ON Stage: Reimagined Tucson 2020-2021

2020-2021

TUCSON

ONSTAGE

the arts reimagined

Presented by:

NEW VISIONS FOR THE ARTS DURING UNPRECEDENTED TIMES

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aving served the medical imaging needs of southern Arizona for over 85 years, the local roots of Radiology Ltd. run deep. What began as a small group of radiologists has grown into a thriving organization of over 400 employees, covering four Arizona hospitals and providing comprehensive medical imaging services at eight outpatient imaging centers.

We are big enough to be the largest radiology provider in southern Arizona, yet small enough to still genuinely appreciate each of our patients as individuals.

Bradley J. Bohnert, M.D. Chief Executive Officer Radiology Ltd.

David T. Jeck, M.D. President Radiology Ltd.

We have seen many great years with significant advancements in both medicine and radiology, including the development of subspecialized radiology care, state-of-the-art CT and MRI technology, and low-risk image-guided procedures. We have also felt the struggle of difficult years, with 2020 proving to be one the most trying for both the state and the nation.

During this difficult time, Radiology Ltd. is proud to support the arts so that we can all benefit from uplifting, thoughtful, and inspirational story telling. Thank you — to our arts community, to our healthcare heroes, and to everyone in Tucson for banding together and staying strong.

ON STAGE 2020–2021 |

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TABLE OF CONTENTS FALL 2020

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Sponsor Welcome: RADIOLOGY LTD.

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THE MINI TIME MACHINE MUSEUM OF MINIATURES

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Cover Artist: IGNACIO GARCIA

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THE ROGUE THEATRE

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Nonprofit Beneficiary: ACT ONE

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TRUE CONCORD VOICES AND ORCHESTRA

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ARIZONA ARTS

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TUCSON BOTANICAL GARDENS

20

ARIZONA OPERA

43

TUCSON DESERT SONG FESTIVAL

23

ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY

45

TUCSON JAZZ FESTIVAL

27

BALLET TUCSON

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TUCSON MUSEUM OF ART

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BROADWAY IN TUCSON

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TUCSON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

31

FOX TUCSON THEATRE

This publication is made possible by:

Ads sold by:

Act One, a 501(c)(3) which provides meaningful arts experiences that enhance the academic and creative potential of children and families in Arizona.

Onmediaaz.com | sales@onmediaaz.com

910 E. Osborn Road, Suite C Phoenix, AZ 85014 Act1az.org Executive Director: Bernadette Carroll Director of Arts Education: Dr. Beth Maloney

CEO: Linda “Mac” Perlich CFO: Mark Kochman COO/Production Manager: Deidra Viberg Director of Sales: Michelle Schneider Managing Editor, ON Stage: Jennifer Woods Senior Account Executives: Lisa Grannis, Robyn Lambert, Deidra Viberg and Jennifer Woods

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Michelle Glicksman and Beverly Medlyn

GRAPHIC DESIGN BY Snugbutter

ON STAGE

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Volume 6

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Issued FALL 2020

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Annual Publication

This season, ON Stage looks a little different. Normally, a season preview guide, ON Stage: The Arts Reimagined will walk you through how our arts community is working hard summoning grit, determination and wild creativity to to survive the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and bring you, the arts patron, performances and exhibits in new ways.

FIND THIS SEASON’S CALENDAR ONLINE AT ONSTAGEAZ.COM

N O S C U T R FO LANDING PROSPERITY IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA As an economic engine, Tucson International Airport (TUS) is home to businesses large and small, with thousands of employees generating an economic impact that benefits us all. More than an airport, TUS is working nonstop to be a catalyst for prosperity.

IGNACIO GARCIA cover artist

M

uralist and public artist, Ignacio Garcia is well known throughout Arizona and California for his 3D chalk murals and large photo-realistic murals, like the Bill Walton riding a Jackalope on the side of the Rialto Theater, that often play on whimsical, playful pop art ideas. Now, his studio art is blending his street art and abstract art, reflecting his Sonoran lifestyle. Garcia is an artistic studies graduate of East Valley Institute of Technology in Mesa, Arizona, as well as the Gnomon Workshop in Hollywood, California.

Ignacio finds his inspiration from artists Mark Bradford and Gerald Richter. Through his work, he offers his innovative and unique point of view. A fundamental motivation of his work is to challenge his audience’s — as well as his own — point of view. Ignacio’s craft thrives on the emotional and physical reaction it induces in the viewers. The research, reflection and exploration of a topic that precedes a finished piece of work is meant to invoke authentic, unpredictable and organic responses from each individual.

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Connect with Ignacio on Instagram @ignacio_garcia_art or for purchase inquires, contact artebyignacio@gmail.com.

Visit his website at iggiart.com.

To submit a piece of artwork for next season’s ON Stage guide, contact inquiry@onmediaaz.com.

La Posada is Southern Arizona’s premier senior community

ACT ONE nonprofit beneficiary

WE

have all faced times of uncertainty, but never collectively as a whole. The year 2020 has not been easy for anyone‌on the planet. Except for maybe the dogs, who think it is wonderful that we are home. All. The. Time. But aside from our pets, everyone in every industry has suffered some way from the impact of COVID-19, either by the disease, the economy or both.

Bernadette Carroll Executive Director Act One

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Speaking as someone involved in the arts industry for the past 20 years, sometimes we feel like hamsters on a wheel. We are constantly planning for next season’s performances, programs and galas. Time goes at warp speed and just when you have completed your season, you start all over again with the next. At the beginning of COVID-19, it felt as though time had stopped. No one knew what to do or what to expect. Most of us thought it was a fluke, and our theaters and venues

OUR FUTURE BEGINS TODAY

would go back to normal soon. So we waited, and waited, and then got creative. This pause in our never-ending cycle of arts seasons gave us the much-needed time to reflect and reinvent ourselves. We could finally take a deep dive and look at our organizations inside and out: What is necessary to survive, and what is possible?

Act One is no different. Up until March 2020, we relied solely on our arts partners to provide the venues and performances that artistically feed the minds of the Title One children we serve.

This period of reflection made us see that it is time to get into the game and create our own unique field trip experiences. Act One is now exploring the growing technology of virtual reality. Imagine an immersive arts experience where children can simply put on a headset and be transformed to a symphony stage to hear a piece by Mozart, visit the Great Pyramid of Giza to learn about the ancient Egyptians, or

walk right into and be surrounded by Monet’s Water Lilies. Technology is now letting each child sit in the front row. Though we all yearn to be back in the galleries, museums, theaters and arts centers — those sacred spaces that can transform audiences, we now can incorporate technology to alter reality in the most creative ways. That is what we do in the arts. We create.

Field trips, in the traditional sense, will always be a core Act One program. Our partnerships with our local arts venues are vital and treasured. We believe that all children should experience the magic, awe and sometimes goosebumps from seeing a live performance or entering a symphony hall or museum. But we at Act One are also ready for “Act Two,” which is the exploration of virtual reality.

This is the future of field trips, and Act One is driving the bus.

ON STAGE 2020–2021 |

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GET A FIRSTHAND LOOK INTO THE SHATTERED MIND OF EMILY STILSON Grand Canyon University’s College of Fine Arts and Production invites you to livestream Ethington Theatre’s opening night performance of

“WINGS” ON NOV. 18 AT 8 PM.

Told from the perspective of a stroke victim, “Wings” tells the story of Emily Stilson and her difficult journey to recreate order and rediscover reality. Watch in awe as memories flood Emily’s brain and she comes to terms with her new reality.

To livestream “Wings” on Nov. 18, visit gcu.edu/wings

For more information, visit

GCU.EDU/COFAP GCU, while reserving its lawful rights in light of its Christian mission, is committed to maintaining an academic environment that is free from unlawful discrimination. Further detail on GCU’s non-discrimination policies can be found at gcu.edu/titleIX. The information printed in this material is accurate as of SEPTEMBER 2020. For the most up-to-date information about admission requirements, tuition, scholarships and more, visit gcu.edu. ©2020 Grand Canyon University 20COF0157

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ARIZONA ARTS envisioning the new world

By Beverly Medlyn

At

a time when people need the arts more than ever, the University of Arizona is finding new ways to engage the community, train students despite the uncertain future and sustain the local arts ecosystem, all impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

“What does the new world look like?” asked Andrew “Andy” Schulz, the university’s vice president for the arts and dean of the College of Fine Arts. “We are looking for the best ways to engage with our audiences at this time, and we hope people are willing to be adventurous and come along with us.”

Arts and athletics are the two front doors to the university, says Schulz, who assumed the newly created vice president position two years ago, coming from Pennsylvania State University.

His first order of business was to devise a unified gateway called Arizona Arts, integrating the College of Fine Arts with the university’s public-facing entities. Those entities include Center for Creative Photography, UA Museum of Art, Arizona Arts Live (formerly UA Presents) and Arizona Arts in Schools, which serves K-12 students in challenging socio-economic circumstances.

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Launched in July 2019, Arizona Arts had eight months to get established before COVID-19 shut the doors of performing arts venues, museums and many classrooms.

Millions of dollars in revenue have been lost.

But the tough circumstances also represented an opportunity for Arizona Arts to take wing, Schulz says. “The holistic structure puts us in constant communication and collaboration with one another to send a unified message,” he says.

ARIZONA ARTS LIVE Chad Herzog was brought on board last year to reimagine UA Presents, which had been in place 25 years as the presenting organization for live performance. Typically, events have been staged at the university’s Centennial Hall, a 2,500-seat theater that is temporarily closed.

Arizona Arts Live, unveiled this fall, takes the arts outside building walls, adding an element of surprise.

“We will make Southern Arizona our stage rather than just Centennial Hall,” Herzog said.

“Performances will happen all over Arizona.

When we talk about Arizona Arts Live we

“We can choose to sit back and wait for a vaccine or a miracle or we can do the work we need to be doing to try to find some kind of joy and creativity in the world we are living in,” says Chad Herzog, executive director of Arizona Arts Live.

are talking about ‘Experience Unexpected.’

Delivering unexpected moments is our core.”

Among this fall’s innovative live offerings: •

A new concert series, “Inside/Out” taking live performances into the lush Sonoran Desert, with the audience listening on headphones allowing them to enjoy the music from afar.

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Images of faces projected onto trees and gardens at the university campus.

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Two co-commissioned pieces of interactive theatre developed for our current times connecting us to our past, our own present, and our collective future.

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Six concerts in Arizona Stadium featuring some of the best music the Sonoran Desert has to offer.

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“A Christmas Carol” performed by a Chicago-based theater company posted online.

Herzog came from New Haven, Connecticut, where he directed the International Festival of Arts and Ideas. The move was a homecoming for Herzog, born and raised in Phoenix.

Programming will be designed to appeal to year-round residents and students, he says. Offerings are listed on the new website arizonaartslive.com.

In response to the pandemic, The Tucson Studio (thetucsonstudio.com) was launched as an online resource for Southern Arizona musicians to enhance their online presence.

The site provides technical assistance with audio and video production for live productions and a platform to showcase performances. In spring 2020, the first of the concert series was filmed on location at Tucson Botanical Gardens and posted on the online platform. Since then, over 30 performances have been filmed all over Tucson.

More than 200,000 people worldwide have watched Tucson Studio’s streaming concerts, Herzog says. “We try to encourage people to tip the artists through an online tip jar online,” he says. “A number of the artists have said they have made more money playing virtually than they used to playing in person.”

Another creative response to a current event occurred after a Trump administration ruling — subsequently rolled back — to require ON STAGE 2020–2021 |

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“I think the silver lining is that challenging times produce some of the most innovative and creative art,” says Anne Breckenridge Barrett, associate vice president for the arts. “We’ve seen protest photography, visual media, literature and politics, the rise of the citizen photojournalist.

All of those things will produce an incredibly important historical documentation of our times.” international students to take a course in person to maintain their visas.

That gave rise to Sounds from the Sonoran Desert, a one-credit class for students and Arizona Arts Live fans, who gather at the football stadium to listen to a variety of music endemic to the Southwest in an outdoor setting with ample space for socially distanced seating.

CENTER FOR CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY The Center for Creative Photography, founded in 1975 at the University of Arizona, is recognized as one of the world's finest academic art museums and study centers for the history of photography.

Its collection includes more than eight million archival objects, including negatives, writings, prints and audiovisual materials. The center also has acquired more than 110,000 works by 2,200 photographers.

“We are a research institution and a museum, serving a wide range of constituencies worldwide,” says Anne Breckenridge Barrett, center director and associate vice president for the arts. “Exhibitions and programming are planned months and years in advance. With the pandemic came an incredibly rapid overhaul of all the plans we had in place to respond to the moment.”

Funding structures shifted, with some disappearing overnight and new avenues opening, she says.

Like other university museums, the center closed in March. Staff works remotely except for a dedicated team that maintains the facility, ensuring the preservation of the archives and collection.

Digital programming has been developed and enhanced. Experts lecture on topics including how to preserve family photos and digital 16

photographs. It is now possible to take an online tour of the physical exhibitions, including projecting images onto a wall in your own home (ccp.arizona.edu).

Looking forward, Breckenridge Barrett anticipates a burst of creative work telling the stories of our times.

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA MUSEUM OF ART Though the University of Arizona Museum of Art has been closed since March, art aficionados can still stroll through the galleries, examine works of art from various angles and read about the artists’ works — all on the museum’s website (artmuseum.arizona.edu).

Modern art, American art and the work from the Samuel H. Kress Collection are among the current online exhibitions.

Those longing for human interaction can pop into the Virtual Art Trivia Happy Hour, available through Zoom. Pour a glass of your favorite beverage and tune in to take a multiple-choice online quiz (answered anonymously), and chat with your Zoom-mates.

Carla Fabris, a Tucson harpist, attends the happy hours along with her mother, an art history teacher who lives in New York.

“It’s really fun!” Fabris says. “It’s nice to see familiar faces on Zoom. And it’s a fun way to test your art history knowledge.”

The museum’s website also offers art lectures and practical classes, such as how to care for artwork in your home.

“Picturing 2020: A Community Reflects” features works by more than 150 Southern Arizona artists expressing concepts and images spawned by the pandemic, racial violence and political protest. The exhibit runs through March 2021.

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“We understand more clearly the value and the power of being in the same room and seeing the same thing and experiencing the same thing as other people,” says Andrew Schulz, vice president for the arts. “Live performance will come back.

It’s just a question of how long it takes.”

SCHOOL OF DANCE The School of Dance is planning outdoor drivein performances for Tucson audiences on the university mall. Patrons may sit in their cars to watch the shows, which will be under an hour long.

“While technology has accelerated exploration into new types of digital collaboration and presentation, there is no substitute for the powerful, shared experience of coming together to see live dance,” says Whitney Herr-Buchholz, director of operations and advancement for the School of Dance.

Online offerings will include work by faculty and dance majors filmed in the school’s theater and other locations specifically for digital presentation platforms, she says. Other online offerings will feature footage of works from the school’s archives.

This fall, dance students are attending classes both in-person at the campus and online.

Because dance by its nature involves close 18

physical contact, dance and athletic department administrators have collaborated on safety protocols, says Schulz.

The Fred Fox School of Music also faced safety challenges because playing musical instruments and singing pose a heightened risk of aerosolizing the virus, Schulz says. Special face masks were made with slits for musicians playing wind instruments, and covers were fashioned for brass instruments.

SCHOOL OF THEATRE, FILM AND TELEVISION The School of Theatre, Film and Television suspended live performances due to the pandemic and expanded online offerings.

Arizona Repertory Theatre, the public showcase for the school’s professional training, is exploring several performance alternatives for spring. In the meantime, the school will soon launch ART in Conversation, a series of online talks with industry luminaries.

A signature program of the school, “I Dream in Widescreen” is the annual premiere of senior thesis films. The event usually attracts a capacity audience to the Fox Tucson Theatre.

This year it was reimagined and expanded from a one-night event to a two-day film festival, featuring conversations with a dozen film and television industry notables, all alumni. The event took place live on the school’s YouTube channel, making the films accessible worldwide and attracting thousands of views, says Kerryn Negus, the school’s director of advancement and external relations.

At the start of the fall semester, most of the school’s classes are online. In-person classes meet in larger spaces like the Tornabene Theatre, where students and faculty follow mandatory safety protocols.

FUTURE PARTNERSHIPS AND SUPPORT Changes brought by the pandemic cut both ways, revealing both the possibilities and the

limitations of technology, Schulz says.

Though Arizona Arts has been hurt by this year’s lost revenue, the division has the benefit of being part of a large university system, he says.

“Where things are much harder are our local nonprofit arts organizations,” Schulz says. “We really worry about those organizations because they are essential partners for us. Most have very little safety net.”

Schulz envisions a future of deeper partnerships that strengthen both the university and local arts organizations. He also would like to see a sustainable funding mechanism created to support arts across the region.

“This is an extraordinary location to do the work we’re doing. There is so much here that is so rich and vibrant. But it feels very fragile now,” Schulz says. “What can people do?

Support their local arts ecosystem.”

For more information, visit arts.arizona.edu.

ON STAGE 2020–2021 |

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ARIZONA OPERA innovates to create a compelling new season

By Michelle Glicksman

E

ven while Arizona Opera, like the rest of the arts world, faces the uncertainty of the current pandemic, Joseph Specter, its president and general director, says the company is striving to expand its impact in the face of today’s challenges.

“This moment has caused us to take a harder look at our connection to community, the level of service we’re providing and the unique opportunities to grow our contribution to those we serve,” he explains. “Traditional cultural art forms across the country, such as opera, ballet and symphony, have struggled for years with the question of expanding their reach and impact, even during ‘normal’ times. This crisis has sharpened our focus in a way that I believe can ultimately allow us not just to survive, but to grow our civic value significantly and in compelling new ways.

“We’re committed to whatever amount of adaptation and innovation is necessary to fulfill our mission to serve this community through the art form of opera — and in ways that are safe and comfortable for our patrons,” he continues. “It’s more important now than ever, as people are in need of the beauty, storytelling and connection that our art form provides so abundantly. It is so motivational for me and our organization that we are striving for something innovative — completely reimagining our upcoming season — for the potential benefit of so many.”

That innovation has indeed led the organization not to retreat, but to rethink how to present what it will provide in the season ahead. It

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started by inaugurating its newly structured programming on Oct. 2 in Phoenix and Oct. 4 in Tucson with socially distanced outdoor recitals performed by members of the organization’s prestigious and elite Marion Roose Pullin Opera Studio in the company’s new Studio Spotlight Series.

Future performances will occur a number of times over the season, with Phoenix shows generally being held on the first Friday of the month and Tucson shows being held two days later, on the first Sunday of the month.

For those who prefer to watch from home, at least one of each month’s shows will also be livestreamed via Arizona Opera’s website.

“We’re one of very few opera companies in the country that performs in multiple cities, and we’re very proud to do so,” Specter says.

To ensure that everyone associated with any in-person performance is as safe as possible, all appropriate social distancing protocols will be enforced, including ensuring a significant distance between the singer and the first row of seats and the piano, and required maskwearing for all attendees.

“Also in the vein of live performances during the upcoming season, we are planning a concert series called Arizona Arias, which will feature some of the leading singers from the opera world, along with members of the Arizona Opera Orchestra,” Specter says.

Though details of those performances are still being finalized, they are currently scheduled for February and March 2021.

Perhaps one of the most innovative and ambitious initiatives Arizona Opera is undertaking this season is producing a motion picture adaption of the company’s second world premiere commission, The Copper Queen. This new opera, written by composer Clint Borzoni and librettist John de los Santos, has been in development with Arizona Opera since 2015, and was originally intended to open the 20202021 season as part of the McDougall RED Series.

“Instead of moving it to a future season, we decided we’d do something wild and exciting by adapting the opera into a film,” Specter says.

“Presenting this gripping character study in film format provides opportunities to heighten the storytelling in ways that are unique to film.”

The story is set in Bisbee, Arizona at the famously haunted Copper Queen Hotel, with parallel dramatic lines set a century apart, in 1910 and 2010. The opera tells a tale of human bondage, furtive romance, secret connections, and, ultimately, redemption, in a powerful tale that brings two determined women together across the generations.

“I think that the big screen-type approach will allow us to have an intimacy and engagement with those characters that might not have been as easily accomplished on a proscenium stage,” Specter commented. “Combined with some of the supernatural elements of the show, my sense is that The Copper Queen will likely have an even more powerful impact in a film format than in a traditional theatrical setting at the Herberger Theater or the Temple of Music and Art, where we normally perform our RED Series. All of that conspires to make an exciting upcoming project for everyone involved, including future viewers inside and outside of Arizona.”

To make this undertaking a reality, the opera’s creators and its all-female production team, led by director Crystal Manich, have joined forces with longtime video partner and Phoenix-based creative agency Manley Films to create the feature-length production. The Copper Queen is scheduled to be filmed in January and released online in April 2021.

“It’s a point of pride and excitement for us that Arizona Opera has joined an elite group of opera companies around the country that are

exploring film as a possible way to scale out and impact more people,” Specter shares.

In addition to these many initiatives, the organization is also working on several others, including exploring ways to continue its K-12 program at a time when traditional intheater performances are not possible. Those programs will be reimagined, as well, so that Arizona Opera can continue to impact tens of thousands of students across the state, as it has done in recent non-COVID years.

“Our upcoming season is going to be a year of experimentation for all of us, and anything that we can do to be a more impactful organization is what we want to do,” says Specter. “We believe in the transformative power of art to help people during incredible times of challenge, and we want to continue to be an integral part of people’s lives during this period, whether they’re watching in person in a socially distanced setting or live online.

“We’re creating some very exciting and creative things this year in response to this unusual and challenging time, and we really want to share it — and our love of opera — with everyone in our communities.”

Particularly in the time of COVID-19, arts organizations such as Arizona Opera rely on philanthropic support to continue their service to the community, and the organization is extremely grateful to those who would consider contributing financially, in light of the limitations on revenue that is normally generated by in-person ticket sales.

For more information, visit azopera.org.

ON STAGE 2020–2021 |

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ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY evolves for the times

By Beverly Medlyn

N

ot many plays open and close on the same night.

But that’s what happened March 13, 2020, to “The Legend of Georgia McBride,” a comedy about a beleaguered Elvis impersonator named Casey who lost his job when the bar’s owner replaced Casey’s act with a drag show to attract more customers. Ever resourceful, Casey transformed himself from “The King” to a “queen,” and the show went on!

Like Casey, Arizona Theatre Company (ATC) made a quick pivot when the coronavirus pandemic threatened its production of “Georgia McBride.”

ATC’s new leadership team had the foresight to videotape the opening/closing night performance.

When COVID-19 restrictions hit, the team worked with the cast, crew and unions to put the production on an online viewing platform, Vimeo.

The scramble to survive worked.

Though the pandemic has been a massive drain on revenue this year, “never let a good crisis go to waste,” observed Sean Daniels, artistic director.

Necessity is the mother of invention.

Like many nonprofits, ATC had been a bit behind in developing infrastructure. The shutdown afforded an opportunity to make improvements across the organization, from technology to finance to human resources, says Geri Wright, managing director.

Wright and Daniels are both new in their roles at ATC. Wright began this year after serving five years at Act One, most recently as president and CEO, and previous service heading development

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Arizona Theatre Company 2021 Main Stage Season

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efforts for the American Red Cross Grand Canyon Chapter and the Heard Museum. Daniels came on board in 2019, a move home to Arizona after an extensive career on the East Coast as artistic director and playwright.

THE SILVER LINING Now celebrating its 54th season, ATC enjoys the state’s largest subscriber base of any performing arts organization. More than 130,000 people a year typically attend performances at the Temple of Music and Art in Tucson and the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix.

The 2020-2021 works left those buildings to offer digital productions and workshops, a talk show, outdoor musical performances and more outreach to schools. Online offerings are mainly free or at substantially reduced cost.

ATC’s regular season of live stage performances was pushed back to early 2021, with shows to be presented throughout the spring and even into summer, when theaters are traditionally dark.

ON STAGE 2020–2021 |

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A video option will be offered to those who can’t come to the theater.

The metamorphosis has been well received.

“The silver lining is that suddenly the world can see the work that we are doing online,” says Daniels, artistic director. “We have always said the work we do is world class. So often we hear from people who see our shows, ‘This is just as good as what I saw in London or New York.’ What is great in this moment of sharing is now everyone can see we are produce world-class theatre.”

A free online production of The White Chip, written

by Daniels, drew 10,000 viewers, he says.

In July, some 24,000 people watched The 24-Hour Plays, a national project pairing playwrights and actors to create monologues in 24 hours.

ATC partnered with the national program, which focused for the first time on a single state, involving 28 Arizona playwrights and actors.

Hang & Focus is a new weekly podcast available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube, featuring ATC leaders interviewing people about various aspects of theater and relevant topics.

“We are connecting with younger, more diverse audiences,” Daniels says. “If you’re going to attract anybody under age 50, you have to have a great online presence, you just have to.”

The organization also hopes to connect with every school in the state, again using technology to bring actors, directors and theater experts to middle and high school students through

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virtual learning. “This is another way to build relationships,” Daniels said.

COMING TOGETHER AGAIN Live performance will always be the bedrock of theater.

“We will return to stage. We will. But it will be in 2021 when it is safe to do so,” says Managing Director Wright.

A 20-plus page safety plan has been created to protect actors, staff and patrons. It includes sanitizing, air handling, face masks, barriers at the box office, traffic flow, even deep cleaning for actors’ costumes.

“It is a significant investment — hundreds of thousands of dollars — to get these safety measures in place,” Wright says. “We are working as hard as we can to be as responsible as possible to everyone involved. We will go back to stage when we feel like people will fill our theaters.”

Sustainability is one of the greatest challenges for arts organizations.

“I have read that 40 percent of nonprofit organizations will not make it through this pandemic, which is disheartening,” Wright says.

“We mean not to be part of that 40 percent. I ask our patrons and donors to support us, with subscriptions and donations, to keep the theater going so we are here at this time next year.”

For more information, visit arizonatheatre.org.

BECAUSE OF YOU

WE ARE COMING BACK! J A N U A RY 2 0 2 1

THE OFFICIAL STATE THEATRE OF ARIZONA PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE ARTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY

ARIZONATHEATRE.ORG / 520-622-2823 TEMP L E 2020/2021

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Opening in the Fall of 2020, the Arizona Sands Club is where The University of Arizona and Tucson communities will come together to create lasting memories.

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BALLET TUCSON suspends performances

By Beverly Medlyn

This time away from the stage has only deepened my belief in the importance of live performances. All of us at Ballet Tucson look forward to the day we can return to the stage and continue to inspire Tucson audiences through the power of dance.”

—Margaret Mullin, artistic associate and media director, Ballet Tucson

B

allet Tucson has suspended performances through the end of 2020 due to the pandemic, with no scheduled reopening dates.

Like all performing arts organizations, Ballet Tucson was hit by several factors tied to COVID-19, including the need to keep artists and audiences safe; shuttered performance venues; and lack of revenue from ticket sales and fundraising events, says Margaret Mullin, artistic associate and media director.

Now in its 35th season, Ballet Tucson is the city’s resident professional ballet company, producing historic classics and innovative contemporary dance.

A children’s company traditionally performs alongside the company’s professionals in shows such as The Nutcracker, Cinderella and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Youth performances and public school outreach programs also have been suspended indefinitely, though limited dance classes continue for small groups of students.

Ballet Tucson’s staff is exploring ways to offer performances. One idea is giving pop-up performances with a few dancers at various outdoor locations. For updates, view onstageaz.com.

to educate people about ballet in the hope of inspiring them to come to the theater when performances resume, Mullin says.

Ballet Tucson also engages with the community through Facebook and Instagram, featuring short video profiles of dancers talking about how they are spending their time during the pandemic and other creative content.

A newly-formed Ballet Tucson Bravo League, comprised of school alumni, former company members and other young professionals, is creating ways to support the company, including digital fundraisers. An online fundraiser in September was matched dollar for dollar with a generous $50,000 challenge gift from loyal supporters Florence and Larry Adamson.

“The Bravo League is an important addition for Ballet Tucson,” says Ballet Tucson Founding Artistic Director Mary Beth Cabana. “In order for our organization to move confidently forward, we want to encourage and mentor the next generation of arts leaders to take pride in using their unique talents to support ballet.”

For more information, visit ballettucson.org.

Ten episodes of “Ballet Tucson 101” are in production for YouTube and Vimeo platforms ON STAGE 2020–2021 |

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PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS

HAMILTON. ELIJAH MALCOMB, JOSEPH MORALES, KYLE SCATLIFFE, FERGIE L. PHILIPPE AND COMPANY.

BROADWAY IN TUCSON'S 2020-2021 season rescheduled

By Beverly Medlyn

S

pring 2021 and beyond are looking good for Broadway in Tucson, presenting live performances of touring Broadway shows at the University of Arizona’s Centennial Hall.

rescheduled events is to automatically move the tickets to the new performance dates.

People who can’t make the new dates are offered alternatives.

The national touring industry hit a brick wall in March when COVID-19 struck, disrupting complex schedules that had been planned up to two years in advance. The moving parts of a Broadway show involve venues, actors, the crew, musicians and semi-trucks loaded with everything needed to make it happen.

Hamilton was reset for Nov. 17-Dec. 5, 2021, nearly the same time as it originally was scheduled for this year. Hadestown, also highly acclaimed, was pushed to April 12-17, 2022.

“It’s a giant jigsaw puzzle,” says Mario Di Vetta, Broadway in Tucson’s general manager. “If one show gets changed, cancelled or rescheduled, it’s like a domino for 30 other cities.”

Broadway in Tucson handles arrangements for Broadway productions at Centennial Hall, which closed in mid-March and will reopen next year.

Only one show, A Bronx Tale, had to be cancelled in March, with tickets refunded, Di Vetta says. The rest of the 2020-2021 season was rescheduled for later dates.

Season ticket holders have been “incredibly supportive, incredibly generous,” Di Vetta says.

Broadway in Tucson’s policy for postponed or 28

Jersey Boys and My Fair Lady, originally set for early 2021, will be rescheduled, with the new dates to be posted on Broadway in Tucson’s website and onstageaz.com.

Safety measures for the cast and crew are being worked out on a national basis by unions representing various groups. Safety precautions for the audience will be established by the University of Arizona.

“At the end of the day, we are about live performance,” he says. “The season is going to happen. Come hell or high water, it will happen.”

For more information, visit broadwayintucson.com.

WHAT FORM OF ART HAS INSPIRED YOU DURING THE PANDEMIC?

MARIO DI VETTA general manager profile

One is popular media. One of my favorite shows that makes me laugh is the sitcom “Schitt’s Creek.” When I need a laugh, maybe after I’ve done six Zoom meetings in a row, I pop in an episode.

The other thing is my kids. I have a six-year-old and a two-year-old. They are the ones who keep me going right now when we can’t go to the theater or a concert. They are creative. They have no inhibitions.

Tootsie, Original Broadway Cast.

Photo Matthew Murhpy

My son, when he was five, said he wanted his own YouTube channel. He is a vocal, gregarious child. Being quarantined has been difficult for him. We told him he could have one when he turned six, thinking he’d forget about it. But the day he turned six on Aug. 20, he asked, ‘when can we start my YouTube channel?’ He’s talking to the camera, introducing his sister. Talking to a video camera or my iPad, he enjoys interacting with people and commenting on social media.

He’s into telling people how he feels every day.

I love listening to him talk about one of his toys or about something new he has learned.”

Mario Di Vetta General Manager Broadway in Tucson

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Broadway in Tucscon

TOOTSIE

May 4–9, 2021

PRETTY WOMAN

May 25–30, 2021

THE BAND’S VISIT

June 1–6, 2021

COME FROM AWAY June 22-27, 2021 HAMILTON

November 17–December 5, 2021

HADESTOWN

April 12–17, 2022

JERSEY BOYS

TBA

MY FAIR LADY

TBA

Performances at Centennial Hall ON STAGE 2020–2021 |

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BIG Challenges call for BIG Solutions.

GIVE BIG. GIVE UNITED.

UnitedWayTucson.org

FOX TUCSON THEATRE looks to 2021

By Beverly Medlyn

At

90 years of age, Fox Tucson Theatre is among the city’s grande dames of performing arts venues. “The crown jewel” was unveiled in 1930 as a dual vaudeville/movie house.

It was celebrated with a party that drew people to literally dance on Congress Street, with live bands, a live radio broadcast and free trolly rides — welcome entertainment at the start of the Depression era.

Over the decades, the Fox Tucson Theatre has had its ups and downs. Its low point was 1974 to 2006, when the theater was shuttered, a casualty of industry competition and downtown’s decline.

A $14 million rehabilitation brought it back to life, with the building at 17 W. Congress St. securing a place on the National Register of Historic Places because of its unique “Southwestern Art Deco” décor and exceptional acoustics.

The revitalization paralleled downtown’s rebirth.

In recent years, the Fox hosted as many as 160 events a year attended by more than 75,000 people. The theater’s seating capacity of 1,164 was big enough to attract national talent, but small enough to feel intimate.

Enter COVID-19.

“We got hit pretty hard,” says Bonnie Schock, who began her tenure as executive director on March 9 after serving five years as director of Sheldon Theatre of Performing Arts in Red Wing, Minnesota.

Fox programming has been suspended through the end of 2020 with plans to resume live shows in early 2021.

Several factors went into the decision. As an organization that presents art rather than producing it, Fox depends on other companies to create and bring shows to the theater.

In addition to lost revenue from ticket sales, Fox gave ticket refunds for 2020 shows that were cancelled or postponed.

Maintaining the theater, which costs tens of thousands a month, also is an ongoing cost. A fund-raising drive is underway.

Schock remains hopeful about the future.

“The Fox is a unique space,” she says. “There is no other space like it in the country. It is well loved. In one form or another, the Fox will survive and thrive. The question is how we get to whatever the other side will be.”

For more information, visit foxtucson.com.

ON STAGE 2020–2021 |

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A whimsical hand-sculpted wooden village, 19th century ladies’ fashion, miniature silver, and a Wee Winter Wonderland... all this and more on view this fall at The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures.

The museum is now open with a timed-ticket entry system. See us online for more information about visiting and new virtual programs.

www.theminitimemachine.org

THE MINI TIME MACHINE MUSEUM OF MINIATURES explores tiny worlds

By Beverly Medlyn

galleries and offer ample space for physical distancing.

P

atricia Arnell felt the power of miniatures to transport viewers to different places and times through the stories they tell.

Over the coming year, the museum will present more than 10 temporary exhibitions offering further opportunity to retreat into worlds of wonder, Spronken says.

Imagine an elegant lady and two dogs in a three-story French Chateau, miniature Civil War military figures on the battleground, and fanciful fairy houses for sprites in the Southwest desert.

This fall, The Whimsical Village of Medow displays more than a dozen hand-crafted, whimsical miniature dwellings designed and created by Sedona-based wood sculptor Mike Medow.

These scenes and more are on display at The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures — founded by Patricia and Walter Arnell in 2009.

Visitors may immerse themselves in amazing new worlds — real or imagined.

19th Century Ladies’ Fashion depicts the changing shape of women’s gowns, with silhouettes evolving from loose-fitting voluminous fabric to a more structured shape– sometimes mimicking menswear.

“In our current situation, when many people may be feeling weary or anxious, this sort of escape that miniatures offer is even more appealing,” says Gentry Spronken, the museum’s associate director and director of marketing and communications.

A Wee Winter Wonderland features 15 miniatures depicting holidays around the world and through time, including an Edwardian Christmas and a Southwest animals’ motorcycle gang.

The museum at 4455 E. Camp Lowell Drive in Tucson was closed for 18 weeks due to the pandemic, reopening July 29. The revenue loss had a “crushing impact” on the nonprofit’s budget, Spronken says. But the closure gave staff the opportunity to develop programs for an online audience, populate its collection database, perform maintenance on artifacts and adjust the upcoming exhibition schedule.

Now the museum is open with timed-ticket admissions available online allowing the museum to limit the number of people in the

In spring 2021, the exhibition In the Eye of a Needle: Micro Miniatures by Flor Carvajal will astonish viewers with its microscopic wonders.

And the upcoming Atomic Miniatures will be a blast from the past featuring mid-century modern miniatures made by Chicago-based miniaturist Michael Yurkovic.

Spronken encourages community members to support the museum however they can — purchasing tickets, buying a membership, shopping in the gift shop or making a donation.

For more, visit theminitimemuseum.org.

ON STAGE 2020–2021 |

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ROGUE THEATRE goes live this fall

By Beverly Medlyn

T

he Rogue Theatre is among the first in Tucson to resume performances this fall, offering patrons presentations of great literary works in two formats: live and online.

A pre-recorded audio soundscape is created for each play, including vocals, spoken lines, music and sound effects for the actors’ masked performances, Meier says.

“Even though we are asking the audience to socially distance, there is still the sense of community in a theater, which is so important to all of us,” says Cynthia Meier, managing director. “But if people don’t feel comfortable coming to the theater, we will make professional three-camera videos of all our productions so they can watch at home.”

“It’s a way to keep our actors safe and our audiences safe,” she says. “We are creating a new form this season with these theatrical pieces. I believe audience members will find them fascinating.”

The 170-seat theater at 300 E. University Blvd. is selling tickets in advance for a reduced audience of 45 people, with seating spaced six feet apart in every other row. Masks are worn by everyone. Temperature screenings are done prior to entrance; no walk-up ticket sales. The snack bar is closed. Deep cleaning is completed after every performance.

The Rogue Theatre is fortunate to have a strong financial base this year thanks to generous support and a “rainy day” fund, but Meier is concerned about what happens next year.

“It is really important to stay positive and strong and discover ways that we can interact and be creative with our audiences,” she says.

For more information, visit theroguetheatre.org.

ON STAGE 2020–2021 |

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HER

2020 - 2021 SEASON Celebrating the Impact of Women on the World THE NURTURER - BRAHMS REQUIEM

October 20-25 (Live + Online Streaming)

VOCAL CONSORTS - NEW!

October 28 - November 8 (Live)

MOTHER EARTH

November 13 - 15 (Live + Online Streaming)

HANDEL’S MESSIAH

December 5 - 25 (Online Streaming)

LESSONS & CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT MARY’S GIFT December 12 - 25 (Online Streaming)

2021 DATES Detailed plans for the Spring Season will be announced as safety considerations become known

CLOSE UP SERIES - NEW! THE TRAILBLAZERS MUSIC FOR THE ROYAL SHE THE GODDESS - CARMINA BURANA! BACH B MINOR MASS

(Rescheduled from 2020) A GRAMMY-nominated, critically acclaimed professional chamber choir and orchestra performing across the region.

Visit TrueConcord.org for ticketing & venue information or call 520-401-2651

“A number of our patrons just haven’t been outside this entire time. I can only imagine the sense of profound isolation and loneliness they are experiencing.

Music is a powerful way to stay connected and in touch.”

—Eric Holtan, music director, True Concord Voices and Orchestra

TRUE CONCORD VOICES AND ORCHESTRA reimagines fall offerings

By Beverly Medlyn

T

rue Concord Voices and Orchestra — a Grammy-nominated professional chamber choir and orchestra — is going to extraordinary lengths to ensure a safe and accessible 20202021 season this fall.

After surveying artists, audiences and volunteers, a True Concord task force formed to devise a modified fall season of live and streaming performances, addressing audience concerns while still producing rich musical experiences.

The group’s 18 vocalists, most of whom come from outside Tucson, quarantine themselves for 10 days prior to rehearsals and performances, undergoing testing to ensure their health. Local instrumentalists quarantine at home. Putting the musicians in a “True Concord bubble” is a concept borrowed from the National Basketball Association, which confined teams to Disneyworld prior to games, Holtan said.

Since survey respondents said they would feel more comfortable with outdoor performances, live concerts will be held at venues with outside stages. Safety measures will be in effect adhering to pandemic safety regulations and social distancing guidelines (limited attendance, spaced seating, no-touch ticketing, coordinated entry and exit strategies to minimize contact, etc). Live performances will be limited to an hour with no intermission.

Patrons will be required to wear face masks.

and two new Vocal Consort performances — eclectic, small ensemble repertoires with 6 performances each: Vocal Consort I [10/28 -11/2] and Vocal Consort II [11/3 - 11/8].

“For those who are not comfortable with attending, we will tape the programs through a partnership with Arizona PBS in Phoenix.

Those will be made available online for people to access. In doing so, we are able to serve that segment of the population which isn't ready to enjoy an in-person concert by reaching them in the comfort of their own home,” he said.

True Concord Voices and Orchestra will be filming 4 complete programs while in the bubble: Brahm's Requiem [10/24], Mother Earth [11/14], each available for 10 days, and their popular holiday concerts, Handel’s Messiah [12/5 - 12/25] and Lessons & Carols

by Candlelight — Mary’s Gift [12/12 - 12/25].

Tickets to all live and streaming concerts are on the True Concord website.

The presentation format of the spring segment of the organization’s 17th season will be determined later, depending on public health considerations at that time, Holtan says.

For more information, visit trueconcord.org.

Live concerts include: Brahm’s Requiem [10/20 - 10/25] and Mother Earth [11/13 - 11/15] ON STAGE 2020–2021 |

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The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance strengthens the bonds between people, place and purpose, through collaborative, arts-driven experiences

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Our programming and work fills the need for human interaction in an isolated world.

Diversity.

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We build on the present while preserving the past and instilling pride in our community.

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We inspire creative solutions to promote a more resilient, empathetic and vibrant community.

HELP US SUSTAIN THE ARTS SUPPORT THE ARTS TODAY Southern Arizona is a place to be inspired and to inspire.

We believe that without your support today, our individual artists and creative sector will continue to be among one of the most deeply affected sectors in our communities by the pandemic. Our culture is what we hold closest during times like these to stay connected and inspired.

There are so many ways to get involved and to support these individuals and organizations. Help us save the arts and help put artists back to work!

3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE ARTS...

Support SAACA with a small monthly donation of only $10/month at www.saaca.org We NEED the #SaveOurStagesAct and the #RestartAct to pass in order to keep independent venues nationwide from closing permanently There is no recovery without creativity. Support putting creative workers back to work and endorse the Creative Workers Act proposal at www.americansforthearts.org

COLLABORATIVE ARTS & MAKER SPACE CATALYST is a first-of-its-kind innovative space in Southern Arizona where culture, collaboration and community intersect.

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Combining over 14,000 square feet of flexible learning, performance, gathering and maker spaces which highlight over 30 disciplines. CATALYST is a space for all ages and forms of creativity to flourish.

BECOME A SUPPORTER AT WWW.SAACA.ORG/MEMBER

TUCSON BOTANICAL GARDENS offers outdoor respite

By Beverly Medlyn

T

ucson Botanical Gardens is back this fall, offering visitors a safe experience of the lush outdoor space filled with plants, trees and flowers interspersed with dynamic pieces of sculpture.

COVID-19 restrictions shuttered the gardens from March 16 until partial reopening July 9.

The café and butterfly exhibits are still closed, but visitors can experience the beautiful exhibits and gardens seven days a week. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the new addition of evening hours 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

Though the spring-summer closure was devastating from a financial viewpoint, it offered an opportunity to make necessary infrastructure improvements, says Michelle Conklin, executive director.

“I think some of the things we have been forced to do are in the best interest of our garden going forward,” she says. “For example, we have been talking for years about buying this ticketing software. It is a big financial investment. COVID forced us to do it, and it’s the best thing we ever did! Our online classes on subjects ranging from container gardening to watercolor painting also will be with us forever.”

The ticketing software allows visitors to buy tickets online for timed entry, which controls occupancy. A new admission building was constructed with brick pathways directing visitors to one path in and another path out.

Masks and social distancing are required. Staff health is monitored. Cleaning is continuous.

Inside spaces and galleries are closed. The gift shop limits entry to eight shoppers.

ON STAGE 2020–2021 |

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SPECIAL EVENTS Two special events are currently on display at the Gardens: La Calavera Catrina and SculptureTucson’s Bird Houses and Nests.

La Calavera Catrina, commissioned and organized by the Denver Botanic Gardens, is on exhibit for the first time in Arizona. It features 8-foot tall colorful skeleton figures created by artist Ricardo Soltero of Nayarit, Mexico.

La Catrina is one of Dia de los Muertos’ most recognizable characters, a social satire on the upper classes.

SculptureTucson, a local nonprofit organization enhancing Arizona’s cultural landscape through sculpture in public spaces, partnered with the Gardens to present “Bird Houses and Nests,” featuring large-scale sculptures integrated into the grounds.

The Gardens has changed the format of its annual holiday exhibit from Luminary Nights to Wander-land — a holiday garden stroll. Wander-land starts Dec. 4 with 3,000 luminarias and Korean lanterns. Music will be piped in this year instead of live to free space on the pathways. Decorative displays will be placed in building windows instead of inside buildings, which will be closed.

ONLINE CLASSES Thirty online classes are available this fall, and Conklin sees the online presence continuing.

Among the November and December classes are a three-part series on container gardens, cooking pozole and tamales, choosing container pots for holiday gifts, drawing and watercolor techniques, and using natural substances for green cleaning products. Online classes are recorded and remain available to the participant for two weeks after the live class.

Class registration and payment are available on the Tucson Botanical Gardens website.

BUILDING A FUTURE The Gardens are funded by earned revenue and membership donations. “We are starting to build an endowment,” Conklin says. “Through COVID we realized the importance of making this a priority. Protecting the plant collection, the animals and the historical buildings will ensure the Gardens will be in Tucson forever.”

For more information, visit tucsonbotanical.org.

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WHAT FORM OF ART HAS INSPIRED YOU DURING THE PANDEMIC? “I guess I have to share my secret: a year ago, I started taking violin lessons. (I feel so sorry for my husband!) I’ve loved having extra time to practice and the ability to continue lessons virtually with my teacher. I’ve also watched a lot of YouTube mini-master classes with musicians from all over the country — what a treat! It’s felt a little like hanging out with some new cool friends. I’ve also had a little more time to write, to read, to research gardens and new designs.

MICHELLE CONKLIN executive director profile

But — at the core — what gave me real peace, especially during the early days of closure, was when I was able to walk through the Tucson Botanical Gardens, sit under the trees and take real delight in discovering which flowers and plants bloomed. Now that we are open, it’s lovely to see that natural spaces and gardens are getting the attention they deserve because we’re now beginning to understand just how much we need them.”

Michelle Conklin Executive Director Tucson Botanical Gardens

experience botanical beauty Among mature trees and expertly cultivated foliage, 18 specialty gardens such as the Barrio Garden, Cactus & Succulent Garden, an immersive tropical butterfly conservatory, and more highlight the diversity of native plants while offering a lush oasis in the heart of Tucson. • TucsonBotanical.org • (520) 326-9686

TUCSON DESERT SONG FESTIVAL debuts new work Corinne Winters, True Concord Voices and Orchestra, Photo Gillian Riesen

M

Bryan Hymel & Christopher Cano Recital, Arizona Opera

By Beverly Medlyn

“Songs of Love” is the theme for the 2021 Tucson Desert Song Festival, celebrating music inspired by humanity’s most profound emotion, particularly poignant in these troubled times.

ark your calendar for Feb. 4, 2021, when the Tucson Desert Song Festival presents the premiere of a musical work created and performed by two internationally renowned opera celebrities.

“This is a very special event!” says George Hanson, festival coordinator. “Jake Heggie is the most important and best-known living opera composer in the world today. He is writing a work for us, and will accompany Jamie Barton, who is among the most important mezzo-sopranos in the world.”

Heggie’s work, commissioned by the Tucson Desert Song Festival, will be presented at 7 p.m. Feb. 4 at the University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music. The performance will be held in a large recital hall so the audience can maintain social distance protocol. Venue is subject to change.

Typically, the Tucson Desert Song Festival spans three weekends in January and February, partnering with the city’s top performing arts groups to bring nationally known vocal soloists to concerts at venues across the city and Green Valley.

The festival’s mission is to make Tucson the place to be for music lovers, who come from around the nation. Information about the festival and other arts events is available at onstageaz.com.

“In the winter, Tucson is full of visitors from major cities who are used to a cultural life that exists at a very high level,” Hanson says. “They can come here to play golf if they want, but they can also come here for great artistry, to hear great singing.”

Hanson expects the festival to be back in full swing by January 2022, just in time for its 10th anniversary celebration.

For more, visit tucsondesertsongfestival.org.

ON STAGE 2020–2021 |

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TUCSON JAZZ FESTIVAL heads outdoors

By Beverly Medlyn

L

ike a great jazz performance, The HSL Properties Tucson Jazz Festival is ready to improvise to keep this treasured Tucson event alive in the age of COVID-19. From a 10-day event across multiple indoor venues in the past, this year’s festival will be a twoday outdoor event in downtown Tucson in the spring, March 20 and 21, 2021. “To make sure our jazz fans and artists are in a safer environment, outdoors is the way to go,” says Khris Dodge, executive director of the festival.

“Plus, you can’t beat how gorgeous Tucson’s weather is in March!”

A shorter schedule will not diminish the high quality or quantity of artists. Four national “headliner” acts will perform each day on two stages, along with local jazz ensembles. An added benefit for ticket buyers will be having ability to experience multiple acts over one or two days at one low ticket price.

“The 2021 two-day VIP pass costs only $250,” says Artistic Director Andrew Birgensmith, “which is a huge savings from previous years and will hopefully upgrade the festival experience for more people.” The VIP package includes reserved seats in front with access to a raised viewing deck and bar, two drink tickets per day – and most prized of all – private access to platinum port-a-potties! Regular ticket prices range from $65 for one-day general admission to $135 for two-day reserved seating.

Something else new this year is the launch of Club 100 -- a membership of supporters giving $1,000 each to help keep the festival alive and have exclusive perks, like attending an extravagant party with live music and more on the eve of the festival. "It’s a way for us to thank a small support community for helping our larger community to thrive,” Dodge says.

The festival committee is looking at many great areas downtown to hold the festival and will announce the location soon. Keeping patrons, musicians, and staff safe will be a top priority. Both stages will be large enough to allow for social distancing for musicians and if required to host the festival at a reduced capacity, seating will be spaced accordingly and arrangements for “pod” seating can be made for social groups or families. Other operational details from food service to bathrooms will be maintained with the highest standards of cleanliness and adherence to city regulations for safety.

The Tucson Jazz Festival is regarded as the premiere jazz festival in the Southwest and gains more and more national recognition each year. “With a revitalized downtown, the Fourth Avenue District thriving in the spring and new hotels opening in early 2021, the city is a fun place to be,” Dodge says.

“It's truly become a destination event that benefits our whole community and we know this year’s event, while different, will still bring the same excitement and high caliber entertainment that Tucson has come to know."

For more, visit tucsonjazzfestival.org.

ON STAGE 2020–2021 |

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TUCSON MUSEUM OF ART opens new Kasser Family Wing

By Beverly Medlyn

F

or a bit of perspective on tumultuous 2020, head to the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, where visitors can explore a new exhibition of works spanning more than 3,000 years of Latin American art history.

The Kasser Family Wing of Latin American Art highlights ancient art from Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Peru and Bolivia. It also includes a gallery dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American art. The melding of ancient and contemporary works offers a broad view of human development of particular relevance to Tucson’s cultural roots.

The Kasser Wing debuted July 30, when Tucson Museum of Art (TMA) reopened to the community after a nearly five-month closure due to COVID-19. Construction on the wing continued during the closure, allowing staff to focus on developing indoor and outdoor spaces at the campus. To create one-way flow through the museum, patrons will enter on Alameda Street and exit on Main Street.

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“It’s been a journey, for sure,” says Jeremy Mikolajczak, the museum’s Jon and Linda Ender director and CEO. “It feels so good to be open and see people’s faces again.”

Ava Brook, a docent for 20 years, felt bereft during the shutdown. She enjoyed leading tours several times a week as well as going to lectures and events. “It was a big part of my life,” she says.

Though docent-led tours will not resume until early 2021, Brook returned as a visitor to view the the Kasser Wing. The exhibition features works from TMA’s permanent collection and the collections of I. Michael and Beth Kasser and Paul L. and Alice C. Baker.

“It is absolutely spectacular,” Brook says. “I have an interest in pre-Columbian art, and it is so beautifully displayed and so clearly explained. I tremendously appreciate what they have done.”

Safety measures now in place include reducing the number of visitors to 30 percent capacity, aided by a new online admissions process

“One painting I always spent a little more time with was ‘Paysage aux environs de Moret’ or ‘Landscape near Moret’ by French Impressionist artist, Alfred Sisley. The oil painting depicts a woman and child walking under cover of trees in the French countryside. It is unclear if the season is spring or fall, but indeed a season in transition. For me, it evoked a familiar sense of solitude, loneliness, uncertainty, quiet, and peace while the museum lay dark. To this day, I often revisit the artwork and cannot help but feel grateful for the momentary escape during one of the most challenging times in our history.”

Alfred Sisley, Paysage aux environs de Moret / Landscape near Moret, 1880

—Jeremy Mikolajczak, Tucson Museum of Art’s Jon and Linda Ender director and CEO

GO SEE IT:

Arizona Biennial 2020 Ivy Wahome, Military

The oldest running statewide juried exhibition featuring exclusively Arizona artists, Arizona Biennial will be on view at Tucson Museum of Art now through Jan. 10, 2021. More than 80 artists were selected to display works in media including painting, photography, sculpture, textiles, video, installations and works on paper.

allowing people to reserve tickets in twohour time increments, says Marianna Pegno, curator of community engagement. New traffic patterns were put in place, and hand sanitizer is available throughout the campus. Three of the museum’s five historic buildings reopened July 30.

“I would say it is as safe as they can possibly make it,” Brook says. “If people have the opportunity, they should go. Our museum has something of interest to everyone. We have history, science, folk art, contemporary art — anybody who is interested in art of any type should find something to attract them.”

In-person programming for kids continued through the summer on a limited basis and is available now through small after-school classes.

Engagement has been strengthened by the growth in online offerings — including virtual tours, lectures and light-hearted events such as Cookies with a Curator, all posted on TMA’s website and YouTube. The “Cookies” program

features Senior Curator Christine Brindza interviewing TMA artists about their work and lives — including sharing recipes for their favorite cookies.

Artists also will give virtual talks about their creative process on Zoom, which allows them to interact with their audience, Pegno says.

“Ultimately digital programming will broaden our audience and expand it beyond Southern Arizona,” says Mikolajczak, CEO. “Now people have access to our institution who wouldn’t normally.”

Another benefit of the pandemic is the steppedup collaboration among local arts groups, which all depend on community support.

“Partnerships and collaborations are more important than ever now, finding ways to amplify our talent,” Pegno says.

For more, visit tucsonmuseumofart.org.

ON STAGE 2020–2021 |

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TUCSON MUS 2020/2 1 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS SHOP & DINE

Kasser Family Wing of Latin American Art JULY 30, 2020–ONGOING Featuring more than 3,000 years of Latin American art, from ancient to today.

THE MUSEUM STORE Shop jewelry, books, cards, accessories, home goods, locally-made art and craft items, one-of-a-kind gifts, art supplies, puzzles, toys and games.

Arizona Biennial 2020 OCTOBER 1, 2020–JANUARY 10, 2021 Innovative new work by 86 of Arizona’s outstanding artists in a juried showcase for contemporary art

CAFÉ A LA C’ART

The Wyeths: Three Generations Works from the Bank of America Collection

Wednesday–Friday 11 a.m.–8 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m.–8 p.m.

JANUARY 23–MAY 9, 2021 More than 60 works by N.C. Wyeth, his son Andrew Wyeth, and his grandson Jamie Wyeth. This exhibition has been loaned through the Bank of America Art in our Communities program.

(subject to change—check the website for current schedule)

4x4: Willie J. Bonner, Nazafarin Lotfi, Alejandro Macias and Anh-Thuy Nguyen MAY 22–OCTOBER 3, 2021 Four preeminent Southern Arizona artists—selected by four TMA curators—who contribute to the region’s unique artistic landscape.

The 2020–2021 Exhibition Season at TMA is presented by James and Louise Glasser.

With support from the following season sponsors: Fran and Jim Allen, Alice and Paul Baker, Mary Jo Brown, Connie Hillman Family Foundation, I. Michael and Beth Kasser, Anne and Ed Lyman, Jeanne Pickering and Mike Andrew, TMA League, Contemporary Art Society, Latin American Art Patrons and Western Art Patrons.

Membership starts at $5 per month.

Join today for unlimited free admission and Museum Store discounts!

TucsonMuseumofArt.org · 520-624-2333 Enrique Martinez Celaya, The Fight for Air, 2012, cast 2020, Bronze 61 x 31 x 58 in.

Museum Purchase. Funds provided by Contemporary Art Society.

SEUM OF ART

“Music has the power to heal, uplift and connect us to the depths of our humanity. The very word ‘symphony’ — in its origin from Greek for ‘sound’ and ‘together’ — reminds us that we have each other as we combat this global pandemic,” says José Luis Gomez, music director, Tucson Symphony Orchestra.

TUCSON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA goes live in 2021

By Beverly Medlyn

F

or the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, keeping people safe during the coronavirus pandemic goes far beyond offering socially distanced seating for smaller audiences wearing face masks.

Sometimes the stage can be just as packed as the performance venue. How to protect musicians — not just from one another but from the aerosol drift from instruments? Cut the orchestra size in half? Only perform works suitable for small ensembles?

Considering those complex challenges led to a simple decision: postpone the Tucson Symphony Orchestra (TSO) 2020-2021 season, which would have started this fall, until the fall of 2021.

Meanwhile, the TSO team is developing a digital platform for an art form that traditionally hasn’t had one.

“One thing this type of crisis does — for any business, whether arts, restaurants or travel — is expose your vulnerabilities but also your opportunities,” says Steven P. Haines, symphony president and CEO. “I want to align all digital enhancements with our core mission of live performance, engaging our audience in ways that will benefit the organization not just in the short-term, but for the long-term.”

By way of comparison, Haines likens the effort

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to what professional sports teams have done over the past decade — using technology to enhance the live experience in the stadium and in people’s homes.

The TSO Digital Stage which launched on September 25 does just that, giving audiences an up-close view of the orchestra through ensemble performances, interviews, children's programming and presentations by TSO music director José Luis Gomez and other TSO musicians.

TSO will employ the same dual approach to its comprehensive arts education program, serving 35,000 students in the region. Students will be able to watch recorded performances online, listen to interviews with musicians and then see a live performance at their school when tours resume.

“Online programming will expand TSO’s reach, bringing music to new audiences at home and hopefully inspiring them to enjoy live performance in 2021,” Haines says.

“Some great ideas will come out of this that will be long lasting,” he says.

For more, visit tucsonsymphony.org.

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REFACING

September 26, 2020 – March 28, 2021 Picturing 2020: A Community Reflects is an online exhibition featuring works by more than 150 artists from across Southern Arizona.

These works depict our community’s myriad experiences with the destabilizing events of this year – differing in medium but sharing themes like isolation, resistance, resilience and hope.

Showing how art assumes new meaning as the lens of the viewer changes, curators included one artwork from the University of Arizona Museum of Art permanent collection with each identified theme. Visit the virtual exhibition Picturing 2020: Visions from the Permanent Collection for a complete selection of works that echo the local community and take on new relevance today.

Visit picturing2020.artmuseum.arizona.edu Works by Alejandro Macias, Benjamin M. Johnson, Jim Morris and Lex Gjurasic

Tour more online exhibitions and register for Art Trivia Happy Hour, Tutorials, Members’ Events and more by visiting us virtually.

artmuseum.arizona.edu

Loved by Tucson Audience Members Everywhere!

Hughes Federal Credit Union is a proud supporter of the arts, music and culture in Tucson. We serve thousands of members in Southern Arizona from opening act to final curtain.

As a Hughes member you’ll have access to these great benefits and more: • Access to our Checking PLUS account which offers discounts on shopping, dining and more. Cash back on travel!

• Exclusive University of Arizona® and Diana Madaras debit cards along with a Checking account that requires no minimum balance.

• Membership in a locally owned financial institution that has been making a positive difference in the financial lives of our members and community since 1952.

Stop by one of our conveniently located branch locations today!

Diana Madaras, Award-Winning Artist

520-794-8341 | HughesFCU.org Insured by NCUA

THEATERS. MUSEUMS. CONCERTS. VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES. STORIES FROM BEHIND THE CURTAIN.

Find your season calendar online at

ONSTAGEAZ.COM

TUCSON UNIFIED AWARDED FOR THE FIFTH YEAR

JOIN OUR AWARD-WINNING PROGRAMS Open Enrollment Starts

NOVEMBER 2 tusd1.org/Register

EXPERIENCE EXPECTED N U

UA Presents has been re-imagined with a new name and a new attitude, curating extraordinary live experiences for Southern Arizona.

Learn more and explore: ARIZONAARTSLIVE.COM