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Chandler center lines up free summer concerts
GETOUT STAFF
Chandler 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 thumping 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
The 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,
ACROSS
1 Chantilly, e.g. 5 Chicken -9 Leg, in slang 12 Mr. Stravinsky 13 Sparkling Italian wine 14 Have bills 15 Bouncing toy 17 Retrieve 18 Ruby and Sandra 19 Apple products 21 Buy more Time? 24 Handle 25 New Mexico resort 26 Monotonous 30 Work unit 31 Chair designer Charles 32 Odometer start 33 Winter road clearer 35 Remain 36 Church area 37 Buckwheat porridge 38 Physicist Enrico 40 Slightly 42 White House nickname 43 Company emblems 48 Grazing land 49 Scott Turow book 50 Valentine flower 51 Curvy letter 52 Yuletide tune 53 Faction
DOWN
1 Back talk 2 In the past 3 Gear tooth 4 Wears away 5 Winslet of “Titanic” 6 Egyptian deity 7 List-ending abbr. 8 Minnesota footballers 9 ‘60s footwear 10 Dumbstruck 11 Citi Field team 16 Stitch 20 Not neg. 21 Numbered rds. 22 Deserve 23 Restricted zones 24 Recognized 26 Shopper’s delight 27 “As I see it,” to a texter 28 Ancient mariner 29 Maja painter 31 Delta follower 34 Typing speed stat 35 Nymph pursuers 37 Tool set 38 Dossier 39 Stretches (out) 40 Baseball’s Tommie 41 Weevil’s target 44 Music’s Yoko 45 “Ulalume” writer 46 Computer key 47 Filming site
Sudoku
With JAN D’ATRI
GetOut Contributor
You might come to love stuffed grape leaves with this recipe
I’ve always sort of liked stuffed grape leave. But it wasn’t until this recipe that I now love them!
What a difference a great recipe can make, right?
Stuffed grape leaves, also known as Dolmas or Dolmades, can be a delightful appetizer or side dish to a wonderful Mediterranean or Middle Eastern menu.
I found this dish to be really fun to make. The hardest part is taking the grape leaves out of the jar! I have no idea how they stuff them in there, but have patience and take your time getting them out.
After that, smooth sailing to a memorable meal!.■
Rub ingredients:
• 25-30 grape leaves, plus more to line the pan • 1 pound ground pork • 5 tablespoons rice, partially cooked and rinsed • 1 large sweet onion, chopped fine • 1 tablespoon butter • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil • 1 small bunch cilantro, chopped • 10 large basil leaves, chopped
Directions:
Carefully take grape leaves out of the jar, and rinse well. Remove stems. Set torn leaves aside to line the pan later. Partially cook rice by adding rice and 2/3 cups of water to a small pan. Bring to a boil and let simmer 3-4 minutes. Transfer to a sieve and rinse.
Add butter and vegetable oil to a medium pan over medium high heat. When butter is melted add onion and cook, stirring, until translucent and just starting to brown, about 3 minutes. Let cool slightly.
In a large bowl, combine pork, cooked onion, rice, chopped cilantro, basil, mint, cumin, salt, and pepper.
On a clean working surface, place a grape leaf smooth and shiny side down. Put about 2 tablespoons of the beef/rice mixture in the middle of the leave, closer to the stem. Fold the bottom part of the leaf, covering the filling. Then fold two sides over and roll the leaf up, burrito style, seam side • 10 medium mint leaves, chopped • 1 tablespoon ground cumin • 1 teaspoon salt • 1 teaspoon black pepper • 1/4 cup lemon juice • 1 teaspoon salt • 2 cups water (or more depending on the size of your pan)
down. Repeat with all the remaining leaves and filling.
Line a large deep skillet with grape leaves. Place the dolmas close to each other in the grape leaves lined pan. (You can make two layers if needed.) Combine lemon juice, water and salt and pour into the skillet just to barely cover the dolmas.
Place an inverted plate or a smaller lid on top of the dolmas to prevent them from floating and unwrapping. (This step is essential!)
Bring to a boil, then immediately reduce heat to a gentle simmer for 60-75 minutes.
Remove from heat and let stand for 15-30 minutes. Serves 12. (Note: You can find a Dolmas Spice Blend at any Middle Eastern Market which can replace the fresh herbs. If choosing this option, replace the fresh cilantro, basil and mint with one heaping tablespoon of dried Dolmas Spice Blend)
enduring, and multifaceted lives of Black folks throughout our nation’s history,” said St. Armant.
“In our own family lineage, I learned that there were people who survived the unimaginable in the most creative ways, and they deserve to have their stories told. I want my children to know that their ancestors were more than just a line item on a bill of sale.”
St. Armant created the original score to reflect the musical legacy of her roots in New Orleans. “You can’t tell the story of the people of New Orleans without our music. This music is the glue that has held us together throughout the centuries.”
To complement the story, the musical genres are equal parts jazz, musical theatre, and St. Armant’s own signature style. For inspiration she drew from an array of musical heroes, including Nat King Cole, Mahalia Jackson, Fela Kuti and Stephen Sondheim. Songs include “Never,” “Git On Board,”“Oh What These Trees Have Seen,” “On The Run,” “Head Straight, Shoulders Back” and more.
The commissioning of the musical is part of Chandler Center for the Arts’ efforts to give voice to new works and artists through its community engagement and audience development programs.
“Ashli St. Armant has captured through the intersection of music, storytelling and history a brilliant and uplifting piece of musical theatre. Chandler Center for the Arts believes that new work which reflects the stories of people of color are vitally important to people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds,” said General Manager Michelle Mac Lennan. “This piece, in particular speaks to the history of Black Americans during slavery, but also helps us relate to the characters as individuals with their own dreams, doubts and unique personalities.” A jazz vocalist, composer, musician and musical theater playwright, St. Armant is known for her award-winning work in education and entertainment including her band, Jazzy Ash and Leaping Lizards, and her Audible mystery series, Viva Durant, which includes the New York Times bestselling story, “Viva Durant and the Secret of the Silver Buttons.”
“North” is her debut theatrical production.
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