Channeling John Travolta
The Australian Bee Gees will be in Chandler on November 9, 2013. We are beyond excited. If you haven’t heard yet, prior to the show we are opening our doors early for a pre-show party. The pre-show will include delicious 70’s inspired drinks, a 70’s costume contest, and disco dancing with demonstrations by local dance studios. So gather your friends, dust off the go-go boots and get ready to boogie! It will be a night to remember.
In preparation for The Australian Bee Gees show we also decided we needed to channel our inner John Travolta. Naturally we have all been tapping our toes to Stayin’ Alive and trying to find out leisure suits. So we came up with our first episode of “channeling” John Travolta – check it out below!
Transend Through Water – Interview with Lisa Starry
We had the lucky privilege to speak with Lisa Starry the Artistic Director for Scorpius Dance Theatre and creator of their upcoming show, Dreaming In Water. The performance showcases water in an all inclusive sensory experience. All we can say is forget everything you thought you knew about modern dance, this show takes everything to a new level of excitement.
CHANDLER CENTER FOR THE ARTS (CCA): Where did the idea for Dreaming In Water come from?
LISA STARRY: This is a remastered production of my first original water-themed production “Water Dreams.” 12 years ago I put on an outdoor water safety show to create awareness. However, the show was put on during the summer and it was just too hot to enjoy. This inspired me to take the show indoors, which lead to a more artistic message.
Today’s show is centered around a little boy with a big imagination. He dreams of water and the creatures that exist within (such as fish and jellyfish). During the performance there will be short video clips featuring his underwater adventure.
CCA: How many lights does it take to create the water effect on stage?
STARRY: We will use all of the lights Chandler Center for the Arts uses, plus a dozen of our own intelligent lights. The intelligent lights create the illusion of water moving. We also use fabric to create the water effect.
Photo by Rose Tores
CCA: How long does it take for the dancer to be strapped into the aerial apparatus?
STARRY: The Bungee apparatus we will use for the Jellyfish scene (featured in side photo) takes multiple bungee straps and double point harnesses. This requires a ladder to strap each dancer in. This also takes rope hooks to maneuver each dancer around the stage. It is time consuming. Immediately after the first act, the aerial crew goes to work. By the end of intermission the dancers are ready to perform.
CCA: Do you have a favorite scene?
STARRY: I am happy with everything. I am most excited about presenting the aerial pieces. I am also excited for the mini pool scene. There is some humor incorporated to make the piece more fun. We also have some athletic pieces. These are incredible scenes and are great to see.
CCA: What form of dance can we expect to see?
STARRY: There is some contemporary modern dance, which includes a lot of techniques and some ballet. There is also the athletic pieces. To finish off the performance there is some Broadway-ish dancing. We bring in a piece that features Singing in the Rain.
CCA: Anything else a viewer might be interested in knowing?
STARRY: A limited number of people have seen the underwater footage – this is the big secret of the show. The dancers haven’t even seen the footage. They actually won’t see the footage until we have our dress rehearsal at Chandler Center for the Arts. It is a beautiful water section.
__________________________________
This is the public’s opportunity to taste in the magic of Dreaming In Water and all the hard work they have put forth. Dreaming in Water will premiere at Chandler Center for Arts this Saturday, April 13 at 8pm with new choreography by Lisa Starry, original underwater filming by Josh Kasselman, Music Composition by Kristopher Hill and Ryan Breen and lighting design by Mike Eddy. Get your tickets here!
Monday Mashup: Firefly & Fall Reminders
Firefly was amazing. They are a group that keeps evolving and getting better with each performance, and being able to watch that growth, even in just a year, has been awesome.
Of course, I took video! Here was their opener which was so much fun. The girls can play a wide variety of instruments, and if you missed Friday’s show, you really missed out on a unique musical experience.
Also, I’d just like to remind everyone that our Fall Performing Arts Program starts in a little more than a month! It’s the weekly class that runs from September 10-December 3, and is tailored to fit kids who want to improve their musical theatre skills, and that includes beginners too. (because if you’re a beginner, you can only get better from here!)
If you’re not ready for a long commitment like our Performing Arts Program, you (or your kids, because I know some former campers read this…) can still live out their dreams of fame and fortune in our Glee Camp, which runs from 9am-12pm October 1-5.
Both programs are going to feature brand new material, so if you did our Performing Arts Program or Glee before, you won’t be wasting your time doing the same thing.
You can register for the Performing Arts Program here, and register for Glee here. Have questions? I’m your lady, give me a shout and I’ll help you out.
(Unintentional rhyme win!)
Monday Mashup: Back from the past and looking forward
Last weekend was one of the best openers I think we’ve had in a while.
First, we had Comeback Buddy
And they brought dancers!
Saturday was our first 3 Evenings For The Arts, and Joe Bourne was phenomenal. During intermission, he and his trio came out and said “Hi” to everyone. All around a class act.
Since I was occupied with other things, I was happy to pass off the role of photographer to another willing person, and here are a few of the shots he got from Saturday night.
As always, Monday Mashup doesn’t just re-cap the weekend, it preps you for the upcoming one! This Friday as part of our Free Summer Concerts, we’re bringing Firefly back! If you were an early reader, you may remember them from an interview I did last year when they opened for Steve Warnier, which you can re-read here.
They are three sisters from Gilbert with an amazing sound, and I’m so excited that we can give them their own show this year! They take the stage Friday night at 7:30. Reminder, doors open at 6:30, but you won’t be able to get a seat until 7:00. Suggested donations are $5/child, $10/adult and $15/family.
What’s Up With That?
Our campers get a bit ticked when they’re accused of something they didn’t do.
Summertime in the City
That means that we’re back with another round of summer camps.
This was after only a few hours of practice, and they had the chorus of this song, plus a few others, down.
When they aren’t dancing, we still keep ’em busy, from learning lines, to learning how to take direction, to learning how to be sassy.
Okay, honestly, they didn’t have to learn that one. They came to us that way.
Monday Mashup: Record all the performances
That’s what I try to do here. Just because people didn’t (or in the case of Los Lonely Boys, couldn’t) come to a show doesn’t mean they have to miss out entirely.
But first, here’s what we have going on this weekend: On Saturday we’re totally changing gears and presenting a musical! About baseball! Just in time for Spring Training too. Damn Yankees (I love that title) is about a guy who trades his soul to the Devil so his baseball team can beat those “Damn Yankees.” I think this show is going to be a hoot, because how many of us have said the same thing about the Yankees? (Or if you’re a Yankees fan, the Red Sox.) Snag a pair of tickets here, and then go out for some Spring Training fun.
And without further ado, here’s a snippit of what happened at the Center this weekend.
Friday:
The Dunwells blew us all away.
The Los Lonely Boys made the entire theater shake.
Saturday, Jim Curry reminded us all how amazing John Denver was.
Matthew and Gunnar Nelsen gave their dad a run for his money.
The only performance that I didn’t get to record this weekend was Red Star Red Army, but that was because I was enjoying the show as a patron. But shame on me if I forget to neglect my duties, so I did manage to snag a photo. I don’t speak Russian, much less understand it, but that was one of my favorite shows in a long time.
Ps. How many of you read the title and thought of this? 
I can’t be the only Internet nerd in the room.
Monday Mashup: Shows, shows and more shows.
I love showing rather than telling, and two of our shows this weekend can express themselves better than I could.
One of our patrons summed up Alpin Hong perfectly.
We’re happy that you’re happy.
And then, there was Ballroom with A Twist. I was expecting the dancers, but I didn’t know about the appearances of David Hernandez and Gina Glocksen, so I was surprised.
I took a bunch of video, but that would just take up space on the blog, so I’ve created a playlist here.
I wasn’t able to grab any video from Wyatt Earp, but I loved the show. Getting to hear about the early days of Arizona (especially as an Arizona native) made my day. If anyone has any pictures they’d like to share, throw them my way.
Phew, three shows, and that was just a weekend recap, so I’ll make this next one short. On Saturday night we’re hosting Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis as a part of their Grits and Glamour tour. I had not heard of Lorrie or Pam until last spring, and I’m ashamed of that. I like country as much as the next person, but there is just something about these two ladies that I can really connect to, and I enjoy listening to their music.
You can find out how to get tickets, as well as watch a video of them, here.
Monday Mashup round 2: Ballroom With A Twist.
A few days ago, I posted this clip of Alec Mazo and Edyta Sliwinska performing together to give you a hint at the level of talent that we’re bringing to the Center on Saturday night. I have a few more clips of just Edyta and Alec dancing and the style they bring, but we’re also bringing in other dancers with different talents and specialties.
But just for fun, I thought I’d share some more of Alec and Edyta’s dancing, probably because deep down I wish I could dance like her, instead of flop around waving my arms like I know what I’m doing (I did this at my Aunt’s wedding. There is photographic proof.)
Zoppé Circus Camp
This week, the Zoppé family took some time to show a few Chandler kids how to be proper circus performers.
Monday Mashup: Long weekend, regular weekend, really long weekend
I was expecting Classic Albums to perform Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours and bring the house down, but they far exceeded my expectations. Seriously, when they first started up I had to squint from my perch to make sure that we didn’t actually hire Fleetwood Mac or that they snuck on stage. The group sounded just like Fleetwood Mac, down to the note. I was blown away.
Don’t believe me? Take a look at some video that I got from this weekend.
(….testing. Testing. Please WordPress don’t fail me now)
Okay there’s a hitch in something and my videos aren’t imbedding properly. So click on over to here and here, and you’ll be able to listen.
Anywhoo.
This weekend we don’t have any performances, but the weekend after, in my favorite long weekend of the year, we’re kicking off The Nutcracker by Ballet Etudes. They were the same people that put on the ballet in the spring, and it’s Nutcracker! It’s a tradition, and you can’t mess with traditions. They’ll be here for two weekends, so if you’re out of town next weekend, you can watch them in the beginning of December.
Monday Mashup: Whirlwind Ruckus.
That best describes our weekend and Friday night show at the Center. If you missed it, you didn’t just miss an amazing show, but you missed out on a whole experience. Lucky for you, I understand that emergencies come up, and there are maybe one or two good excuses for missing the show. So, here’s a taste.
First, we had three amazing gentlemen (who didn’t mind me stalking them) playing the bagpipes to welcome people to the Center.
Then you walked in and saw these lovely young ladies from AZ Colleen. Break it down, now.
And finally, you got to watch the show! Here’s a clip of Gaelic Storm playing “What’s the Rumpus?” Let me just say that most performers can get the audience going along with them for a song, maybe two. Gaelic Storm had everyone participating the entire show. Well done, guys.
Amazing time. We need them back next year.
This weekend we’re continuing the Irish trend, but taking it in a different direction. On Sunday you can catch Orla Fallon performing here, and it’s going to be a great time. She’s a little more traditional than Gaelic Storm, and her songs can really pull on your heart-strings one minute, and then make you laugh and clap along the next. She’s a great performer and you really can’t miss it.
Glee Camp shows us what they’re made of
It’s only the second day of our October Glee Camp and these kids already know the lyrics to two songs, as well as two dance routines. They might play hard, but they certainly work harder and I think it’s going to really pay off when the perform for everyone on Friday.
I managed to sneak in and get some video of “Empire State of Mind” and “Born This Way”.
Weekend Preview: First day of fall
Overheard at the office yesterday “Today is Friday Eve, which is much better than Friday Eve-Eve, which was better than Tuesday, because Tuesday sucked.”
I think we’re all looking forward to the weekend around here, and with good reason.
Come on down Saturday night for the 12th Annual C3HR Mariachi Festival. Not only do you get to hear and see some amazing performers, but you can get some food (for just a couple of bucks).
Oh yeah, I just said that. So you can imagine the smells that will come from the Center on Saturday, you won’t be able to resist that. And if the promise of amazing home cooked Mexican food isn’t enough to draw you in, check our Facebook for what we have in store for you tomorrow.
Also, don’t forget that #ChandlerHunt is a week from today. Have you found any clues?
Monday Mashup: We Like To Party
I hope your weekend was wonderful and that you’re happy to get back to work this Monday morning. If either one (or both) isn’t the case, then a little Monday Mashup should be the cure for what ails you.
Bad Cactus Brass Band rocked on Friday night, and even brought a little surprise with them. In addition to their marching brass band, they had a gentleman by the name of Chris Pena on piano who was drop dead amazing.
Hot dang. Makes me wish that I stuck with my dream of playing piano, but moving on. If you didn’t catch Bad Cactus then here’s a clip of what you missed. (Also, I want to see a doctor’s note)
This weekend we don’t have a free summer show, but next weekend we’re really going to party. We have Rachel Eckroth coming on August 19th and then on August 20th with The Christopher Robin Band at Chester’s Harley-Davidson where yours truly will try not to catch on fire and help grill up all sorts of tasty goodness. Keep your eyes out for some more details as we get closer to August 20th.
What lies below?
For this episode of Caitie’s Chandler Crawl, I wandered around under CCA to see what I could find.
Tech Tuesday: Sound Check
“Crest makes good toothpaste.”
That was the first thing I heard over the mics when I walked into the theatre on Saturday. Dean was nice enough to let me crash the sound check for Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, and I had no idea what to expect. My only experience with setting up a band was in high school, when we jammed cables into outlets and prayed we didn’t set the stage on fire.
However at CCA, things are a little more professional than that. Before the band even got on stage to make sure they sounded right, our sound guys did some run through’s, making sure all the mics were working and the monitors (speakers on stage) were hooked up right. This is a video from the main sound desk that shows the guys making sure the drum kit sounds right. Our sound guys needed to make sure that it was loud enough so that the audience could hear the right sounds, but not too loud that it sounded like a bunch of random banging, and the levels on the audio metering scales told them if they were right on the money, or needed to adjust.
Another thing I learned was that for many of the performances here, and especially those with music, there are actually two soundboards. There’s the main one in the theatre that Dean works, and then there’s one in the wings that Steve manages. Dean’s job is to make sure that the audience hears the music right, and Steve does the same, but for each of the musicians on stage. This clip shows just that. Some of the techs were walking around stage making sure everyone was hearing what they needed to hear to perform, and Steve was adjusting on the go.
See how some of the faders (sliding controls) seem to move on their own? They don’t. I found out that Steve can program different channels to have different frequencies (more bass, treble, etc) and then set that channel with those specifications. If he needs more channels, he can move on to a different one and do the same thing. The movement happens when he switches between channels and the soundboard adjusts to the frequencies he set.
Just think of it this way. I love watching Real Housewives of NYC (no shame), but my Bravo channel has really bad sound quality, so I always have to turn up my TV’s volume. When I set my DVR to record the newest episode, I adjust the sound so my TV’s volume automatically goes higher to record that particular show, but will go lower for the next show I record on a different channel.
The actual soundcheck with the band on stage took 20 minutes at most, because everything went so well during the set up. I was glad because I got to meet more of the sound and lighting crew, and they’re a blast to hang out with.
If there are any questions that you had that I didn’t answer, please let me know! Dean said he doesn’t mind me asking questions, so I’m going to put that to the test. In the mean time, here are some photos I snagged during the soundcheck. I went through two cameras before I got any pictures that would work in some way, shape or form, so if they’re a tad grainy that’s why.
Monday Mashup: Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars
Saturday night was the last show of our 2010-2011 season, and we went out with a bang with Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars. I didn’t get any video during the performance, but here is a clip and some photos of the band during the sound check.
The best part about the sound check? (other than learning what the boards do) It was hanging out with the members of the band. They were all very friendly, but I’ll talk about that more during tomorrow’s Tech Tuesday.
Well, now what? If the season is over with, does that mean that we won’t have Caitie’s awesome posts to look forward to anymore? Will she go away forever?
Nah. I like this place too much to pick up and take off. Sure, Monday Mashups and Weekend Previews will change just a bit, but we will still have tons of amazing performances, including Swan Lake. So go watch Black Swan and then come see it live! Hopefully with less psychosis, but we’ll see.
Monday Mashup: Street Beat, Hotel California and Spencers Theatre of Illusion
With Street Beat here this past weekend, the band nerd* in me was in heaven. The best way I can describe it for someone who missed it this weekend, was that you got two shows for one. It was Stomp meets Blue Man Group with less face paint and more dreadlocks flying around (watch the video, you’ll see what I mean). Before you watch it though, make sure your speaker volume is set at something reasonable. I don’t want comments about how watching the video made you lose your hearing for a day.
Two videos this week? Hot Dog! This one is more about the dance aspect of Street Beat, which is awesome in its own right.
Want to know something funny? Everyone who owns a car in my family has at least one Eagles CD in their glove compartment, myself included (no shame.) That’s why I’m glad I’ll be around for Hotel California this weekend. They’re a tribute band that doesn’t sound like one, and they use all band members to create their sound, just like the Eagles did. This is one of CCA’s last shows of the season, and it really is a case of saving the best for last.
Not in the mood for music, but still want to come down for something to do? We also have Spencers Theatre of Illusion making a stop here on Sunday afternoon, and this isn’t your average magic show. People from the audience take part in all aspects of the show, so make sure you check them out and maybe you can be a part of it! Although if the Spencers make you disappear, can you tell me where they send you? I’ve always been curious about that.
*I mean no disrespect, but if you could have seen me in high school, you would agree. For four years, I lived and breathed marching band. I spent every spare moment in the band room, walked in step around campus, conducted music in my truck and found the expression “tooting your horn” to be especially hilarious.
Oh who am I kidding, I still do.
Weekend Preview: Street Beat
I love Fridays after a busy week, but I love them even more when I get to go out and do something. This week, CCA has a performance tonight, instead of Saturday night, and Street Beat is an awesome way to get out and do something new.
If you like Stomp, but haven’t had the chance to see them, then you need to take a look at Street Beat. It’s a mix of high energy music, drumming, martial arts and dance that will get you out of your chair and dancing.
People have been drumming and dancing since ancient history, and I’m curious and excited to see how they can turn an old art form into something fresh and new. I found a really good clip that gives you an idea of what they’re all about, and what they can do.
Like I said on Monday, I know I’ll ba dancing!
Caitie’s Chandler Crawl Episode One
So I got my hands on our camera the other day and decided that it would be fun to do a video series about Chandler Center for the Arts and downtown Chandler in general. So here is the first episode, and let me know what you think!
Sit down at San Tan
San Tan Brewing Company is about a block south of Chandler Center for the Arts, which makes it a great lunch or happy hour destination, and also the perfect place for theater goers to have a bit to eat. It opened in mid-2007 in what had been a bank in a previous life.
“We had the goal of bringing fresh, handcrafted beer to Chandler and the surrounding areas,” said Chip Mulala, Minister of Craft Beer. “San Tan started out as a restaurant, but then the popularity of craft beers exploded, and we expanded our beer distribution. Now our beers are available in over 300 stores in Arizona, from big chain stores to the independent ones.”
San Tan is also Chandler Center for the Art’s official beer sponsor, which means that at select shows, patrons will be able to purchase San Tan’s craft beers, as long as they’re over 21.*
“It means a lot to us (to be CCA’s official beer sponsor). It’s so important because Chandler Center for the Arts is an anchor for Chandler, and we can put ourselves on the map, which helps the city grow in terms of population and culture,” said Chip, adding that the partnership between San Tan and Chandler Center for the Arts enhances the guest’s experience by having local, quality handcrafted beer available.
If anyone who wants to make San Tan Brewing Company their destination before coming to Chandler Center for the Arts, Chip said patrons should show their ticket or ticket stub, and they can receive 10% off their bill.
“Reservations are suggested, however only accepted until 5:30 p.m., so we really suggest coming in early so you can relax and enjoy your meal.”
For dinner ideas, Chip suggested either the Cochinita Pork Pibil paired with the HefeWeizen Wheat beer or the Green Chili Enchiladas with the Devil’s Ale.
Here’s a slide show to give you a glimpse of San Tan. The handsome fellow holding the HefeWeizen is Owner and Brew master Anthony Canecchia, and if you can pronounce his name right on the first try I will give you a dollar (just kidding!).
(*And don’t try and sneak a fake I.D. past us. We’re too good at this.)
Chandler Center For The Arts 