Page 36 - the NOISE January 2015

FROM LEFT: Aritist Caryn Bopp pitching a project to create a community print shop for Flagstaff at Art Tank 2014. STEPS Art Program kids check out their work hanging in the ‘Tis Gallery and Art Center. Shade the Raven and Emily Cory.
JPanuary 2015
rescott tends to slow to a crawl in January as folks take a deep breath to recover and regroup from the
holiday madness of the previous months. While there are still plenty of arts and culture activities going on, the overall pace is far less frenzied.
First up is a pretty nifty event at the High- lands Center for Natural History that is great for both children and adults. From 2PM to 4PM on Saturday, January 10, author Di- ane Phelps Budden reads from her children’s book Shade: A Story about a Smart Raven and will be on hand to sign copies of the book. The story is based on Emily Cory and Shade, the raven Ms. Cory has raised and trained. Ms. Cory will speak about her two academic studies on the use of ravens in search and rescue work and on the ability of ravens to learn words. Perhaps even more exciting is that Shade will be on hand for attendees to meet. Tickets are $2 for children and $5 for adults. For more information or to pre-reg- ister for this event, visit highlandscenter.org or give them a call at 928-776-9550.
The Prescott Center for the Arts (PCA) has two shows to help brighten up the winter blahs. First up, PCA is bringing Noel Coward’s play, Private Lives, to the main stage. Parker Anderson is slated to direct this clas- sic Broadway show. This modern adaptation features several local faves, including PCA Executive Director, Jon Meyer, who is step- ping on stage in a leading role. For those not familiar with the storyline, expect a rather sharp romantic comedy that explores the old notion of “can’t live without you, can’t live with you.” Private Lives, runs from Janu-
ary 15 through January 24 and tickets will set you back $12 to $16 for a matinee or $15 to $20 for an evening performance.
Over at PCA’s Stage Too, the only show currently scheduled for January is the Impro- vitonians comedy show. This is the second year for this local improv at the Stage Too venue. They put on monthly shows for a measly five bucks and your chance to giggle on the cheap is coming up January 31 at 8:30 PM. No kids under 17 are admitted without a parent, and if adult language and humor shock you, then this isn’t going to be your cuppa. For exact show times and ticket pur- chases for both Private Lives, and the Impro- vitonians, visit pfaa.net or call the box office at 928-445-3286.
There are plenty of local and visiting bands hitting Prescott this month, but one of the most exciting is the return of Tucson’s Tesoro to the Raven Café. This high-energy band serves up a mix of Latin, Rumba and Flamenco music with some decidedly rock overtones. Totally fun and highly danceable tunes are perfect for a turn on the Raven’s admittedly tiny dance floor or for some laid back toe tapping for those lucky enough to snag a table. The show starts at 8PM on Sat- urday, January 10. For more information on the band, visit their website at tesorotucson. com or drop by the Raven at 142 N. Cortez and hear them live.
‘Tis Gallery and Center for the Arts is pre- senting two very different shows in January. “STEPS Children’s Art Show,” features work by
the participants of the STEPS art program sponsored by ‘Tis. This program offers free art classes to local kids and this showing al- lows them the super cool opportunity to see their work hanging in a professional gallery setting. For a sneak peek at what the next
generation of local artists is creating, visit the Mezzanine Gallery January 2 through 13. To meet the young artists in person, be sure to hit up the artists reception scheduled for January 3, from 2PM to 4PM.
Immediately following the children’s art show, “Alumni Photo Group: Pursuing the Vision,”willstartitsruninthe‘TisMezzanine Gallery. This show features the photographic work of several local artists and runs from January 15 through February 14. Expect a diverse group of subjects and approaches. For more information on either show and for gallery hours, visit tisartgallery.com, call at 928-775-0223 or just stop by 105 S. Cortez St.
Speaking of art, the Arizona Commission on the Arts (ACA) is bringing back their inno- vative grants program, Art Tank. Last year’s grant pitching event, inspired in part by the popular television show, Shark Tank, proved popular with participating artists, non-profit arts organizations and the public. Like many of the best things in life, the process is both simple and fun. Earlier in the year, applica- tions that outlined innovative arts projects were submitted to the ACA. Out of all those applications, up to ten were chosen to partic- ipate at a regional Art Tank “Fast Pitch” event. This year’s Northern Arizona Art Tank will be held in Flagstaff, but there are some Prescott artists participating. It means taking a drive up the mountain, but since the public has a vote on which projects get funded, it is a fantastic way to support local arts. Mark your calendars for Thursday, January 15 and head up to the Coconino Center for the Arts, located at 23 N. Fort Valley Road in Flagstaff. Listen to the pitches and cast your vote for the special audience choice grant of $1,000. Doors open at 6:30PM. For more informa- tion on the Art Tank event, visit azarts.gov/ arttank or give ACA a call at 602-771-6536.
Topping this month’s best arts and culture events is the Mile High Comedy Theater (MHCT) show coming up January 23 at the Elks Theater. MHCT has rapidly grown in popularity and chances are pretty good this show will sell out, especially considering that they have successively doubled their atten- dance for their performances last year. Inter-
est in local comedy in general has grown at a phenomenal rate in town, with regular com- edy and stand up gigs hosted in a variety of venues. MHCT in particular seems to have struck a funny bone with Prescottonians.
Fans of comedy shows like the long-running Whose Line is it Anyway? will recognize many of the improv games MHCT brings to the stage. The unpredictability of live improvisa- tional games creates an energy that is diffi- cult to describe and dangerous to underval- ue. Never ones to rest on their laurels, MHCT consistently brings new games to their per- formances that manage to ride the line be- tween hilarity and certain comedic doom. There is something electric about watching performers race right up to the brink of the unknown and take that twist or turn that leads to a completely unexpected destina- tion. Fortunately for MHCT, their audience is more than willing to go along for the ride.
In addition to improv, MHCT also brings guest stand-up comedians to the stage. For the January show, they are featuring Cathy Cowen, a local comedian who has been building quite a following in the area. Al- though several members of MHCT have been developing stand-up sets, the addition of a fresh comedic point of view only enliv- ens the performance.
There are few things as healing as a good laugh and this event is just what the doctor ordered. The show starts at 7PM, but defi- nitely get there early unless you really dig sitting in the nosebleed section. For more information on MHCT, visit milehighcom- edytheater.com. Tickets run $10 for gen- eral admission or $20 for box seats and can be purchased online at prescottelkstheater. com or by calling the Elks Theater box office at 928-777-1370.
| Angie Johnson-Schmit could be considered well-versed in improvisation, if that were even possible. slackerwriter@gmail.com
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