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Mesa Arts Center slates big performance season

GETOUT STAFF WRITER

The Mesa Arts Center has unveiled its 2022-2023 Performing Live season that its program director calls “our biggest season ever.”

“I’ve been booking shows at Mesa Arts Center since it opened in 2005,” said Randy Vogel. “I believe that Mesa Arts Center’s 2022-23 Performing Live season is our biggest season ever. I am especially thrilled that we’re bringing the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to Mesa Arts Center. Arizona’s last Chicago Symphony Orchestra appearance was more than 30 years ago.”

Tickets are on sale at MesaArtsCenter.com and at 480-644-6500.

Here’s the lineup:

Matt Fraser, July 9. Matt Fraser is America’s top psychic medium and star of the hit television series on E! Entertainment.

Kurtis Connor, Aug. 7. Performer, podcaster, and global YouTube sensation, Kurtis Conner is bringing his freshest, funniest material yet to the stage.

America, Aug. 21. On the strength of their signature song “A Horse With No Name.” America had an impressive string of hits.

Whose Live Anyway?, Sept. 8. The critically-acclaimed improv comedy show aired on ABC from 1998 to 2004 and returned in 2013 on The CW, where it’s entering its 8th season.

Clannad: The Farewell Tour, Sept. 13. Clannad fuses elements of traditional Irish music and more contemporary folk, new age and rock that combines haunting melodies and mesmerizing vocals.

Mariachi Herencia de Mexico with special guest Lupita Infante: Cuando Mexico Canta, Sept. 17. The Latin GRAMMY-nominated group of young Mexican-American musicians are recognized as the new ambassadors of the mariachi tradition.

The Music of Cream, Sept. 24. Cream was the blueprint for every supergroup to follow and the heavy blues precursor to Hendrix, Zeppelin and more.

Adam Golka, Oct. 6. Polish-American pianist Adam Golka is a concerto soloist.

Tower of Power, Oct. 7. The most dynamic and distinctive band of survivors in soul music is roaring into its unprecedented 50th anniversary. Nella, Oct. 14. Nella released her debut album in 2019, written and produced by Javier Limón for which she won Best New

Artist at the 2019 Latin

GRAMMY Awards. National Geographic

Live, Oct. 19. Discover how the iconic Olmec heads of Mexico were created, explore the true meaning behind the imposing

Teotihuacan pyramids, and get a peek into the culture and daily life in the Mayan city of Chichen Itza. The Fab Four, Oct. 22.

The Fab Four is elevated far above every other

Beatles Tribute due to their precise attention to

detail.

Wardruna, Nov. 5. Wardruna have had vast worldwide success, transcending music genres, cultures and languages while being renowned for their innovative and genre-creating renditions of ancient Nordic traditions.

Riverdance, the famous Irish dancing show, will be at the Mesa Arts Center next year. (Special to GetOut)

See MAC on page 48

Phoenix Fan Fusion is a ‘Disneyland for geeks’

GETOUT STAFF WRITER

Phoenix Fan Fusion convention director Matt Solberg likens his upcoming event to a legendary tourist destination.

“It’s really like Disneyland for geeks to come to our show,” he said.

After a multiple-year pandemic-dictated break, Phoenix Fan Fusion will make its return to the Phoenix Convention Center Friday, May 27, to Sunday, May 29.

Solberg assures that only minor changes were made to the 20-year event. It’s still a one-stop shop for actors, comic book creators, authors, cosplayers, costume groups, vendors, artists, creators, dealers and publishers.

“We are bringing badges back, which has been a long-standing attendee request, given their collectible nature,” Solberg adds.

“We are expanding gaming that we do into its own hall within the convention center. We are also really focusing our efforts within the exhibitor hall. I’m creating great energy within the hall by having the actors, the costuming groups, the exhibitors, authors, artists, creators all in one space on the lower level of our exhibitor hall.”

Anticipated guests include actors Doug Jones (“Hellboy,” “Star Trek: Discovery”) and Felicia Day (“Supernatural,” (co-creator of “Mayday”) along with various cosplayers and costume groups.

“We’re bringing three full days of the exhibitor hall, panels of events, a full lineup of celebrities, comic creators, authors, costume groups, after dark parties, theatrical events,” Solberg said.

“For our attendees, it should be no different than when they’ve attended our shows in the past. We’re bringing back everything they have come to love and expect.”

Above: Tempe author Lisa McMann and her husband Matt will moderate panels at Phoenix Fan Fusion. (Special to GetOut) Right: X-Men meets Spy Kids in the instant New York Times bestseller “Forgotten Five,” the first book in a new middle-grade fantasy/ adventure series from the author of “The

RETURN VISIT

Author Lisa McMann and her husband, Matt, will moderate panels at the event.

The Tempe-based couple debuted at Fan Fusion in 2011 with their daughter, actress Kennedy McMann, with Lisa presenting her book “Cryers Cross.” The story was inspired by Kennedy’s OCD and her acting.

Tears for Fears hopes fans relate to its music

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

GetOut Editor

Tears for Fears felt the need to refresh its live show when it planned its first tour since 2017. A single here, a single there, would have sufficed.

But when Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith started writing, it snowballed – but only on their terms. The result was Tears for Fears’ first album since 2007, “The Tipping Point.”

“It was a little tedious playing the same material,” Smith says.

“At the behest of the industry, record company and management, we went on this speed dating course of writing with modern hit songwriters. While it was an interesting experiment, it failed abysmally.”

During the songwriting process, Orzabal’s first wife, Caroline, died, which, Smith calls, “a major upheaval.” Smith and Caroline were friends since they were 13. He’s hoping the album helps others who are grieving. Her death impacted the songwriting, as did the COVID-19 pandemic and world conflicts.

“There was a lot more upheaval in the world with the rise of the right wing, politically, worldwide; the climate crisis and the pandemic” he adds.

“There was so much turmoil, it seemed, two, two-and-a-half years ago. The songwriting was getting more intense because of all these things.”

“The Tipping Point” is a highly personal album that was cathartic for the duo.

“Once the songs got into their final form, they had meaning and feeling behind them,” he says. “Coincidentally, we had bought ourselves off the record company. It was just myself and Roland to forge a path forward. We went back to writing like we did when we were 18.”

The two sat down at Smith’s home in

Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith of Tears forFears hope fans like their new music.

(Special to GetOut)

Los Angeles with two acoustic guitars. That was the catalyst that brought the duo closer. They communicated—just the two of them, without record companies or management. Smith calls the process “very freeing.”

Input from outside sources can make musicians/songwriters uncertain about their feelings.

“I think we were getting into moments of self-doubt,” Smith adds about the collaborations.

“We were encouraged to work with these people. We’re songwriters at heart. It was literally four months we were done.”

In October, the duo released the first single and title Track “The Tipping Point,” which captures the grief of watching a loved one lose their long-standing battle with disease.

Their second single “No Small Thing” was a meeting of the minds as the pair went back to the drawing board and found the heart and soul that would complete the album. The accompanying video was made using solely found footage showing the conflict between individual freedoms and collective responsibility.

Tears for Fears’ latest single “Break the Man” is an empowering-yet-groovy track that calls for a better balance between men and women. Inspired by the song’s lyrics, the music video encompasses a world that illustrates the constructed reality of the patriarchy. From the inside, the world appears infinite, but from the outside it’s a mere plaything in the hand of Mother Universe.

Smith says the songs they write must have meaning it goes into the proverbial trash.

“I find it far harder to write about superficial things,” he says.

“Our music tends to be very personal, sometimes political. We don’t have any intention of preaching to anyone. It’s a personal preference. If it has deep meaning to us, it seems to have deep meaning to our audience.

“That’s why our audience relates to us. People are going through the same thing. The most gratifying times are when we meet people who come to our shows. We get a lot of young people now. Anyway, people who are our age say ‘The Hurting’ helped them through their college years. They had the same teenage angst at the time. If you can have that affect and help other people, it’s worth it.”

Now Tears for Fears will head out on tour with Garbage. The jaunt kicks off in Cincinnati on Friday, May 20, and visits Ak-Chin Pavilion on Friday, May 27. As of the end of April, Tears for Fears hadn’t started rehearsals, but Smith was looking forward to it and the tour.

“We’ve done three of the new songs when we played on TV shows,” he recalls. “The band sounds fantastic. The new songs fit in beautifully with the old material. It’s as strong and as good. I hope people will like the new material.”

Tears for Fears w/Garbage

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 27 Where: Ak-Chin Pavilion, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix Cost: Tickets start at $29.50 Info: livenation.com

FUSION from page 46

“She (Kennedy) came along with me to Phoenix Fan Fusion, and we did a little panel with the two of us,” Lisa said.

“She spoke about her mental illnesses, with her OCD, and I spoke about the plot of the story and how Kennedy influenced it.”

Kennedy shared her local theater experiences and how that helped calm her. Appearing as Nancy Drew in the CW show of the same name, Kennedy followed her dreams and controls her OCD.

Lisa and Matt have been asked to return to talk about her series “The Unwanteds,” which recently ended its 14-book series with “The Unwanteds Quests: Dragon Fury,” among other books. The event generally falls around their wedding anniversary in May.

“What a better place to hang out with a bunch of people dressed up like fantasy characters,” Lisa said.

Matt adds, “I think it’s such a blast and love seeing all the cosplay and meeting all the authors. It’s exciting for me to return this year to serve as a moderator on some of the author panels.”

At the event, Lisa will speak about “Map of Flames,” the first of the “The Forgotten Five” series.

“It’s about five supernatural kids who were born and raised in a deserted hideout, a secret criminal hideout. Now they’re between the ages of 10 to 13 and their parents have disappeared and the last one who stayed with them passed away,” Lisa said.

Devoid of modern amenities like electricity and flushing toilets, the kids are left with a flaming map to Estero, their parents’ city of residence. Via the map, the children are tasked with finding one of their mothers. Consequently, they are trust into a new environment where their powers are criminal.

The next book in the series is set for a November release.

Among the other attendees is comic book, graphic novel creator and storyteller Tony Parker who has attended Fan Fusion since 2008, when it was held in Mesa. He will appear all days of the convention.

Formerly of Phoenix, Parker is looking forward to returning and seeing everyone. “It’s not just the fans and friends I get to see year in and year out,” he said.

“There are new people who come by and talk to me. It’s such a ‘people’ show and is a great family show as well. You can see people of all ages enjoying themselves and enjoying what they see around them.”

Solberg agrees.

“There is really something for everybody at the show, given our interests,” Solberg said.

“It’s a great chance just to people watch. We always have attendees who come out in amazing costumes, and everybody is just in a good mood.”

Phoenix Fan Fusion

When: 9 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Friday, May 27, and Saturday, May 28; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, May 29 Where: Phoenix Convention Center, 100 N. Third St., Phoenix Cost: $15-$540 Info: phoenixfanfusion.com

MAC from page 46

Belinda Carlisle, Nov. 6. Go-Go’s founder and lead vocalist Belinda Carlisle has a unique blend of gutsy vocals, emotively charged melodies and picturesque lyrics.

Laureates of the Sphinx Competition, Nov. 10. This a national competition off ers young Black and Latinx classical string players a chance to compete. Kebra-Seyoun Charles, double bass, is the senior Division winner and Jonathan Okseniuk, violin, is the junior division winner.

Lila Downs, Nov. 12. Mexican American singer and activist Lila Downs has earned multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy awards with her superhuman vocal range and a deeply empathetic spirit.

National Geographic Live, Nov. 16.. Marine biologist Diva Amon’s research on unusual deep-sea habitats and species has taken her to extraordinary depths in some of the remotest parts of the planet.

Deck the Halls with Disney, Nov. 17. Disney Concerts presents Deck the Halls with Disney featuring DCappella.

Brian Culbertson, Nov. 20. Brian Culbertson, an award-winning multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer known for his distinct brand of genre-crossing contemporary jazz, R & B and funk, is setting out with his band on The XX Tour.

Blue Man Group, Nov. 21. Blue Man Group features signature drumming, colorful moments of creativity and quirky comedy with , custom-made instruments, surprise audience interaction and hilarious absurdity.

Under the Streetlamp, Nov. 25. Under the Streetlamp presents your favorite holiday tunes plus songs from the American Radio Songbook.

Trinity: Classically Irish, Three accomplished young Irish singers make up the cast of PBS’s newest Celtic music project – Trinity.

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, Nov 27. The group’s Christmas tour has become a holiday tradition right along with decorating the tree.

Dave Koz & Friends, Dec. 14. Special guests David Benoit, Rick Braun, Peter White and Rebecca Jade continue their annual holiday tradition.

Straight No Chaser, Dec. 27. Straight No Chaser is the real deal, the captivating sound of nine unadulterated human voices coming together to make extraordinary music.

The Smothers Brothers, Jan. 20. Tom and Dick Smothers, in person for an evening of memories and laughter featuring classic “Comedy Hour” clips and interactive audience Q&A.

National Geographic Live, Jan. 18. Alizé Carrère, environmental anthropologist & fi lmmaker off ers a hopeful look at the resilience, perseverance, and innovation of humankind under even the most diffi cult of conditions.

Classical Music Inside Out, Jan. 19. Pianist Awadagin Pratt and the Maxwell Quartet will play together on a a piano quintet by the Jamaican-British composer Eleanor Alberga.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Jan. 22. Since September 2010, Chicago Symphony Orchestra has been under the baton of renowned Italian conductor Riccardo Muti.

Emmet Cohen Trio, Jan. 25. Multifaceted American jazz pianist and composer Emmet Cohen plays with the command and passion of an artist fully devoted to his medium.

Pilobolus: Big Five OH!, Jan. 27. Pilobolus questions its own “givens,” turns its traditions sideways, and brings its past into the future.

Kathleen Turner, Feb. 18. A once-ina-lifetime chance to see a true Hollywood legend on stage.

Itzhak Perlman, Feb. 19. Itzhak Perlman enjoys superstar status rarely aff orded to a classical musician.

The Moth Mainstage, Feb. 23. The Moth allows people all over the world and from all walks of life to share their stories on stage in front of a live audience.

Penn & Teller, Feb. 24. For over 40 years Penn & Teller have defi ed labels, and at times physics and good taste, by redefi ning the genre of magic and inventing their own very distinct niche in comedy.

Our Planet Live in Concert, Feb. 25. Combines HD cinematography with allnew orchestrations by Oscar-winning composer Steven Price performed by a live onstage orchestra.

Zuill Bailey, March 2. Zuill Bailey, widely considered one of the premiere cellists in the world, is a distinguished soloist, recitalist, artistic director and teacher.

The Queen’s Cartoonists, March 3. The Queen’s Cartoonists perform music from cartoons perfectly synchronized to the fi lms projected on stage.

Mania The ABBA Tribute, March 4. It has now been 31 years since Abba last toured. In 1979 requests for tickets far outstripped availability with two million requests for tickets and with only 5,000 available.

Stomp, March 9-12. Matchboxes, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters and more fi ll the stage with energizing beats at the inventive and invigorating stage show that’s dance, music and theatrical performance.

Black Violin, March 17. Black Violin is led by classically trained string players Wil B. (viola) and Kev Marcus(violin). Joining them onstage are DJ SPS and drummer Nat Stokes.

National Geographic Live, March 22. Lindsay Zanno, paleontologist, looks at how a global climate crisis during the Cretaceous changed the course of evolution.

Alan Menken, March 31. Composer Alan Menken leads audiences on a journey through more than thirty years of hit songs, movies, and musicals.

Eroica Trio, April 6. The Grammy-nominated Eroica Trio enraptures audiences with fl awless technical virtuosity, irresistible enthusiasm and sensual elegance.

National Geographic Live, April 12, Maureen Beck, paraclimber, learned how to rock climb one-handed through trial and error – one of her early adaptive climbing innovations involved taping a metal ladle to her arm.

Simply Three, April 15. This classically trained string trio destroys boundaries and pushes limits by adding their fl air and innovation to popular arrangements and new compositions.

Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, Aprill 25. There’s music, irreverent wit and wicked fun transcending language and nationality; a requiem for rock and popular culture.

Riverdance, May 3-7. For over 25 years, nothing has carried the energy, the sensuality and the spectacle of Riverdance.

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