2013
• ART + CULTURE
Mesa Arts Center The MAC brings culture, entertainment, and art to the Valley scene. By Julie Carlson To a theater and music enthusiast, there’s nothing more enjoyable than a live show. How wonderful that the Valley has multiple venues where residents and visitors can see a touring Broadway show, attend a concert and see musicians up close and personal, and view artistic works from local and renowned artists without having to travel far! One such venue is the Mesa Arts Center, which has a long and storied history as a prominent community arts center. Established in 1980 as a division of the city of Mesa Parks and Recreation Department, the MAC was housed in the old Irving school building located near downtown Mesa until 2004. Over the last 33 years, the center has offered fantastic performances,art classes,and visual exhibits for adults and children. In 2002, the MAC that residents and many visitors have come to know and enjoy today was built at its present location in the heart of charming downtown Mesa, close to a variety of restaurants and shops.The stunning community arts education center, owned and operated by the city of Mesa, spans over seven acres on a modern landscaped outdoor plaza called Shadow Walk. It boasts four magnificent theaters, five galleries within the Mesa Community Arts Museum, two studios for 14 stateof-the-art visual and performing arts classrooms, a running arroyo, and meeting spaces. “Our venues are magnificently beautiful, and our programming is varied, with very high standards,”says Cindy Ornstein, director of the Arts and Culture Department for the city of Mesa and the executive director of the Mesa Arts Center. “We are the only large multidisciplinary arts center in the Valley.” The eclectic MAC has won numerous awards, including the Award of Excellence for Public Design from the Urban Land Institute the year after it opened and the Award of Excellence for Performing Arts Centers from the International Association of Venue Managers. Critics and audience members consistently award the MAC as Best Concert Venue and
42
AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2013
Best Place to see Live National Acts. “Locally, we are the largest in Maricopa County and the state, and our programs are highly respected and receive regular positive reviews from the media,” Ornstein says. “Nationally, our level of activity puts us in the
Museum-goers can create their own art in one of over 700 classes.
been hosted at MAC venues. Upcoming concerts in the Performing Live Series are the Monkees on August 9, Lyle Lovett and His Large Band on August 15, and the Tenors on October 19. You can also take in some expert advice with motivational speaker Dr. Cesar Lozano on September 6. Love the zany A variety of artists plays to packed houses and funny Alton Brown of the Food at the beautiful Ikeda Theatre at the MAC. Network? He’ll be at MAC on October 20.The Mesa Encore Theatre at the Center will company of the other large and diverse arts cenpresent Grease 2013 from August 16 through ters in other major markets.” September 1, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and OkaThe Mesa Arts Center has anywhere from lahoma! in October. The MAC is on track for a 50 to 65 shows in its Performing Live Season new record to achieve a total of over 450,000 that appeal to every taste and age. MAC is visits for the 2012–13 season. home to Symphony of the Southwest, Ballet Etudes, Southwest Shakespeare Company, One of the things the center and its emEast Valley Children’s Theater, Mesa Encore ployees and volunteers are hopeful about is the Theatre, Metropolitan Youth Symphony, and prospect of having a light-rail system comthe Salt River Brass. In addition to Broadway ing to downtown Mesa. Also in the works shows and pop concerts, the center hosts free is a second outdoor stage called the Alliance outdoor concerts and festivals. Pavilion, for both visual arts demonstrations and performances. For up-and-coming artists of any age, MAC offers more than 700 year-round art classes for The Mesa Arts Center is a must to visit. youth and adults, including sculpture, ballet, Choose a show or a class from the many that playwriting, acting, blacksmithing, and beadare available. If you haven’t been there, it’s time ing. The theaters also host rental performances to check it out. If you have been to the Mesa Arts by a wide variety of groups brought in by outside Center, there are plenty of new performances promoters or community groups. Dance recitals, and exhibits in store for your enjoyment.To learn high school graduations, and rock concerts have more, visit mesaartscenter.com.