By Tina Boden-Blake
Brian Wilson, from the musical group The Beach Boys, said, “Summer means happy times and good sunshine. It means going to the beach, going to Disneyland, having fun.”
Well, Prescott doesn’t have the beach or Disneyland, but is beautiful in its own right—and thanks in part to Prescott Center for the Arts (PCA), it offers lots of fun for everyone. Whether you crave outdoor adventure, historical traditions like the rodeo, or being entertained by the arts, you will find it. PCA has created a lineup of visual and perform arts programs to entertain you, your family, and your friends.
As a community art organization, PCA is proud that all of our entertainment is brought to you by your very own neighbors. As an example, The Hunchback of Notre Dame has over 35 talented locals volunteering their time to bring this classical musical to life. But that is just one opportunity! Mark your calendars as there is something to do weekly.
Two Colors Plus A Wild Card at PCA’s Art Gallery, June 2-July 6. Artists create a piece using two specific colors, plus a “wild card” – an optional third color of their choosing. Their work can be in any medium, style, and subject matter. Artistic creations can employ metal, paint, wood, mixed media, jewelry, photography, ceramics, and more.
Hunchback of Norte Dame at PCA’s Mainstage, through June 16. Based on the Victor Hugo novel and songs from the Disney animated feature, The Hunchback of Notre Dame showcases the film’s Academy Award-nominated score, as well as new songs by Menken and Schwartz. Peter Parnell’s new book embraces story theatre and features verbatim passages from Hugo’s gothic novel. A sweeping score and powerful story make The Hunchback of Notre Dame an instant classic. Audiences will be swept away by the magic of this truly unforgettable musical.
Architecture as Art at PCA’s Art Gallery, July 7-August 10. Many members of the PCA Gallery’s Visual Arts Committee enjoy and celebrate the architecture of buildings. In fact, our very own building is considered a historical building with artistic design from the stained glass to the structure of the exterior walls. You can see the beauty all around PCA. And, you can come in the gallery and enjoy our artists’ interpretations of architecture as art in a variety of forms.
PCA Youth Program Camps, May through June and July. These programs are not only educational, but they also help build character (everyone is welcome with or without performing arts experience). Scholarships and discounts are available.
Kiss Me Kate, July 12-21. Scott Neese directs this production, and area youth in PCA’s Teen Summer Stock Program perform in this sophisticated romantic comedy. Leading lady Lilli Vanessi and her ex-husband, actor/director Fred Graham, battle onstage and off in a production of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew. Kiss Me, Kate combines the irreverent humor of two brilliant writes: Cole Porter and William Shakespeare.
A Year of Frog and Toad, July 26-27. Adapted from the three-time-Tony-nominated hit and based on Arnold Lobe’s well-loved books, this production is directed by Gina Steverson and Sylvia Wauters as part of PCA’s Summer Stock Jr. Program. The play is jazzy with an upbeat score that bubbles with melody. Part vaudeville, part make-believe, and all charm as the story of enduring friendship is told through the seasons.
A Fragmented Fairytale, June 29. Gina Steverson and Sylvia Wauters, directors of PCA’s Theatre Adventurers Program, direct young performers in this one-act play about the love and celebration of beloved fairy tales.
Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End at PCA’s Stage Too, July 19-August 25. A comic look at one of our country’s most beloved voices – a voice that reassures us that yes, the world is sometimes crazy, but if we look at it and laugh, we have most of it covered. Erma Bombeck captured the frustrations of her generation by asking, “If life is a bowl of cherries, what am I doing in the pits?” Chock full of the wit and wisdom of the woman herself, this one-woman tour-de-force allows Erma to tell her own story, leading us through her years lampooning life in the suburbs in her nationally syndicated newspaper column, “At Wit’s End.” From her troubled childhood, where she found comfort in the words of Dorothy Parker and Robert Benchley, through her rise to fame as a journalist and public figure, discover the story behind America’s beloved humorist who championed women’s lives with wit that sprang from the most unexpected place of all – the truth.
We look forward to you having fun this summer. For additional information, please visit www.pca-az.net or call our Box Office at 928.445.3286.