Three Dog Night concentrates on the hits

www.SanTanSun.com
Arts
Three Dog Night concentrates on the hits
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
After 48 years in Three Dog Night,
Danny Hutton knows what he likes when
it comes to music. He’s quick to dole out
advice to burgeoning bands as well as
veterans.
“I personally don’t like it when I go see
a band—especially a younger band—and
they say, ‘We’re hip and we’re not going to
cop out and do the hits. We’re going to do
all new stuff,’” says Hutton during a recent
phone interview. “I want to say, ‘Come on
kid. We’ve been together almost 48 years.
We’ve seen it all.’”
That said, Three Dog Night is known for
doing the hits like “Joy to the World” and
“Shambala” during performances, which
includes a Friday, Dec. 12, gig at Wild Horse
Pass Hotel and Casino in Chandler.
“We’re going to do the hits—and sound
like the record,” Hutton says. “We’re going
to do a couple deep album cuts and a
couple of new songs. Those are the songs
where people can go to the bathroom.
It’s funny. It happens even with (Paul)
McCartney.”
The new song to which he’s referring is
the popular a cappella number “Prayer of
the Children.”
“It’s all six of us,” he says. “You gotta
concentrate on that one, boy.”
Three Dog Night’s music has stayed
relevant thanks to horror movies by Rob
Zombie, as well as the films “Forrest
Gump,” “The Big Chill” and “Boogie
Nights.” With his band the Danny Hutton
Hitters, he contributed the song “Wouldn’t
THREE DOG NIGHT: Danny Hutton, center, is one of three singers in the iconic ‘70s
band. Submitted photo
It Be Good” to the “Pretty in Pink”
soundtrack.
Hutton has imparted his knowledge to
his sons, namely Dash, the drummer for
the pop group Haim. His other son, Tim,
worked with reggae singer Jimmy Cliff on
the album “Rebirth.” Hutton loves to share
stories about his band’s career.
“When we first played England, we did
small clubs,” he shares. “I played in a club
and I’d met a songwriter. They didn’t want
to give us a lot of people for the guest list,
so we snuck him in as one of our roadies.
He was Elton John or Reggie Dwight. We
snuck in Reg.”
Born in Ireland, Hutton has no sign of
an accent. Spending time in England as
well, he was friends with Harry Nilsson.
“The apartment below him had a maid
service and all that stuff,” he says. “Harry
was crazy. I liked Harry a lot. I didn’t realize
that Keith Moon died in his apartment
and Cass (Elliot) died in his apartment.
He traveled a lot so people used to use
it. Steve Marriott was downstairs. I was
friends with Marc Bolan, too. Marc used to
come over. It was crazy.”
Hutton explains that music hasn’t
changed over the years, despite what
others may say. The delivery of it has
December 6 – 19, 2014
61
evolved, however.
“I get a kick out of looking at the charts
at the back of Rolling Stone where they
show No. 10, for example, just moved into
the charts with 28,000 units sold,” he says.
“That is just such a joke. We are lucky
enough to sell lots of records. I have a
hallway full of gold and platinum records.
You had to sell a million, at least, to get
those. But the reason I bring that up is you
can still survive and do well doing live
shows. The records are a calling card just
so people can come and see you. If you’re
a good live act, you’re going to do well.”
These days, Three Dog Night performs
mostly one-nighters at venues that range
in size from 1,500-seat former vaudeville
theaters to outdoor summer festivals that
attract around 35,000 fans.
“It’s different every night,” Hutton says.
“I love doing the hits though. I’ve got to
tell you. Even if we go back to a city and
it’s been a long time, 80 percent of the
people are new. Just knowing that we’re
going to get the reaction we’re going to
get, it brings back a lot of good memories.
I’d rather do that than do new songs every
night watching people say, ‘What the
hell?’”
Three Dog Night performs at 8 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 12, at Wild Horse Pass Hotel
and Casino, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd.,
Chandler. Tickets are $35 to $79. For more
information, call (800) WIN-GILA or visit
www.wingilariver.com.
Christina Fuoco-Karasinski is the
executive editor of the SanTan Sun
News. She can be reached at christina@
santansun.com.
62
Arts
December 6 – 19, 2014
www.SanTanSun.com
Chandler well represented at Phoenix Festival of the Arts
not what we create for, but it does
make you feel pretty good at the end
of the day that people like what you do.
You’re just doing what you love to do. If
somebody likes it, it’s that much better.”
Benesh says that participation by
artists and acts from the Valley—
including those in Chandler—shows the
diversity of the arts scene.
“It proves just how connected the
arts scene is and the artists are,” he says.
“We have artists all over, including in
Chandler. They’re important in the fabric
of the arts and the culture scene that
exists here in the Valley.”
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
When Joseph Benesh took over as
Phoenix Center for the Arts director in
2011, he asked the students what they
wanted out of their annual arts sale.
“They said they wanted it bigger,”
Benesh says. “I said, ‘Be careful what you
wish for.’”
That evolved into the Phoenix Festival
of the Arts, which, Benesh says, brings in
more than 50 vendors and about 5,000
attendees. The numbers have steadily
gone up since and art and music lovers,
as well as foodies, can expect an even
larger show.
“They’re (students) really happy to
be part of a bigger festival,” Benesh says.
“It’s an opportunity for the city, and
to showcase our local talent because
Phoenix didn’t have its own signature
arts festival. Every other city had one.
We have an internal mandate to be
heavily local. Most of our vendors are
local vendors. We focus on students and
local students we have in the Valley.”
The festival is 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday,
Dec. 12, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec.
13, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14,
at Margaret T. Hance Park, 1202 N. Third
St., Phoenix. For more information, visit
http://phoenixfestivalofthearts.org/.
Chandler is well represented at this
year’s Phoenix Festival of the Arts. Pop/
R&B singer Levi Waskom is among the
entertainment, while Steve and Bonnie
Harmston of Harmston Arts and Jen
Becker of Molten Dragon Designs will be
SHOWCASING WORK: Steve Harmston and his wife, Bonnie, not pictured, will bring their
silkscreen artwork to the Phoenix Festival of the Arts Friday, Dec. 12, through Sunday, Dec. 14.
Submitted photo
present.
Steve Harmston says the Phoenix
Festival of the Arts is an important
stop for him and his wife, who
also participate in shows in Tempe,
Scottsdale and Tubac.
“We travel from March to October,”
he says. “When we’re home in the winter,
that’s when we do our work.”
He earned a bachelor of fine arts in
printmaking and has spent his career
working as a commercial screen printer
and printmaker. He has been creating
hand-printed silkscreens for more than
25 years.
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His wife has a degree in marketing
and began selling jewelry at art fairs with
her aunt beginning in the 1970s before
moving into a career of sales.
Harmston’s inspiration is simple.
“The response,” he says. “I just love
doing it. There are plenty of things to be
inspired by. It’s just something I kind of
need to do.”
He and his wife have earned multiple
awards, including best in show and best
in printmaking. They are thrilled when
they win.
“It justifies all the work,” Harmston
says. “You do feel good about it. That’s
Christina Fuoco-Karasinski is the
executive editor of the SanTan Sun
News. She can be reached at christina@
santansun.com.
More information
Can’t make it to the Phoenix Festival
of the Arts? Here is information about
the Chandler ties to the festival:
• Steve and Bonnie Harmston,
Harmston Arts: harmstonarts@gmail.
com or www.harmstonarts.com.
• Jen Becker, Molten Dragon Designs:
[email protected] or www.moltendragon.
com or www.moltendragondesigns.
etsy.com.
• Levi Waskom: https://www.
facebook.com/leviwaskom or https://
www.youtube.com/user/leviwaskom
Arts
www.SanTanSun.com
December 6 – 19, 2014
63
Nail on ‘Fire’ since release of
2014 album
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
Country singer David Nail is apologetic.
The one-time Taylor Swift opening act is
calling late and driving through a car wash
in his new ride.
“In case you hear doors slam or it gets a
little loud, I apologize,” Nail says.
Free time has become a delicate
balancing act for the 35-year-old
performer. Since he released his 2014
album “I’m a Fire,” he headlined his own
15-plus city tour and was on the road with
Darius Rucker and Lady Antebellum. He is
set to play Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Resort
at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13.
“This is without a doubt the most that
we have worked in my career,” Nail says.
“Obviously, when you have a big song
like we had with ‘Whatever She’s Got,’ the
demand is going to increase. I’ve always
been one of those people who probably
my booking agent hated. I was always
pressuring him about working more. If
we’re playing Friday and Saturday, I would
ask why we weren’t playing Thursday. They
probably said, ‘We’re finally going to give
David what he asks for.’ They definitely
did.”
Nail explains he’s proud of how well
“I’m a Fire” has done. The album debuted
at No. 3 on the Top Country Albums chart
and No. 13 on The Billboard 200, with
23,000 copies sold in the United States.
Sales have since reached more than
66,000.
“It’s been received really well,” he says.
“You don’t make records for those reasons.
It’s always good to have that on your side,
I guess.”
For this collection, Nail decided it was
time for a change; time to do something
different.
“With every record, you’re at a different
point in your life,” Nail says. “You’re drawn
to different songs and different types of
songs, different feels of songs. With this
record, it was time for a change.
“I definitely was at a different place
in my life personally and professionally.
Subconsciously the music became a
reflection of that. I know for sure that it
wasn’t some sort of conscious decision.”
Nail is at the “very, very beginning
stages of thinking about the next record,
which is a very scary thought, but at the
same time I’m sure it’ll be different than
the record we have out now.”
He’s surprised that the next record has
crept up on him so quickly.
“People are always curious and
intrigued about what’s next and what you
have going on next,” he adds. “I think that’s
a scary thought. You put so much effort
and everything into this record. You have
a tendency to relax, but take a step back
and take a deep breath. You take a couple
deep breaths and people are ready for
whatever you have coming up.”
GRAND OLE OPRY: Days after wrapping his headlining “I’m a Fire Tour,” Grammy-nominated
singer David Nail played the legendary Grand Ole Opry. Photo by Chris Hollo
The Ak-Chin Casino gig is a rare
December show for Nail, who has visited
Arizona often. He opened for Swift at
Jobing.com Arena and played an intimate,
private show at the opening of Longhorn
Steakhouse in Mesa.
After his Maricopa show, he plans to
take a break.
“The majority of December we will be
off the road,” he says. “I’m learning how
to be a husband again. My wife has no
sympathy for me. With the exception of
my car wash, I’m out running errands.
“For the first day or so, she let me lay
around on the couch. Yesterday morning,
though, I woke up to a list of things that
I have to do. This morning I have a list as
well. I have to relearn some of the handy
stuff around the house.”
David Nail performs outside of Harrah’s
Ak-Chin Casino Resort, 15406 Maricopa
Rd., Maricopa, at 5:30 p.m. Saturday,
Dec. 13. Tickets are $25 to $45. For more
information, call (480) 802-5000 or
visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.
harrahsakchin.com/shows.html.
Christina Fuoco-Karasinski is the
executive editor of the SanTan Sun
News. She can be reached at christina@
santansun.com.
64
Arts
December 6 – 19, 2014
www.SanTanSun.com
Fox 10 weatherman McCloskey brings Scrooge to life
BY MEGHAN MCCOY
For years, Cory McCloskey dreamt of
playing Ebenezer Scrooge, but he never
believed he looked old enough to pull
it off.
Despite that, the popular Fox 10
Arizona Morning weatherman decided
to audition for the role in “A Christmas
Carol” at the Hale Centre Theatre in
Gilbert. He figured he would try out
and leave the rest up to theater staff.
Apparently, they believed in him. He
serves in the role in the “red” cast,
while the “green” group features Mark
Kleinman as Scrooge.
“I think people who know me
from television will be shocked at
how disgusting I look in this role,”
McCloskey says.
“A Christmas Carol” runs Monday
through Saturday until Wednesday,
Dec. 24, at the Hale Centre Theatre, 50
W. Page Ave., Gilbert. There are 5 p.m.
and 8 p.m. performances, as well as
matinees at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays.
Tickets range from $20 to $36 and
can be purchased by visiting www.
HaleTheatreArizona.com.
“This has been a thrill and a half
for me because I really haven’t thrown
myself into a complete role in a show in
25 years,” McCloskey says. “I’m enjoying
this so much.”
The role of Scrooge is nonstop.
He has to have the “pedal to the
floor from scene one to the curtain
because Scrooge is on the stage every
SCROOGE: Mark Kleinman and Cory McCloskey play Scrooge in Hale Centre Theatre’s “A
Christmas Carol” on stage through Wednesday, Dec. 24. Submitted photo
scene whether he is speaking or not,”
McCloskey explains.
He enjoys playing the character
because Scrooge evolves from being
unpleasant to generous.
“The journey is rather grinding for
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him and for an actor, too,” McCloskey
says.
His favorite moment in the play is
when Scrooge sees himself as a young
man in love. McCloskey describes the
scene as heart-wrenching and powerful.
“I love doing it,” he says of the scene.
“It still hits me very hard every time.”
McCloskey explains “A Christmas
Carol” is a special production because
of the many magical moments.
The musical version of Dickens’
classic is full of special effects, stunning
costumes, talented singers, dancers and
actors.
“It is going to be an exciting show to
see,” he says.
McCloskey recounts his journey of
acting as that of a typical high school
kid growing up in a small Pennsylvania
town. After discovering he enjoyed
musicals, he performed in his first
community theater production of
“Camelot” in his 20s.
“I was spotted there by a director
of another theater, a dinner theater,”
he explains. “She approached me and
told me they needed a young man
of my type for a few shows for their
upcoming season. (She asked) would I
be interested in coming on board and
she said we would pay.”
That was a selling point for
McCloskey. When he moved to
Philadelphia, he was referred to a
modeling agency, which led to an eightyear career.
“It was a city in the 1980s that had
a few large, family-owned department
stores that had enough work to keep a
few men pretty busy,” he explains.
During that time, he traveled to New
www.SanTanSun.com
York to audition for commercials and
films.
“I had some moderate success,”
McCloskey says. “I had a small role on
a soap opera ‘Another World’ and sang
some jingles.”
He also toured with a company that
did children’s productions, all the while
earning his Actors Equity Association
card. Soon, his inspiration changed.
“We were sitting in the living room
one night watching the evening news in
Philadelphia and the weatherman came
on,” he says. “I remember saying, ‘You
know honey, I think I can do that job.’
The way (wife) Mary Jane is, she said,
‘Well call him up and see how he got
his job.’”
The initial conversation with
Philadelphia WPVI Channel 6
weatherman Dave Roberts turned into
career move.
The couple moved to Illinois where
McCloskey landed a part-time job,
for which he learned how to work
the camera. He then moved on to
weatherman. He relocated to Arizona
and has been a popular weatherman at
Fox 10 Arizona for 13 years.
“The acting was just the best
preparation, at least for me, for that
job,” he says.
Arts
December 6 – 19, 2014
65
Children’s
Flute group gives free concert
chorus to hold
auditions for
boys, girls
The Phoenix Children’s Chorus will
be holding auditions for boys and girls
currently in second to 11th grade at 6
p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, at the Phoenix
Center for the Arts.
The Phoenix Children’s Chorus is a
nonprofit organization that serves more
than 325 children. Twenty-seven percent
of members are supported by a financial
assistance program, funded through
donations and concert admissions. The
upcoming holiday concert is Saturday,
Dec. 6, at the Higley Center for the
Performing Arts, 4132 E. Pecos Rd.,
Gilbert, and Sunday, Dec. 7, at La Casa de
Cristo Lutheran Church, 6300 E. Bell Rd.,
Scottsdale. Tickets start at $10.
For more information about the choir
or auditions, or to purchase tickets, visit
www.pcchorus.com.
Desert Echoes Flute Project—a
flute choir program sponsored by the
music department of Mesa Community
College—is presenting “Peppermint
Pop,” a free community concert, at
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, at Mesa
Community College Performing Arts
Center, 1833 W. Southern Ave., Mesa.
The DEF Project is based in the
Valley and includes commonly used C
flutes and piccolos, as well as rare and
unusual flutes such as contrabass, bass,
alto and one of the largest collections
of Eb Soprano flutes in Arizona.
For more information contact
[email protected] or visit www.
defproject.org.
Meghan McCoy is the Neighbors and
Business section editor for the SanTan
Sun News. She can be reached at
[email protected].
FANCY FLUTES: The Desert Echoes Flute Project brings together a wide variety of flutes in its
specialized choir. Submitted photo
66
December 6 – 19, 2014
Arts
www.SanTanSun.com
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Arts
December 6 – 19, 2014
Choir brings Christmas ‘Tail’ running at VYT
‘Merry Little
Christmas’
to Mesa
The Chandler Children’s Choir is
presenting its holiday performance, “A
Merry Little Christmas Concert,” from
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, and
Saturday, Dec. 20, at the First United
Methodist Church of Mesa, 15 E. First
Ave., Mesa.
The choir will sing “Carol of the
Bells,” “The Christmas Song” and
even “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”
for those who might rather say “bah
humbug” to it all. They will also be
performing “Let it Snow,” “Silver Bells”
and “The Nutcracker...in About Three
Minutes” as well as other favorite
holiday tunes.
Admission is $10 and will help
support the Chandler Children’s Choir.
Call (480) 699-9846 or visit www.
chandlerchildrenschoir.org for tickets
or more information.
Valley Youth Theatre continues its
26th anniversary season with its annual
holiday production of “A Winnie-thePooh Christmas Tail,” running through
Tuesday, Dec. 23.
This year marks the organization’s
19th year of presenting “Pooh,” as well
as its 10th anniversary of collecting
animals for Operation Noah, an effort
that began in 2004 as a bar mitzvah
project for Dennis Fries of Chandler.
Since then, more than 300,000 stuffed
animals have been given to children
admitted to hospitals or emergency
rooms.
Fries graduated from New York
University with a bachelor’s degree in
film and TV production and returned to
the Valley with his own motion design
and animation company.
With actors ranging in age from
6 (newcomer Ivon Staneva as Roo)
to 18 (Brandon Reyes as Eeyore),
the 15-member cast includes four
young actors from Chandler and one
each from Mesa, Paradise Valley and
Waddell. Carly McClain, 16, reprises
her 2012 role as Pooh and Caroline
Wells returns from last season as the
mama marsupial Kanga; both hail from
Phoenix as do six others in the cast.
The musical follows the miserable
gray donkey Eeyore who has lost his
tail. Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet muster
all of their friends in the Hundred-Acre
Wood to help find it.
The play is based on stories by A.A.
Milne and music and lyrics are by James
W. Rodgers, who also adapted the Frank
Capra film “It’s A Wonderful Life” into a
musical.
Tickets start at $20 and are available
by calling the box office at (602) 2538188, ext. 2 or online at www.vyt.com.
The theater is located at 525 N. First St.,
Phoenix,
In other VYT news, the organization
has announced the last two
productions in its 2014-15 season: “The
Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley” in
April at VYT and “Into the Woods” in
June at the Herberger Theater Center.
The shows join “Winnie-the-Pooh
Christmas Tail” and “The Emperor’s New
Clothes” Friday, Feb. 6, through Sunday,
Feb. 22, to round out the season.
The performance of “Flat Stanley”
coincides with the 50th anniversary of
the publication of the book series, and
VYT is going all out for the production.
“This isn’t the junior version seen at
schools,” says Bobb Cooper, producing
artistic director. “It’s one that features
music written for more mature voices
like those heard in VYT productions.”
The theater company received
recognition this year when National
Youth Arts Awards recognized four
VYT performers as Outstanding Lead
Actors or Actresses in a Musical (“Shrek
the Musical”) and two Outstanding
Supporting Actresses in a Musical
(“Seussical the Musical”) during the
2014 Western Regional Ceremony Sept
7.
“Into the Woods” was also booked to
coincide with the work’s larger impact.
“The film version is scheduled to
67
open this Christmas,” says Cooper.
“So we’re hoping to lasso some of
that momentum after it comes out on
DVD in early 2015 and introduce the
live musical version to a whole new
audience.”
The “Musical Adventures of Flat
Stanley” is based on the children’s
book “Flat Stanley” by Jeff Brown
and features lyrics by Timothy Allen
McDonald and Jonathan K. Waller;
music by Waller, McDonald, David
Weinstein and Stephen Gabriel and
musical book by McDonald, who is
known for his work on such productions
as “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate
Factory” and “James and the Giant
Peach.”
“Into the Woods” features Tony
Award-winning music and lyrics by
Stephen Sondheim and a musical book
by James Lapine. Both men collaborated
on the Broadway productions of
“Sunday in the Park With George” and
“Passion.”
Auditions for “Flat Stanley” are
Tuesday, Feb. 10, and Wednesday, Feb.
11. Auditions for “Into the Woods”
Tuesday, April 14, and Wednesday, April
15. However, audition dates are subject
to change. Interested performers are
encouraged to check www.vyt.com/onstage/auditions for any updates.
Tickets go on sale for “Flat Stanley”
Monday, Feb. 2, and for “Into the
Woods” Monday, March 30.
68
Arts
December 6 – 19, 2014
www.SanTanSun.com
‘Nutcracker’ comes to Queen
Creek for the second year
‘Best Christmas Pageant Ever’
brings hijinks, holiday lessons
East Valley-based Brooksher Ballet
is putting on its performance of “The
Nutcracker” Friday, Dec. 19, through
Sunday, Dec. 21, at Queen Creek
Performing Arts Center, 22149 E.
Ocotillo Rd., Queen Creek.
Audiences are invited to join Clara
as her nutcracker comes to life. She
joins a battle between toy soldiers
and giant rats, frolics with the Snow
Queen in the Land of the Snow and
dances with the Sugar Plum Fairy on an
adventure to the Kingdom of Sweets.
Directed by Joshua and Natasha
Brooksher, Brooksher Ballet’s mission
is to bring the highest level of training
in classical dance to their students. A
Mesa native, Joshua left home at 13 to
pursue the level of training that would
eventually lead to his international
performing career. Upon retirement, he
returned home with his wife to create
the training he sought as a student. The
Brookshers bring a unique expertise and
the experience of 30 years of training
and performing to aspiring dancers.
Brooksher Ballet’s production of
“The Nutcracker” is presented through
an unprecedented collaboration of
five local Arizona dance schools.
The collaboration brings together
organizations that typically compete
against one another, to provide local
students the opportunity to participate
The East Valley Children’s Theatre is
presenting “The Best Christmas Pageant
Ever” for the holidays, with show times
Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7, as
well as Thursday, Dec. 11, through Sunday,
Dec. 14, at the Nesbitt/Elliott Playhouse
at the Mesa Arts Center, One E. Main St.,
Mesa.
Thursday through Saturday shows
begin at 4 p.m.; Sunday shows are at 2
p.m. The Dec. 7 performance will have
American Sign Language interpretation.
Based on the bestselling book, this
delightful comedy is a modern American
in a production that emulates those
seen on professional stages. Brooksher
Ballet has an eclectic cast of more
than 100 talented local students, many
of whom are from Gilbert and Queen
Creek.
Guest artists Sara Ezzell and August
Generalli from Ellison Ballet in New
York will be performing the roles of the
Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier.
In 2013, its inaugural year, Brooksher
Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” was praised
for its festive music, lavish sets and
costumes, wonderful choreography
and the passion and excitement of the
performers; for a magical and exciting
performance for audience members of
all ages.
Brooksher Ballet is preparing an
abridged version of the production
for the Queen Creek school district
as well as local assisted living and
special needs facilities, which will be
presented free of charge at 9:30 am
Friday, Dec. 19.
Public performances begin Friday,
Dec. 19, and continue through Sunday,
Dec. 21, at Queen Creek
Performing Arts Center located at
22149 E. Ocotillo Rd., Queen Creek.
Tickets are available at Queen Creek
Performing Arts Box Office, by calling
(480) 987-SHOW (7469) or online at
www.aznutcracker.com.
classic. In the warm and enchanting tale,
a couple struggling to put on a church
Christmas pageant is faced with casting
the Herdman kids—possibly the most
misbehaved kids in history. Mayhem
and fun collide when the Herdmans
meet the Christmas story head-on.
Equal parts touching and silly, “The Best
Christmas Pageant Ever” is great family
entertainment for the holidays.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $11 for 17
and younger. Call the box office at (480)
644-6500 or order tickets online at www.
evct.org.
HOLIDAY WITH THE HERDMANS: In “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” presented by the East
Valley Children’s Theatre, the Herdman kids throw a wrench in everyone’s holiday plans—and
teach everyone lessons about the meaning of the season. Submitted photo
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Supporting People with Intellectual and
Developmental Disabilities
T
hanks to the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit Law, A.R.S. 43-1088, you may be able
to designate a donation to Chandler/Gilbert Arc and receive a tax credit.
[The working poor tax credit is in addition to the education tax credits…
you can take advantage of both tax credits in the same year.]
Chandler/Gilbert Arc has been serving people with intellectual and developmental
disabilities in the East Valley since 1975, and provides community living, employment and day treatment and training opportunities daily.
For tax year 2014, contributions up to $400 may earn dollar-for-dollar tax credit on
your Arizona Income Tax return. Taxpayers filing as single or unmarried head of
household have a maximum credit amount of $200; married taxpayers filling jointly
have a $400 maximum credit.
Check to see if your employer will match your donation!
http://doublethedonation.com/cgarc
If you are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity;
please make your check payable to:
Chandler/Gilbert Arc Charitable Tax Fund
3250 N. San Marcos Place
Chandler, AZ 85225-7789
For your convenience, you make your donation on our website:
www.cgarc.org
We also accept Mastercard, Discover and American Express.
Please contact Barbara or Toni at (480) 892-9422
Chandler/Gilbert Arc is an IRS Section 501(c) (3) non-profit organization
and is a qualifying charitable organization registered with the Arizona Department of Revenue.
Contact the Arizona DOR at (602) 255-3381, or visit www. revenue.state.az.us
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Arts
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ON STAGE
“Captain Jack’s Space Attack,” Sat.,
Dec. 6, S55. Space 55’s late-night show
returns with more of the adventures
of Captain Jack and his band as
they explore the galaxy after the
destruction of Earth in the year 3013.
“Rejoice and Sing!,” Sat., Dec. 6, and
Sun., Dec. 7, SDC. Be a part of this
annual tradition as the audience is
invited to join the chorale in singing
carols to celebrate the joys of the
holiday season.
“Melissa Etheridge: This is M.E. Tour,”
Tues., Dec. 9, MAC. Melissa Etheridge,
who has won Academy and Grammy
awards, will perform songs from her
new album, “This is M.E.,” as well as
hits like “Come to My Window,” “I’m
The Only One” and “I Want to Come
Over.” Etheridge will share personal
stories about her remarkable journey
and the inspiration behind her songs.
With Alexander Cardinale.
“The SnowCat,” Sat., Dec. 13, CCA.
An original musical production by
flugelhornist and composer Dmitri
Matheny, “The SnowCat” is the
heartwarming tale of a little girl’s
search for her wandering white cat on
a chilly afternoon.
“Mythbusters: Behind the Myths,”
Tues., Dec. 16, MAC. Jamie Hyneman
December 6 – 19, 2014
69
ON STAGE VENUE INDEX
and Adam Savage are back at it again
with the return of their popular tour.
Their new show promises to be an
outrageous evening of entertainment
featuring brand new on-stage
experiments, behind-the-scenes
stories and some all-time favorites.
“Dave Koz and Friends Christmas
Tour 2014,” Wed., Dec. 17, MAC. Dave
Koz makes a visit on his Christmas
tour, bringing with him guitar and
vocalist, Jonathan Butler, singer
songwriter ’80s hit man Christopher
Cross and rhythm and blues great
Maysa.
Ahwatukee Foothills Nutcracker
Ballet, Fri., Dec. 19, and Sat., Dec. 20,
DS. The Ahwatukee Foothills Ballet
cast features dancers from all around
the Valley.
“A Bloody Mary Christmas,” through
Sun., Dec. 21, S55. A holiday musical
for people who hate the holidays and
musicals. Sun City retirees Blanche,
Bertha and Mabel sing, dance and
drink themselves silly as they battle
a heartless homeowner’s association
that tries to evict them from their
condo on Christmas Eve.
“An Irish Christmas,” Sat., Dec. 20,
MAC. This popular show features
dancing through the generations
over brooms and on half doors,
performances of “Silent Night,”
“Little Drummer Boy” and “Carol of
the Bells,” music of the pipes, flutes,
fiddles, button accordion and more.
Zoppé Family Circus, Thurs., Dec. 26,
to Sun., Jan. 4, CCA. The circus comes
to town as the Zoppé family, which
has been performing for 170 years and
six generations, brings this intimate
one-ring circus to Chandler Center for
the Arts’ West Lawn.
“Escape to the Orient,” Wed., Dec. 31,
MDN. Swedish Grammy-nominated
music producer and DJ Adrian Lux,
known for his single track hit “Teenage
Crime,” as well as “Can’t Sleep,”
“Damaged” and “Wild Child” will
perform hits at this New Year’s Eve
celebration.
“Paula Poundstone’s New Year’s Eve,”
Wed., Dec. 31, MAC. Paula Poundstone,
known from television, radio, stages
across the country—and as a regular
panelist on “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell
Me...”—helps audiences celebrate New
Year’s Eve with laughter.
Fab Four, Fri., Jan. 16, MAC. The
ultimate tribute band pays homage to
The Beatles.
CCA—Chandler Center for the Arts
250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler
Tickets: (480) 782-2680,
www.chandlercenter.org
DS—Dance Studio 111
4910 E. Chandler Blvd., Phoenix
Tickets: (602) 706-6040,
www.dancestudio111.com
MAC—Mesa Arts Center
One E. Main St., Mesa
Tickets: (480) 644-6500,
www.mesaartscenter.com
MDN—Maya Day + Nightclub
7333 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale
Tickets: www.MayaClubAZ.com,
www.sletickets.com
S55—Space 55
636 E. Pierce St., Phoenix
Tickets: (602) 663-4032,
www.space55.org
SDC—Sonoran Desert Chorale
First United Methodist Church, 15 E.
First Ave., Mesa
and Valley Presbyterian Church,
6947 E. McDonald Dr., Paradise
Valley
Tickets: (480) 305-4538,
www.sonorandesertchorale.org
70
December 6 – 19, 2014
Arts
www.SanTanSun.com
The Nelsons celebrate Christmas at Higley Center
BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON
Much like Christmas, the Nelsons have
the ability to evoke feelings of a simpler
time.
The family members have been
entertainment mainstays since the 1950s.
Ozzie and Harriet starred in TV’s “The
Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” along
with their sons Rick and David Nelson.
A third generation of performers, twins
Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, scored
hits in the 1990s, including “(Can’t Live
Without Your) Love and Affection.”
Fond memories abound in the Nelson
twins’ upcoming holiday concert,
“Christmas with the Nelsons Starring
Matthew and Gunnar Nelson,” at the
Higley Center for the Performing Arts at 8
p.m. Friday, Dec. 12.
“There were a lot of things that
happened when I was a kid, as far as
Christmas was concerned, that were
indelible,” Matthew Nelson says. “When
Ozzie was still around and I was quite
young, everybody...the entire family...
would congregate at Ozzie and Harriet’s
house in Hollywood.”
It’s the same home the famous couple
had for 40 years and the one featured in
the exterior shots of “The Adventures of
Ozzie and Harriet.”
“I remember walking in there and the
checkerboard floor…we’d take our shoes
off and slide in on our socks,” Matthew
recalls. “The cousins would come and
Rick and Dave and the wives and there
was a huge feast. We’d watch Christmas
movies on the television. It was one of
those things that no matter who was
bickering or whatever, there was none of
that at that house at that time. It felt like
heaven, really.”
Christmas has also taken on new
meaning for Matthew, who has an infant
son named Ozzie, and Gunnar who
recently married and takes on the role of
father to his wife’s three daughters.
“Christmas is going to be very different
for us now and not as lonely as it was. It
feels the way that it did when I was a kid.”
Matthew says.
“Christmas with the Nelsons Starring
Matthew and Gunnar Nelson” is a
multimedia live concert event that
combines harmonies, comedic moments,
fun stories and video clips that span the
decades, plus heartwarming memories
that the Nelson brothers will share about
their family.
The show will include Christmas
standards performed with a Nelson twist.
The set will also feature their hits and
some of their father’s trademark songs.
“We’re definitely going to integrate
a little bit of our contemporary stories,
videos and pictures and show where the
family is headed,” Matthew explains.
The Nelsons also have Arizona ties.
Gunnar Nelson recently married a woman
from Higley.
“The way I look at being married and
blessed with three beautiful daughters—it
is what was missing in my life,” explains
CHRISTMAS WITH THE NELSONS:
“Christmas with the Nelsons Starring
Matthew and Gunnar Nelson” comes to
Higley Center for the Performing Arts 8 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 12. Submitted photo
Gunnar, in a separate interview. “Not only
in my normal life, but in my life as an
artist and as a songwriter.”
He notes that his wife was a fan of
the Nelsons’ first album, “After the Rain,”
released in the 1990s.
“I always knew I was writing my songs
for somebody and now I know who I was
writing all those songs for,” Gunnar says.
Matthew, too, enjoys Arizona.
“I used to race cars and I’ve been out
at PIR (Phoenix International Raceway)
quite a bit. It’s a good place to go if you’re
into fast things.”
His best friend also was married at The
Phoenician, “I remember we blew that
place up for three days,” he quips.
Gunnar notes how much he loves the
Higley Center for the Arts venue and one
other special place.
“My family’s favorite place in the
world is San Tan Flat,” Gunnar says. “I
think every town needs a San Tan Flat.
A place where you can go and light a
fire, toast marshmallows, hang out with
friends and listen to good music is A-OK
in my book,” he says.
“I want to share with people what life
is like in the Nelson home at Christmas
and what it’s always been like,” states
Gunnar of the Christmas show. “Christmas
is the sacred holiday for the Nelson
family. It doesn’t matter how busy
everybody is, where they are or what
they’ve been doing. No one works in the
Nelson family on Christmas. They drop
what they’re doing, come back to ground
zero and get together.”
“Christmas with the Nelsons Starring
Matthew and Gunnar Nelson” is 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Higley Center
for the Performing Arts, 4132 E. Pecos
Rd., Gilbert. Tickets $34 to $60.20 and
available by calling (480) 279-7194 or at
www.higleyarts.org.
Lynette Carrington is a freelancer for
the San Tan Sun News. She can be reached
at [email protected]
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