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TOP25By Connor Dziawura
THROUGH JANUARY 16 The first U.S. retrospective of Colombian artist Oscar Muñoz, the traveling exhibition “Invisibilia” is now on display in the Ellen and Howard C. Katz Wing for Modern Art at the Phoenix Art Museum. A collaboration with the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, the exhibit features around 50 works spanning five decades, some which have never been seen. The pieces, including drawings, installations, and photographic and video works, explore themes of time, memory, history and knowledge.
Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, 602.257.1880, phxart.org/ exhibition/oscar-munozinvisibilia, see website for museum hours, included with museum admission
JB Smoove
OCTOBER 2 Our cover boy JB Smoove is a man of many talents. Writer. Comedian. Actor. “Saturday Night Live” alum. “Curb Your Enthusiasm” regular. Stand-up performer. The latter is key here, as the well-known funnyman will bring his stand-up routine to The Showroom at Talking Stick Resort.
The Showroom at Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, 480.850.7777, talkingstickresort.com, 8 p.m., $30-$65
OCTOBER 6 TO DECEMBER 5 See the classic rock musical in person and spend a night with protagonist fiancées Brad and Janet as they encounter memorable characters like Rocky, Eddie, Dr. Scott, Columbia, Magenta, Riff Raff and Frank-N-Furter. Though it’s in production through early December, try to get in early, keeping in line with the season. This show will be presented in the Hormel Theatre.
Phoenix Theatre Company, 1825 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, 602.254.2151, phoenixtheatre. com, various dates and times, see website for prices
OPENS OCTOBER 8 After a series of delays, the 25th James Bond film is finally here, and it’s sure to be a big one. At nearly three hours runtime, the film will serve as the final Bond outing for star Daniel Craig. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (“Beasts of No Nation,” season one of “True Detective”), the film also features cast members Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux, Lashana Lynch, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Christoph Waltz, Ralph Fiennes, Ana de Armas, Billy Magnussen, Rory Kinnear, David Dencik and Dali Benssalah. Though it releases October 8, keep an eye out for early access theatrical screenings on October 6. Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, some disturbing images, brief strong language and some suggestive material.
In theaters
OCTOBER 8 TO OCTOBER 31 Described by the Great Arizona Puppet Theater as a “high-energy, fun-filled Halloween show,” this singalong performance is told with hand puppets and rod puppets. In it, all the animals on Old MacDonald’s farm must find a costume for Halloween.
Great Arizona Puppet Theater, 302 W. Latham Street, Phoenix, 602.262.2050, azpuppets.org, various dates and times, $8-$12, or free admission for infants if accompanied by a paid child
Sedona Arts Festival
OCTOBER 9 TO OCTOBER 10 Sedona’s annual arts festival is back after a pandemic-induced hiatus, and the event is now celebrating its 30th anniversary. With a focus on the art, there will be more than 100 juried artists, with some creators returning from the 2019 event. Other features of the two-day festival are live music, raffles, food, and a new beer and wine garden. Funds support the Sedona Arts Festival’s Scholarships and Grants Program.
Sedona Red Rock High School, 995 Upper Red Rock Loop, Sedona, 928.204.9456, sedonaartsfestival.org, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. October 9, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. October 10, $15 weekend admission, or free for children 12 and younger when accompanied by a paid adult
Phoenix Rising FC vs. the Oakland Roots SC
OCTOBER 9 In what is the first of three home games in October, Phoenix Rising will duke it out against the Oakland Roots. See the team’s website for the full schedule.
Phoenix Rising Stadium at Wild Horse Pass, 19593 S. 48th Street, Chandler, 623.594.9606, phxrisingfc. com, 7:30 p.m., $20.63-$41.96
Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers
OCTOBER 10 For Week 5 of the NFL season, the Cardinals will return to the Valley for their first home game of the month — against the San Francisco 49ers. The game can also be followed on FOX or 98.7 FM. Check the Cards’ season schedule online for additional home games in October.
State Farm Stadium, 1 Cardinals Drive, Glendale, 602.379.0101, azcardinals. com, 1:25 p.m., $64-$263
OPENS OCTOBER 15 After David Gordon Green’s 2018 “Halloween” retconned all other sequels to the original 1978 film of the same name, Michael Myers is back again — and so is Jamie Lee Curtis. The second installment in a new trilogy, which chronologically follows the original film, “Halloween Kills” also stars Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, Will Patton, Thomas Mann and Anthony Michael Hall. Rated R for strong bloody violence throughout, grisly images, language and some drug use.
In theaters and streaming on Peacock
“Million Dollar Quartet”
recording studio in Memphis with producer Sam Phillips. Somehow, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash wound up in the studio with them. Little is known about the session, so this Fountain Hills Theater musical production fills in the blanks. It is produced by Patty Torrilhon and Linda Ferington and directed by Peter J. Hill, with musical direction by Jay Melberg and choreography by Noel Irick.
Fountain Hills Theater, 11445 N. Saguaro Boulevard, Fountain Hills, 480.837.9661, fhtaz.org, various dates and times, $18-$35
Phoenix FearCon
OCTOBER 15 TO OCTOBER 16 This year’s Phoenix FearCon — celebrating 10 years — will premiere more than three dozen independent horror/sci-fi/fantasy films. It will also feature more than 25 guests, including Lloyd Kaufman (co-founder of Troma, the studio behind cult classics like “The Toxic Avenger”) and actors Bill Oberst Jr. and Fred “The Hammer” Williamson, along with performances by the Agents of Lust, Co-Op, RedRum and Torso. There will be all sorts of Q&As, panels and workshops, and the inaugural Reggie Award (named after the “Phantasm” franchise’s Reggie Bannister, who will be in attendance) celebrates “excellence and dedication to the genre” and will go to Kaufman.
Sun Studios of Arizona, 1425 W. 14th Street, Tempe, 602.399.9500, phoenixfearcon. com, 5 p.m. October 15, noon October 16, $35-$250, or free admission for kids 12 and younger who are accompanied by an adult
Plant Swap
OCTOBER 17 Antique store Hawk Salvage is gearing up for its first plant swap. Plant lovers can trade live, healthy plants or cuttings, and there will be planting stations and soil available for up to $10, depending on plant size. Pots can also be brought, but Hawk Salvage will have pots and glassware available for purchase — not to mention its collection of rare, imported plants. Live music, food trucks and artist demonstrations will round out the event.
Hawk Salvage, 1109 Grand Avenue, Phoenix, hawksalvage.com, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., free admission
OCTOBER 17 Play your part in helping families who lost their homes during the pandemic. Homeward Bound, a local nonprofit that has been helping families get out of poverty for three decades, is reinventing its Old Bags Luncheon with the inaugural Toast! to raise $300,000. Mix and mingle while participating in wine and spirits tastings, brunch and a live cocktail competition and perusing local vendors. Grand Canyon Brewery, Crook & Marker, Rune Wines and AZ Wine Company will participate in tastings, while UrbAna, Sage Femme, Metalmark Jewelers, Kendra Scott, Redemption Market and Goodness Candles, among others, will be available in the market. For ages 21 and older.
The Clayton House, 3719 N. 75th Street, Scottsdale, 602.263.7654, homewardboundaz.org/events/ toast, 10:30 a.m., $100-$250
Erykah Badu
OCTOBER 20 Famed neo-soul singer Erykah Badu is returning to the Valley for her first show here in a dozen years. Though Badu hasn’t released much music in the time since — only dropping “New Amerykah Part Two” in 2010 and the mixtape “But You Caint Use My Phone” in 2015 — her quality-not-quantity discography stands tall enough to excite with this latest show. Griselda member Westside Gunn opens.
Arizona Federal Theatre, 400 W. Washington Street, Phoenix, 602.379.2800, arizonafederaltheatre.com, 8 p.m., $49.50-$478.50
Glass Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser
OCTOBER 22 TO OCTOBER 24 Get into the Halloween spirit with the return of this annual fundraiser for the nonprofit Holland Center, which supports the Desert Foothills arts, education and community and offers classes, fine art exhibits and performing arts events. Over the fundraiser’s three days, the organization will display and sell more than 1,000 vibrant, handmade glass pumpkins from local artist Gregory Tomb, a former artist-inresidence at the Holland Center.
Holland Center, 34250 N. 60th Street, Scottsdale, 480.488.1090, hollandcenter.org, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, free admission
OPENS OCTOBER 22 One of the most acclaimed science fiction novels, “Dune” is finally returning to the big screen. After other adaptations of the dense book have either failed to be produced or meet fan expectations, director Denis Villeneuve (“Blade Runner 2049,” “Arrival,” “Sicario,” “Prisoners”) has taken the reins for a potential franchise. Reportedly billed as “Part One” during screenings, “Dune” has a massive cast including Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zendaya, Chang Chen, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa and Javier Bardem. Rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, some disturbing images and suggestive material.
In theaters and streaming on HBO Max
OPENS OCTOBER 22 Beloved and whimsical writerdirector Wes Anderson returns with his 10th feature, a return to live action after 2018’s stop-motion film “Isle of Dogs.” It is a Frenchset anthology about the final issue of a fictional American magazine. And as with Anderson’s previous works, the cast is stacked, starring Benicio del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Léa Seydoux, Frances McDormand, Timothée Chalamet, Lyna Khoudri, Jeffrey Wright, Mathieu Amalric, Stephen Park, Bill Murray and Owen Wilson, not to mention Liev Schreiber, Elisabeth Moss, Edward Norton, Willem Dafoe, Lois Smith, Saorsie Ronan, Christoph Waltz and many more. Rated R for graphic nudity, some sexual references and language.
In theaters
Gilbert Oktoberfest
OCTOBER 23 It’s fall again, and that means it’s time to break out your lederhosen and dirndls to celebrate Oktoberfest with Gilbert’s iteration. Oktoberfest is a means to celebrate German culture with such activities as stein-holding and bratwursteating competitions, themed food and drinks, not to mention polka music from the Oktoburlesques (by way of Top 40 tunes). OHSO Brewery & Distillery, Uncle Bear’s Brewery, 12 West Brewing and Desert Monks Brewing Co. comprise part of the beer roster. A familyfriendly event, it will also have oversized games and a kids zone.
Gilbert Regional Park, 3005 E. Queen Creek Road, Gilbert, gilbertoktoberfest.com, 2 to 9 p.m., $12-$20, or free admission for kids 12 and younger
Mimosa & Monet - Mosaic Desert
OCTOBER 23 Led by artist-in-residence Carrie Curran, the owner of Creative Color Art Studio, the Mimosa & Monet Art Class Series begins in October, running monthly through April. Those with or without experience will receive guidance with the acrylic on canvas medium. Cost includes instruction, tax and gratuity, all supplies, pastries, coffee and the first mimosa. Guests can also partake in a celebratory brunch at Lon’s and receive a complimentary appetizer or cocktail with the purchase of one brunch entrée.
The Hermosa Inn, 5532 N. Palo Cristi Road, Paradise Valley, 602.955.8614, https://bit.ly/3tY9S0Q, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., $85
Family Halloween Bash
OCTOBER 24 Parents won’t want to miss out on this event, as it’s perfect for the kiddos. A week before All Hallows’ Eve, events company Local Savvy AZ will celebrate its third anniversary by gathering at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park for all sorts of fun activities, from trick-or-treating stations and pumpkin decorating to a costume contest. There will also be a bounce house, photo booth, character meet and greet, swag bags, raffle items, and food and drinks.
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, 7301 E. Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale, https:// bit.ly/3EIEM2m, 3 to 5 p.m., $30 per family of four
OPENS OCTOBER 29 After the success of 2017’s “Baby Driver,” acclaimed writer-director Edgar Wright is returning with this psychological thriller. According to the synopsis, “Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie), an aspiring fashion designer, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s, where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer, Sandie (Anya Taylor-Joy). But the glamour is not all it appears to be and the dreams of the past start to crack and splinter into something far darker.” Wright has reportedly cited Nicolas Roeg’s “Don’t Look Now” and Roman Polanski’s “Repulsion” as influences, and the neon-lit trailer for “Last Night in Soho” recalls the style and colors of classic giallo works (a type of mysterious Italian horrorthriller that encompasses films like 1977’s “Suspiria”). Not yet rated.
In theaters
Halloween Bar Crawl
OCTOBER 30 Want to celebrate Halloween, but don’t want to be bound to any one party? Try this Scottsdale bar crawl. Check-in is at Boondocks, after which patrons will explore venues like Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row, DJ’s Bar and Grill, El Hefe and Riot House. Cover charges will be waived, and there will be drink specials — plus ticket buyers will get two free drinks or shots. At the end of it all, be sure to stay on-site for the afterparty.
Boondocks Patio & Grill, 4341 N. 75th Street, Scottsdale, https://bit.ly/3CmRpOq, 4 p.m., $12.50-$15
My Little Pumpkin Fall Festival and Halloween Party
OCTOBER 30 Sure to be a fun and affordable event for the whole family, this Tempe party features pumpkin decorating and trick-or-treating, plus activities such as a costume contest, face painting, pony rides and crafts. There will also be a farmers market and boutique shopping. Prince Charming will be there, and kids can even get mini photos with Cinderella and her pony for $10. Tickets include bags for trick-ortreating as well as a mini pumpkin for decorating. Parking is $5 per car.
Singh Meadows, 1490 E. Weber Drive, Tempe, https:// bit.ly/3tU5v6O, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., $10, or free admission for adults and for children younger than 12 months
Noche en Blanco
OCTOBER 30 Inspired by a Parisian event from three decades ago, the sixth annual Noche en Blanco encourages guests to arrive at Hance Park’s East Lawn in creative, all-white cocktail attire for a night of food and entertainment. Multicultural partners include the Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra, Japanese Friendship Garden, Irish Culture Center, Cutler Plotkin Jewish Historical Society, Phoenix Center for the Arts, The Nash, Mariachi Fusíon, the Arizona School for the Arts, and honorary Chair Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. Proceeds benefit Hance Park Conservancy. For ages 21 and older.
Hance Park, 116 E. Moreland Street, Phoenix, hanceparkconservancy.org/nocheen-blanco, 5 to 10 p.m., $30-$200
Spooktacular Custom Car Show
OCTOBER 30 Celebrate the season with this car show from the Professional Firefighters of Maricopa, which, in addition to the cars, will feature a costume contest and trunk-ortreating. But also, it will play host to vendors, food trucks and a DJ. Also stay tuned for dash plaques, a 50/50 raffle and prizes, and T-shirts round out the firefighterrepresenting nonprofit’s plans. To top it off, the event will benefit the F.O.R. Maricopa Food Bank.
Copper Sky Park, 44345 W. Bowlin Road, Maricopa, https://bit.ly/3nN46Ow, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., $15-$30
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FIT FOR AN EMPEROR
JB Smoove welcomes sports betting, Caesars Sportsbook to Arizona
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The Emmy Awards, HBO and sports betting in Arizona have one thing in common. JB Smoove has a hand in them.
Earlier this year, Smoove received his first career Emmy nomination for Best Actor in a Short Form Series for his performance as Chief Billy Bills in the “Mapleworth Murders.” The nomination was a long time coming for the acclaimed showman.
“I got my start in the industry in the 1990s on the comedy circuit in New York and then with Def Jam Comedy, and eventually with a gig on MTV, just like Snookie,” Smoove says with a laugh.
Technically, his MTV break came with a 1999 recurring role on the channel’s “The Lyricist Lounge Show,” not a reality television show.
In 1999, Smoove also landed a guest spot on HBO’s “The Chris Rock Show,” where he would work for the first time with Rock. In fact, Smoove eventually worked on Rock’s “Everybody Hates Chris” TV series in the mid-2000s and then star with Rock in the 2014 feature film “Top Five.”
During the nearly 15 years in between “The Chris Rock Show” and “Top Five,” Smoove worked as a cast member on “Cedric the Entertainer Presents “and earned a writing position on “Saturday Night Live,” which, in 2007, earned Smoove and his fellow writing partners a Writers Guild award for Best Comedy/ Variety Series.
He also appeared in “Date Night” with Steve Carell and Tina Fey and the Farrelly Brothers-directed comedy “Hall Pass,” as well as “The Sitter” with Jonah Hill, “We Bought a Zoo” with Matt Damon and “The Dictator” opposite Sacha Baron Cohen.
In 2007, Smoove not only earned the “SNL” honors, but he began his careerdefining role as Leon Black on “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
“I joined in season six after my fictional sister, Loretta Black (played by Vivica A. Fox), was displaced during Hurricane (Edna) and moved in with Larry David,” Smoove says.
His character also moved into David’s palatial California mansion despite already living in Los Angeles and never experiencing Katrina-like fictional Edna himself. “I moved in and never left.”
Smoove’s masculine, ultra-confident, freeloading character quickly became a fan favorite on the highly improvised series, which follows “Seinfeld” cocreator David as he plays a version of himself living semi-retired and always annoyed in Los Angeles.
“Most people don’t know, but JB actually stands for Jerry Brooks, so I am technically the second Jerry to hilariously terrorize Larry on TV,” Smoove says.
After being derailed by COVID-19, Smoove and David will return to the small screen later this month for the much-anticipated 11th season of the series.
“While I can’t give anything away, this season is a sure bet for viewers,” Smoove says. “And you can trust me, because I am now the grand emperor of the betting world.”
While that may sound like hyperbole, Smoove is only half joking.
On September 9, Smoove rolled into Phoenix on a chariot — a luxury Uber wrapped like a chariot, to be more specific — to serve as Caesars Entertainment’s Caesar to usher in sports betting across Arizona. He joined executives from Caesars Entertainment as well as Derrick Hall and Luis Gonzalez of the Arizona Diamondbacks for the public celebration.
“The Caesars Sportsbook at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, is going to be a state-ofart entertainment destination unlike any other in Arizona,” Smoove says.
During the ceremonial first bet on September 9, Smoove provided a $20,000 donation from Caesars to the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation to fete the partnership and the organization’s commitment to the community. The sportsbook, sports bar and broadcast studio, made possible through Caesars’ exclusive sports betting and daily fantasy partnership, will be located at the former Game 7 Grill space located just outside of Chase Field. It will feature a sports betting experience befit for an emperor and an all-inclusive experience for nonsports bettors alike.
The approximately 20,000-squarefoot, two-story venue will feature indoor and outdoor seating options including two floors of sports betting space, a fullservice bar and VIP lounge, an extensive menu, and wall-to-wall flat screens. The space will be open year-round, but no wagering is allowed on game days. The venue will have flexible hours of operation to cater to specific sporting events. Bet like a Caesar: Two floors of sports betting space provide a next-level atmosphere to bet. Whether it’s with a teller at a kiosk, or on the Caesars Sportsbook app, customers will have many choices to easily place a wager. Watch like a Caesar: With around
The Insider’s Guide to Arizona Entertainment
entertainermag.com
1,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor LED screens, Caesars Sportsbook at Chase Field will be a sports environment worthy of any Caesars emperor. With many major sporting events being displayed, customers will never have to worry about asking to change the channel again. Dine like a Caesar: A sports betting experience befi t for an emperor needs a menu to feast like one. Customers can indulge in top-notch food in 10,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor dining space. Hydrate like a Caesar: Caesar never walks around without his goblet, so customers can make sure to have a drink in hand, too. Emperors can grab their preferred beverage of choice at the inside or outside bar, or even at the private bar in the VIP lounge. Arrive like a Caesar: Caesar never strolled far to get where he wanted once he stepped off his chariot. Th at will be the case at Caesars Sportsbook, where the action is easily accessible from parking areas surrounding Chase Field.
“Th e Caesars Sportsbook at Chase Field will be the premier sports betting and entertainment destination in Downtown Phoenix,” says Hall, the president and chief executive offi cer of the Arizona D-backs.
“D-backs fans, Arizona residents and out-of-state visitors, whether they are sports bettors or not, should look forward to this state-of-the-art, yearround location that will feature fi rstclass dining, betting and hospitality experience — all while taking in their favorite sporting event or watching their favorite team. Th is sportsbook will transform the sports viewing experience in Arizona.”
While the permanent space is being built, according to Smoove, fans can make a bet at Chase Field at ticket windows 21 to 25, marking the fi rst MLB stadium where sports fans can place an in-person wager. Leading up to the grand opening of the retail space, bets can also be placed at fi ve betting kiosks on the north side of the plaza being installed in the interim.
“As Caesar, I would be remiss if I didn’t also note my reign over sports betting through modern technology in Arizona as well,” Smoove says.
Arizonans can download the Caesars Sportsbook app, register and place bets at their fi ngertips as well.
Th e easy-to-navigate app integrates mobile sports betting with Caesars’ industry-leading loyalty program, Caesars Rewards, where every bet, win or lose rewards the bettor with Tier Credits and Reward Credits that can be used to unlock unbeatable experiences within the Caesars portfolio of properties and partnerships, including access to VIP experiences with the D-backs at Chase Field for registered app users in Arizona.
“We are all Caesars now! Let the bets begin, Arizona!” Smoove says.
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THE KING OF RANT
Lewis Black takes on anti-vaxxers and the nation
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Lewis’ fans can hear his rants when Lewis Black is angry, but that’s not really a surprise. He’s ticked off at the country, hates the October staple candy corn, and is irritated with the he visits Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino in Maricopa on Friday, October 29. Known as the “king of rant,” Lewis said touring again has been a blessing. The pandemic was hard on Black, as he stopped doing comedy. COVID-19 pandemic. “I was just really trying to maintain
“No country has more and knows my sanity and make sure that my anger how to do less,” he says. “It’s really didn’t boil over,” he says. “I tried to spectacular.” maintain my faith in my fellow man,
That opinion applies to individual too. states as well as the nation as a “But I stopped doing comedy. I don’t whole. He is livid about Texas’ recent work with Zoom or the rest of it. I legislation that bans abortions at need to work in front of an audience about six weeks from the patient’s last consistently. I write in front of an menstrual period. audience. I reached the point where my
“In Texas, they passed an abortion law audience knows that’s what I’m doing, that protects the unborn, and yet we’ll and they’ve been really generous to give send children — defenseless children — me the space to do it.” to a school and we don’t want them to The podcast “Lewis Black’s Rantcast” wear masks,” he says. kept him busy during the pandemic. To
“They don’t go together. The left side create it, he shares fans’ rants. of the brain is arguing with the right side “I created, essentially, a podcast, but of the brain. We’re creating a vigilante I’m doing a show that’s written by my culture. There are bounties. They are audience,” he says. “That’s what kept me bounty hunting pregnant women. I don’t going, and that’s what I’ve been doing. talk about abortion on stage. If I found I introduce it and then I talk about a joke for it, I’d do it. I don’t know if whatever’s gone on that week.” there’s a framework large enough.” During the interview, he ranted about anti-vaxxers, who irritate Black. For a nation that’s “scarfing down” supplements, he doesn’t understand why folks are afraid to have the vaccination.
“‘Vaccine? I’m not going to take this one!’” he says, mimicking anti-vaxxers. “Apparently, 34% of the American people don’t trust their government. I get that, but this is for everyone’s health, schmuck. It’s separate from government. Government, politics and freedom are three different things. That’s why they’re spelled differently.”
Lewis Black
WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday, October 29 WHERE: Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, 15406 Maricopa Road, Maricopa COST: Tickets start at $44.50 INFO: 480.802.5000, caesars. com/harrahs-ak-chin
HISTORIC EVENT
Arizona State Fair moves on without concerts
By Sarah Haber
One hundred-plus years.
One hundred-plus years of cotton candy smiles and funnel cakefueled belly laughs. One hundred-plus years of Ferris wheel journeys and children overcoming their fears. That’s over a century of momentous opening days, live performances and togetherness — all thanks to the Arizona State Fair.
The COVID-19 pandemic took away the sacred tradition of the Arizona State Fair in 2020, but it’s returning this year. After a trying time, it is safe to say that patrons deserve a fried Oreo and an adventurous day on rides. Throughout October, that’s just what Arizonans will do.
Although the world around us has changed, the memories that we continue to make at the fair will never change, Arizona State Fair coordinator Briana Martinez says.
“The fair reminds us to slow down and just enjoy the moment,” Martinez says.
This year, the Arizona State Fair is eschewing concerts, but the energy and excitement are the same. Attendees can expect a safe, COVID-19 protocolenforced environment that will ensure family safety. Hand sanitizer will be available, and masks and social distancing will be recommended. Enhanced safety features include online ticket sales. To encourage it, organizers dropped service fees.
On October 1, when the fair returns, there will be monster trucks, a rodeo, art exhibits, hypnotists, jugglers, fried olives and fried ice cream. Additionally, this year the fair will run 21 days instead of 18. Concerts will take a pause this year in light of COVID-19 issues.
“The Arizona State Fair is the largest event here,” says Martinez, who noted that in 2019, the fair saw 1.4 million attendees.
“We’ve been having it for over a century. It’s older than the state has been a state.”
Started in 1884, the fair has been a roller coaster, with multiple interruptions. However, it has always returned. The long hours and months of planning that go into this event are what truly make it so special.
Arizona State Fair
WHEN: Friday, October 1, to Saturday, October 30; closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Hours: 5 p.m. Friday, October 1; noon to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, noon to 10 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays WHERE: State Fairgrounds, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix COST: $10 for children (5-13) or seniors (ages 55 and older); $12 adults (14 to 54); free for children 5 and younger. INFO: azstatefair.com
DRAWING THE CURTAINS
Mykal Kilgore spills his heart on new single
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
Mykal Kilgore is affable and cheery. The versatile performer known for stretching across musical genres is giddy about his return to the Chandler Center for the Arts on Sunday, October 10.
“The last time I was there, it was with India Arie,” he says. “I hate to sound corny, but it was magical. I actually cried at the end of the show.
“There was so much love in the room. At the end of her shows, she brings her support act out and we sing a little something together. The audience was screaming and applauding as I came out. I wasn’t prepared. I was so overwhelmed. I just started crying while India was holding my hand.”
Kilgore’s career spans from Broadway to Postmodern Jukebox with a resume filled with appearances in “Motown the Musical,” “The Book of Mormon,” “Hair,” “The Wiz Live!” and the viral video “Reclaiming My Time.” Kilgore was nominated for a Grammy in 2021 for his single “Let Me Go.”
“Some of the things I’ve experienced and achieved, my 12-year-old self would be doing cartwheels,” he says.
Kilgore was raised in Orlando and yearned to be in the “Mickey Mouse Club.”
“Orlando has such a storied history of entertainment down to an excellent level,” he says. “Living in LA, I have to be very careful not to go too crazy on my Orlando love.”
The COVID-19 pandemic taught Kilgore one thing: There’s nothing on the Earth like performing. He may do the same show each night, but the new audiences keep it fresh.
In mid-September, Kilgore released the surprise single “The Man in the Barbershop.” It tells the story of Kilgore seeing a beautiful man in the barbershop. Subsequently, he dreams about what their life could be like.
“It’s me being as adorable as Renee Zellweger in ‘Bridget Jones’ Diary,’” he says. “I want to take a swing at romantic lead in a rom-com.
“I want to show people that, even in a man’s soul and heart, there is softness and tenderness and fragility,” he says. “I want that to be on display. There is a power in your emotions. I want to be really clear that this music is about me. It’s about my Black life, my queer life, my American life — all those things come together to create it.
“I’m more than a jukebox to people. I’m a real human being who is allowing everyone in to see what goes on behind my curtain.”
At the Chandler Center for the Arts, Kilgore is performing with Jamison Ross, who blurs the lines between jazz, R&B, soul, gospel and blues. His debut album, “Jamison,” garnered a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album. His sophomore effort, “All for One,” reveals, “We all have the capacity to love with empathy in a deeper way.”
“At the show, fans can expect a lot of great singing,” Kilgore says. “I feel like my theater experience has turned my concert mindset into a cabaret mindset. I like to give audiences a chance to get to know me better.
“I ask the people, whatever show they want, I will give it to them. I think audiences have to remember their responsibility, too. Come hyped to see the show. Don’t make me have to beg and plead for it.”
An Evening with Mykal Kilgore & Jamison Ross
WHEN: 7 p.m. Sunday, October 10 WHERE: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler COST: Tickets start at $36 INFO: 480.782.2680, chandlercenter.org
