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THE MESA TRIBUNE | JULY 3, 2022
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Chandler center lines up free summer concerts GETOUT STAFF
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handler Center for the Arts has planned an electric series of free summer concerts Friday nights in July and August. All concerts are held at 7:30 p.m. and feature local artists. No ticket is required, but RSVP is requested with all seating done on a first come, first served basis. Attendees are invited to cool off with a soda, wine, beer, or the evening’s signature drink. Explore The Gallery at the Chandler Center for the Arts after-hours to see the latest exhibit and take advantage of exclusive flash ticket sale offers for upcoming performances. Information: chandlercenter.org/Summer2022 Here’s the lineup:
Brea Burns & The Boleros, July 15
Enjoy a night of classic country with a twist of rockabilly as front woman and songwriter Brea Burns’ well-crafted songs tell tales of cheating, heartache, honky tonks and everything in between. Put on your cowboy boots and vintage 50s wear, tease up your hair and join us for a swinging evening, minus the sawdust on the floor.
Gabriel Bey & Friends, July 22 Playing trumpet since 1960, Gabriel Bey has performed jazz all over the world. Join him and his band for an evening of smooth rhythms and laid-back grooves with music from Miles Davis, Kenny Garett, Roy Hargrove and even Prince. Cisco & the Racecars, Aug. 5 Clap and tap your toes to the bluegrass, folk and Americana of Cisco & the Racecars. Known for their energetic style, diverse arrangements and a unique blend of old and new, see why they are considered one of the premier bluegrass bands in the Southwest. Smokestack Lightning, Aug. 12 This powerhouse band from the Gila River community delivers both the gutwrenching pull of the blues and the restless beat of rock ‘n’ roll. With heart thump-
ing tempos setting the stage, expressive strings and vocals tell stories of pain, triumph, loneliness and joy. Guitarras Latinas, Aug. 19 Guitarras Latinas will take you on a musical journey through Latin America with beautiful flamenco guitar, spicy castanets, romantic vocals and dynamic percussion. No need for a passport for this cultural tour. Information: chandlercenter.org
Underground Railroad musical debuting in Chandler GETOUT STAFF
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he Chandler Center for the Arts will premiere “North,” a new musical by writer and composer Ashli St. Armant, in November. Set to a powerful score filled with jazz and historically Black music genres rooted in New Orleans, “North” tells the story of Lawrence and his mother, Minnie, as they escape the Deep South and travel north through the Underground Railroad, to seek freedom. “North The Musical” has been co-commissioned by four performing arts centers from across the U.S.: the Lied Center of Lawrence, Kansas, Chandler Center for the Arts in Chandler Arizona, the Segerstrom Center in Costa Mesa, California, and Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio. Set in the 1850s, it is based on actual accounts of slave escapes through the Underground Railroad network, as well as St. Armant’s personal family history of overcoming slavery in Louisiana. “In this beautifully crafted musical,
“North The Musical” is based partly on playwright-producer Ashli St. Armant’s own ancestry. (Special to GetOut)
‘North’ brings forth the full experience of freedom-seekers: optimism, bravery, playfulness, wonder, suspense, and mystery,” the arts center said in a release.
On Oct. 25, it will premiere in Lawrence, Kansas, an important historical location of the Underground Railroad in the 1800s and one featured prominently in the story.
The production then moves to Chandler, where it will premiere at Chandler Center for the Arts. Audiences attending the 2022 premiere performances will be the first to see it prior to its 2023-24 tour, which is setting its sights on Broadway. Chandler performances of “North The Musical” are Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 5 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave. Tickets are on sale at chandlercenter.org or 480-782-2680. Tickets are $42 and $32 with $15 tickets for youth. The musical is intended for intergenerational audiences (ages 10 and up). Surrounding the public performances, Chandler Center for the Arts will hold discussions and events related to the creation of the new musical. The production will also be part of Chandler Center for the Arts educational programs with study guides, educator workshops, classroom visits and a student performance for area schools. “North is a testament to the ingenious,
see NORTH page 27
