John Waters, The Romeros, and More to Perform at Scottsdale for Christmas

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts will celebrate Christmas with three special performances, starting with a concert of classic Christmas music by the legendary guitar quartet The Romeros with Massimo Paris and Concerto Málaga on Friday, Dec. 7. Cult filmmaker John Waters will perform his adults-only Christmas extravaganza on Saturday, Dec. 8, and, returning by popular demand, Patti Hannon will star in Sister's Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi's Gold for a limited engagement Dec. 18–23.

Tickets for the performances are available online at www.ScottsdalePerformingArts.org or through (480) 499-TKTS (8587).

In conjunction with the Dec. 7–8 performances, the Stores at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) will present their annual Holiday Jewelry Sale. All Store sales are tax-free and support the programs of the nonprofit Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and SMoCA.

The Romeros with Massimo Paris and Concerto Málaga

Featuring Pepe, Celin, Lito and Celino Romero

Concerto Málaga Music Director Massimo Paris

Friday, December 7, 2012, 8 p.m.
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia G. Piper Theater
Tickets: $39, $49, $59

Known as "The Royal Family of the Guitar," the Romeros are a veritable institution in the world of classical music who have endeared themselves to music lovers of all nationalities. Joining with the acclaimed Spanish chamber ensemble Concerto Málaga, they celebrate the holiday season performing selections from Handel's The Messiah, Ave Maria and classic Christmas carols.

Signature Sponsor: Gilbert Advanced Asset Management

Saturday, December 8, 2012, 8 p.m.

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia G. Piper Theater
Tickets: $39, $49, $69 (Adult Content)

Affectionately known as 'The Pope of Trash,' John Waters is the director of the classic cult movies Pink Flamingos, Polyester and Hairspray, as well as the author of the 2010 best-selling book Role Models. In this heartfelt and critically acclaimed one-man show, he cruises into town on his sleigh full of smut spreading yuletide cheer and lunacy. Placing the 'X' firmly in X-Mas, Waters shares some of his favorite holiday traditions, from his compulsive desire to give and receive perverted gifts to his religious fanaticism for Santa Claus and an unhealthy love of real-life holiday horror stories.

Signature Sponsor: Rubino West Photography

Sister's Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi's Gold

December 18–23, 2012
Tuesday, December 18, 2012, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 20, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, December 21, 2012, 8 p.m.
Saturday, December 22, 2012, 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Sunday, December 23, 2012, 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia G. Piper Theater
Tickets: $29, $39

Returning by popular demand, Sister's Christmas Catechism stars Patti Hannon as Sister, the tart-tongued, ruler-wielding Catholic nun. In an unusually jolly mood, Sister teaches her students the story of the Nativity and asks for their help to solve the greatest Christmas caper ever – who swiped the gold that those three wise men gave to Baby Jesus? Each performance is unique and will appeal to people of all ages and faiths.

Christmas Presents for a Cause: At each performance of Sister's Christmas Catechism, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts volunteers will be selling handmade ceramic bowls created by local students as part of The Empty Bowls Project, an international effort to fight hunger. Proceeds from the sale will benefit Scottsdale's Vista del Camino Food Bank.

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts is located at 7380 E. Second St. in downtown Scottsdale, four blocks south of Indian School Road and three blocks east of Scottsdale Road. Free parking is available in the public parking garage located to the west of Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts on Wells Fargo Avenue. Additional free parking is available at the Old Town Parking Corral at East Second Street and Brown Avenue and at the Civic Center Library parking garage located on Drinkwater Boulevard at East Second Street.

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts offers performance accommodations to enhance audience members' experience, including: American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation or live audio description with two weeks advance notice. Assistive-listening devices and wheelchair seating are always available. Visit www.ScottsdalePerformingArts.org or contact the Patron Services Box Office at (480) 499-TKTS (8587) [TDD: (480) 874-4694 for further details. Please inquire about services when ordering tickets.

Patrons may save $4 per ticket and at least $15 in facility fees when purchasing 10 or more tickets to the same event in one order. Call 480-499-TKTS (8587) for more information and to order tickets. The group organizer also will receive two free tickets ($83 value) to see any one Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel performance.

The Store @ Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts offers a unique selection of art-related merchandise, including artist-made jewelry, imaginative toys, decorative objects from around the world, unique furnishings for home and office, and music, books and greeting cards. Members receive a 10-percent discount, and gift-wrapping and shipping also are available. Purchases are tax-free and support the programs of Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. The Store is open seven days a week: Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon – 5 p.m.; and throughout most evening events. Phone: (480) 874-4644.

One of the premier performing-arts halls in the western United States, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts showcases a diverse season of dance, jazz, classical and world music, theater and film from around the world. More than 1,000 indoor and outdoor performances, educational programs, festivals and other events are presented and hosted at the Center each year serving 200,000+ visitors and contributing substantially to Scottsdale's high quality of life and vibrant arts scene. The Center's education and outreach programs reach more than 20,000 children and adults each year. Most performances take place in the state-of-the-art, 853-seat Virginia G. Piper Theater, recognized for its intimacy, superior acoustics and comfort. Additional venues include the 137-seat Stage 2 and neighboring 2,000-capacity Scottsdale Civic Center Amphitheater. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts is located on a beautifully landscaped, 21-acre urban park, a short walk from Scottsdale's Old Town and gallery districts.

The nonprofit Scottsdale Cultural Council manages Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) and Scottsdale Public Art on behalf of the City of Scottsdale. Scottsdale Cultural Council is supported in part by the Arizona Commission on the Arts, which receives support from the State of Arizona and National Endowment for the Arts.