If you’re curious about what’s happening in the local arts community, we create a quarterly list of new and exciting events for you to look out for, from new art exhibitions to returning concerts and upcoming shows.
Learn About Our Planet With the 2023-24 National Geographic Live Speaker Series
Hosted at Mesa Arts Center, this season of the National Geographic Live Speaker Series will feature expert explorers who will take audiences on a journey to experience the wonders of planet Earth. The series will consist of five shows running from October 2023 to March 2024 and cover everything from the felines of India to the geological marvels beneath Earth’s surface. Season subscription packages start at $119 and renewals and new subscriptions are on sale now. Visit mesaartscenter.com/natgeolive to get your season pass or learn more.
The Ravenscroft Kicks Off the Summer by Announcing its 2023-24 Jazz-Series Lineup
Scottsdale’s premier venue, The Ravenscroft, recently announced its lineup for its highly anticipated 2023-24 concert season. The series will start in September with world-renowned pianist Jesús Molina and will conclude in April with composer and saxophonist Donny McCaslin. Experience some of the best performers from the Valley and around the world in an intimate setting. For more information, visit theravenscroft.com.
Observe Art in the Making at the Prescott Plein Air Festival
Yavapai College Prescott Art Gallery and the Highlands Center for Natural History are presenting “Art in the Pines: 4th Annual Prescott Plein Air Festival.” August 24-27, 16 professional plein air artists from Arizona will be painting throughout Yavapai County. Audiences can interact with the artists at no cost as they paint from Prescott’s forests, lakesides and downtown architecture. There will be many events leading up to the festival and it will conclude with a ticketed public reception and art sale on August 27. For more information, contact Tim Hull at timothy.hull@yc.edu or visit highlandscenter.org.
Explore the Mind of a Genius with Leonardo: The Universal Man
Impact Museums is casting the well-known artist in a new light with five displays which explore where Leonardo da Vinci made his greatest impact. Developed by TWOFIFTYK, the exciting audio-visual journey will take audiences through da Vinci’s life and achievements through a series of floor projections that present interpretations of his famous art. The bold show is friendly for all ages and is showing at Lighthouse Artspace Phoenix in Old Town Scottsdale. Tickets start from $24.99 and are now on sale at immersiveleonardo.com.
Hone Your Acting Skills with a Pre-Audition Workshop
Showtune Productions is holding adult auditions for its 2024 production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Live in Concert at Chandler Center for the Arts on August 19. If you are interested but aren’t sure about your acting skills, don’t worry – Showtune Production’s producer/musical director JR McAlexander and artistic director M. Seth Reined are holding a pre-audition workshop on July 11. The workshop is for actors 16 and older and will offer audition tips. Anyone attending the workshop should bring a headshot and resume, and prepare 32 bars of a song from Disney or Broadway. For more information or to sign up for an audition or RSVP for the workshop visit chandlercenter.org/bandbauditions.
Experience the Instruments that Shaped Today’s Music
The Musical Instrument Museum has opened a new exhibit highlighting instrumental moments in music history. Rediscover Treasures: Legendary Musical Instruments is a new exhibition which features 28 new acquisitions and loans including the Erand grand piano and Jimi Hendrix’s Black Widow electric guitar. The exhibition is open to the public now and will be available to see at the museum until September. For more information and to get your tickets, visit mim.org.
