Page 26 - the NOISE June 2012

Fred & Mary at the Elks Theater & Opera House, Untitled by Pum Rote is featured at Tis Art Gal- opening July 7. lery during the Southwestern Art Conference.
The Fourth of July is a big deal everywhere, but Prescott takes it to a whole new level. Prescott is home to the World’s Oldest Rodeo,
which is celebrating its 125th anniversary. From the end of June through the first part of July, it’s pretty much all rodeo, all the time. No wor- ries for those looking for something a lil’ dif- ferent, though. There’s a whole lot more than just roping and bull riding going on in town this month, but if rodeo is your thing, you can get a full schedule of events and buy tickets at worldsoldestrodeo.com.
On the theater front, Prescott Center for the Arts (PFAA) and Little Black Dress INK are joining forces once again to bring the all female-production of From the Mouths of Babes to the PFAA stage. This festival is the second year for the Female Playwrights Onstage Proj- ect, created and led by 2011 Buckey award win- ner Tiffany Antone. Last year was so success- ful that this year, the festival will be hitting the road after the Prescott performances, traveling to Los Angeles and Minneapolis.
Expect a mix of genres that don’t shy away from “mature themes,” making this an event strictly for grown-ups. There will be nine plays hitting the stage Saturday, July 14 at 2PM and 7PM and tickets are $15 at the door, or get ‘em online at pca-az.net. Check out littleblack- dressink.org to keep up with the festival par- ticipants blogging about their theatrical she- nanigans.
It’s a busy theater month, but it would be a shame to miss the musical adaptation of local writer Christopher Hoy’s children’s book The Elk in the Attic. All proceeds from the sale of the book went to benefit the Elks Opera House, so it is no surprise that this production is pre- sented by the Elks Opera House Foundation. This is most definitely a play that works for the whole family, and there is special pricing for kids’ tickets
Directed by Blue Rose Theatre and Sharlot Hall treasure Jody Drake, with costumes by professional clown and arts educator Jacob Devaney, choreography by local dancer Ashley Fine and music by the super duo D-Squared,
The Elk in the Attic should be a blast for the whole fam. The show run starts on July 20. For tickets and a full listing of show times. To read a sample chapter of the book, visit Hoy’s web- site, elkintheattic.com.
Fans of independent film won’t want to pass up the latest offering from the Prescott Film Festival (PFF). Head over to the Yavapai Col- lege Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, July 11 and check out How Do You Write a Joe Schermann Song. The low-budget musical de- livers like a big budget movie and won the Cox Audience Choice Award at the 2012 Phoenix Film festival. This is a one-shot opportunity to view the film, and the newly tricked-out the- ater at Yavapai College is an awesome venue to kick back and enjoy the flick. For more on this movie, the film festival, and to watch trail- ers from the upcoming Prescott Film Festival in August, check out prescottfilmfestival.com.
One of the single best fundraising events of the summer is happening over at the Old Fire- house Plaza on July 14. The Third Annual Fire- fighter’s Luau will run from 10AM ‘til midnight and will feature sand volleyball tournaments, live bands, a pig roast, hula dancers and a fires show. As an extra feel-good bonus, all proceeds from this event will go to Prescott Firefighter’s Charities. Head on over to 220 West Goodwin Street to soak up the tropical vibes and support a great cause.
July is a jam-packed month o’ musical good- ness, too. The Prescott Jazz Summit will be giving a free concert at the Courthouse Square on Friday, June 13. Show up at noon to groove on some world-class jazz and check out some local vendors. The full on jazz festival doesn’t officially kick off ‘til August, but this is a great way to get a little taste of what’s coming up next month. For full details on the Summit, check out page 9. prescottjazz.com.
Lots of local faves will be hitting the stage at the Raven Café this month. Folks like Dave Manning, Big Daddy D and the Dynamites and Smoot Mahooty are sure to get you out on the dance floor. Or, y’know, at least en- courage some serious toe-tapping action. The
weather is perfect for the Raven’s rooftop patio and their state-of-the-art sound system means diners don’t have to miss out on the tunes while enjoying the cool breeze. Check out their calendar on page 35 for a full listing of music. ravencafe.com.
Another awesome patio venue can be found at El Gato Azul. This little gem is right next to the creek and only a few steps off the Square. There’s no set schedule for the tunes, but local folks like Pat Beary, Jonathan Best and Don Cheek regularly show up to serenade diners. Plus, El Gato Azul serves the absolute best san- gria you’ll find in Prescott – no lie! Put all that together with an incredible tapas menu and dang it, that’s just about a perfect end to a sum- mer day. Run over to 316 West Goodwin Street to see for yourself.
For all y’all visual arts fans, there are plenty of shows up in July to check out, but one of the biggest is happening over at Sharlot Hall. The 15th Annual Prescott Indian Market will run from July 14-15, and has the well-deserved rep- utation for being one of the most outstanding arts and crafts festivals of the summer. Sharlot Hall is worth a visit all on its lonesome, but this event is truly top notch. This is a juried festi- val, with all participants chosen by a jury of all Indian artists. Expect a mix of traditional and contemporary art with lots of demonstrations and great food. Visit sharlot.org for tickets and more info on the event.
There’s no shortage of visual art shows, ei- ther. The best bet is to take a stroll around the Square and check out gallery row. Off the Square, Arte Natura is showing over at the Prescott Center for the Arts through July 14 before “View of the World” opens on July 20. Meanwhile at the ‘Tis Art Center and Gallery and, the Southwestern Artists’ Association will feature a showing of local and regional artists curated by Pum Rote. This show will run from July 26 through August 21, with an opening reception on the 27th. Check out their websites for more information on the shows and the art- ists at pfaa.net and TisArtGallery.com.
The Number One you-would-be-absolutely-
mad-to-miss-this event is local playwright Micki Shelton’s epic, Fred and Mary: An Uncon- ventional Romance. The play will be taking the stage at the Elks Theater Opera House begin- ning July 7. Based on the imagined relationship of railroad restaurateur legend Fred Harvey and famed Grand Canyon architect Mary Jane Colter, the play takes a deeper look at two of the most influential people in Arizona’s history. This pair o’ perfectionists helped shape the im- age of the Southwest and were at least partially responsible for making sure Native Americans & native artists were a major part of that vision.
Ms. Shelton has spent the last 13 years re- searching, dreaming, writing and revising the play. She was first made aware of Mary Jane Colter’s work when on a Grand Canyon hike. Colter’s work, influence and personality cap- tured Ms. Shelton’s imagination and started the playwright on a long, strange journey to make the play a reality. The Elks Opera House was equally enthralled with the concept and are co- producing the event with the City of Prescott.
Directed by Kate Hawkes, this run will fea- ture local and visiting actors. Some local peeps in the cast include Hopi artist and 2011 Buckey award winner, Filmer Kewanyama, The Artist’s Path Director and Founder, Gail Mangham, and the multi-talented Dino Palazzi. While there is plenty of Arizona history in the play, the story is so dang engaging it’s more like taking a trip back in time to a parallel universe than sitting through a history lesson. For show times and ticket info, visit elksoperahouse. com. For more info on the play and Ms. Shelton, visit mickishelton.com.
Angie Johnson-Schmit may just yet know the meaning of the greatest summer ever! slackerwriter@gmail.com
PUB.’sCORRECTION:Lastedition’sphotosinthiscolumnweretakenby Mike Kincade & Sharon Marzonie. Our apologies for the layout error.
26 • JULY 2012 • the NOISE arts & news magazine • thenoise.us