Page 40 - the NOISE September 2014

at left: Cisco Ortiz and Jantina Russell of Mile High Comedy Theater perform “Of- fice Assistant” sketch at the Elks Theater
center: Mixed media by Oriona Meadow at the ‘Tis Art Center and Gallery at right: Up-cycled metal sculpture by Corey Collins
There is just a hint of snap in the air ona’s Treasures” September 20th
College Library by 7PM. For more info on the Southwest Literary Series and to learn more about Nye, visit yc.edu.
The top event for September provides a welcome bit of levity for the grownups. Af- ter the huge success of their debut show, Mile High Comedy Theater is returning to the Elks Theater on Saturday, September 6. MHCT is bringing their mix of improvisa- tional, sketch and stand-up comedy to the main stage with veteran members Michael James, Brent Nelson, Annie O’Connor, Cis- co Ortiz, Jantina Russell and Jen Tobin.
One of the most fun aspects of the show is the improv segments. Fans of Whose Line Is it Anyway will recognize several of the games and get a serious kick out of the audi- ence-provided prompts. Plus, there are some improv games that involve bringing audience members up to join in the fun. The beauty and the curse of improv comedy is that abso- lutely anything can happen, lending an extra edge to this part of the show.
Stand-up comedy sets from professionals Brian Kohatsu and Mike James take the show to the next level. Mr. Kohatsu is a gifted impressionist, improviser and writer who has found success nationally on National Lam- poon Radio. Mr. James was recently honored as the 2013 Comedian of the Year by the Na- tional Comedian’s Guild and has performed at some of the most prestigious comedy clubs around the nation.
The show starts at 7PM and tickets are $10, available by calling the Elks Theater Box of- fice at (928) 777-1370, online at prescottelks- theater.com or at the door. Also, because improv is spontaneous and things can slide over to the seriously adult humor side in rapid fashion, this show is listed as 18+. The grownups now have the perfect excuse to leave the young’uns at home and enjoy a night out with real live adult humor.
| Angie Johnson-Schmit could be considered well versed in improvisa- tion, if that were even possible. slackerwriter@gmail.com
signaling the arrival of cooler weath- er. Prescott slows down as folks catch their breath from the rush of big summer events and prepare for a packed calendar in Novem- ber and December. In many ways, September is the perfect time to go a bit deeper into Prescott’s established arts ‘n culture scene and check out some new favorites.
The folks over in Cordes Junction are busy with the newly launched High Desert Heri- tage Museum & Visitor Center. Located right off the highway, the museum offers a unique taste of history and information for locals and travellers. They are currently running a bet- ter than average fundraiser, raffling off some pretty impressive art. Ten bucks gets you a raffle ticket to win Eos, a 41⁄2-foot high sculp- ture constructed from “up-cycled” metal by artist Corey W. Collins. This piece took two years to complete and is just plain impres- sive. Also up for grabs in the raffle are pieces by Arcosanti-based artists Clifford Hersted and Conrad McAnany, with a hand-carved ironwood piece and an acrylic painting of an agave plant, respectively. They are only sell- ing a thousand raffle tickets, with the drawing scheduled for December 6th at the museum. Head over to 19600 E. Stagecoach Trail in Cordes Junction to check out the new mu- seum and see the fine art raffle items, or give them a call at (928) 632-4663.
Gallery Row on Montezuma Street has plenty of new offerings in September, as well as several favorite local artists showing. Almost all of the galleries are good bets, but be sure to stop by a decent collection of fine art and sculpture on view at Ian Russell Gal- lery. While you’re there, don’t forget to check out the truly stunning up-cycled metal horse sculptures by Corey Collins. Also, don’t pass up Arts Prescott for an ever-changing mix of handcrafted jewelry, ceramics, sculpture, textiles and fine art. Local treasure Linne Thomas currently has several of her paint- ings at Arts Prescott and her work is well worth a look-see. Across the square on Cor- tez is ‘Tis Gallery, where they are featuring the multi-media constructions of Oriona Meadows in the artist’s first solo show. “Ori-
opens September
16, with an artist’s
reception planned
for the 4th Friday Art Walk on September 26.
The local theater groups are gearing up for their big productions in late fall, but there are still some shows this month worth checking out. Over at Prescott Center for the Arts (PCA) on Stage Too, the edgy Seatbelts Re- quired: or The Play I Wrote to Really Piss Off My Sisters begins its run on September 18. Fo- cused on the uneasy reunion of three sisters after their mother’s death, this play features Julie Chavez Harrington, Amber Bosworth and Allie Kate Elliot. With a strong cast and a good script, it’s a sure bet this production is well worth your money and time. Tickets, show times and directions to Stage Too are available online at pfaa.net or by calling the box office at 928-445-3286.
The PCA main stage is devoted to the mu- sical offering of Pump Boys & Dinettes. This show is a mix of music and theater with an emphasis on music, and fans of country west- ern music a lá the Grand Ole Opry should get a kick out of it. The off-Broadway version won rave reviews, so it should be interesting to see what PCA makes of this show. The production runs through September 13, so plan ahead. For tickets and show times, visit pfaa.net or call the PCA box office at 928-445-3286.
Prescott isn’t normally known for dinner theater, but on Monday, September 22, the Palace Restaurant & Saloon mixes dinner, theater and history all in one tasty package. Wyatt Earp, the great-grand nephew of leg- endary lawman, Wyatt Earp, will be perform- ing a one-man play. Using the conceit of an el- derly lawman looking back over the events of his life, the play covers the highlights of Earp’s history. This is your chance to hear some sto- ries of Arizona’s most (in)famous figures while dining in the historic Palace. It’s mighty hard to beat that combo, especially for Old West history buffs. Tickets for dinner and the show are $28. Call 928-541-1996 for reservations.
If fine dining and world class music sounds like the perfect evening, then circle
on your calendar. Arcosanti is host- ing Colly Concert:
Sonya Lee & Melina Kalomas. This concert features a performance of Richard Strauss’ piece for piano and narration of Alfred Lord Tennyson’s “Enoch Arden,” with Ms. Lee as pianist and Ms. Kalomas as vocalist. Paired with a gourmet meal set within the stunning architecture of Paolo Soleri’s dream city, this is a truly fantastic recipe for a lovely eve- ning. Both women have performed across the nation and the world, including venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center and the Boston Opera House. Get there early for an after hours tour of Arcosanti. Tickets for the concert are $20 or $40 for the wine and cheese reception, concert and dinner. Res- ervations are required for dinner and can be made by calling 928-632-7135.
On the literary front, local writer Michaela Carter is making quite the splash with her debut novel, Further Out than You Thought. Prescott folks may know her best as as co-founder of the Peregrine Book Compa- ny, where she also serves as a book buyer and storyteller. Already an award-winning poet, Ms. Carter can now add published author to her list of accomplishments. Further Out Than You Thought draws inspiration from Ms. Carter’s experiences as a graduate student in Los Angeles during the Rodney King riots of 1992. Well worth a read, the novel is available from Harper Collins. Stop by the Peregrine at 219 N. Cortez and pick up a copy.
Also noteworthy for the literary-minded,
Yavapai College’s Literary Southwest Se- ries is hosting a reading by Naomi Shihab Nye on Friday, September 19. Author of more than 30 volumes of poetry, short stories and literature, Ms. Nye has garnered numerous awards and accolades, including four Push- cart Awards and a Guggenheim Fellowship. A self-described “wandering poet,” Ms. Nye has traveled and taught writing workshops all over the world. If this sounds like your cuppa poetry, then head over to the Susan M. Webb Community room at the Yavapai
40 • SEPTEMBER 2014 • the NOISE arts & news • thenoise.us