SCOTTSDALE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

SCOTTSDALE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS offers full schedule

By Michelle Glicksman

Although its season lineup is different than originally planned, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts still has an extremely robust 2020-2021 calendar, with numerous in-person performances as well as live stream options.

When it became apparent that the fall season would continue to be impacted by the virus, the Center worked quickly to reschedule many of the national artists who had been scheduled to perform then to spring dates.

And then, as Managing Director Meribeth Reeves explains, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts’ leadership chose to look at the silver lining.

“This has opened up a greater ability for us to work with Arizona-based artists,” she says. “It’s part of our mission to support artists in Arizona, and since there aren’t any travel issues for them, we were able to move many of them into the fall slots that were vacated by touring artists.”

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts is one of the few venues in the Valley that is able to offer not only digital and live stream content, but also be able to open with such a full inperson schedule.

“It’s still full of a wide variety, from dance to world music, to classical, to Broadway, to a great family series. There’s a lot still happening in-person,” says Reeves. offer so many in-person performance options is because of the size of its Virginia G. Piper Theater, which seats 853. Performances that were slated to be held in the location’s smaller venues were moved to that theater, with only approximately 100 tickets available per show to allow for social distancing (masks will also be required, with ADA exceptions allowed). And, some artists will offer two smaller shows rather than what was previously one larger show.

To make the performances available to a larger audience, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts will also draw on one of its new skills— and one it plans to continue indefinitely—live streaming.

The organization began to live stream over the summer, as well as develop digital content and virtual opportunities.

“That was where our team really learned to create high-quality digital content,” Reeves says. “In the process, we’re also now able to use that along with many of our live performances, which gives us the great opportunity to have more accessibility to our performances. We’re really excited for the potential of this and where it can take us in the future. It’s a way we can be inclusive, inviting, and engaging for our entire community.

“So, if people want to come in and see shows live, in a socially distanced theater with their masks on and following safety protocols, we welcome them. If they’re not ready, there will be live streams available.”

The 2020-2021 season kicked off in September with a Jazz Lounge, followed by performances in October of Flamenco Intimo.

The season will include various Jazz Lounges, as well as a new Classical Lounge series, which is a similar concept of intimate and somewhat informal performances.

“That also was born because some of our partner organizations have had to cancel their entire season, and we wanted to try to find ways to support the work of some of those artists,” Reeves explains.

There will also be six Broadway performances, with stars such as Lea Salonga. One of those performances is Broadway Fright Night, to be held in late October, which showcases four artists performing roles from Broadway shows such as Phantom of the Opera.

A season staple, Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel will also be back, as will the Seth Rudetsky Concert Series.

The Piano Series features performers including Alexander Malofeev, Conrad Tao and Rachel Cheung, and a there is a Dance Series, as well.

Individual shows feature stars such as Jake Shimabukuro, Sandra Bernhard and Marc Cohn.

MOMIX has one performance, Assisted Living: THE MUSICAL® has several shows, and the holidays get cheerful with Mariachi Sol de México® de José Hernández Presents A MerryAchi Christmas. “We are still very robust—pretty much through the end of March we have no dates that are open, so everything is filled with a variety of shows, events, and activities,” says Reeves.

March 2021 will also see the return of the Scottsdale Arts Festival.

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts is also planning parking lot performances, where audience members stay in their cars and park in a circle, with their headlights providing light for the performance.

“We are exploring lots of new opportunities,” Reeves promises.

Other new initiatives include the option to preorder food and beverages, and an online retail option.

For all of its shows, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts will be following recommendations from the federal government, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) ,and the Scottsdale Arts Health Advising Team.

“Our return to theater protocols allow us to return to the stage as safely as possible,” says Reeves.

For more information, visit scottsdaleperformingarts.org.