JEWISH HISTORY MUSEUM HOLOCAUST HISTORY CENTER
Housed in the first synagogue of the Arizona Territory built in 1910, the museum officially opened in 2008 with a mission to preserve the history of the Jewish people of Southern Arizona. Both the museum and the center offer exhibits, programs, events and outreach opportunities.
THE RIALTO THEATRE
When the Rialto Theatre opened in 1920, it hosted vaudeville performances along with newsreels, cartoons and short-subject silent films. From 1948 until it closed for good as a studio motion-picture house, the theater went by Paramount. The theater then went through many incarnations; two of which included becoming a storage facility for furniture and being a movie theater showing pornographic films. Today, the Rialto has emerged from its colorful past to become a top club venue that hosts 200 events and draws more than 100,000 patrons annually.
PHOENIX THEATRE
Phoenix Theatre, originally founded asthe Phoenix Players in 1920, is the oldest arts organizations in Arizona and remains one of the oldest operating arts organizations in the country. In 1924, the Players received a permanent space when the Heard family offered them their old coach house on Central and McDowell. Then in 1952, they won funding for the construction of a new building that would later welcome neighbors the Phoenix Art Museum and Phoenix Library. Phoenix Theatre went through a major expansion in the fall of 2013 with the addition of a glass atrium lobby, additional rehearsal and entertainment spaces and a new state-of-the-art black box theatre.
TEMPLE OF MUSIC AND ART
The Arizona Theatre Company performs at the Temple of Music and Art, located in historic downtown Tucson. Refurbished in 1927, every seat in the intimate theater is located no more that 66 feet from the stage.
ARIZONA JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY CUTLER-PLOTKIN JEWISH HERITAGE CENTER
In October of 1921, the first Jewish congregation in the Phoenix area came together with Phoenix Mayor Willis Plunkett and laid the cornerstone for the site of the first synagogue. Since that time, the mission-style building that houses the Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center has also been home to the First Chinese Baptist Church and Iglesia Bautistia Central. In 2002, the AZJHS purchased the property and it has been the site of Jewish heritage events, lectures, meetings, bar/bat mitzvahs and weddings. The center went through a major renovation, and in 2010 opened to the public as a museum, educational center and event venue.
ORPHEUM THEATRE
Built in 1929, the historic Orpheum Theatre sits in the center of downtown Phoenix and is just a short walk from the Phoenix Convention Center. Guests have enjoyed off-Broadway hits like “A Chorus Line” and mainstream shows by top performers such as Lewis Black, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jackson Browne and Primus.
FOX TUCSON THEATRE
The Fox Tucson Theatre opened in 1930 as a vaudeville/movie house. During its 40 year run it presented movies, community events, vaudeville performances and the Tucson Chapter of the Mickey Mouse Club. It closed in 1974 and sat vacant until the non-profit Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation purchased it and spent six years on its renovation. The theatre reopened on New Year’s Eve 2006. The Fox Theatre now hosts classic 35mm films on the big screen as well as being a venue for events.
PHOENIX ART MUSEUM
In Jan. 1959, the Phoenix Art Museum celebrated its grand opening. Since that time, it has grown into an institution with an international reputation for excellence. The museum has hosted more than 400 exhibitions, has more than 18,000 works of art in its collection and has been visited by millions.
CELEBRITY THEATRE
The round building opened on Jan. 13, 1964 and was designed as a multi-purpose conference center which could be transformed into a concert venue when needed. The venue features a revolving stage and no seat is more than 70 feet away from the stage. The theatre has hosted such stars as George Carlin, Billy Joel, Nat King Cole, Louis CK, David Bowie Olivia Newton-John and many others. Above: 1964 and current view of the Celebrity Theatre.
ASU KERR CULTURAL CENTER
The adobe structure was built in 1959 as a studio for Louise Lincoln Kerr, a composer, violist and patron of the arts. The studio was (and still is) used for concerts, lectures, plays, parties, weddings and religious services. Before her death in 1977, Louise willed two acres and the buildings to Arizona State University’s College of Fine Arts. On April 14, 2010, the center was officially entered into the National Register of Historic Places.
ASU GAMMAGE
In 1957, ASU past President Grady Gammage had a vision to create a distinct university auditorium on the campus of Arizona State University. He called on close friend and architect Frank Lloyd Wright to assist with the project. Wright worked on the sketches for the building during the last two years of his life. Neither Wright nor Gammage lived to see the transformation of the blueprints, but their vision has become an iconic venue. ASU Gammage celebrated its grand opening on September 18, 1964 with The Philadelphia Orchestra performing.
SYMPHONY HALL
Home to the Phoenix Symphony, Arizona Opera and Ballet Arizona, Symphony Hall was completed in 1972 as part of Phoenix Civic Plaza. It is also the site for Broadway touring companies, dance productions, appearances by famous entertainers, business seminars and meetings. In June 2004, a $18.5 million renovation took place, in conjunction with the construction of the neighboring Phoenix Convention Center West Building.
CHANDLER CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Chandler Center for the Arts opened in 1989 as a shared facility between the City of Chandler and the Chandler Unified School District. The center houses three theaters and a 2,000-square-foot gallery. There are more than 1,000 events at the center annually, including performances by Ballet Etudes, Chandler Symphony and Tempe Dance Academy.
HERBERGER THEATER CENTER
Built in 1989 to support and foster the growth of performing arts in Phoenix, the Herberger Theater Center has contributed to the cultural and educational development of the Valley. Each year, approximately 150,000 patrons, including 30,000 school-aged children, enjoy the experience of live performing arts 1989
VALLEY YOUTH THEATRE
Founded in 1989, Valley Youth Theatre is a professional-quality theatre company dedicated to helping young people achieve their full potential through meaningful engagement, education and excellence in the performing arts.
TALKING STICK RESORT ARENA
Originally named America West Arena upon its completion in 1992, then US Airways Center and now Talking Stick Resort Arena, the more than 1-million-square-foot building seats nearly 19,000 people. The arena hosts the Phoenix Suns basketball, Arizona Rattlers football, concerts, family shows, ice events and more.
COMERICA THEATRE
When Comerica Theatre opened in April of 2002, it was called the Dodge Theatre. Harry Connick Jr. was the first performer at the venue followed by Jerry Seinfeld. The theatre hosts concerts, comedy performances, theatre and family-friendly shows. Every December the Moscow Ballet performs the “Russian Nutcracker” with beautiful costumes and a cast direct from Russia.
SCOTTSDALE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
The Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts is located in Scottsdale’s Civic Center Park, a 21-acre park next to the city’s Old Town and gallery districts. Open since 1975, the center hosts more than 1,000 indoor and outdoor performances, educational programs, festivals and other events each year.
VALLEY YOUTH THEATRE
Founded in 1989, Valley Youth Theatre is a professional-quality theatre company dedicated to helping young people achieve their full potential through meaningful engagement, education and excellence in the performing arts.
TALKING STICK RESORT ARENA
Originally named America West Arena upon its completion in 1992, then US Airways Center and now Talking Stick Resort Arena, the more than 1-million-square-foot building seats nearly 19,000 people. The arena hosts the Phoenix Suns basketball, Arizona Rattlers football, concerts, family shows, ice events and more.
MESA ARTS CENTER
The Mesa Arts Center is a performing and visual arts complex located in downtown Mesa. Completed in 2005, the more than 210,000-squarefoot facility is the largest comprehensive arts campus in the state.
THE NASH
Opening its doors in April of 2012, The Nash began with an inspiring educational program for over 130
young students by Lewis Nash and All-stars, featuring jazz legend and educator Wynton Marsalis. The Nash continues its educational programs but also offers weekly jam sessions, big band performances and jazz concerts.
HIGLEY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Built by the Higley Unified School District in 2006, the 37,500-squarefoot arts center has been a hub for school events and performances by community, dance, local and touring groups. The 186-seat Little Theater is used for high school theater performances recitals, jazz concerts, pre-school graduation and meetings.
TEMPE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Opened since 2007, the Tempe Center for the Arts is located on the southwest end of Tempe Town Lake and boasts views of the Papago and Camelback mountains. The TCA contains a 600- seat proscenium theater, a 200-seat studio theater and a 3,500 square-foot gallery. Scottsdale Musical Theater Company, Childsplay, Tempe Little Theatre, Tempe Symphony Orchestra, Tempe Community Chorus, A. Ludwig Dance, Desert Dance, Arizona Wind Ensemble, CONDER/dance and the Tempe Symphonic Wind Ensemble all perform on the center’s stages.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM
Open in April of 2010, the MIM is the world’s only global musical instrument museum. The museum displays more than 6,500 instruments (out of a collection of nearly 16,000) from around 200 of the world’s countries and territories. Guests can see and hear the instruments on display being played via high-resolution flat screens and wireless headsets. The MIM also hosts special events, kids classes and musical performances throughout the year.
