry Reading.”

Rather than withdraw or change her visual content, Inzalaco fought back. “I appealed to the one woman on the probation committee,” she said. “I told her, ‘I’m not leaving, and I want to be graded on my skill and not the subjects of my work.’ I painted for eight months, exhibited a show of 37 works of ‘out’ lesbian love in the graduate gallery, and was awarded my MFA degree based on my skill alone.”

The Struggle To Sell While Inzalaco had successfully gained her credentials in the professional art world, finding a paying audience for her work remained a struggle during her career. “There are no galleries in the world that focus only on lesbian work,” she asserted. “I’ve found it difficult to show anywhere, including Phoenix.” Although finding the right venue for her lesbian artwork – which she refers to “sweet and kissy” – has been difficult, Inzalaco has persevered. She spent many years supporting her art by working full-time as a freelance department-store display designer and as a stylist for professional photographers. She was active with the now-defunct Lesbian Visual Artists, an international association that sought to improve artists’ chances of exhibiting frankly female-oriented subject matter, and she partnered with friendly venues to display her work. She also experimented with selling signed prints of her original paintings, as well as producing small-scale versions of her work on buttons, magnets and greeting cards to increase the reach of her art. “I’ve come to value the smaller paintings and other ways to present it,” she said. “I love that they are much more economically accessible for people to own.”

Finding Community In The Old Pueblo After nearly 25 years spent trying to sell her art in New York City, Chicago and other large cities, Inzalaco moved to Tucson, which she called “kind enough and small enough” to offer a friendly home to her. “I like that Tucson has a lot of people from all of the bigger cities, who want life to be simple, but also up to date and progressive, too,” she said. Inzalaco opened a studio and a lesbian art gallery in Tucson for a while, and has been able to exhibit at venues such as WomanKraft Art Center (womankraft.org), which hosted a well-attended solo show of her work in 1997. Zoe Rhyne, director of exhibits for WomenKraft, echoed Inzalaco’s sentiments that the city is a special place for artists. “Tucson has a wonderful artistic and cultural soul,” Rhyne said. “There are lots of galleries and exhibit openings, and people who live here like that there is a lot of art available.” Inzalaco has continued to exhibit at WomanKraft, most recently in a group landscape show over the summer, as well as in other venues. Rhyne noted that despite Inzalaco having found markets more receptive to her work, her experiences were an example of how hard it continues to be create

Lorraine Inzalaco with “Cupid and 2 Women.” Photo by Stephanie Anne Donoghue.

for women artists to succeed professionally. “WomanKraft was founded by eight artists who were tired of being told there was no space for them to show their work because they were women,” she said. “That was in 1974, and we are still incredibly underrepresented in the marketplace.”

Leaving Her Mark Throughout the past 20 years, Inzalaco said she has worked at detaching her ego from her art making. “With a bit less ego involvement, I can say that I’m good at art – not great,” she asserted. “If I had put the energy I put into art into being a softball player, I would have been a pretty good softball player. This has helped me release my ego from artistic demands and enjoy the activity.” Inzalaco’s art continues to gain new fans and provide a glimpse into lesbian lives. Rhyne said she loved Inzalaco’s ability to capture an entire story in one scene and her “raw and honest” approach to her subject matter. “[Her art] is who she is, and she brings a special energy to everything – even when dropping off her paintings to be hung in a gallery,” Rhyne said. “She never misses a gallery opening … she is making her work because it is important to her, not just to have something to put on the wall.” Another key to Inzalaco’s current art making is her passion for blazing a visual

trail for other artists to be encouraged by – one that wasn’t available to her growing up. “There are so many blanks in the art history of females. A lot of things just didn’t get recorded,” Inzalaco asserted. “I keep doing what I’m doing to fill in some of those blanks, so that a young queer or questioning female will be able find images that possibly reflect who she is and who she could become, in a healthy way.” For more information on Lorraine Inzalaco and her artwork, visit inzalaco-lesbianart. com/main.html. Liz Massey has been involved in LGBTQ community-building activities in Kansas City and the Valley of the Sun, and is a former managing editor of Echo Magazine. She can be reached at lizmassey68@gmail.com.

OCTOBER 2016

The Royal Road

k.com/royalroadmovie. Photo courtesy of faceboo

Filmmaker pairs monologue on love, history and identity with California landscapes in ‘art film’ By Hans Pedersen

xperimental filmmaker Jenni Olson’s (pictured) award-winning feature, The Royal Road, could easily be described as an “art film.” In fact, it’s about as artsy as you can get. The movie is composed entirely of shots of California landscapes, coupled with voiceovers as she speaks of women once loved and lost, and how history gets forgotten. The writer, director and producer spoke about her acclaimed film in a phone interview with Echo prior to its screening at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. “The film itself, in many ways, is about film,” Olson said. “It’s ingrained in the sensibility, in the compositions, in the long static takes, I’m trying to make room for the audience, the viewer, to have feelings and to bring their own associations to what’s happening in the image.” Described as “deceptively simple,” her movie consists of 16-millimeter shots of landscapes in different urban areas of California, combined with Olson’s voiceover monologue. Indeed, her skilled frame compositions appear static, but upon closer inspection, the images in her movie are actually moving postcards, brimming with the minutia of urban activity, including swaying trees, distant traffic distant cranes hauling boxcars in the background. Olson’s sound design, which she describes

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as impressionistic, keeps the ambient sound quiet, almost once removed. “You can bring your own associations to the film because it has so much space in it,” she explained. “I think the imagery is meant to be poetic and an expression of affection for California and the landscape.” There’s a certain hypnotic quality to her stories about California’s forgotten history, her own butch identity and the allure of Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo. Shedding light on Spanish colonization and the Mexican-American war, is part of Olson’s movie is a critique that highlights the true history of the region that people prefer to forget. “The idea that it’s the land of pioneers and visionaries … is a nice romantic idea,” Olson elaborates. “That’s a great way to cover up that President Polk offered Mexico $30 million for the territory, and when they said no, provoked a war to take it. Of course that’s something we don’t want in the historic memory.” Indicting Americans for gaps in our collective memory banks, there’s also an intimacy to her discussions, especially as her character talks about passions for unattainable women and private desires. The filmmaker’s poetic lines and overall tone are partly influenced by French poet Jules Laforgue, the inventor of free verse. Olson’s voice has a somber, almost

elegiac quality. She said her melancholy tone is intended to express “loneliness” and poignancy. Additionally, Olson said she likes the technique of using the persona of a character who pursues unattainable women. “There really is something about that [idea of] taking on a persona … where you can be a lot more vulnerable and express these things,” she explained, pointing out that this is not a taxicab confessional, but rather, truth filtered through fiction. Sharing her stories about love for other women, she said, is also a way to help elevate the visibility of our community. “As a butch lesbian, one of the things that drives my filmmaking is the sense of wanting to express my unique perspective,” Olson explained. “As is the case with so many queer films, they make us feel less alone.” “I want other butch dykes to see it,” she says about her new movie. With a background as a critic, festival programmer and film historian, Olson has also been documenting LGBTQ film history for years and is the author of books like The Queer Movie Poster Book. “When I first came out I read Vito Russo’s book The Celluloid Closet and I feel like it saved my life,” she said, adding that she began seeing all the movies he create

Photos courtesy of

cataloged, which helped her “feel less alone.” She was inspired to become a filmmaker when she first saw Ross McElwee’s Sherman’s March back in 1985, and began making experimental films since the early 1990s. One of the many aspects of Olson’s career that makes her unique is her preference to shoot in 16mm film. She says the quality of the image resonates with her generation of folks who grew up watching celluloid, before the advent of high-quality digital video. And while it can be a challenge, she says the 16mm format is worth the trouble. Her technique is to write and shoot simultaneously, sometimes with a

create

preconceived idea of how image and sound will marry, while other times she and her editors make those decisions in the editing room where a “certain magic” happens. The Royal Road may be challenging for viewers who don’t like to sit still, but it offers viewers the space to use their imagination and create their own associations. “You’re sitting there looking at 65 minutes of landscape shots,” the filmmaker acknowledges. “There are no people, [but] you do have this sense of this character wandering in this landscape.” The result is a lovely and entertaining product that’s ultimately a meditation on history, desire and film. The Royal Road is now available On

thefilmcollabo rative.org/film s/theroyalroad.

Demand and on DVD. For more information, visit royalroadmovie.weebly.com. Hans Pedersen is a freelance writer based in Phoenix.

EchoMag.com

OCTOBER 2016

out and about Arizona Drag Stars Sept. 1 at Crescent Ballroom, Phoenix. Photos by nightfuse.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

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OCTOBER 2016

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LA BAYADÈRE October 27 – 30, 2016 with The Phoenix Symphony at Symphony Hall

A towering elephant, a magnificent golden idol, and ancient mysteries set in a mystic land. The tragic love triangle between a temple dancer, a great warrior and a rajah’s vengeful daughter unfolds amid dramatic sets and stunning costumes inspired by ancient, eastern lands. Experience this gripping story while you witness The Kingdom of Shades, one of the most highly celebrated moments in classical dance, as well as two of the most demanding men’s variations in all of ballet.

Ballet Arizona dancers in La Bayadère. Photo by Alexander Iziliaev.

TICKETS: balletaz.org | 602.381.1096

GLIMPSE 50 SETTING THE ARTS APART 52 CLASSICAL ARTS 54 10 SHOWS NOT TO MISS 57 THE WORLD AWAITS 62 BY THE GENRE

American In Paris original Broadway cast. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

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OCTOBER 2016

Setting The Arts Apart

Local, state and national leaders share their views on the coming arts season By Richard Schultz

s part of its annual arts season preview, Echo reached out to leaders in arts organizations on the national, state and local levels for a behind- the-scenes glimpse at the upcoming season. From the challenges they anticipate facing to their individual forecasts for the arts in the coming year, Jane Chu, National Endowment for the Arts chairman; Robert Booker, Arizona Commission on the Arts executive director; and Ralph Remington, City of Tempe Arts and Cultural Division deputy director, shared their thoughts on what lies ahead.

National: Jane Chu Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts In August, the Arizona Commission on the Arts hosted Jane Chu, 11th chairman the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). During a brief, twoday tour, Chu visited several nonprofit arts organizations, spoke with local artists and participated in a town hall conversation at Mesa Arts Center. With a background in arts administration and philanthropy, Chu is also an accomplished artist and musician. She leads a dedicated and passionate group of people to support and fund the arts and creative activities in communities across the nation. Echo: We are thrilled to have you visit Arizona. What can you tell us about your trip? Chu: I have been touring and seeing the arts first-hand. We want to make sure all communities are engaged and benefiting from the arts. We also had the opportunity thank our key partners in the communities like the Arizona Commission on the Arts. Our goal is for everyone to be involved with arts. So, in visiting with our partners in different states and regions, we gain a treasure of knowledge and broader understanding 50

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about whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s working well and where the needs exist. Echo: What do you see happening with the arts? Chu: We are moving away from that old, tired perspective that the arts are separate from the rest of society. Or that they are only for some people and not for others, when we know that it is not true because when artists create they draw in a deeper level of meaning and value and new energy. They are able to find new solutions to old problems and then solve them in unexpected ways. Echo: Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the state of funding for the arts? Chu: On the national level, the arts generate 743 billion dollars in revenue; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 4.2 percent of the gross domestic product. Also, the nonprofit sector is responsible [for] 12 billion dollars in revenue. For the last two years, we have been able to get increases for the NEA because we are making the point that the arts have an impact on economics, education and foster understanding and inclusiveness.

Echo: What is your perspective on the changing role of the LGBTQ community? Chu: The arts are one of the best avenues to honor diversity of all kinds. Generally speaking, we will continue to be very mindful that we all celebrate diversity. Interestingly, the NEA received a special Tony Award on the day of the Orlando shooting. I was in New York to accept the award. The amazing thing that happened was that everyone who was getting an award and everyone behind the scenes stopped to make sure we acknowledged our collective support to honor the victims of that tragedy. glimpse

Arts

State: Robert Booker Executive Director, Arizona Commission on the Arts Robert Booker is the executive director of the Arizona Commission on the Arts, whose mission is to imagine an Arizona where everyone can participate in and experience the arts. He joined the agency in January of 2006, and was previously the executive director of the Minnesota State Arts Board. Echo: What excites you about the coming arts season in Arizona? Booker: The performing arts across the state continue to thrive and grow. Specifically, smaller and emerging dance and theater companies are creating new work that reflects a truly local voice. Semi-pro symphonies in suburban and rural communities are growing and building larger and more diverse audiences. New leadership among our major arts institutions has brought fresh ideas and new energy. Echo: How would you describe Arizona’s arts community? Booker: We are still a growing community with tremendous opportunity for the development of new theaters and dance organizations, galleries, literary arts organizations and small presses, particularly in comparison to more established arts communities in older cities. We are still creating the Arizona we want and that includes the development of new organizations and the growth of

established ones. Echo: Is there any development that specifically offers promise for the future? Booker: We are seeing a resurgence of the socially engaged artist and community arts organization. Increasingly, they are initiating and facilitating dialogues and working with community members to develop creative solutions to local challenges. Consider the central role our artists are playing in the national dialogue about racial equity, for example. Historically, artists have always been trailblazers, raising awareness, questioning assumptions and showing a path to the future. Remember the incredible work created during the HIV/ AIDS pandemic that not only provided information, but challenged our government, the pharmaceutical industry, and bigotry. Echo: As the LGBTQ community moves toward greater inclusion in the mainstream, how do you view the role of LGBTQ artists? Booker: Let’s face it, members of our community have been involved in creating art since some person picked up a rock and started drawing on a cave wall. I am guessing it was a gay guy that had a flair for decorating. We have been engaged in all the arts over time and continue to have a strong voice using the

arts as a platform. We must not forget those incredible artists and their voices. Artists [such as] Keith Haring, Gertrude Stein, Ma Rainey, Truman Capote, Robert Mapplethorpe and James Baldwin have all contributed their talents to America and the world. Arizona has a rich diversity of organizations and artists that speak to the LGBTQ community. Unity has always been one of the strengths of the community. Echo: What is your aspiration for young artists? Booker: I am hopeful that young artists will take on the challenges of the world, poverty, homelessness, HIV/AIDS, water, bigotry, migration of people, and health care, among others. As LGBTQ artists, we have the power to change our country, give voice to the voiceless and create communities that are inclusive and equitable.

Local: Ralph Remington Deputy Director, City of Tempe Arts and Cultural Division As the new deputy director of Arts and Culture for the City of Tempe, as well as artistic director of Tempe Center for the Arts (TCA), Ralph Remington is responsible for overseeing the Tempe History Museum, the Edna Vihel Center for the Arts and public art projects. Remington previously served as an assistant executive director of Actors’ Equity Association, a director of outreach programs for the prestigious Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., and the director of theater and musical theater for the National Endowment for the Arts. Echo: As a newcomer to the Valley, what has surprised you most? Remington: I’m surprised by how vibrant the theater and the overall arts community is here. I’m encouraged by all of the people who think that support for the arts is a natural and necessary component to have a great quality of life. Echo: What are you plans for the arts and cultural activities in Tempe? Remington: We’re trying to get fully glimpse

staffed to respond to all of the things suggested in the Tempe Arts and Culture plan. We want the Tempe Center for the Arts to become a town square to deal with pertinent community issues as they arise. I’ll be creating a cool environment to hang out after work or after school. We’ll have mixologists, cool cocktails, tasty tidbits and cool music. We’ll also be creating a new performance/play festival in conjunction with producing a play from TCA, which I’ll be directing. Echo: What is your strategy for dealing with issues related to funding? Remington: Funding is always challenging, but I will be getting out into the community and letting folks know there is a new TCA with an energized purpose. Regarding fundraising, we’ll also be hiring a development director, which will be doubly important as we make aggressive moves into producing. Our biggest challenge lies in the fact that a lot of the dates for the coming year have been taken already by our partners and various rental situations. As we

plan upcoming seasons, we will take all matters into consideration to ensure equitable distribution.

READ THE REST For Echo’s full interviews, visit echomag.com/arts-apart. Richard Schultz is a playwright, actor, director and freelance writer based in Phoenix.

EchoMag.com

OCTOBER 2016

Classical Arts

The local opera, ballet and symphony invite you to be a part of their upcoming season

conjure up exotic locales, this ballet will transport you to a world of noble warriors, cruel princesses and beautiful temple dancers.

By Richard Schultz Arizona Opera | azopera.org The Copper Queen Sept. 25 This workshop performance tells the gripping story of a haunting in the titular hotel, located in Arizona’s once-prominent mining town for both copper and “Bisbee-blue” turquoise. In 1910, Julia Lowell, a “lady of the evening,” uses Room 315 of the Copper Queen Hotel to service her clients. Following her untimely death, her spirit is unable to leave the room, and the legend of her ghostly exploits gains infamy. As the years pass, ghost hunters and supernatural enthusiasts clamor to stay for a night in Room 315, desperate for a glimpse of the infamous Julia. While the men who stay at the hotel experience little other than the faint scent of perfume or the echo of a lady’s sigh, women who stay in the room run into trouble.

Japan, an innocent geisha’s love for an American naval officer leads to the ultimate heartbreak and tragedy. Considered Puccini’s greatest masterpiece, Madama Butterfly takes audiences to the pinnacles and depths of human emotion, rightfully securing its place in the heavens. This production is sung in Italian with English supertitles. Riders of the Purple Sage Tucson: Feb. 25-26 | Phoenix: March 3-5 Based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Zane Grey, Riders of the Purple Sage will be the first world premiere produced by Arizona Opera. Follow this Wild West adventure through the sweeping vistas and massive canyons of the Southwest, brought to life by the vibrant work of worldrenowned Arizona artist, Ed Mell.

Phoenix: Nov.11-13 | Tucson: Nov. 19-20 When the water nymph Rusalka wants to be a part of our world, she sacrifices everything for the chance at true love. You think you know the story of this little mermaid, but the fairytale doesn’t break the surface. Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s original story, Rusalka features dark forests, woodland sprites and the glorious aria, “Song To The Moon.” Sara Gartland returns to take the title role. This production is sung in Czech with English supertitles.

Feb. 9-12 A romance that’s sure to set your heart astir, the most famous love story of all time is performed just in time for Valentine’s Day. Set in 16th century Verona, Romeo & Juliet chronicles Shakespeare’s tale of two passionate teenagers from great families on opposing sides of a bitter feud. With its sweepingly regal ballroom scenes, vivacious swordplay and poignant pas de deux, Ib Andersen’s production is a feast for the eyes and ears.

Cinderella Tucson: April 1-2 | Phoenix: April 7-9

Rusalka

Romeo & Juliet 2017

Soaring arias and outlandish hijinks abound in this delightful version of tis classic story. Angelina is forced to serve her stepfather, Don Magnifico, and his two ridiculous daughters. With help from the prince’s tutor and a pair of beautiful bracelets, Angelina navigates the precarious court of Prince Ramiro, hoping to win his heart. Real-life sweethearts Daniela Mack and Alek Shrader bring this fun, vibrant fairytale to life. This production is sung in Italian with English supertitles.

All Balanchine 2017 May 11-14 Prepare for a soaring evening of works by the father of American Ballet, George Balanchine, staged by Ib Andersen, one of a handful of artists worldwide authorized by The Balanchine Trust. In Western Symphony arranged by Hershey Kay, the folk music in this joyous ballet is based on traditional western songs. This large, ensemble work features cowboys and dance hall girls with the backdrop of an old-west saloon. Square Dance is a Ballet Arizona premiere that combines the spirit and verve of an American folk dance with the precision and techniques of classical ballet.

Ballet Arizona | balletaz.org Madama Butterfly

Tucson: Jan. 28-29 Phoenix: Feb. 3-5

La Bayadère 2016

With tender duets and the most breathtaking arias of all-time, Madama Butterfly encompasses a lifetime of hope, anticipation, betrayal and despair. Set in the idyllic village of Nagasaki,

Set against the rich backdrop of India, La Bayadère tells the heartbreaking tale of a temple dancer and a young warrior kept apart in life and united only in death. The lovers are wrenched apart by twists of fate and doomed by uncontrollable vengeance. With lavish set designs that

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Oct.27-30

glimpse

Phoenix Symphony | phoenixsymphony.org Brahms’ Symphony No. 4 Sept. 23-24 Guest conductor Matthias Bamert joins Phoenix Symphony and Chorus for an evening of Brahms and Stravinsky. Johannes Brahms’ monumental Symphony No. 4 engages the audience with its autumnal lyricism and soaring themes. The Phoenix Symphony Chorus performs in Igor Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms. The program opens with Tragic Overture, another dramatic work by Brahms, known for its dramatic trajectory and shattering close. Bravo Broadway: Music of the Night Sept. 30-Oct. 1 Tip your hat to Broadway as this popular program returns to Symphony Hall featuring music from The Phantom of the Opera. Under the baton of guest conductor, Robert Franz, Phoenix Symphony is joined by three worldclass Broadway soloists to perform your favorite Broadway tunes from Les Misérables, West Side Story and more. The Music of David Bowie Dec. 30 Celebrate the life and legacy of flamboyant rock legend David Bowie in a one of a kind tribute to his astounding career. Experience vocalist Tony Vincent and Phoenix Symphony, along with a full rock band for a musical odyssey that showcases the extraordinary range of Bowie’s musical career. This one-night only performance features Bowie’s mega hits, including “Space Oddity,” “Changes,” “Under Pressure,” “Heroes,” “Rebel Rebel,” “Fame” and “China Girl.” Star Wars: The Music Jan. 13 Phoenix Symphony brings another popular episode of Star Wars: The Music to Symphony Hall. glimpse

As Rogue One takes on the universe this fall, put on your best Star Wars costume and come celebrate John Williams’ acclaimed music including the “Main Theme,” “Imperial March” and new music from Episode VII – The Force Awakens.

Southwest Shakespeare | swshakespeare.org The Merchant of Venice Oct. 14-29

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Feb. 2: Camelback Bible Church Feb. 4: Musical Instrument Museum Music Theater (2:00 p.m.) Feb. 4: Central United Methodist (7:30 p.m.) Concertmaster and Valley favorite Steven Moeckel leads a chamber ensemble comprises of musicians from Phoenix Symphony. The performance showcases the string section in two of the most adored pieces in the chamber repertoire – Dvorák’s Serenade for Strings and Vivaldi’s perennially popular The Four Seasons – in an intimate setting. Music of the Rolling Stones March 31 The final Legends Series concert features the music of the “World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band,” with classic songs from the Rolling Stones like “I Can’t Get No (Satisfaction),” “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” “Start Me Up,” “Ruby Tuesday” and more sung by vocalist Brody Dolyniuk. An Evening with Rodgers and Hammerstein May 19-21 Phoenix Symphony and Phoenix Theatre team up once again with the return of this popular collaboration, An Evening with Rodgers and Hammerstein. The timeless music of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II is brought to life with the reprisal of this original semi-staged production, featuring hits from Cinderella, South Pacific, The King and I, The Sound of Music and much more.

Shakespeare’s dark story of religion, race and prejudice has caused controversy wherever it has been presented. Bassanio, a young man-about-town is determined to woo the wealthy heiress Portia, but in order to finance his quest, he needs 3,000 ducats. Enter Shylock. The scales of justice and the bonds of family, friendship and love are tested in a world of deception, faithlessness and treachery. Much Ado About Nothing (in repertory with Hamlet) Jan. 14-28 One of the cleverest comedies The Bard ever penned, Much Ado features one of the most engaging and unlikely romantic couples in all of Shakespeare, Beatrice and Benedick. In all its intrigues, battles of wits, romance, buffoonery, and dramatic thrills, this romantic delight asks us to look beneath the surface of love to its true nature, past human frailty to humility and forgiveness. Photograph 51 Feb. 24-March 11 An intriguing portrait of British scientist Rosalind Franklin and her often overlooked role in the discovery of DNA’s double helix structure. This complex tale by Anna Zeigler explores how Franklin, a smart, stubborn, and courageous woman, operated in a field dominated by men. A balance of the historical, romantic, and scientific, Photograph 51, in its Arizona premiere, is a touching human play of ideas and relationships. Pride @ Prejudice March 24-April 8 This classic novel by Jane Austen is adapted by Daniel Elihu Kramer in an Arizona premiere. In this romantic deconstruction of Jane Austen’s beloved novel, Pride and Prejudice is playfully reinvented with modern-day characters stepping outside of Austen’s 19th century England to talk, google and tweet about the novel’s contents. Populated with many of the novel’s personalities, as well as Jane herself, this version is a fresh re-imagining of one of the world’s most popular love stories, delivered with humor, wit, and sass.

Richard Schultz is a playwright, actor, director and freelance writer based in Phoenix. EchoMag.com

OCTOBER 2016

10 Shows Not To Miss

LGBTQ themes inspire this season’s must-see productions By Richard Schultz An Act of God | Arizona Theatre Company Tucson: Oct. 22-Nov. 12 Phoenix: Nov. 17-Dec. 4

perform songs from their solos albums, including clever new arrangements of Jonathon Larson’s timeless tunes from RENT, in Adam & Anthony Live - Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of RENT. Pascal and Rapp first met during the iconic, groundbreaking Tony and Pulitzer Prizewinning play, handpicked by Larson for the roles of Roger Davis and Mark Cohen, respectively. Since then, they have become two of the most well-respected and wellloved performers in musical theater.

entertain.” With the encouragement of slick and overbearing potential agent Sylvia St. Croix, Tina will do anything to play the lead in her school play … Anything. The question is, where does such remarkable talent and unstoppable ambition come from? The answer may shock you in this camp cult classic that spoofs Broadway musicals, as well as such iconic films as The Bad Seed and All About Eve.

Billy Elliot | Phoenix Theatre Nov. 16-Dec. 24 Leading Ladies | Fountain Hills Theater March 10-26

After conquering Broadway, where Sean Hayes of “Will &Grace” and Jim Parson of “Big Bang Theory” both played the title role, An Act of God comes to Arizona for the first time! The sinfully funny and critically acclaimed new play reveals how God and His devoted angels answer some of the deepest questions that have plagued mankind since creation. He’s finally arrived to set the record straight, and boy is He not holding back! Written by 13-time Emmy Award winner David Javerbaum of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” this sweetly outrageous and gently irreverent new comedy is sure to be a heavenly highlight this season. Adam & Anthony Live | Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts Nov. 19 Touring together for the first time, Broadway stars Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp

Based on the international smash-hit film, and featuring a score by music legend Elton John, this musical promises to be one of the highlights of the season. Set in a northern mining town during the miners’ strike of 1984-1985, Billy Elliot is the inspirational story of a young boy’s fight to make his dream come true. Follow Billy’s journey from boxing ring to ballet class where he discovers a passion for dance that unites his family, inspires his community and changes his life forever.

In this hilarious gender bender comedy by the author of Lend Me A Tenor, two English Shakespearean actors, Jack and Leo, find themselves so down on their luck that they are performing “Scenes from Shakespeare” on the Moose Lodge circuit in the Amish country of Pennsylvania. When they hear that an old lady in York, Penn., is about to die and leave her fortune to her two long lost English nephews, they resolve to pass themselves off as her beloved relatives and get the cash. The trouble is, when they get to York, they find out that the relatives aren’t nephews, but nieces! Romantic entanglements abound, especially when Leo falls head-over-petticoat in love with the old lady’s vivacious niece, Meg, who’s engaged to the local minister. Meg knows that there’s a wide world out there, but it’s not until she meets “Maxine and Stephanie” that she finally gets a taste of it.

Ruthless! | Desert Stages Theatre March 3-April 9 Tina Denmark is a pretty, charming and diabolical 8-year-old girl who “was born to 54

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Kinky Boots | Broadway in Tucson March 14-19

Think Bridesmaids for Disney princesses! This sidesplitting adult parody of the Disney princess posse will make you blush and feel nostalgic all at once. Poisoned apples. Glass slippers. Who needs ’em? Not Snow White and her sassy squad in the hilarious hit musical that’s anything but Grimm. Forget the princesses you think you know, the original storybook heroines have come back to life to set the record straight. After multiple sold-out runs nationwide, these royal renegades tossed off their tiaras to bring their hilariously subversive, not-for-the-kiddies musical to Mesa, and what you thought about princesses will never be the same! The Scottsboro Boys | Black Theatre Troupe and Phoenix Theatre April 5-23

Take the ride to Tucson for the show that celebrates the best in all of us! The score is outstanding and the show’s message is heartwarming. The show explores the challenges that shape our journey, the joys that keep us going and the shoes that lift us up along the way! Based on true events, this upbeat musical tells the heartwarming and humorous story of two people with nothing in common or so they think! Charlie is a factory owner struggling to save his family business. Lola is a fabulous entertainer with a wildly exciting idea. With a little compassion and a lot of understanding, this unexpected pair learns to embrace their differences and creates a line of sturdy stilettos unlike any the world has ever seen! It’s Broadway’s huge-hearted, high-heeled hit with songs by Grammy® and Tony® winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper. This joyous musical celebration is about the friendships we discover, and the belief that you can change the world when you change your mind.

This sensational, but true story follows a case that changed history paired with the thrilling, final collaboration by musical theater greats John Kander and Fred Ebb. Set in the prejudicial 1930s South, nine African-American men were ripped from a train, accused of rape by two white women and hauled to jail without a shred of actual evidence against them. The Scottsboro Boys were rushed through trial procedures, found guilty and sentenced to death. What occurred in the years following the trials was a harrowing tale of bravery and strength in the face of great adversity. No other crime in American history, let alone a crime that never occurred, is seen as the landmark set of legal cases stemming from racism that set legal precedent for every citizen to have the right to a fair trial – a fitting and enduring legacy for these nine lives that mattered.

The Book of Mormon | ASU Gammage May 18-28 As soon as you finish reading this arts issue, grab your phone and order tickets to this hit musical that returns to the Valley by popular demand! If you missed it last time, don’t let it happen again! This nine-time Tony Award-winning Best Musical, that The New York Times calls “the best musical of the century,” follows the misadventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent halfway across the world to spread the Good Word.

Disenchanted - The Hilarious Hit Musical | Mesa Arts Center March 26 Hir | Stray Cat Theatre April 28-May 13 Somewhere in the suburbs, Isaac has returned from the war to help take care of his ailing father, only to discover a household in revolt. The insurgent: his mother. Liberated from an oppressive marriage, with Isaac’s newly out transgender sibling as her ally, she’s on a crusade to dismantle the patriarchy. Voted one of the 10 best new plays in 2015, Taylor Mac’s sly, subversive comedy reveals that annihilating the past doesn’t always free you from it. glimpse

Richard Schultz is a playwright, actor, director and freelance writer based in Phoenix. EchoMag.com

OCTOBER 2016

out and about Royal Black Sheep Disco Glam Fashion Charity Party Sept. 9 at SideBar, Phoenix. Photos by KJ Philp.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

OCTOBER 2016

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The World Awaits

21 reasons to take in a touring show this season By Richard Schultz Broadway Across America ASU Gammage | asugammage.com

Jan. 24-29 Finding Neverland March 14-19

Nov. 22-27

This Broadway musical tells the fascinating story of how Peter became Pan. Based on the Academy Awardwinning film of the same name. This breathtaking show follows playwright J.M. Barrie as he summons the courage to become the writer – and the man – he yearns to be. Barrie finds the inspiration he’s been missing when he meets the beautiful widow Sylvia and her four young sons, Jack, George, Michael and Peter. Delighted by the boys’ hilarious escapades, Barrie conjures the magical world of Neverland and writes a play unlike any the high-society London theatergoers have ever seen. It’s a tremendous risk, but as Barrie himself has discovered, “when you believe, you can fly.”

Mamma Mia! Dec. 6-11

An American in Paris April 8-23

More than 60 million people around the world have fallen in love with the characters, the story and the music that make Mamma Mia! the ultimate feel-good show. Writer Catherine Johnson’s sunny, funny tale unfolds on a Greek-island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. The storytelling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship – and every night everyone’s having the time of their lives. glimpse

Broadway in Tucson | Broadwayintucson.com Dirty Dancing

Beautiful – The Carole King Musical Before she was Carole King the superstar, she was Carole King the teenage songwriter. Her music would become the soundtrack to a generation. She fought her way into the record business as a teenager and, by the time she reached her 20s she had the husband of her dreams and a flourishing career writing hits for the biggest acts in rock ‘n’ roll. But it wasn’t until her personal life began to crack that she finally managed to find her true voice. Beautiful tells the inspiring true story of King’s remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband, Gerry Goffin, her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history.

as orchestral music including “Concerto in F,” “The Cuban Overture” and “An American In Paris.”

Hoping to start a new life, World War II veteran Jerry Mulligan chooses newly liberated Paris as the place to make a name for himself as a painter. But Jerry’s life becomes complicated when he meets Lise, a young Parisian shop girl with her own secret, and realizes he is not her only suitor. This Tony Award-winning musical was inspired by the 1951 Academy Awardwinning film and includes the Gershwin songs “I Got Rhythm,” “‘S Wonderful,” “But Not for Me,” “Stairway to Paradise” as well

It’s the summer of 1963, and 17-year-old Frances “Baby” Houseman is on vacation in New York’s Catskill Mountains with her older sister and parents. Baby discovers her own entertainment when she stumbles upon the staff quarters where an all-night dance party is in full swing. Mesmerized by the raunchy dance moves and the pounding rhythms, Baby can’t wait to be part of the scene, especially when she catches sight of Johnny Castle, the resort dance instructor. Baby’s life is about to change forever as she is thrown into the deep end as Johnny’s leading lady both on-stage and off with breathtaking consequences. Seen by millions across the globe, this worldwide smash hit features the hit songs “Hungry Eyes,” “Hey Baby,” “Do You Love Me?” and the heart-stopping “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life.” Motown The Musical Feb. 21-26 This soulful musical gives audiences a glimpse of the true stories behind the beat that changed minds, touched lives and made history. The ’60s explode on stage in this show recreates the journeys of such legendary artists as Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations and so many, more as they created the soundtrack that transformed America. The score includes more than 40 classic songs, including “My Girl,” “What’s Going On,” “Dancing in the Street,” “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” The Bodyguard April 12-16 The award-winning musical based on the smash hit film comes to Tucson starring Grammy Award-nominee and R&B superstar Deborah Cox. Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard Frank Farmer is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. EchoMag.com

OCTOBER 2016

Each expects to be in charge, but what they don’t expect is to fall in love. A breathtakingly romantic thriller, The Bodyguard features a host of irresistible classics, including “So Emotional,” “One Moment in Time,” “Saving All My Love,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and one of the biggest selling songs of all time, “I Will Always Love You.”

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts | scottsdaleperformingarts.org Piaf! The Show Oct. 22 Starring acclaimed vocalist Anne Carrere, this tribute celebrates the centennial of legendary French actress and singer Edith Piaf (1915-1963), one of the 20th century’s greatest performers. It tells the amazing story of Piaf’s life and career through classic French music and never-beforeseen photos. This unique audio-visual experience takes the audience on an unforgettable journey through the streets of Paris during the time of “La Vie en Rose.” Featuring the talents of Carrere and a quartet of musicians, Piaf! The Show has become a worldwide success, packing theaters and earning rave reviews. The Capitol Steps - What to Expect When You’re Electing Nov. 25-26

We will have survived this contentious election (by the time of this event) and now it’s time to laugh. Move over CNN, Fox News and MSNBC – for the best election news and political analysis, The Capitol Steps trump them all! The irreverent DC58

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based troupe pokes fun at all sides of the issues, from left to right, with fresh, up-tothe-minute material inspired by the latest headlines, scandals and more. Returning for their annual Thanksgiving pilgrimage to Scottsdale, they will serve up an all-youcan-eat bipartisan banquet of well-done Washington turkeys, including songs from their new album, What to Expect When You’re Electing. Patti LuPone - Don’t Monkey with Broadway

perform unforgettable sit-down comedy that will blend scripted and improvised bits with storytelling, musical numbers, exclusive footage, aquatic juggling and an extended audience Q&A to craft a unique comedic experience with every performance. As founding members of Monty Python, Cleese and Idle are unarguably among the godfathers of modern comedy, having helped to pioneer an irreverent, absurdist sensibility that is emulated by comics around the world to this very day.

Jan. 28 Two-time Tony Award-winner Patti LuPone explores through indelible interpretations of classic Broadway show tunes by the likes of Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, Jule Styne, Stephen Schwartz, Charles Strouse, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Cole Porter and Irving Berlin. She shares how her life-long love affair with Broadway began and her concern for what the Great White Way is becoming today.

Mesa Arts Center | mesaartscenter.com Bernadette Peters with the Phoenix Symphony

The Acting Company: World Premiere of X Feb. 2-3 Award-winning writer Marcus Gardley and director Ian Belknap bring the assassination of Malcolm X – both the story we think we know and illuminating details that have seldom been shared – to vivid, lyrical life in this new play. Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar provides a framework for Gardley to deepen our understanding of one of America’s most complex and compelling historical figures and explore the tumultuous landscape of ideology and activism in the 1960s.

Oct. 15

Hal Halbrook in Mark Twain Tonight

Three-time Tony Award-winner Bernadette Peters, who can be seen in the second season of the Golden Globe Awardwinning series “Mozart in the Jungle,” will perform signature songs from the multitude of iconic shows in which she has starred, including Gypsy, Into the Woods and Sunday in the Park with George. Throughout her illustrious career, Peters has dazzled audiences and critics with her performances on stage and television, in concert and on recordings. She devotes her time and talents to numerous events that benefit Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS, in addition to her “pet project,” Broadway Barks. The evening will feature musical direction by Marvin Laird and the Phoenix Symphony.

Feb. 24

John Cleese & Eric Idle - Together Again At Last ... For The Very First Time Nov. 21 Living legends John Cleese and Eric Idle

Fifty years ago, a young actor took the stage in a tiny off-Broadway theater and introduced the world to the portrait of a man they would never forget. Hal Halbrook, one of the greatest character actors, presents a living, breathing American masterpiece. It is, quite simply, one of the most acclaimed and enduring performances in the history of theater. Three new numbers have added to its revolving repertoire of material: one on the Christian Bible, one from the feuding clans in Huckleberry Finn killing each other off and another on the fate of the laboring class in America. “Mark Twain never stops surprising me,” Holbrook said. “He keeps firing me up and asking questions.” glimpse

Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance April 20

in rural communities — and often to places modern dance had never been before.

Theater League | theaterleague.com Saturday Night Fever – The Musical Jan. 13-15

The Paul Taylor Dance Company, established in 1954, is one of the world’s most highly respected and soughtafter ensembles. A modest Manhattan performance marked the beginning of nearly 60 years of unrivaled creativity. Taylor became a cultural icon and one of history’s most celebrated artists, hailed as part of the pantheon that created American modern dance. Having traveled the globe many times over, Taylor brings his ever-burgeoning repertoire to theaters and venues of every size and description in cultural capitals, on college campuses and

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Put on your “Boogie Shoes” for one of the most-loved dance stories of all time! It’s 1979 in Brooklyn, N.Y. and Tony Manero, a young man with a dead-end job and an extraordinary ability to dance, has only one ambition in life and that is to become the disco king. When he meets Stephanie, who also dreams of a world beyond Brooklyn, they decide to train together for a dance competition and their lives begin to change forever. Based on the 1977 film that became a cultural phenomenon, the electrifying score is packed with legendary hits from

the Bee Gees, including the classics “Stayin’ Alive,” “Night Fever,” “Jive Talking,” “You Should Be Dancing” and “How Deep is Your Love?” Stomp April 28-29 This explosive, provocative, sophisticated, sexy, utterly unique show appeals to audiences of all ages. The international percussion sensation has garnered an armful of awards and rave reviews, and has appeared on numerous national television shows. The eight-member troupe uses everything but conventional percussion instruments, which includes matchboxes, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters and more fill the stage with energizing beats. This inventive and invigorating stage show is dance, music and theatrical performance blended together in one electrifying rhythm.

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OCTOBER 2016

Chandler Center for the Arts | chandlercenter.com Julie Madly Deeply Oct. 28-29 Adored by millions, Dame Julie Andrews is a genuine entertainment legend. But do Maria Von Trapp or Mary Poppins long to let their hair down at the end of a hard day? Find out in this cheeky, yet affectionate, cabaret with award-winning singer, West End actress and Fascinating Aida star Sarah-Louise Young, who was recently picked by Time Out as one of London’s top-10 cabaret performers. Julie’s songs from musicals, including Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music and My Fair Lady, blend with stories and anecdotes about Andrews’ life, from her beginnings as a child star to the recent challenges of losing her famous singing voice. What emerges is a delightfully funny and candid love letter to a true show business survivor. Letters Home Nov. 12 This stirring production puts the current wars in Afghanistan and Iraq front and

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center by bringing to life actual letters written by soldiers serving in the Middle East. The production is inspired by the New York Times Op-Ed Article “The Things They Wrote” and the subsequent HBO documentary “Last Letters Home,” and additionally uses letters and correspondences from Frank Schaeffer’s books, Voices From the Front, Letters Home From America’s Military Family, Faith of Our Sons, and Keeping Faith. The play, without politicizing, gives audiences a powerful portrait of the soldier experience in the ongoing war. Pump Boys and Dinettes Feb. 25

Drive a ways outta town, somewhere between Frog Level and Smyrna, N.C., and you’ll come to a filling station run by L. M. and Jim. Across the blacktop is the Double Cupp Diner, operated by Rhetta and Prudie Cupp. To look at it, you wouldn’t know that this little stop on Highway 57 is where all the action is, but once the boys get that

guitar and bass fiddle revved up, you won’t want to be anywhere else. Pump Boys and Dinettes is a countrified musical packed with highly entertaining toe-tappers, such as “Drinkin’ Shoes,” “Farmer Tan” and “The Night Dolly Parton Was Almost Mine!” Frank Ferrante in An Evening with Groucho March 12 Award-winning actor, director and playwright Frank Ferrante recreates his PBS, New York and London acclaimed portrayal of legendary comedian Groucho Marx. The two-act comedy consists of the best Groucho one-liners, anecdotes and songs including “Hooray For Captain Spalding” and “Lydia, the Tattooed Lady.” The audience literally becomes part of the show as Ferrante ad-libs his way throughout the performance in grand Groucho style. Accompanied by his onstage pianist, Ferrante portrays the young Groucho of stage and film and reacquaints us with the likes of brothers Harpo, Chico, Zeppo and Gummo, Charlie Chaplin, W.C. Fields, Greta Garbo, Margaret Dumont and MGM’s Louis B. Mayer. Richard Schultz is a playwright, actor, director and freelance writer based in Phoenix.

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LGBT Night Out at the Ballet

LA BAYADÈRE Thursday, October 27, 2016 5:30 pm: Private Reception at Mancuso’s Restaurant Collier Center 201 E. Washington St. #201 Phoenix, AZ 85004

7 pm: Performance Symphony Hall 75 N. 2nd Street Phoenix, AZ 85004

General Admission: $25

TICKETS:

Call the Box Office at 602.381.1096

(no online sales)

Sponsors:

Ballet Arizona dancers Nayon Iovino and Arianni Martin in La Bayadère. Photo by Alexander Iziliaev.

Use promo code: NIGHTOUT

By The Genre

John, Stray Cat Theatre

Here’s our top picks in the comedy, drama and musical categories By Richard Schultz COMEDY Lost in Yonkers | ASU Lyric Opera Theatre Oct.7-Nov. 13 This memory play by Neil Simon is set in a Yonkers in 1942. Bella, a mentally challenged 35-year-old, is living at home with her mother, stern Grandma Kurnitz. As the play opens, ne’er-do-well son, Eddie, deposits his two young sons on the old lady’s doorstep. He is financially strapped and taking to the road as a salesman. The boys are left to contend with Grandma, with Bella and her secret romance, and with Louie, her brother, a small-time hoodlum in a strange new world called Yonkers. The Fox on the Fairway | Mesa Encore Theatre Jan. 6-22 A comedy about golf just in time for the world renowned Phoenix Open – what ideal timing! This zany romp by Ken Ludwig is a tribute to the great English farces of the 1930s and 1940s, as it pulls the rug out from underneath the stuffy denizens of a private country club. Filled with mistaken identities, slamming doors and over-the-top romantic shenanigans, it’s a furiously paced comedy that recalls the Marx Brothers’ classics. A charmingly madcap adventure about love, life and man’s eternal love affair with golf. 3 No Trump | Theatre Works January 13-29 Local actress Cathy Dresbach has crafted a clever comedy about cards and enduring friendship. Presented as a world premiere, The Ladies of the Club have met every other Thursday to plays cards, chat, eat, drink and laugh. Sometimes they cry, and they laugh some more. They seek answers to life’s great questions: What’s 62

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the response to a 2-club opening bid? And why can’t the Phoenix Suns make the playoffs? Who is the evil genius that invented pantyhose? Told with humor and heart, 3 No Trump is the story of ordinary women with an extraordinary devotion to each and the game of bridge. Storefront Church | Theatre Artists Studio Feb. 24-March 12 Storefront Church joins Doubt and Defiance to complete Tony, Oscar and Pulitzer winner John Patrick Shanley’s “Church and State” trilogy where, as in all his best works, he calls out authority figures and tests their mettle with moral issues. Set in 2009, the story revolves around Bronx borough president and preacher’s son Donaldo Calderon who’s drawn into a complex financial triangle to save his friends’ home from foreclosure.

DRAMA King Charles III | Arizona Theatre Company Tucson: Through Sept. 30 Phoenix: Oct. 6-23 The Queen is dead. Long live the King! After a lifetime of waiting, Prince Charles ascends the throne with Camilla by his side. As William, Kate, and Harry look on, Charles prepares for the future of power that lies before him … but how will he rule? Winner of the 2015 Olivier Award for Best Play, this production draws on the style and structure of a Shakespearean history play, but with modern verve, a comic subplot and even the occasional appearance of a significant ghost. This exciting and provocative new drama of political intrigue, written by Mike Bartlett, explores the people underneath the crowns, the unwritten rules of democracy and the conscience of its most famous family.

Sept. 16-Oct. 1 The new play from Annie Baker, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Flick, takes place the week after Thanksgiving at a bed-andbreakfast in Gettysburg, Penn. There’s a cheerful innkeeper, a young couple that’s trying to stay together and a house filled with hundreds of inanimate objects. Yet, there is something about this B&B that is decidedly off; it’s dark, foreboding and mysterious. Now in their new home at the Tempe Center for the Arts, Stray Cat is producing the first production outside of its New York City premiere. Veronica’s Room | iTheatre Colloborative Oct. 14-29 From Ira Levin, author of Rosemary’s Baby, comes a harrowing labyrinth of suspense, entwining fantasy and reality. The story begins in 1973, where Susan and her boyfriend, Larry, have been enticed to the Brabissant mansion by the Mackeys, a charming, elderly Irish couple who are struck by Susan’s strong resemblance to Veronica, the long-dead daughter of the family for whom they work. Veronica’s room has been untouched by time and has been left exactly as it was in 1935. The mystery deepens as twist after twist unravels the frail threads of reality. Is it 1973 or 1935? Will Susan ever leave Veronica’s room? The Glass Menagerie | Fountain Hills Theater Oct. 14-30 A faded remnant of Southern gentility, Amanda Wingfield lives in poverty in a dingy St. Louis apartment. Abandoned by her husband, Amanda comforts herself with recollections of her earlier, more gracious life in Blue Mountain when she was pursued by “gentleman callers.” Her son, Tom, a poet with a job in a warehouse, longs for adventure and escape from his mother’s suffocating embrace. Laura, her shy, “crippled” daughter, has her glass menagerie and glimpse

her memories. Amanda is desperate to find her daughter a husband, but when the long-awaited gentleman caller does arrive, Laura’s romantic illusions are crushed. A drama of great tenderness and beauty, The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams rightfully holds a place as a classic among modern American dramas. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time | ASU Gammage June 20-25 Winner of the 2015 Tony Award for Best New Play, this acclaimed play by Simon Stephens and directed by Tony winner Marianne Elliott brings Mark Haddon’s internationally best-selling novel to life in a stunning production. Christopher, a 15-year-old with an extraordinary brain, is exceptionally intelligent, but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. When he falls under suspicion for killing his neighbor’s dog, he sets out to identify the true culprit, which leads to an earthshattering discovery and a journey that will change his life forever.

MUSICAL Funny Girl | Arizona Broadway Theatre Oct. 14-Nov. 13 Funny Girl is a triumphant story of success and a bittersweet love, cast in the elegance of 1920s Broadway. In the Ziegfeld Follies, in Hollywood films and on the radio, Fanny Brice was one of the most celebrated entertainers of her time. With humor, talent and chutzpah, young Fanny, an awkward Jewish girl who “isn’t pretty,” defies the odds and becomes one of the greatest stars of her generation. Her rise to super-stardom, and her turbulent romance with gambler Nick Arnstein, are explored through Bob Merrill and Jule Styne’s unforgettable score, which includes “I’m the Greatest Star,” “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “People” and “You Are Woman, I Am Man.” Oh, and Barbra Streisand won an Oscar for her performance as Fanny in the 1968 movie by the same name. Guys & Dolls | Scottsdale Musical Theater Company Jan. 5-8 Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, Guys & Dolls is an oddball romantic comedy. Gambler Nathan Detroit, tries to find the cash to set up the biggest craps game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck. Meanwhile, his girlfriend and nightclub performer, Adelaide, laments that they’ve been engaged for 14 years. Nathan turns to fellow gambler Sky Masterson for the dough, and Sky ends up chasing the straight-laced missionary, Sarah Brown, as a result. Guys & Dolls takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City, but eventually everyone ends up right where they belong. glimpse

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Bullets Over Broadway | Phoenix Theatre

Gypsy | Desert Foothills Theater

March 8-April 2

March 31-April 9

Based on the screenplay of the acclaimed 1994 film by Woody Allen and Douglas McGrath, this hilarious musical is a love letter to the golden age of Broadway. David Shayne is a straight-arrow playwright who plans to stand firm against compromising his work, but quickly abandons that stance when his producer finds a backer to mount his show on Broadway. There’s just one catch, however: the backer is a mobster who sees Shayne’s play as a vehicle for his dizzy, talent-free girlfriend. Throw in an aging diva, a savant hit man and a bevy of beautiful chorus girls and this show will knock ‘em dead.

Gypsy is the ultimate tale of an ambitious stage mother fighting for her daughters’ success while secretly yearning for her own. This rags-to-riches story of ugly duckling Louise, a tomboy who rose to national fame as Gypsy Rose Lee, the entertainment queen who put class into burlesque, is an American classic. Mama Rose, the pushy backstage mother who lived through her daughters, but paid a high price, is one of the most iconic characters in Broadway history. Set all across America in the 1920s, this musical explores the world of two-bit show business with artful humor, heart and sophistication. The celebrated score, by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim, boasts one hit after another, including: “Let Me Entertain You,” “Some People,” “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “You Gotta Get A Gimmick” and “Rosie’s Turn.”

Hands on a Hardbody | Arizona Broadway Theatre Sept. 1-24, 2017

Inspired by true events, 10 hard-luck Texans have an opportunity for a new lease on life that’s so close they can touch it. Under a scorching sun for days on end, armed with nothing but hope, humor and ambition, they’ll fight to keep at least one hand on a brand-new truck in order to win it. This is the Valley premiere of the hilarious musical about a hard-fought contest where only one winner can drive away with the American Dream.

Richard Schultz is a playwright, actor, director and freelance writer based in Phoenix.

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Thursday, October 27 | 6 p.m. | Free with RSVP SMoCA welcomes the LGBTQ community and friends for a fun-filled evening of cocktails, conversation and provocative art. Explore the Museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exhibitions and enjoy a live DJ, light snacks and raffle prizes. Space is limited. Presented in partnership with the City of Scottsdale Office of Diversity, Scottsdale Human Relations Committee and media partner Echo Magazine.

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2016-17 Season

LYRIC OPERA THEATRE

H.M.S. Pinafore and

Dolls

Music and Lyrics by Frank Loesser Book by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling

HMS Pinafore

Guys and Dolls

and

Dolls

The Magic Flute

Musicthe Musical Shrek and B ook

by Ab Lyrics by F e Bur rows rank Loes s and J o Swe er rling

The Musical music.asu.edu/events/lot 480-965-6447 Performances are held in the ASU School of Music’s Evelyn Smith Music Theatre, located just north of ASU Gammage.

Tickets $8–$21 Shrek The Musical and Guys and Dolls are presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com

INDULGE 68 THEATER 72 YOUTH THEATER 73 MUSIC 77 DANCE 78 PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS 80 VISUAL ART 82 MIXED MEDIA, FASHION & FESTIVALS

Animal, Scorpius Dance Theatre. Photo by Rose Torres.

2016-2017 Arts Calendar

EchoMag.com

OCTOBER 2016

THEATER

Aging Magician, at ASU Gammage, Tempe. Photo by Jill Steinberg.

Arizona Broadway Theatre, Peoria azbroadway.org Mainstage Shows: Oct. 14-Nov. 13 Funny Girl The Musical Nov. 25-Dec. 28 A Christmas Story The Musical Jan. 13-Feb. 11 Camelot March 17-April 16 Jesus Christ Superstar April 28-May 21 Oliver! June 2-July 2 Beauty and the Beast July 21-Aug. 20 Saturday Night Fever Sept. 1-24 Hands on a Hardbody Special Engagements: Sept. 22-Oct. 2 Church Basement Ladies Feb. 16-March 3 Menopause The Musical ABT After Dark Cabaret: Oct. 28 Dec. 16 Jan. 27 March 31 May 12 June 16 Aug. 4 Sept. 15 Concert Series: Oct. 17 Oktoberfest with The Chardon Polka Band Nov. 7 Man in Black: The Music of Johnny Cash Dec. 5 A Big Band Christmas Celebration Dec. 19 Blue Christmas: A Holiday Salute to Elvis Jan. 16 The Garth Guy: The Ultimate Garth Brooks Tribute Show Jan. 23 ABBAFab 68

OCTOBER 2016

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Jan. 30 Feb. 13 Feb. 20 Feb. 27 March 20 March 27 Apri 3

Tenors Un Limited: Vegas to Venice Tour Sons of the Pioneers Diamond Rocks Whitney: The Tribute, The Concert Paperback Writer: The Ultimate Beatles Experience December ’63: The Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons Tribute Concert One of These Nights: The Ultimate Tribute to America’s Favorite Band, The Eagles

Arizona Theatre Company, Phoenix & Tucson arizonatheatre.org King Charles III by Mike Bartlett Tucson: Sept. 10-30 Phoenix: Oct. 6-23 An Act of God by David Javerbaum Tucson: Oct. 22-Nov. 12 Phoenix: Nov. 17-Dec. 4 Fiddler on the Roof - music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, book by Joseph Stein Tucson: Dec. 3-31 Phoenix: Jan. 6-29 The River Bride by Marisela Treviño Orta Tucson: Jan. 14-Feb. 4 Phoenix: Feb. 9-26 Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash - created by Richard Maltby, Jr., conceived by William Meade Tucson: March 4-25 Phoenix: Feb. March 30-April 16

Holmes and Watson, a world premier mystery by Jeffrey Hatcher Tucson: April 15-May 6 Phoenix: May 11-28 Phoenix and Tucson performances take place at the Herberger Theater Center and the Temple of Music and Art, respectively.

ASU Gammage, Tempe asugammage.com Broadway Season: Oct. 18-23 The Sound of Music Nov. 22-27 Beautiful – The Carol King Musical Feb. 7-12 Matilda The Musical March 14-19 Finding Neverland April 18-23 An American In Paris June 20-25 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Special Engagements: Dec. 6-11 Mama Mia! Jan. 17-22 The Illusionists – Live From Broadway May 18-28 The Book of Mormon BEYOND Series: Oct. 15 Speed Killed My Cousin - The Carpetbag Theatre Inc. Nov. 12 Agua Furiosa - Contra Jan. 28 Aging Magician - Rinde Eckert & Paola Prestini at Galvin Playhouse March 4 It's So Learning - The Berserker Residents April 1 Dearest Ohme - Kyle Abraham/ Abraham.In.Motion theater

ASU School of Music Lyric Opera Theatre music.asu.edu/lyric-opera-theatre

Borderlands Theater, Tucson borderlandstheater.org

Desert Stages Theatre, Scottsdale desertstages.org

Sept. 28 Musical Interlude Series presents Music Theatre Season Sampler at the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) Sept. 29 & Oct. 1-2 H.M.S. Pinafore at Evelyn Smith Music Theatre | Music by Sir Arthur Sullivan Libretto by W. S. Gilbert Nov. 6 New Works Reading Babe: An Olympian Musical at ASU Kerr Cultural Center | Music by Andrea Jill Higgins; book and lyrics by Carolyn Gage Nov. 17-20 Guys and Dolls at Evelyn Smith Music Theatre | Music and lyrics by Frank Loesser; book by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling Feb. 23-26 The Magic Flute at Evelyn Smith Music Theatre | Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder April 2 New Works Reading of Love: An Opera in One Act at ASU Kerr Cultural Center| Music by Ellen Reid; libretto by Roxie Perkins; produced by Beth Morrison April 10 “Singing is Believing,” an ASU vocal music showcase, at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts April 20-23 Shrek The Musical | Music by Jeanine Tesori; book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire April 24 Music Theatre Showcase at Phoenix Theatre April 29 Opera Scenes Performance at ASU School of Music, Room EB2-094

Through Sept. 25 Nogales by Richard Montoya; directed by Sean San Jose Dec. 1-11 La Pastorela written by Milta Ortiz and the Ghosts Writers Feb. 1-12 Guera written and performed by Lisandra Tena March 30-April 9 Shooting Columbus by Klee Benally, Ryan Pinto, Adam Cooper-Teran and Denise Uyehara; directed by Rachel Bowditch

Mainstage Series: Sept. 30-Oct. 30 Seussical Jan. 13-Feb. 12 The Mystery of Edwin Drood April 7-May 7 The Producers Next Stage Series: June 30-July 30 Catch Me If You Can Actor’s Café Series: Aug. 12-Sept. 19 Don’t Dress for Dinner Oct. 7-Nov. 13 Lost in Yonkers Nov. 25-Dec. 23 Coney Island Christmas Jan. 6-Feb. 12 Drop Dead March 3-April 9 Ruthless the Musical April 28-June 4 Macbeth June 16-July 23 The Importance of Being Earnest

ASU MainStage School of Theatre, Film, Dance theatrefilm.asu.edu

Performances take place at Temple of Music and Art Cabaret Theater unless otherwise noted.

Broadway in Tucson broadwayintucson.com Through Sept. 25 Cabaret Oct. 21-23 Mamma Mia! Nov. 29-Dec. 4 The Sound of Music Jan. 24-29 Dirty Dancing Feb. 21-26 Motown The Musical March 14-19 Kinky Boots April 12-16 The Bodyguard Performances take place at Centennial Hall.

Desert Foothills Theater, Scottsdale dftheater.org Nov. 11-13 and 18-19 Nunsense: The Mega Musical Comedy Jan. 13-15 and 20-22 All Shook Up, featuring the songs of Elvis Presley Feb. 3-5 and 10-12 Unnecessary Farce March 31; April 1-2 and 7-9 Gypsy

Also see Desert Stages Theatre under Youth Theater.

Fountain Hills Theater fhtaz.org Mainstage: Oct. 14-30 The Glass Menagerie Jan. 20-Feb. 5 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat March 10-26 Leading Ladies April 21-May 7 The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Mainstage Too: Nov. 4-20 Assassins Dec. 2-18 A Christmas Carol, The Musical Jan. 6 -15 Love Letters May 12-28 4 on the Floor Also see Fountain Hills Theater under Youth Theater. Debra Qualtire, Alex Gonzalez, Noel Irick and Peter J. Hill from Fountain Hills Theater’s production of 30 Years: The Show.

Also see Desert Foothills Theater under Youth Theater. Performances take place at Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center Main Stage Theater in Scottsdale.

See website for performance locations.

Black Theatre Troupe, Phoenix blacktheatretroupe.org Oct. 7-23 Dec. 2-18 Feb. 10 -26 April 5-23

Rasheeda Speaking by Joel Drake Black Nativity by Langston Hughes Broke-ology by Nathan Louis Jackson Scottsboro Boys | book by David Thompson; music by John Kander; lyrics by Fred Ebb

Performances take place at Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center in Phoenix. theater

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OCTOBER 2016

Hale Centre Theatre, Gilbert haletheatrearizona.com Through Nov. 15 Oct. 13-Nov. 26 Dec. 1-24 Dec. 31-Feb. 11 Jan. 17-April 18 Feb. 16-April 1 April 6-May 13 May 18-July 1 July 7-Aug. 19

You Can’t Take It With You Seven Brides for Seven Brothers A Christmas Carol Is He Dead? The Marvelous Wonderettes Thoroughly Modern Millie No Time for Sergeants Aida Disney’s The Little Mermaid

Herberger Theater Center, Phoenix herbergertheater.org Oct. 6-23 King Charles III, produced by Arizona Theatre Company, at Center Stage Oct. 14-29 Veronica’s Room, produced by iTheatre Collaborative, at Kax Stage Oct. 20-23 Masquerades, produced by Center Dance Ensemble, at Stage West Nov. 17-Dec. 4 An Act of God, produced by Arizona Theatre Company, at Center Stage Dec. 3-18 Frances Smith Cohen’s Snow Queen, produced by Center Dance Ensemble, at Stage West Dec. 5-22 Themes and Variations … ‘Tis The Season, Produced by SCAN Originals, at Kax Stage Dec. 9-18 Give Me Christmas!, iTheatre’s Holiday Cabaret, at Kax Stage Dec. 10-24 A Christmas Carol, presented by Arizona Broadway Theatre and Herberger

OCTOBER 2016

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Theater Center, at Center Stage Jan. 6-29 Fiddler on the Roof, produced by Arizona Theatre Company, Center Stage Jan. 31 Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, presented by The Acting Company, ASU Herberger Institute For Design and the Arts and Herberger Theater, at Center Stage Feb. 1 X, Presented by The Acting Company, ASU Herberger Institute For Design and the Arts and Herberger Theater, at Center Stage Feb. 17-March 4 Permanent Collection, Co-Produced by iTheatre Collaborative and ASU West Campus, Kax Stage March 2-5 Love Stories, produced by Center Dance Ensemble, Stage West March 30-April 16 Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash, Produced by Arizona Theatre Company, Center Stage April 19-20 Hughie, presented by Center Dance Ensemble, Kax Stage April 19-20 American Voices, presented by Center Dance Ensemble, Kax Stage May 12-14 Playback Theatre: From Life to Story to Stage, Co-Produced by iTheatre Collaborative and Essential Theatre, Kax Stage

Events: Sept. 22 Live Wire with Luke Burbank at Stage West Nov. 5 Festival of the Arts March 11 Arizona Young Artists’ Competition, presented by Herberger Theater Center and Center Dance Ensemble, at Stage West April 30 Plated & Staged: A Herberger Theater Experience

Lunch Time Theater: Sept. 19-29 A Boy Named César at Kax Stage Oct. 3-13 Doc Holliday’s Woman, Kate: The Woman Of Many Names at Center Stage Oct. 7-17 OperAntics II – The Sequel Oct. 20-21 Masquerades, produced by Center Dance Ensemble, at Stage West Dec. 9 and 16 Frances Smith Cohen’s Snow Queen, produced by Center Dance Ensemble, at Stage West Jan. 9-19 I Do Disability, Don’t You?!, Produced by Theatre360, at Kax Stage Feb. 6-16 A Legacy of Justice: Sipuel v. Board of Regents University of Oklahoma, produced by Grey Matters Productions, at Kax Stage March 13-30 Coupled, A Relationship Revue, produced by 16 Bars, at Kax Stage May 8-18 Life in the Theatre, produced by Theatre Artists Studio, Kax Stage June 5-15 Songs from the B-side, produced by Annie Moscow, at Kax Stage June 19-29 Music in a Box, produced by transformative Arts Productions, at Kax Stage July 10-20 Two Old Broads: Unsolicited Advice, produced By Two Old Broads Productions, at Kax Stage July 31-Aug. 10 Fiddler on a Hot Tin Roof, Produced by TML Arts, at Kax Stage

Image courtesy of itheatreaz.org.

Invisible Theatre, Tucson invisibletheatre.com Nov. 1-13 Alive and Well by Kenny Finkle Jan. 7-8 My Life On A Diet! starring TV and film icon Renée Taylor Feb. 7-9 Lebensraum by Isreal Horovitz March 4-5 Frederick Douglass – In the Shadow of Slavery by Tom Dugan, featuring Broadway star Melvin Johnson, Jr. April 18-30 Let’s Live a Little by Kathleen Clark

iTheatre Collaborative, Phoenix itheatreaz.org Oct. 14-29 Veronica's Room by Ira Levin Dec. 9-18 Give Me Christmas!, iTheatre's Holiday Cabaret created by Jeff Kennedy Feb. 2-March 4 “Permanent Collection” by Thomas Gibbons at ASU West’s Second Stage West and Herberger’s Kax Stage (see website for times and locations) March 31-April 15 Hughie by Eugene O'Neill May 12-14 Playback Theatre: From Life to Story to Stage Performances take place at Herberger Theatre Center’s Kax Stage unless otherwise specified.

Masquerades produced by Center Dance Ensemble. Photo courtesy of herbergertheater.org.

theater

Mesa Encore Theatre mesaencoretheatre.com

Scottsdale Musical Theater scottsdalemusicaltheater.com

Nov. 4-20 The Music Man Jan. 6-22 The Fox on the Fairway Mar 10-19 Billy Elliot Apr 7-23 The Fantasticks May 19-28 Urinetown Second Sundays Play Reading Series: Sept. 11 Fat Pig by Neil LeBute Oct. 9 Two one act plays: Third and Oak - The Laundromat by Marsha Norman & I'm Herbert by Robert Anderson Nov. 13 The Woman in Black by Susan Hill Dec. 11 Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters

Jan 5-8

Performances take place at the Mesa Arts Center; Second Sunday's Play Reading Series take place at Black Box.

Phoenix Theatre phoenixtheatre.com Through Oct. 2 Through Oct. 9 Nov. 16-Dec. 24 Nov. 30-Dec. 24 Jan. 25-Feb. 12 March 8-April 2 April 5-23 May 1-14 May 10-June 4

In The Heights Liberace Billy Elliot Twist Your Dickens Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery Bullets Over Broadway The Scottsboro Boys The Caleb Reese Festival of New Plays and Musicals Beehive

Guys and Dolls

Performances take palace at Tempe Center for the Arts.

Image courtesy of theaterworks.org.

Stray Cat Theatre, Phoenix straycattheatre.org

Southwest Shakespeare Company swshakespeare.org Oct. 15-19 Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare at Nesbit/Elliott Playhouse Theater Midwinter Night's Dream Dec. 9-11 at ASU Kerr Cultural Center Dec.16-18 at Taleisin West Pavilion Theater Winterfest, two Shakespeare plays performed in repertory at Virginia Piper Theater Jan. 13-28 Hamlet Jan. 14 -28 Much Ado About Nothing Feb. 24-March 11 “Photograph 51” by Anna Zeigler at Farnsworth Studio Theater March 24-April 8 Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austen (adapted by Daniel Elihu Ktamer) at Nesbitt/Elliott Playhouse Theater April 20-29 Wittenburg by David Davalos at Taleisin West Pavilion Theater Performances take place at the Mesa Arts Center unless otherwise specified.

U.S. Tour of Mama Mia. Photo courtesy ASU Gammage.

Through Oct. 1 John by Annie Baker Nov. 25-Dec. 10 Anything You Hear and Only Half of What You See by Ron Hunting March 10-25 Native Son by Nambi E. Kelley (adapted from the novel by Richard Wright) April 28-May 13 Hir by Taylor Mac at the Helen K Mason Performing Arts Center in Phoenix. Performances take place at Tempe Center For the Arts unless otherwise specified.

Theater Artists Studio thestudiophx.org Oct. 14-30 The Price by Arthur Miller Nov. 25-Dec. 11 The Herd by Rory Kinnear Jan. 13-29 Bakersfield Mist by Stephen Sachs Feb. 24-March 12 Storefront Church by John Patrick Shanley April 7- 23 To Be Announced May 12-28 It’s a Musical World! June 15-25 New Summer Shorts 2017

Theater League, Phoenix theaterleague.com/phoenix Nov. 25-27 Jan. 13-15 Feb. 10-12 April 28-29

Broadway Christmas Wonderland Saturday Night Fever Dirty Dancing Stomp

Performances take place at the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix.

Theater Works theaterworks.org Oct. 7-23 Michael Frayn’s Noises Off! Nov. 4-20 Love Is Here To Stay, A Gershwin Cabaret Dec. 2-18 The Quiltmaker’s Gift performed in repertory with Holiday Cabarets Jan. 13-29 3 No Trump Feb. 17-March 5 Sunday In The Park With George March 24-April 9 Memphis Performances take place at the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts.

theater

EchoMag.com

OCTOBER 2016

YOUTH THEATER

Grease by Valley Youth Theatre. Photo courtesy of vyt.com.

Fountain Hills Youth Theater fhtaz.org

Childsplay, Tempe childsplayaz.org Through Oct. 16 Junie B. Jones Is Not A Crook Oct. 22-Nov. 13 Rock The Presidents Nov. 19-Dec. 24 A Very Hairy Javalina Holiday Jan. 14-Feb. 19 Dr. Seuss’ The Cat In The Hat Feb. 26-March 12 The Yellow Boat March 25-April 2 Interrupting Vanessa April 8-16 The Grumpiest Boy In The World April 23-May 21 Wonderland: Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure Performances take place on weekend dates at Tempe Center for the Arts. *Play titles and dates are subject to change.

Desert Foothills Youth Theater, Scottsdale dftheater.org

Also see Desert Foothills Theater under Theater. Performances take place at Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center Main Stage Theater in Scottsdale.

Desert Stages Theatre, Scottsdale desertstages.org On Stage Series: Aug. 19 – Sept. 18 Disney’s Camp Rock Nov. 11-Dec. 18 Elf the Musical Jr. Feb. 24 – March 26 Disney’s The Little Mermaid May 19-June 18 School of Rock Youth Edition Also see Desert Stages Theatre under Theater.

OCTOBER 2016

Also see Fountain Hills Theater under Theater.

Greasepaint Youtheatre greasepaint.org Sept. 2-11 Oct. 21-30 Dec. 9-18 Feb. 10-19 April 7-9 May 5-14

13 The Musical Pippin Annie, Jr. Grease  The Laramie Project Peter and the Starcatcher

Performances take place at Stagebrush Theatre in Scottsdale.

Oct. 7-9 and 15-16 The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, Jr. May 12-14 and 20-21 Disney’s Beauty & the Beast, Jr.

Sept. 23-Oct. 9 Charlotte’s Web Dec. 2-18 Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells Feb. 10-26 Doctor Dolittle, Jr. March 31-April 16 Anne of Green Gables June 2-June 18 Disney’s The Jungle Book, Kids

EchoMag.com

Great Arizona Puppet Theater, Phoenix azpuppets.org Through Oct. 9 Jack Rabbit & the Desert Tortoise Oct. 7-8 Puppet Slam (for adults) Oct. 12-30 Little Bunny’s Halloween Nov. 2-6 Imagine This! 2016 Nov. 9-Dec. 4 The Little Red Hen Dec. 7-Dec. 24 The Elves &The Shoemaker Dec. 27-Jan. 22 Cinderella Jan. 6-7 Puppet Slam (for adults) Jan. 13-14 Guests artists The Independent Eye present King Lear Jan. 22 Cinderella’s Ball Jan. 25-29 Old MacDonald Feb. 1-5 Guest artist Paul Zaloom presents What’s Going On Here, Beakman? Feb. 3-4 Puppet Slam (for adults) Feb. 8-26 Hotel Saguaro

March 1-5 Guest artists Puppet Art present Goldilocks and the Three Sharks March 3-4 Puppet Slam (for adults) Match 8-9 The Frog Prince March 29-April 16 Peter Rabbit April 7-8 Puppet Slam (for adults) April 19-23 Japan Week Celebration April 26-May 14 Big Bug Circus May 17-21 French Week May 24-June 11 Rapunzel

Puppet Works at Theater Works, Peoria theaterworks.org October 15, 22 & 29 Monster Party: A Halloween Tale January 14, 21 & 28 Jimmy’s Space Adventure April 8, 15 & 22 Sea of Imagination

Youth Works at Theater Works theaterworks.org Sept. 9-25 Nov. 4-20 March 3-19 May 5-21

Les Miserables: School Edition In the Village of the Brothers Grimm The Pauper Princess Once Upon a Mattress

Performances take place at the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts.

Valley Youth Theatre, Phoenix vyt.com Oct. 12-28 Oct. 7-23 Dec. 2-23 Feb. 10-26 April 7-23 June 9-25

Grease Charlotte’s Web, The Musical A Winnie-The-Pooh Christmas Tail Alice In Wonderland The Secret Garden (the musical) The Wizard of Oz

Performances take place at Valley Youth Theatre unless otherwise noted. youth theater

MUSIC Arizona State Fair, Phoenix azstatefair.com/concerts Oct. 8 Big & Rich with Cowboy Troy Oct. 13 B.O.B presented by Power 98.3 & 101.9 Oct. 14 Fiesta Friday presented by Power 98.3 & 101.9 Oct. 15 Iggy Azalea Oct. 16 Luis Coronel Oct. 19 Scotty McCreery Oct. 21 Charlie Puth Oct. 22 The Flaming Lips Oct. 23 Jack & Jack Oct. 26 Slayer Oct. 27 Garbage Oct. 28 Gavin Degraw & Andy Grammer Oct. 29 Old School Jam

Arizona Musicfest azmusicfest.org Oct. 28 American singer/songwriter Melissa Manchester at Highlands Church, Scottsdale Oct. 30 The Young Musicians Fall Concert, featuring the best young musical

talent in Arizona, at the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM), Phoenix Nov. 1 Bluegrass Duet: Featuring The Lonely Heartstring Band and Mipso at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church, Scottsdale Nov. 7 The Midtown Men: The Original Cast of Broadway’s Jersey Boys, featuring Tony Award-winner Christian Hoff, Tony nominee J. Robert Spencer, Michael Longoria and Daniel Reichard, at Highlands Church Jan. 27 Chris Botti (festival headliner) at Highlands Church Jan. 29 Young Musicians Winter Concert at MIM Jan. 30 Mirage: Visions of Fleetwood Mac at Highlands Church Feb. 1 Nicole Pesce (Arizona spotlight artist) at Fairway House at Grayhawk, Scottsdale Feb. 3 The Manhattan Transfer at Highlands Church Feb. 7 Cantus at 7 MIM Feb. 10 A Band Called Honalee: The ‘60s of Peter, Paul and Mary at Highlands Church Feb. 13 Kruger Brothers bluegrass trio & Kontras Quartet classical string ensemble at Highlands Church

The Midtown Men: The Original Cast of Broadway’s Jersey Boys, featuring Tony Award winner Christian Hoff, Tony nominee J. Robert Spencer, Michael Longoria and Daniel Reichard. Picture courtesy of Arizona Musicfest.

Feb. 14 A Broadway Romance at Highlands Church Feb. 16 Bob Moody & Friends with Broadway’s Telly Leung at Fairway House at Grayhawk Feb. 19 Festival Orchestra Chamber Players: Bach, Mozart & Stravinsky at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church Feb. 21 Beethoven’s “Triple” Concerto and Saint Saens’ “Organ” Symphony at La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church, Scottsdale Feb. 23 Midori (featured artist) with The Festival Orchestra at La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church, Scottsdale Feb. 24 Ella at 100: The Centennial Celebration featuring Patti Austin with The Festival Orchestra at Highlands Church Feb. 26 Italian Symphony & Opera: Pagliacci in concert featuring Stars of the Metropolitan Opera at La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church March 2 We’ve Only Just Begun: The Carpenters Remembered at Highlands Church March 6 Mavis Staples (Musicfest legend) at Highlands Church

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OCTOBER 2016

Madama Butterfly by Arizona Opera. Photo courtesy of azopera.org.

Nov. 1 Joan Baez Nov. 9 Steven Wilson Nov. 15 Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band Nov. 18 1964-Beatles Tribute Nov. 20 Anderson-Rabin & Wakeman (ARW) An evening of YES music and more Dec. 2 Roger Hodgson (formerly of Supertramp) Dec. 9-10 Frankie Valil & The Four Seasons Dec. 15 Brian Setzer’s 13th Annual Christmas Rocks! Tour Jan. 13 Country Unplugged Tour - Joe Diffie, Mark Chesnutt and Lorrie Morgan March 3 One Night of Queen

Arizona Opera azopera.org 45th Anniversary Sapphire Celebration featuring Frederica Von Stade: The Greatest Hits of Verdi, Puccini and Mozart Tucson: Oct. 9 Phoenix: Oct. 15-16 Rusalka by Antonín Dvorák Phoenix: Nov. 11-13 Tucson: Nov. 19-20 Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini Tucson: Jan. 28-29 Phoenix: Feb. 3-5 Riders Of The Purple Sage by Craig Bohmler and Steven Mark Kohn; scenery by Ed Mell; executive produced by Billie Jo and Judd Herberger Tucson: Feb. 25-26 Phoenix: March 3-5 Cinderella (La Cenerentola) by Gioachino Rossini Tucson: April 1-2 Phoenix: April 7-9 Phoenix and Tucson performances take place at Symphony Hall and Tucson Music Hall, respectively.

Arizona Opera Bookclub azopera.org/learn-connect/arizona-opera-book-club The Rest is Noise Tucson: Oct. 6 Phoenix: Oct. 10 The Inner Voice Tucson: Nov. 18 Phoenix: Oct. 25

Riders of the Purple Sage Tucson: Feb. 23 Phoenix: Feb. 27 The Queen of the Night Tucson: March 31 Phoenix: April 3

Celebrity Theatre celebritytheatre.com Sept. 17 Sept. 23 Sept. 24 Oct. 4 Oct. 14 Oct. 15-16 Oct. 23 74

Lost Temerarios Gloria Trevi Fat Joe Festival of Praise Tour Bonnie Raitt Willie Nelson Kadim Al Sahir

OCTOBER 2016

Dec. 16-18 Home for the Holidays at Phoenix College’s John Paul Theater The Phoenix Metropolitan Men’s Chorus performs its annual holiday show with full orchestral accompaniment.

Sept. 17 Prophets of Rage: “Make America Rage Again Tour” with AWOLNATION at Ak-Chin Pavilion Sept. 20 Def Leppard with REO Speedwagon and Tesla at Ak-Chin Pavilion Sept. 21 Black Sabbath with Rival Sons at Ak-Chin Pavilion  Sept. 22 Luke Bryan with Little Big Town and Dustin Lynch at Ak-Chin Pavilion  Sept. 24 Blink 182 with A Day To Remember and All Time Low at Ak-Chin Pavilion   Sept. 24 “Therapy Session Tour” at Crescent Ballroom Sept. 27 Nothing But Thieves, presented by Ones To Watch with The Wrecks at Valley Bar Oct. 2 Octonauts Live! at Comerica Theatre  Oct. 2 Bad Boy Family Reunion (various artists) at Gila River Arena  Oct. 4 Sia with Miguel and Aluna George at Talking Stick Resort Arena Oct. 4 The Lumineers plus Borns & Rayland Baxter at Comerica Theatre  Oct. 5 Mumford & Sons with Catfish and the Bottlemen at Ak-Chin Pavilion  Oct. 7 Tears For Fears at Comerica Theatre  Oct. 7 Florida Georgia Line with Cole Swindell, The Cadillac Three and Kane Brown at Ak-Chin Pavilion Oct. 14 Trevor Noah at Comerica Theatre Oct. 21 Troye Sivan at Comerica Theatre  Oct. 22 Amy Schumer at Gila River Arena  Oct. 25 98KUPD Presents Ghost at Comerica Theatre Oct. 26 Finish Ticket with Run River North and IRONTOM at Crescent Ballroom Oct. 28 Flight of the Conchords at Comerica Theatre Nov. 10 Theresa Caputo Live! The Experience at Comerica Theatre Nov. 11 Julion Alvarez with Pancho Barraza and El Coyote at Talking Stick Resort Arena   Nov. 15 Il Divo: Amor & Pasion at Comerica Theatre  Nov. 18 Masters of Illusion: Believe The Impossible at Comerica Theatre  Feb. 19 Twenty One Pilots at Tucson Arena

March 24-26 Hot Mikado at Phoenix Center for the Arts The Phoenix Metropolitan Men’s Chorus explores current LGBTQ issues in a jazzier, sassier take on the 1895 comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan

Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix mim.org

June 3-4 Diva Divine at Tempe Center for the Arts An homage to our gay icons and idols, selections from Madonna, Cher, Barbara, Lady Gaga, Tina Turner, and so many more, with a live orchestra.

Events: Oct. 8 Dec. 3-4 Dec. 17-18

Desert Overture Wind Symphony, Phoenix desertoverture.org Oct. 22 "Classically Creepy" Halloween concert at Phoenix College’s John Paul Theater Dec. 10 Desert City Jazz at Glendale Glitters, Glendale First United Methodist Church (tentative) March 26 Desert Overture concert at Glendale Community College Performing Arts Center June 18 Desert Overture concert at Tempe Center for the Arts Aug. 13 "A la Carte" concert at Orangewood Presbyterian Church (tentative)

Grand Canyon Performing Arts phoenixmenschorus.org/ grand-canyon-performing-arts Nov. 12 Story and a Song at The Newton’s First Draft Book Bar The Phoenix Metropolitan Men’s Chorus joins The Storyline Project for a collaborative musical and storytelling performance examining the LGBT community through the theme “Crystal Clear.”

Butterfly's Child Tucson: Jan. 26 Phoenix: Jan. 20

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Live Nation Livenation.com

Musical Icon: John Lennon Experience Scandinavia Hear Them Ring music

Concerts: Sept. 15 The Steel Drivers Sept. 16 Sam Bush Sept. 17 O’Connor Band Featuring Mark O’Connor Sept. 18 Tom Rush Sept. 19 Davina and the Vagabonds Sept. 20 Geoffrey Keezer and Friends with Keola Beamer, Gillian Margot, & Joe Locke Sept. 20 Lera Lynn Sept. 22 Delta Rae Sept. 23 Crystal Bowersox Sept. 26-27 Donovan: The Sunshine Superman 50th Anniversary Tour Sept. 28 Ottmar Liebert Sept. 30 Tal Wilkenfeld Oct. 1 Bombino Oct. 2 TriBeCaStan Oct. 2 Ben Wendel Group Featuring Gerald Clayton, Joe Sanders, & Henry Cole Oct. 5 Jonatha Brooke Oct. 7 Julian Lage Trio Oct. 9 The Ravi Shankar Foundation Presents Bickram Ghosh’sDrums of India Oct. 11 Annie Moses Band Oct. 13 Joey Alexander Trio Oct. 16 MIM and the Phoenix Symphony Present Stravinsky, Vivaldi and Haydn Oct. 19 Nicki Parrott, Rosano Sportiello and Eddie Metz Trio with Guest Jacob Fisher Oct. 20 Peter Rowen Oct. 21 The Cookers Oct. 23 Mac McAnally Oct. 29 Allen Stone Oct. 30 Arizona Musicfest Winners Nov. 1 Acoustic Alchemy Nov. 6 Rumer Willis Nov. 10 Dave Damiani and The No Vacancy Orchestra with Renee Olstead and Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. Nov. 13 Marc Cohn Nov. 14 Bria Skonberg Nov. 15 Chucho Valdés Joe Lovano Quintet Nov. 17 Estampas Porteñas Tango Nov. 19 Gypsy Soul Nov. 26 The Liz Story Piano Experience with Lisa Downing and Julio Mazziotti

Dec. 1 Hymns of Hawaii: George Kahumoku Jr., Uncle Richard Ho'opi'i, & Kawika Kahiapo Dec. 3 Sahba Mottalebi Dec. 21 Asleep at the Wheel

Orpheum Theater, Flagstaff orpheumflagstaff.com Sept. 21 YG: The FDT Tour Sept. 22 Iration Sept. 23 Liquid Stranger Sept. 26 Cold War Kids Sept. 28 Beats Antique Oct. 2 Bombino Oct. 6 The First Ever Women’s Film Festival Oct. 7 Tech N9ne – The Calm Before The Storm Tour Oct. 8 Katastro Oct. 13 Tory Lanez: I Told You Tour Oct. 15 Los Lobos Electric Oct. 25 Anthrax Oct. 26 Greensky Bluegrass Oct. 27 Nahko and Medicine for the People Oct. 29 Stick Figure Nov. 5 Tim Reynolds & TR3 Nov. 26 Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers Jan. 13 Andy McKee

Orpheus Male Chorus, Phoenix orpheus.org Oct. 2 Nov. 5 Dec. 4, 6 & 11

Legacy Concert with Phoenix Children’s Chorus Boys To Men Holidays with Orpheus

See website for performance locations.

Phoenix Boys Choir phoenixboyschoir.org Dec. 15, 17 & 18 March 4 May 21

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year: Holiday Concert Series Mozart's March Madness: Classics Concert Bon Voyage: Tour Send-Off Concert

See website for performance locations.

Phoenix Chorale phoenixchorale.org Duke Ellington's Sacred Concert, 50th Anniversary Concert with Special Guests Nov. 12 at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Nov. 13 at Mesa Community College Performing Arts Center A Chorale Christmas: Silent Night, 200th Anniversary of Stille Nacht Dec. 16 American Lutheran Church

Annie Moses Band. Photo courtesy of mim.org.

Dec. 17 at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral  Dec. 18 at Camelback Bible Church  Dec. 19 at Brophy Chapel  Dec. 20 at 7 Brophy Chapel Coro y Guitarra – Tango & Flamenco: a dance for choir and guitar March 3 at American Lutheran Church March 4 at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral March 5 Camelback Bible Church Mix Tape – Cast your vote: YOU choose, we perform! April 28 at American Lutheran Church  April 29 at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral April 30 at Camelback Bible Church See website for locations.

Phoenix Metropolitan Men’s Chorus phoenixmetropolitanmenschorus.org See Grand Canyon Performing Arts under Music.

Phoenix Symphony phoenixsymphony.org Pops Series: Sept. 30 Bravo Broadway: Music of the Night Nov. 25 The Texas Tenors Dec. 2 Holiday Pops Jan. 27 Under the Streetlamp Feb. 24 Disney in Concert March 17 Pops Goes to Hollywood April 14 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy May 19 An Evening with Rodgers and Hammerstein June 2 Live and Let Die: The Music of Paul McCartney Classics Series: Sept. 23 Oct. 21 Nov. 18 Jan. 6 Jan. 20 Feb. 17 March 10 March 24 April 21 April 28 May 26

Brahms' Symphony No. 4 Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7 Dvorák's Cello Concerto Carmen, Falla & Granados A Night of Leonard Bernstein Vaughan Williams' Symphony No. 5 Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 Mozart's Requiem Schubert's Symphony No. 9 Romeo & Juliet and Petrushka Haydn's Symphony No. 45

Legends Series: Nov. 4-5 Music of Journey Dec. 30 The Music of David Bowie March 31 Music of the Rolling Stones Family Series: Nov. 6 The Animal Kingdom Jan. 15 Enchantment Theatre Company March 19 Space Spectacular EchoMag.com

OCTOBER 2016

Orpheus Choir holiday 2015. Photo courtesy of orpheus.org.

Phoenix Women’s Chorus phoenixwomenschorus.org Oct. 29 Nov. 19- 20 Feb. 4 May 20-21

"For Good," fifth annual dinner/auction featuring guest artist Nicole Pesce at Phoenix Sheraton Airport Hotel, Tempe "Songs of Unity! Hearts of Courage" at the Church of the Beatitudes, Phoenix FUNdraiser/concert with Phoenix Metropolitan Men’s Chorus at Parsons Health and Wellness Center, Phoenix. See website for updates. "Songs of Unity! Diverse Voices" at the Church of the Beatitudes, Phoenix

The Rialto Theatre, Tucson rialtotheatre.com Oct. 18 Television Oct. 19 Getter Oct. 19 Hinds at Club Congress Oct. 26 Kishi Bashi at Club Congress Oct. 28 Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers Oct. 28 Allen Stone at 191 Toole Oct. 29 Nahko and Medicine for the People Oct. 30 Blind Pilot Oct. 31 FIDLAR Nov. 1 Thee Oh Sees

Nov. 4 The English Beat Nov. 6 Nick Offerman Nov. 9 Car Seat Headrest at Club Congress Nov. 9 Adam Torres + Thor & Friends at The Flycatcher Nov. 11 Lindsey Stirling at Centennial Hall Nov. 11 Young Dubliners at 191 Toole Nov. 13 Darlingside at Club Congress Nov. 14 The Record Company at Club Congress Nov. 15 Har Mar Superstar at 191 Toole Nov. 15 Mac Miller Nov. 19 Masters of Illusion Nov. 22 Switchfoot Nov. 27 Yelawolf Dec. 2 Henry Rollins Dec. 4 Olate Dogs Dec. 8 Sara Watkins at 191 Toole Dec. 11 Tommy Emmanuel at Fox Dec. 13 The Handsome Family at Club Congress Dec. 16 Run Boy Run Jan. 15 Andy McKee at 191 Toole Jan. 21 Tower of Power (Jazz Fest) Jan. 21 Fab Four at Fox Shows take place at The Rialto Theatre unless otherwise specified.

Sonoran Desert Chorale sonorandesertchorale.org O Britannia! A British Invasion Oct. 8 at First United Methodist Church, Mesa Oct. 9 at La Casa de Christo Church, Scottsdale Desert Voices of Christmas Dec. 10 at First United Methodist Church, Mesa Dec. 11 at La Casa de Christo Church, Scottsdale A Celtic Journey March 4 at First United Methodist Church, Mesa March 5 at La Casa de Christo Church, Scottsdale Passage to the British Isles May 6 at First United Methodist Church, Mesa May 7 at La Casa de Christo Church, Scottsdale

OCTOBER 2016

EchoMag.com

Tucson Symphony Orchestra tucsonsymphony.org Sept. 23 & 25 Classic Gershwin Oct. 7-9 Corelli & Mozart’s Symphony No. 39 Catalina Foothills High School Oct. 15-16 Super Diamond & The TSO Salute Neil Diamond Oct. 21 & 23 The Planets On The Big Screen Oct. 29 The Music Of The Who Oct. 30 Moveable Musical Feast at Stillwell House Nov. 4-6 Fauré, Bizet & Mozart’s Concertante Nov. 11 & 13 Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 Nov. 26-27 Home Alone In Concert Dec. 2 & 4 All Beethoven Dec. 10-11 Messiah Dec. 17-18 Magic Of Christmas Jan. 6-8 Bach & Haydn In Harmony Jan. 14-15 John Pizzarelli and Combo with the TSO Jan. 20-22 Brahms Requiem Jan. 28 Aladdin And Other Tales featuring Tucson Regional Ballet Feb. 3-5 Schubert, Mozart & Strauss: 3 Major Works Feb. 11-12 Country Legends Feb. 17 & 19 Rhapsody In Blue And Billy The Kid March 3-5 Youthful Exuberance from Mozart & Dvořák March 9 The Romero Guitar Quartet – special José Luis Gomez, conductor March 11-12 Cirque Música – Crescendo March 17 & 19 Prokofiev and “Pathétique” April 7 & 9 An Alpine Symphony April 23 Moveable Musical Feast April 29 Dusty Locks and the Three Bears Just For Kids: Oct. 1 Nov. 5 Dec. 3

Princesses, Superheroes And Cowboys ... Oh My! Goldilocks And The Three Bears Sailing The “High C’s” music

Feb. 25 April 1 May 6

The Tortoise And The Hare Tommy Tom-Tom and Chillin’ Willie Go to the Zoo Pip And The Pirate

Attend Just For Kids performances for free by signing up for a season family pass online or by calling the TSO Box Office at 520-882-8585. See Website For Performance Locations.

DANCE

West Valley Symphony westvalleysymphony.org Nov. 20 Dvorak: Carnival Overture Elgar: Cello Concerto in E minor (Thomas Landschoot, cello) Schumann: Symphony No. 3 “Rhenish” Dec. 20 Bizet: LArlesienne Suite No. 1 Debussy: The Children’s Corner Holcombe: Honukkah Festival of Lights Chadwick: Noel from Symphonic Sketches Tchaikovsky: Selections from the Nutcracker Ballet Jan. 15 Mozart: Don Giovanni Overture Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor (Erin Hales, piano) Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral” Feb. 12 Brahms: Hungarian Dances Nos. 5, 6 & 7 Sarasate: Zigeunerwiesen (Jonathan Okseniuk, violin) Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra

La Bayadèret by Ballet Arizona.

Ballet Arizona, Phoenix balletaz.org Ballet Under the Stars: Oct. 27-30 La Bayadère with The Phoenix Symphony at Symphony Hall | Choreography by Ib Andersen; music by Léon Minkus Dec. 9-24 The Nutcracker at Symphony Hall | Choreography by Ib Andersen; music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Feb. 9-12 Romeo And Juliet with the Phoenix

Symphony at Symphony Hall | Choreography by Ib Andersen; music by Sergei Prokofiev March 23-26 Today’s Masters at Orpheum Theatre | Choreography by various; music by several composers May 11-14 All Balanchine at Symphony Hall | Choreography by George Balanchine May 23-June 10 An Evening At Desert Botanical Garden (Tues-Sat) at Desert Botanical Garden | Choreography by Ib Andersen May 27-28 Spring Performance 2017 at Orpheum Theatre Studio Spotlight 2017 at Dorrance Theatre Oct. 14 La Bayadère Jan. 27 Romeo & Juliet March 10 Today’s Masters April 28 All Balanchine

Center Dance Ensemble centerdance.com Oct. 20-23 Masquerades featuring The Return of Dracula Dec. 3, 4, 9-11 & 16-18 Frances Smith Cohen’s Snow Queen March 2-5 Love Stories April 19, 20 & 23 American Voices at KAX Stage Performances take place at Herberger Theatre Center’s Stage West in Phoenix unless otherwise noted.

Animal by Scorpius Dance Theatre.

Frances Smith Cohen’s Snow Queen by Center Dance Ensemble.

Scorpius Dance Theatre scorpiusdance.com Oct. 27, 29, 31 & Nov. 3-5 A Vampire Tale XIII Oct. 28 The Vampire Ball at Club Palazzo Jan. 12-14 Kick-A Showcase May 18-20 Animal Performances take place at Phoenix Theatre’s Hormel Theatre unless otherwise specified.

EchoMag.com

OCTOBER 2016

PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS Get The Led Out. Photo courtesy of chandlercenter.org.

Chandler Center for the Arts chandlercenter.org Sep. 25 Oct. 28-29 Nov. 12 Nov. 19 Dec. 16 Dec. 27-Jan. 8 Jan. 22 Jan. 27

Get the Led Out Julie Madly Deeply Letters From Home New York Gypsy All Stars Christmas with Clay Aiken Zoppe, An Italian Family Circus The King: The Music of Elvis Root & Boots, starring Sammy Kershaw, Collin Raye and Pam Tillis Jan. 28 Drumline Live Feb. 12 Rhythm of Dance Feb. 17 California Guitar Trio Feb. 18 WAR Feb. 25 Pump Boys & Dinettes Feb. 26 Glenn Miller Orchestra March 3 Colin & Brad March 5 Golden Dragons Acrobats March 11 Art Garfunkel: In Close Up March 12 An Evening with Groucho starring Frank Ferrante March 18 The Doo Wop Project March 19 Piano Battle March 24 Hypnotic Brass March 25 Stormy Weather: The Story of Lena Horne starring Mary Wilson April 8 Recycled Percussion

Jan. 14 Jan. 25 Feb. 4 Feb. 5 Feb. 9 March 2 April 2

Mesa Community College mesacc.edu/arts/events Oct. 7 Oct. 7, 8, 13 & 14 Oct. 12 Nov. 4-5 & 10-12 Nov. 17-18 Nov. 30 Dec. 2-3 & 8-10 Dec. 6 Dec. 9 Dec. 13 Dec. 14

Mesa Arts Center mesaartscenter.com Sept. 18 Sept. 20

Oct. 16 Chris Proctor Oct. 21 Men are From Mars, Women Are From Venus Oct. 22 Bill and Kate Isles Nov. 11 Bob and Bing’s Road To Victory Nov. 12 9 String Theory Nov. 13 Bee Gees Gold – Bee Gees Tribute Show Nov. 19 Sawyer Brown Nov. 20 Tim and Myles Dec. 2 Tapestry: A Tribute to Carole King Dec. 4 This Wonderful Life Dec. 10 Kingston Trio with Jim Curry Dec. 16-18 Southwest Youth Ballet presents The Nutcracker Jan. 6 Hypnohype Jan. 7 Doc Holliday by Wyatt Earp

Sept. 29

OCTOBER 2016

Sept. 24

EchoMag.com

Desert Echoes Flute Project Concert All in the Timing (drama) MCC Theatre Jazz Ensemble Concert She Loves Me (musical) Fall Dance Concert Jazz Concert Good N’ Plenty (drama) at MCC Theatre Community Bands and Orchestra Concert Guitar Concert MPJE Concert DJ Concert

Performances take place at MCC’s Performing Arts Center unless otherwise specified.

Higley Center for the Performing Arts, Gilbert higleyarts.org

Alley Cats: Doo-Wop Drive In Acoustic Eidolon Jack Wright: The Songs and Stories of Neil Diamond One Great Night of Folk Music Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband Peter, Paul and Mary Remembered Ken Waldman

Oct. 1 Oct. 6-8 Oct. 7 Oct. 15 Oct. 19 Oct. 22 Oct. 23

Snap Judgment, hosted by Glynn Washington Leon Bridges with special guest Lianne La Havas Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet at Piper Theater Ying Quartet with Zuill Bailey at Piper Theater Paula Poundstone Erth's Dinosaur Zoo Live at Piper Theater Twyla Tharp 50th Anniversary Tour Bernadette Peters with The Phoenix Symphony “A Photographer’s Life of Love and War” by photojournalist Lynsey Addario 40th Anniversary of The Rocky Horror Picture Show film screening party with Barry Bostwick Robert Klein at Piper Theater

An Evening with Jillian Michaels .Photo courtesy of Mesa Arts Center.

Oct. 27 Oct. 28 Oct. 28 Nov. 2 Nov. 4 Nov. 15 Nov. 16

The Romeros at Piper Theater An Evening with Jillian Michaels Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s "Miles Long” Piper Theater Celtic Thunder Legacy Slate presents Unelectable You, created by Slate and The Second City, at Piper Theater Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa Mankind to Mars - Andrew Fazekas: National Geographic Space Correspondent

Nov. 17 Nov. 18 Nov. 21 Nov. 25 Nov. 26 Nov. 27 Dec. 4 Dec. 14 Dec. 18 Dec. 31 Jan. 12 Jan. 13-14 Jan. 20 Jan. 27 Feb. 1

Feb. 2-3 Feb. 10 Feb. 11 Feb. 15 Feb. 21 Feb. 24 Feb. 25 March 11 March 15-19 March 26 March 29 April 1 April 13 April 15 April 19 April 20

The Paul Thorn Band at Piper Theater Vocalosity - The Aca-Perfect Concert Experience John Cleese & Eric Idle: Together Again at Last…For The Very First Time An Evening with Maynard James Keenan - A Perfect Union of Contrary Things Riders in The Sky - Salute to Roy Rogers Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox Christmas with The Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour 2016 The Hot Sardines Holiday Stomp Straight No Chaser I’ll Have Another ... 20th Anniversary Tour Itzhak Perlman with Pianist Rohan De Silva Annie, the Tony Award® Winning Production The Fab Four: The Ultimate Beatles Tribute The Moth Mainstage: True Stories Told Live The Risky Science of Exploration - Kenny Broad: Diver and Environmental Anthropologist The Acting Company: World Premier X at Piper Theater Annabelle Gurwitch: I See You Made an Effort at Piper Theater The R. Carlos Nakai Quartet at Piper Theater Navah Perlman: A Musical Memoir at Piper Theater Shaolin Warriors The Legend Continues Hal Holbrook in Mark Twain Tonight Birdman: Film + Live Drum Score, performance by Antonio Sánchez, at Piper Theater St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra To Sleep To Dream Earfilms (special engagement) at Piper Theater Disenchanted! The Hilarious Hit Musical at Piper Theater The Mystery of Our Human Story Lee Berger: Paleoanthropologist An Evening with Neil Gaiman Young Artist Development Series at Piper Theater Taj Express, The Bollywood Music Revue Jazz Under the Stars with Carlos Henriquez at Alliance Pavillion Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance Company

Engagements take place at Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater unless otherwise specified. performing arts centers

Paradise Valley Community College paradisevalley.edu/cpa Oct. 1-2 & 7-9

Noises Off by MichaelFrayn, directed by Gary Zaro Nov. 11-13 & 18-20 Minotaur by Kevin Dyer, directed by Craig Kosnik Feb. 24-26 & March 3-5 Advanced Directing Student Shows April 14-15 & 21-23All My Sons by Arthur Miller, directed by Joe Flowers June 16-18 & 23-25 How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying by Frank Loesser, Jack Weinstock, Abe Burrows and Willie Gilbert, directed by Andrea Robertson

Phoenix Center for the Arts phoenixcenterforthearts.org Sept. 23 Oct. 7-8 Oct. 9 Oct. 13

Tandem Duo presents Kondo Festival Finale Concert CaZo Dance presents Asylum: The Undertaking Infuse Open Mic Mayor’s Arts Awards 2016 at Hance Park Urban Plaza

Performances take place at the 3rd Street Theater unless otherwise specified.

Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance Company. Photo courtesy Mesa Arts Center.

Oct. 7-8 Oct. 18 Oct. 22 Oct. 24 Oct. 30 Oct. 31 Nov. 2 Nov. 4 Nov. 13

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts scottsdaleperformingarts.org

Nov. 15

Nov. 19

Dec. 9 Dec. 11

Dec. 3 Jan. 11 Jan. 14 Jan. 26–27 Jan. 28 Feb. 10–11 Feb. 25–26 March 3 March 9 March 16-17 March 18 April 2 April 13 & 15

Adam & Anthony Live: Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of RENT ARTrageous Benefit Gala starring Michael Feinstein Pink Martini Storm Large Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo Patti LuPone: Don’t Monkey with Broadway Kodo: Dadan The 7 Fingers: Cuisine & Confessions Ms. Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton Jarrod Spector & Kelli Barrett – This Is Dedicated: Music’s Greatest Marriages Diavolo: Architecture in Motion Cameron Carpenter: All You Need Is Bach A Night in Berlin: Max Raabe & Palast Orchester Aspen Santa Fe Ballet

Nov. 19

Dec. 13 Dec. 17 Jan. 8 Jan. 14 Jan. 17 Jan. 17-18 Jan. 20-21 Jan. 22 Jan. 27-28

Tempe Center for the Arts tempe.gov/tca

Feb. 18

Sept. 20

March 25

Sept. 24 Sept. 29

Performance With A View presents Tandam Duo Lakeshore Music Series presents Hot Club of San Francisco Meet Me In Paris Ballet Arizona presents Ballet Under The Stars

April 22 May 20

Arizona Dance Festival 2016 Performance With A View presents ASU Studio E217 Voice Recital Lakeshore Music Series presents Stefon Harris and Sonic Creed Tempe Symphony Orchestra Tempe Winds presents “All Things Halloween” ASU Men’s Chorus, Women’s Chorus and Concert Choir Arizona Wind Symphony presents “Sea To Shining Sea” Art After Work: van Gogh “Sunflowers” Hayden’s Ferry Chamber Music Series presents Trio Nobilis Performance With A View presents ASU Studio E411 Viola Recital Lakeshore Music Series presents Omar Sosa-Joo Kraus Duo Art After Work: Paint What You Want Hayden’s Ferry Chamber Music Series presents Zorá Quartet Performance With A View presents The B1 Duo Lakeshore Music Series presents Joe Costello & Nicole Pesce: An American Christmas Saving Arizona Blood Drive Lakeshore Music Series presents Carmen Lundy Soul to Soul Performance With A View presents A Collaborative Piano Studio Recital Arizona Wind Symphony presents An Evening with the Boston Brass Carnival of Illusion Hayden’s Ferry Chamber Music Series presents Pianist Jeffrey Swann CONDER/dance presents Breaking Ground 2017 Lakeshore Music Series presents Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Octet Lakeshore Music Series presents Denise Donatelli Quartet Lakeshore Music Series presents Bill Charlap Trio Lakeshore Music Series presents Billy Childs Quartet

EchoMag.com

OCTOBER 2016

VISUAL ART Claudio Dicochea, de Santanico Pandemonium y el Vaquero, la Vampira del Rio y la Pirateria (of Santanico Pandemonium and Cowboy, the River Vampire and Piracy). Image courtesy of Lisa Sette Gallery.

{9} The Gallery 9thegallery.com Sept. 16 Sept. 24 Oct. 7 Oct. 21 Nov. 4 Dec. 2

“Fatal Farm” Cindy Schnackel Camille Bloom, Pieces Of Me album release show William Barnhart Aileen Frick Jel Martinez Tiny Works/Tiny Dances II

December:

Bill Dambrova | amazed by the inner workings of living things and the miraculous events that take place within and between our physical bodies. Art allows him to explore, uncover, reinterpret, and share his version of biological wonders that may be unregarded.

Chartreuse chartreuseart.com September:

“Visions of GRANDeur,” curated by Marshall Shore, Hip Historian

October:

“Slinging Ink,” letterpress posters and prints | An invitational from Letterpress printers in 15 states.

November: “Inferior Mirage” by Laura Spalding Best | Artist’s work documents and dissects the urban landscape of the American West. Best’s oil paintings on found objects emphasize and celebrate the strained overlap of the romantic southwestern desert and its modern support system. 80

OCTOBER 2016

EchoMag.com

“Juxtaposition” with Jamie Pettis and James Angel

Heard Museum, Phoenix heard.org Exhibits: Oct. 15-Jan. 8

Bentley Gallery bentleygallery.com Through Oct. 15 “HELLO! Hello!” introducing Leopoldo Cuspinera Madrigal, Jake Fischer, Stephen Knapp, David Kuraoka, Tom Lieber, Michael Marlowe and Udo Nöger Oct. 21-Nov. 12 Jim Waid: new paintings and book signing Dec. 16-Jan. 14 Ceramic works by Chris Gustin, Stephanie Blake, Jun Kaneko, Robert Silverman, David Kuraoka and Jonathan Cross Jan. 20-Feb. 11 New Steel Sculpture by Jeremy Thomas Feb. 17-March 11 TBD March 17-April 15 California Zombie Abstract, Curated by Dr. Grant Vetter April 21-May 13 TBD

June

“Kay Walkingstick: An American Artist”

Through Dec. 4 “It's Your Turn: A 'Home' Studio” at the Sandra Day O'Connor Gallery “Best November” Laura Spalding. Courtesy of Chartreuse.

Exposures International Gallery of Fine Art, Sedona exposuresfineart.com Oct. 7-9

Fall show featuring Barbara Westwood, Bill Worrell, John Maisano, Yuroz, and Frasca/Halliday

Oct. 14-16

Fall show featuring Jd Challenger, Rebecca Tobey, Soho, Kim Obrzut, Doug Adams and Alexander Volkov

FOUND:RE Phoenix foundrehotels.com October-November Travis Ivey aka “Hank” curated by Robrt Pella (in The Studio) October-December “SPACE” an art installation by Cheryle Marine (in The Box) December “Both Sides Now” by Diego Perez (in The Studio) January “YouDrawLike a Girl-Part2”(in The Studio) January-March “DIASPORA” by Ronna Nemitz (in The Box) February “Butt Seriously! - A Funny Valentine of Sorts” (in The Studio) March “Tres Cabrones” featuring work by Frank Ybarra, Gennaro Garcia and Joe Ray April “Peep Show - Looking Beyond the Curtain” May “Cryptic & Promising”

Through Dec. 31, 2017 “Over The Edge: Fred Harvey At The Grand Canyon And In The Great Southwest” at the Lovena Ohl Gallery Ongoing Exhibits: “Home: Native People In The Southwest” “Around The World: The Heard Museum Collection” “Remembering Our Indian School Days: The Boarding School Experience” “History And Collections Of The Heard Museum” “American Indian Veterans National Memorial” Public Events: Oct. 6, 13 & 20 Short Course: Native Women In The Arts First Friday of each month (except March) First Fridays At The Heard Oct. 10

Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration

Oct. 20

Simon Ortiz & Labriola Center Lecture On Indigenous Land, Culture & Community at the Steele Auditorium

Oct. 22

Moondance At The Heard Gala

Nov. 7

Veterans Sunset Tribute at the American Indian Veterans National Memorial

Nov. 12-13

Mercado De Las Artes

Nov. 16

Spirit of the Heard Award

Nov. 19

Heard Museum Council American Indian Art & Artifacts Appraisal Day

Nov. 25- 27

Ornament Marketplace

Dec. 12-18 Dec. 26-30

Holiday Shop Sale Holidays At The Heard visual art

Lisa Sette Gallery, Phoenix lisasettegallery.com Through Sept. 3 Claudio Dicochea: “Forbidden Futures” Through Oct. 29 Mark Klett: “Border Markers” Nov. 5-Jan. 7 Mayme Kratz and Marie Navarre Jan. 14-Feb. 25 Luis Gonzalez Palma: “Mobius” March 4-April 29 “Tell Me Why, Tell Me Why…Why Can’t We Live Together” (group show) May 6-June 24 David Kroll, Jessica Joslin and Masao Yamamoto

Phoenix Art Museum phxart.org Through Oct. 16 “Here and Abroad: Photographs by David Taylor” at Norton Photography Gallery Through Nov. 6 “Ducks, Eggs and Fish: Works by Martin Fan Cheng” at Art of Asia Gallery Oct. 7-Jan. 8 “Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic” at Marley Gallery Oct. 19-March 12 “Horacio Zabala: Mapping the Monochrome” at Harnett Gallery Oct. 26-Nov. 16 “INFOCUS Photobid Auction and Exhibition” at Norton Photography Gallery Nov. 6-Jan. 16 “Emphatics: Avant Garde Fashion 1963-2013” at Steele Gallery Dec. 2-April 9 “Second Triennial INFOCUS Juried Exhibition of Self-Published Photobooks” at Norton Photography Gallery Feb. 15-May 14 “The Propeller Group” at Marshall and Hendler Galleries March 1-July 16 “Samurai: Armor from the Ann and

April 15-Oct. 15

Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection” at Steele Gallery “Longer Ways to Go: Photographs of the American Road” at Norton Photography Gallery

Exhibition titles and dates may be subject to change.

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art smoca.org Exhibitions: Through Oct. 2 “Mel Roman: Coming Out Under Fire” Oct. 1-Jan. 8 “Push Comes to Shove: Women and Power” Oct. 15-Jan. 22 “Architecture + Art: Everything Falls Into Place When It Collapses” Feb. 11-April 30 “I Remember Not Remembering” Oct. 14, 2017-Jan. 28, 2018 “Paolo Soleri: The City is Nature”

Sonoran Arts League sonoranartsleague.org Oct. 21 Empty Bowls Project, benefiting the Foothills Food Bank, at Harold’s in Cave Creek Nov. 4-23 Veteran Art Show, Downtown Phoenix | freevetart.com Nov. 18-20 and 25-27 Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour and Sale, Scottsdale | hiddeninthehills.org Dec.10-Jan. 8 Sonoran Small Works Show, Cave Creek | smallworksshow.com Dec. 9-11 Holiday Artisan Market at the Gallery at el Pedregal, North Scottsdale April 8 April for the Arts artwork silent

Bottom left: Kehinde Wiley, The Two Sisters. Courtesy of Phoenix Art Museum. Bottom right: Thom Ross, Three Horsemen. Courtesy of WildeMeyer.com.

John Coleman, Mystic Powers of the Little People. Courtesy scottsdalemuseumwest.org.

auction fundraiser in Cave Creek April 1 Art Stuff Sale in Cave Creek Benefiting Youth Art & Scholarships Oct. 1-Jan. 27 Art in Public Places – Anthem Civic Center June 2017 Foothills Art Academy Summer Workshops in Cave Creek See website for year-round events and additional location details.

Western Spirit – Scottsdale’s Museum of the West scottsdalemuseumwest.org Sept. 17-May 31 John Coleman: Past/Present/Future Jan. 10- April 30 The Artists of Taos

Wilde Meyer Gallery wildemeyer.com Tucson: Sept. 1-Oct. 1 “Now Showing” An eclectic collection of some of Wilde Meyer’s best artists. Oct. 6-29 “Group Show” A group show, including landscapes and figurative works. Scottsdale (Annex): Sept. 1-Oct. 1 “Canine Days” The gallery will feature canine related art. Oct. 6-29 “A Horse is a Horse Unless...” This show highlights images that go beyond traditional equine renderings. Scottsdale (Gallery): Sept. 1-Oct. 1 “Abstract Alchemists,” a group show of artists who specialize in abstract art. Oct. 6-29 “Points of View” Some art shows the artist’s points of view, while other works hint at the subject’s perspective.

EchoMag.com

OCTOBER 2016

MIXED MEDIA

Alwun House alwunhouse.org

Exotic Art Show 33, Phantasmagorical Spectacular - Shoemaker, Alien. Courtesy of alwunhouse.org.

FASHION

Sept .16-30 Exhibit: “The Art of Fantasy, Comics and Sci-Fi” presented in partnership with Samurai Comics Sept. 16 Fantasy Sci-Fi Cosplay Party Sept. 17 Samurai Expo Oct. 2-29 Exhibit: “15th Monsters Menagerie” Oct. 22 Planet Poe Theatre Oct. 29 Monsters Ball, a political zombie apocalypse Nov. 4-18 Exhibit: “Shoemaker & Simmons - Till Death Do We Part” Dec. 2-Jan 6 Exhibit: “9th Lighthouse” Dec. 2 First Friday Opening Get Lit Party Feb. 10-March 19 Exhibit: “33rd Exotic Art Show” Feb. 10 Phantasmagorical Spectacular Opening Feb. 17 Erotic Poetry & Music Festivus Feb. 24 Noches Erotica March 18 -19 “Be...” The Acrobatic Stilt Comedy Show presented by House of Cirque March 19-20 Artlink’s Art Detour April 7 Salon Art Reception April 7-14 Exhibit: “Salon des Enfants 23” Phoenix Elementary School District April 21-May 5 Exhibit: “MB Hanrahan, Life’s Postcard Series” April 21 Artists Reception

Oct. 13-15

Phoenix Fashion Week phoenixfashionweek.com Tucson Fashion Week tucsonfashionweek.com

Art Festivals

March 2017

The 14th Annual Möda Provŏcateūr saafmoda.saaf.org

OCTOBER 2016

EchoMag.com

Events and Festivals: Oct. 7 Cuisine & Culture: The Art of Margarita Cabrera Oct. 21-23 The Great Pumpkin Festival Nov. 5 Dogs’ Day in the Garden

Space 55, Phoenix space55.org Through Oct. 9 SpaceCon’16 (Fri & Sat) Oct. 14-28 DemDike’s Devils (Fri & Sat) Nov. 25-Dec. 30 A Bloody Mary Christmas (Fri-Sun) Shows take place on Friday and Saturday evenings. See website for additional times and dates.

Festival of the Arts, Herberger Theater Center, Phoenix herbergertheater.org

Nov. 5

Local First Festival, Phoenix localfirstaz.com

Nov. 16

Festival For Life, Tucson festivalforlife.saaf.org

Nov. 28-29

Phoenix Flea facebook.com/phoenixflea

March 4

Melrose Street Fair, Phoenix m7streetfair.com

Dec. 2-4

Tempe Festival of the Arts tempefestivalofthearts.com

April 1 & 2

Phoenix Pride Festival phoenixpride.org/events/pride-festival

Dec. 9-11 Phoenix Festival of the Arts phoenixfestivalofthearts.org Community Festivals Oct. 1

FESTIVALS Nov. 5

Oct. 13-15

Desert Botanical Garden dbg.org

Oct. 15 & 16

Tucson Pride Festival tucsonpride.org Rainbows Festival, Phoenix phoenixpride.org/events/ rainbows-festival

Film Festivals Oct. 6-10

Scottsdale International Film Festival scottsdalefilmfestival.com

Jan. 27-29

Desperado LGBT Film Festival desperadofilmfestival.com

Feb. 18-26

Sedona Film Festival sedonafilmfestival.org

April 6-13

Phoenix Film Festival phoenixfilmfestival.com media, fashion & festivals

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September 2016 25 Get The Led Out The American Led Zeppelin October 2016

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November 2016

12 Letters Home 19 New York Gypsy All Stars

Times Vary 3pm & 7:30pm 7:30pm

December 2016 10 Dmitri Matheny’s THE SNOWCAT 16 Christmas with Clay Aiken 27-31 Zoppé Italian Family Circus

11am 7:30pm Times Vary

January 2017 1-8 22 27 28

Zoppé Italian Family Circus Times Vary 3pm The King: The Music of Elvis Roots & Boots: Pam Tillis, Sammy Kershaw & Collin Raye 7:30pm Drumline Live 8pm

February 2017

Stormy Weather Starring Mary Wilson

12 17 18 25 26

Rhythm of the Dance California Guitar Trio & Montreal Guitar Trio WAR Pump Boys and Dinettes The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra

March 2017 3 5 11 12 18 19 24 25

Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood: Two Man Group Golden Dragon Acrobats Art Garfunkel: In Close-Up Frank Ferrante in An Evening with Groucho The Doo Wop Project Piano Battle Hypnotic Brass Ensemble Stormy Weather: The Story of Lena Horne

April 2017

8 Recycled Percussion 9 Classic Albums Live performs Ziggy Stardust

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3pm 7:30pm 7:30pm 7:30pm 3pm 7:30pm 6pm 7:30pm 3pm 7:30pm 3pm 7:30pm 7:30pm 7:30pm 7pm

OCTOBER 2016

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OCTOBER 2016

EchoMag.com

Left to right: Helton IPA, Helton Milk Stout on Nitro and Helton Oatmeal Brown.

without reservations

Helton Brewing Co.

Craft brewery created a buzz in central Phoenix Story and photos by Rachel Verbits

ew things are as refreshing as a cold beer on a hot day. And thanks to the recent surge in craft breweries, local beer lovers can almost try a different Valley brewery every day of the summer season without ever stepping foot in the same establishment twice. Almost. In August, azcentral.com reported that there are now more than 70 breweries across the state, up from about 30 just a few years ago. Lucky for gayborhood residents, that includes Helton Brewing Co., located at the northwest corner of Indian School Road and 22nd Street. According to the brewery’s website, this 10,000 square foot space that was once a

OCTOBER 2016

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tire warehouse will provide the operation with room to grow and to eventually bottle its signature craft beers. Even before the doors opened in May, the buzz (no pun intended) surrounding the new brewery was hard to ignore, largely due to the fact that the founder is famed brewmaster and certified cicerone Brian Helton. With nearly two decades dedicated to the beer industry, Helton has crafted more than 60 brew varieties and has won multiple World Beer Cup and Great American Beer Festival awards. Upon arriving, I was greeted by friendly staff and invited into the taproom, which was quickly filling up during happy hour. Here, patrons can sip their pints at high-top tables that provide the perfect view right into the brewery. That

means you can actually watch the newest Helton brews go through the fermentation process while savoring your current selection. And if you’re wondering what exactly is getting mixed up next, there’s a large chalkboard menu above the bar to let you know. In the meantime, the menu boasts five house brews, which include a pilsner, a crisp, malt-forward nose, light body and a classic lager finish; an amber ale, “easy drinking” with a sweet caramel malt profile and floral hop finish; a Scottish ale, which is deep and complex with a smooth malted character; and an IPA that delicately balances citrus, floral and fruity flavors. For anyone who prefers a darker brewski, there’s the Helton Milk Stout on Nitro, which offers rich, roasted flavors that compliment the silky mouthfeel and finish with semi-sweet chocolate and coffee notes.

Cheese board: Lamb Chopper, sheep’s milk Gouda, Dry Jack and English style Cabot Clothbound Cheddar.

Upon my server’s recommendation, I started with the pilsner, which was crisp and distinctly fresh, followed by the chocolatey flavored milk stout, which was creamy, smooth and absolutely delicious. If you’re feeling indecisive or just want it all (both of which are OK by me), fret not! Helton offers beer flights, which ring in at just $1.50 for each 4-ounce taster. Of course, there are also wine and guest beers to choose from, too. However, if you have a more pairing-oriented palette, you have to check out the massive chalkboard above the bar that lists featured cheeses, mouthwatering charcuterie boards, as well as the cheesemonger’s pick of the week that will pair perfectly with Helton’s current beer selections. After perusing the cheesemonger’s picks, I opted for the cheese board that featured Lamb Chopper, sweet, creamy and semi-soft fresh sheep’s milk Gouda; Dry Jack, which is a dry and flakey cow’s milk cheese with nutty flavor; and, lastly, the English-style Cabot Clothbound Cheddar, which is both dry and sharp. Another stellar recommendation from our server was the sausage board, which was served with crostini, artichoke hearts, baby dills beer mustard and horseradish aioli. Bonus points because the smoked Polish and chorizo Sausage came from Shriner’s Fine Sausage right here in Phoenix. Not only did these two boards pair spectacularly with my beer selections, but the flavors of the meats and cheeses also complimented each other so well, that ordering both are a must if you ask me. The taproom also offers limited menu selections à la carte, including grilled sandwiches and sweet and savory Belgian waffles. (A beer and a Belgian for brunch? I think so.) As part of its mission of “education through taste,” Helton Brewing Co. offers Beer and Cheese 101, a pairing class lead by local cheesemongers and Helton’s head

brewmaster that’s designed to help patrons learn more about the food and drink they’re being served. The brewery also invites its customers to join them when tapping a new beer. And if getting the first taste of a new brew isn’t special enough, Helton Brewing Co. is one of the only places in Arizona to offer raclette cheese during their tapping parties. Raclette is a delicious dish of melted cheese slathered over potatoes and vegetables that’s gaining popularity in such major cities as New York and is not to be missed if you’re lucky enough to try it. The best part about this new addition to the Valley’s suds scene is that the fun doesn’t have to end when your pint glass is empty: cheese and charcuterie are freshly wrapped and displayed by the front counter, waiting to be taken home and enjoyed with a growler of your favorite Helton beer. The worst part: deciding on a favorite. Cheers! Helton Brewing Co. 2144 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix Tasting room hours: Tues-Thurs, 3-9 p.m.; Fri, 3-10 p.m.; Sat, noon-10 p.m.; Sun, noon-7 p.m.; Mon, closed. heltonbrewing.com Rachel Verbits is a published writer and a selfproclaimed foodie who spends her time exploring all the amazing eats Arizona has to offer.

Sausage board: cristini, artichoke hearts, baby dills, beer mustard and horseradish aioli.

EchoMag.com

OCTOBER 2016

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opening nights

Phoenix Theatre invites you to ‘meet the man behind the grand’ By Richard Schultz

o tackle the monumental theatrical role of Liberace, which attempts to explore the performer’s internal conflict between his public and private worlds, one must exude both versatility as a performer and talent as a musician. With an impressive list of credentials to his name, Jeff Kennedy (pictured) was the perfect man for the job. “One has to remember that he had established himself as a family friendly entertainer, and that he fiercely protected his career in a time when revealing he was gay would have ended it, Kennedy reminds. “This was one of the reasons I really wanted to do the play.” Staged by Phoenix Theatre from Sept. 21-Oct. 9, Liberace! is an entertaining and moving tribute to the infamous American performer known for his charm, glitz and glamour. This one-man show explores the highs and lows of the famed pianist’s

OCTOBER 2016

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prolific life with a varied score, spanning classical and popular music from Chopin to “Chopsticks,” and Rachmaninoff to ragtime. In addressing other portrayals of Liberace including, Michael Douglas in HBO’s Behind the Candelabra, Kennedy believes the biggest difference is this play’s point of view is that it focuses on someone who has lived their life as opposed to watching him live it in real time. The playwright portrays Liberace looking back on his life, having made all of his discoveries, allowing him to come to some conclusions, right or wrong, and attempts to give insights as to why. According to Kennedy, he immersed himself in extensive research, including reading Liberace’s autobiography, other biographies and reviewing interviews with Liberace and those who knew him well. He also spent endless hours watching film and video of him in performance, and, of course, listening to his recordings. “It’s allowed me to determine some pretty specific aspects of how he thought and felt,” Kennedy said. “I feel the playwright really gives insight into his life and feelings. He wanted nothing more than to give his audiences an amazing entertainment experience. Kennedy relishes Liberace’s “wicked sense of humor” and is trying to do it justice in his performance. When asked if the production reveals any new insights into the man and the performer, Kennedy said he believes many aspects of his early career and relationship with his father will explore

new ground for many audience members. “He became such an icon, but like so many celebrities he was very troubled at times. The play brings that side of him to light,” Kennedy said. “It may also be a surprise how his demons are like many other individuals today. There’s something to understand about such a genius dealing with being so immensely famous in his time.” Regarding the costumes for the show, Kennedy said he’s impressed with the designs by Connie Furr-Solomon. “The authenticity of what I’m wearing is pretty amazing,” he said. “Since I have never worn costumes or clothing like this before, some of the reveals of these have become some of my favorite moments in the show.” Liberace was born Wladziu Valentino Liberace in West Allis, Wis., on May 16, 1919. For decades, Liberace was known for his music, candelabra, charisma, diamonds and glittering costumes. Known throughout the world as “Mr. Showmanship,” he was featured in films and had a television series in both the 1950s and 1960s. His performed in Las Vegas venues as well as New York, where broke all Radio City Music Hall’s sales and attendance records in 1984. Liberace died in his Palm Springs home on Feb. 4, 1987, at the age of 67. Liberace’s death was later reported to have been of complications from AIDS. This production is licensed by the Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts. Liberace! Sept. 21-Oct. 9 Phoenix Theatre 100 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix Tickets: $36-$81; 602-254-2151 phoenixtheatre.com theater

Liberace Extravaganza! Costume designer Connie Furr-Solomon literally wrote the book on Liberace’s costumes. Jan Jewett documented the holdings of the Liberace Foundation by taking more than 10,000 photographs of Liberace’s over-the-top costumes. The book, titled Liberace Extravaganza!, serves as testimony as to why no one would ever accuse Liberace of being demure. The internationally celebrated star is almost as well known for his eyecatching, flamboyant fashion as he is for his music. The script refers to specific costumes designed by Liberace’s designers Michael Travis and Jim Lapidus. Having studied the

actual costumes, Furr-Solomon was very aware of what costume the playwright was referring to at certain points. “Liberace understood his audience and was a master at re-imagining his image,” she said. “His furs, feathers and rhinestones were the essence of his flamboyant stage persona. It’s those outrageous costumes that people remember and associate most with him.” In designing the costumes for the production, Furr-Solomon said she was particularly concerned that she was able to create a garment that Michael Travis, Liberace’s principle designer, would have approved. To ensure this, she not only interviewed Travis for her book, but he even wrote the forward. “During Liberace’s time, a coat might take four months to complete at a cost between $25,000 and $300,000,” she shared, lending insight to the reality of a single costume. “I created garments for the show that were heavily influenced by Michael Travis’ work. The design of one cape in particular drew from several Travis’ designs, but were altered to better address the actor’s needs as well as our time and budget.” The costumes for the production of Liberace! are heavily influenced by Michael Travis, Liberace’s principal designer.

Connie Furr-Solomon. Courtesy photo.

Photos courtesy of Liberace Extravaganza! Photo credit: Jan Jewett.

Richard Schultz is a playwright, actor, director and freelance writer based in Phoenix.

F RE N C H D

It’s about love. It’s about time.

Thurs Art Walk: 6 to 9 pm Mon – Sat: 10 am to 5 pm

7 1 4 8 E . M A I N S T R E E T S C O T T S D A L E A Z 4 8 0 . 9 9 4 . 4 7 1 7 W W W. F R E N C H O N M A I N . C O M EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE

theater

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OCTOBER 2016

at the box office

By Hans Pedersen

Author: The JT LeRoy Story In theaters Sept. 23 | R | 210 minutes

Goat In theaters Sept. 23 | R | 96 minutes

Nick Jonas and James Franco star in this movie that’s devoid of gay content, but simply bristling with homoeroticism. The movie follows 19-year-old Brad (Ben Schnetzer), who’s enrolling in the same college that his brother, Brett (Jonas), is a fraternity member. Brad is recovering from a beating after a random attack, but pledges his brother’s frat in the hopes of getting protection and popularity. Soon Brett must watch his younger brother getting subjected to an increasingly brutal series of graphic hazing rituals, until tragedy strikes at the frat house. Expect plenty of booze, bare-chested male bonding and even the use of food to simulate fellatio with blindfolded frat pledges.

This award-winning documentary, directed by Jeff Feuerzeig, shares the true, stranger-than-fiction story of Laura Albert, a woman who decided to invent a male persona, JT LeRoy, to advance her writing career. But her creation transforms into fleshand-blood when she asks a friend to wear a hat in order to play the role of LeRoy in public appearances. Soon LeRoy is the toast of the town, nurturing friendships with celebrities like Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, yet nobody seems to suspect the persona is a manufactured one until the ruse snowballs out of control. This gender-bending story is filled with archival footage and candid interviews with the writer who invented a pen name and wound up creating a person.

Birth of a Nation In theaters Oct. 7 | R | 120 minutes

Coming Out Available on DVD/iTunes/Vimeo OnDemand Oct. 4

Available on DVD/iTunes/Vimeo OnDemand Oct. 4 Inspired by coming-out videos on YouTube, New York City-based filmmaker Alden Peters chronicles his own experience of revealing his gay identity to loved ones in this documentary released by Wolfe Video. Explaining that he could never find any featurelength documentaries about the coming out process, the young director fills that void with this film, giving viewers a chance to watch the humorous and sometimes inelegant moments as friends and family react when he declares his own sexual orientation. Inspirational videos from people around the world give us a notion of the staggering scope of our global community that’s out and proud. This film also features interviews with activist Janet Mock. 94

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Directed by, and starring Nate Parker, the film is a response to the racist 1915 D.W. Griffith film of the same title. Set in the antebellum South, it focuses on an enslaved preacher who agrees to pacify a group of slaves until a string of abuses inspires him to lead an uprising. This movie about how American slaves battled for freedom in the 1831 Nat Turner rebellion earned the Audience Award, Grand Jury Prize and a standing ovation at the Sundance Film Festival. Some say the director’s acquittal in a 1999 rape case could impact the movie’s success and Oscar chances; suffice it to say it has earned lots of acclaim and depicts moments in history not represented enough in cinema. Stars Mark Boone Junior, Penelope Ann Miller, Gabrielle Union and Jackie Earle Haley. Editor’s note: Closet Monster, a surrealist LGBTQ coming-of-age movie that’s been previously reviewed in Echo, will be screening at Harkins Theaters beginning Oct. 14.

Hans Pedersen is a freelance writer based in Phoenix. movies