Mesa Arts Center Announces 2012-2013 Live Season

Mesa Arts Center announces its 2012-13 Performing Live Series. Offering a variety of unique experiences, there are many events to entice you. Mesa Arts Center is proud to present LeAnn Rimes, Bill Cosby, Arlo Guthrie, Dave Koz, HAl Holbrook in Mark Twain Tonight and so much more. Throughout the year, additional performers will be announced, adding even more excitement to the season. With an array of almost 40 exciting shows, there is sure to be something for everyone.

Ways to save on tickets – Mesa Arts Center is offering a Family Series, a Jazz Series, the National Geographic Live Speaker Series, and the Classical Icon Series. These packages save ticket buyers 33% or more. The popular Shop Mesa, Get the Arts program is also back giving Mesa Bucks for sales tax towards ?buy one get one? tickets to selected Performing Live shows when you shop in Mesa and turn in your receipts to the Box office. We invite you to sign up for Mesa Arts Center’s e-newsletter to receive notices of further discounts and special offers.

We are developing strong, well-rounded programing with artists that are impacting our lives and the direction of the arts nationally. The Mesa Arts Center continues to grow deeper roots into the community, while presenting some of the most respected talent available.? Randy Vogel, Director of Theaters.

In order to have first choice of tickets before they go on sale to the general public, along with a variety of other benefits, you can become a member and join the Mesa Arts Center family for as low as $50. To become a member, call the Membership Office at 480-644-6615. Tickets are on-sale now for members and on-sale to the general public on Monday, July 2, at noon. To order tickets, call Mesa Arts Center Box Office at 480-644-6500, go on-line at MesaArtsCenter.com, or drop by the Box Office located at One East Main Street Monday – Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m.

Mike Birbiglia’S MY GIRLFRIEND’S BOYFRIEND
FRI, SEP 21, 8 PM, Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater – $25/$35
Mike Birbiglia shares a lifetime of romantic blunders and miscues that most adults would spend a lifetime trying to forget. The New York Times called the show ?ridiculously enjoyable? and was recognized as a Critic’s Pick by The New York Times, Time Out New York, and New York Magazine. Use discretion: Adult themes and language.

EARTH SOUNDS: R. CARLOS NAKAI, SHINETSOG DORINYAM, MUNKH-ERDENE CHULUUNBAT AND Stephen Kent
FRI, SEP 28, 7:30 PM, Virginia G. Piper Repertory Theater – $30
Grammy nominated and world renowned Native American flutist, R. Carlos Nakai, brings together the music of three very different yet equally rich, cultures. Nakai, along with Mongolian khoomei throatsinger Shinetsog Dorjnyam, Mongolian yatag player Munkh-Erdene Chuluunbat, and Australian Didjeridu player Stephen Kent, come together to form Earth Sounds - a group whose music is inspired by the nature that surrounds and connects us.

Pat Metheny UNITY BAND W/ CHRIS POTTER, ANTONIO SANCHEZ & BEN WILLIAM
SAT, SEP 29, 8 PM Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater – $30/$40/$50
Mesa Arts Center is proud to be premiering a new project by 18-time Grammy Award winning artist, Pat Metheny. The Pat Metheny Unity Band features some of the most sought after young musicians on the pop and jazz scene today, including, saxophonist Chris Potter, bass player Ben Williams, and drummer Antonio Sanchez.

The Australian Pink Floyd Show
SUN, SEP 30, 8 PM Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater – $45/$65
This Pink Floyd tribute ensemble from Adelaide, South Australia, is hailed as one of the most in-demand touring entities currently operating and was handpicked to play for Pink Floyd’s own guitarist David Gilmour, on his 50th birthday. Coming off the success of a sold out 2011 tour, the band returns with the massive "Exposed in the Light" tour for 2012, which promises to be bigger and better than anything the band has ever done before.

BELLYDANCE SUPERSTARS THE MAGIC OF DANCE
TUE, OCT 16, 7:30 PM Virginia G. Piper Repertory Theater – $40/$45
The Magic of Dance is the culmination of 10 years of touring the world – over 800 shows in 25 countries – pushing the boundaries of bellydance to capture the variety of artistry, magic and passion of this unique dance form.

AN EVENING OF STORY TELLING FEATURING Donald Davis
FRI, OCT 19, 7:30 PM Virginia G. Piper Repertory Theater – $20
Producing in partnership with South Mountain Storytelling Telling Institute, the Mesa Arts Center hosts a special evening of storytelling; featuring a youth teller, an Arizona teller and National Treasure, Donald Davis. Donald’s masterful storytelling captures the real and daily adventures of life in an entertaining and engaging way.

GREG PROOPS IS “THE SMARTEST MAN IN THE WORLD”
SAT, OCT 20, 7:30 PM Virginia G. Piper Repertory Theater – $22.50
Best known for his appearances on Whose Line is it Anyway, Greg Proops takes the stage in the Piper Theater with his new live show, The Smartest Man in the World. The show is based on his podcast of the same name, which in its first year has been recorded live in Australia, New Zealand, Montreal, Edinburgh, San Francisco, Austin, London, aboard a ship in the Caribbean and, somehow, Cleveland. Next fall, Greg will also be appearing as a guest improviser on the new ABC comedy series, Trust Us With Your Life. Use discretion: Adult themes and language.

SHAOLIN WARRIORS
SAT, OCT 20, 8 PM Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater – $22/$32/$42
Performed by disciples of the Shaolin schools, known throughout the world for their disciplined and deadly martial-arts prowess, the Shaolin Warriors bring the remarkable skill, stunning movement and spectacular imagery of Kung Fu to the stage.

BALLET FOLKLORICO DE MEXICO DE AMALIA HERNANDEZ
SAT OCT 27, 7:30 PM Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater – $18/$28/$38
Theatrical spectacle, colorful music, technical perfection, sophistication, lavish costumes, and original choreography come together to form Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. Amalia Herna?ndez was Mexico’s most distinguished dancer and choreographer of the 20th Century. The company she created is one of the greatest exporters of Mexican culture, celebrating the character and spirit of Mexico and its people. Celebrate Dia de los Muertos with Mesa Arts Center and this internationally renowned dance company.

Robert IRVINE LIVE!
FRI, NOV 16, 8 PM Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater – $45 (See below for VIP Packages)
Join Food Network superstar and host of Dinner: Impossible and Restaurant: Impossible for a high-energy, multimedia and multi- sensory theatrical experience. More than just a cooking demo, Robert IRVINE LIVE! is an interactive show that provides audiences multiple opportunities for participation while witnessing the challenging nature of the TV show come to life right before your eyes.

Robert IRVINE LIVE! (Continued)
Special Members First VIP Packages available: Limited Availability $150
6pm Pre-show onstage cooking demonstration Photo with Robert Irvine Autographed cookbook One (1) Dish Food Tasting
Free Soft Drinks Cash Bar (Members receive one alcoholic beverage included in package) $75
7pm VIP Meet and Greet Autographed cookbook
Photo with Robert Irvine

SHEAR MADNESS
NOV 13 – DEC 2, see order form for showtimes Virginia G. Piper Repertory Theater – $40
The longest running play in American theater history is about to cut loose and head out on the road. The Shear Madness hairstyling salon is scandalized by the wacky murder of its illustrious upstairs neighbor, and if the shop doesn’t get to the bottom of things soon, someone is going to die laughing.

LeAnn Rimes
SUN, DEC 9, 7:30 PM Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater – $45/$55/$65
Celebrate the holidays with country superstar LeAnn Rimes. Having sold over 40 million albums, she has won two Grammy Awards, three Academy of Country Music Awards and 12 Billboard Music Awards. Rimes is the youngest recipient of a Grammy Award, and was also the first country recording artist to win in the "Best New Artist" category.

RICHARD NADER’S 60’S ROCK & ROLL WITH THE ASSOCIATION, LOVING SPOONFUL AND THE VOGUES
SAT, DEC 15, 8 PM Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater – $34/$50 (See below for VIP Packages)
The famed concert Production Company that pioneered the "Rock & Roll Revival" presents a lineup of three classic groups from the 1960’s. The evening will feature more than 20 1960’s Billboard Top 40 hits from bands that still include several of the original members. Popular hits include: The Association’s "Windy," "Cherish," and "Never My Love"; The Lovin’ Spoonful’s "Do You Believe in Magic", "You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice", and "Summer in the City"; and the Vogues’ "Five O’clock World" and "Turn-Around and Look at Me." $90 (LIMITED SEATING - 60 PEOPLE) VIP pre-show meet and greet.

Dave Koz AND FRIENDS CHRISTMAS 2012
WED, DEC 19, 7:30 PM Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater – $54/$82
A Mesa Arts Center tradition, Jazz saxophonist extraordinaire Dave Koz returns with Dave Koz and Friends Christmas 2012 featuring a new line up of guest stars performing your Christmas favorites. Guest Stars to be announced.

GOOD LOVELIES
WED, JAN 16, 7:30 PM Nesbitt/Elliott Playhouse – $30
Sunny and upbeat, with just a pinch of sass, the Good Lovelies’ textbook three-part harmonies, constant instrument swapping and witty on-stage banter have enlivened the folk music landscape since they joined forces in 2006. They have toured with Stuart McLean and the Vinyl Cafe? and appeared with Broken Social Scene, Kathleen Edwards and Jill Barber.

THE FAB FOUR
FRI, JAN 18, 8 PM Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater – $25/$30/$35/$45
The Fab Four is the ultimate Beatles tribute show, amazing audiences all over the world with their uncanny note for note live renditions of the Beatles catalogue, including classics such as ?Can’t Buy Me Love,? ?Yesterday,? ?A Day in the Life,? ?Penny Lane,? and ?Hey Jude?.

HAl Holbrook in Mark Twain Tonight
SAT, FEB 9, 8 PM Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater – $30/$40/$50/$60
Mesa Arts Center welcomes back acclaimed actor HAl Holbrook in his Tony Award winning production, Mark Twain Tonight. This one man show is always fresh, with topical material gleaned from Mark Twain’s writings, and reveals HAl Holbrook’s rare ability to portray both the wit and wisdom of our country’s finest author.

Bill Cosby
THU, FEB 14, 7:30 PM Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater – $55/$65/$75
Last season, Bill Cosby was the first show to sell out and delighted our audiences with his stories and audience interaction. Don’t miss Bill Cosby in this return engagement. It’s the perfect Valentine’s Day outing!

PAULA POUNDSTONE
FRI, FEB 15, 7:30 PM Virginia G. Piper Repertory Theater – $34
Paula Poundstone returns to Mesa Arts Center, appearing on stage with a stool, a microphone, can of Diet Pepsi & her famous razorsharp wit and spontaneity. Paula’s off- kilter sensibility and impeccable timing made her a perfect fit for NPR’s weekly news quiz program, Wait Wait...Don’t Tell Me.

BBC CONCERT ORCHESTRA W/ Keith Lockhart, PRINCIPAL CONDUCTOR AND Sophie Shao, CELLO SOLOIST
SAT, FEB 16, 8 PM Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater – $28/$38/$48/$58
From its humble beginnings as a radio orchestra in 1952, the BBC Concert Orchestra has grown into one of the world’s most respected and versatile orchestras. The ensemble has provided the soundtrack to many BBC TV programs, including The Blue Planet and Walking with Dinosaurs. In August 2010, former Boston Pops and Utah Symphony Music Director, Keith Lockhart was appointed Principal Conductor. The performance features the music of Britian’s most celebrated composers, with guest soloist, cellist Sophie Shao, performing Elgar’s Cello Concerto.

FROM THE TOP - CHRISTOPHER O’RILEY
TUE, FEB 19, 7:30 PM Virginia G. Piper Repertory Theater – $20
From the Top, the radio program hosted by acclaimed pianist Christopher O’Riley, is broadcast on over 200 stations nationwide, including the valley own KBAQ. From the Top celebrates the amazing performances and captivating stories of America’s best precollege classical musicians before they are famous. Enjoy some of the best emerging talent and be part of this exciting live radio show! This performance is funded by the Twiford Foundation.

POTTED POTTER THE UNAUTHORIZED HARRY EXPERIENCE – A PARODY BY DAN AND JEFF
FEB 21-24, see order form for showtimes Virginia G. Piper Repertory Theater – $38
Experience the seven Harry Potter books in 70 hilarious minutes. Watch BBC’s Dan and Jeff take on the ultimate challenge, with the help of endless costumes, brilliant songs, ridiculous props, and a generous helping of Hogwart’s magic. This fantastically funny show features your favorite characters, a special appearance by a fire-breathing dragon, and involves the audience in a game of Quiddich.

AN EVENING WITH Elaine Paige TUE
FEB 26, 7:30 PM Virginia G. Piper Repertory Theater – $40
We present the unmistakable voice of Elaine Paige in an intimate cabaret performance. The world knows Elaine best from her spellbinding performances in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s originAl West End productions as Grizabella singing "Memory" in Cats and as Eva Peron in Evita. Elaine continues to make major contributions to the modern musical, as an actress, recording artist, producer and broadcaster.

JUAN DE MARCOS AND THE AFRO-CUBAN ALL STARS
WED, FEB 27, 7:30 PM Virginia G. Piper Repertory Theater – $42
It will be a hot night at the Mesa Arts Center. Following in the footsteps of legendary Cuban orchestras Los Van Van and the Buena Vista Social Club, the Afro-Cuban All Stars have become one of the best-known and most successful Cuban orchestras performing today. Led by bandleader, producer, and arranger Juan de Marcos, the All Stars ensemble concept spans three generations of musicians and promotes the full range of Cuban musical styles.

KHATIA BUNIATISHVILI, PIANO
THU, FEB 28, 7:30 PM Virginia G. Piper Repertory Theater – $30
In our continual quest to present the next generation of wonderful, emerging talent, we introduce pianist Khatia Buniatishvili [booniah- tee-SHVEE-lee]. Khatia was prize winner of the 2008 Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition, and was distinguished as a BBC New Generation Artist. In her short career, she has already appeared with many of the world’s best orchestras including the Philadelphia Orchestra and the NDR Hamburg Symphony Orchestra.

MENOPAUSE: THE MUSICAL
MAR 5-24, see order form for showtimes Virginia G. Piper Repertory Theater – $42
Grab your girlfriends for a night of laughs with the musical that has taken the country by storm. A joyful parody of 25 classic baby boomer hits, this hysterical show celebrates women who are about to, in the middle of, or have survived "the change."

JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA WITH Wynton Marsalis
FRI, MAR 8, 8 PM Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater – $50/$60/$76
Mesa Arts Center continues to build its partnership with Jazz at Lincoln Center. Led by Wynton Marsalis, The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO), comprising 15 of the finest soloists and ensemble players today, has been the Jazz at Lincoln Center resident orchestra since 1988. Join us for an exciting program of dazzling jazz artistry.

WORD BECOMES FLESH
FRI, MAR 8, 7:30 PM | SAT, MAR 9, 2 PM & 7:30 PM Nesbitt Elliott Playhouse – $22
Word Becomes Flesh uses spoken word, dance and live music to examine the experience of fatherhood in the black community, but it reverberates with universal emotions, themes and issues. This extraordinary production is directed by Marc Bamuthi Joseph, a brilliant and respected creative force who has appeared on the cover of Smithsonian Magazine as one of America’s Top Young Innovators in the Arts and Sciences. ?A searing satisfying evening.? (The Washington Post) Use discretion: Adult Themes and Language.

THE PIPES AND DRUMS OF THE BLACK WATCH 3RD BATTALION THE ROYAL REGIMENTS OF SCOTLAND AND THE BAND OF THE SCOTS GUARDS
SAT, MAR 9, 8 PM Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater – $35/$45/$55
The War of the Austrian Succession brought The Black Watch its first Battle Honor in 1745. Since then, The Black Watch Pipers have played troops into battle throughout most of the Regiment’s history. It has been said, ?Wherever the pipes are, the sound of Scotland is close at hand.? The Scots Guards were originally formed in 1642 by King Charles. One of its prime functions is supporting State ceremonial events in and around London. Experience the stirring music and pomp of some of the world’s greatest bagpipers and military musicians.

JUSTIN HINES
TUE, MAR 19, 7:30 PM Nesbitt/Elliott Playhouse Theater – $34
There’s a moment in every artist’s life when he knows that music is not only his path, but his destiny. Justin’s realization came at a Toronto Raptors’ basketball game in his hometown 15 years ago, when at 14 he won a vocal competition to sing the National Anthem—and his world opened up before him. Hines realized he could not only survive, but thrive. Since his birth, Hines has thrived against odds that would daunt someone with a less indomitable spirit. Hines has Larsen Syndrome, a joint dislocation condition that confines him to a wheelchair.

ARLO GUTHRIE: HERE COMES THE KID
SAT, APR 6, 8 PM Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater – $32/$50
Join Arlo Guthrie in honoring the enduring commitment of Woody Guthrie and his 100th birthday, with an unforgettable night of music and stories confirming that the folk tradition of Woody is alive and well. Here Comes the Kid celebrates the legacy of Guthrie’s father in a manner to make any parent proud - to take what his dad started, and make it his own, in an ultimate evening of folk entertainment.

LILA DOWNS
FRI, APR 12, 8 PM Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater – $35
For over a decade, Lila Downs has traversed the planet, bringing her dramatic and highly unique reinvention of traditional Mexican music. She blends original compositions with blues, jazz, soul, African root, and even klezmer music, all supporting her soaring voice.

2CELLOS
TUE, APR 16, 7:30 PM Virginia G. Piper Repertory Theater – $36
The meteoric success of 2CELLOS started when former cello rivals Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser decided to join forces. In January 2011, they uploaded a unique cello version of ?Smooth Criminal? by Michael Jackson onto YouTube. Within just a few weeks, their video became a huge viral sensation, receiving over five million views. A month later, 2CELLOS signed a record deal with Sony Masterworks and were invited by Elton John to join him on his world tour.

MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL ON TOUR 55TH ANNIVERSARY w/ Dee Dee Bridgewater, Christian McBride, AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE, CHRIS POTTER, Benny Green & LEWIS NASH
FRI, APR 26, 8 PM Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater – $21/$31/$41
Monterey is the longest consecutively running jazz festival in the world. Celebrate the Festival’s legacy of expanding the boundaries of live jazz presentation by experiencing this All-Star Jazz Collaboration. This 55th Anniversary Tour reflects Monterey’s ?traditional-untraditionalist? attitude, jazz-with-a-purpose exuberance, and joyful fun that continue to be the hallmark of the Festival to this day.

Lang Lang
SAT, APR 27, 8 PM Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater – $50/$70/$80/$95
After his sold-out performance in 2011, we are thrilled to bring one of the most in- demand musicians in the world back to Mesa Arts Center. Lang Lang appeared in Time Magazine’s 2009 list of the 100 Most Influential People in the world. In 2008, over five billion people viewed Lang Lang’s performance in Beijing’s opening ceremony for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, where he was seen as a symbol of the youth and future of China. This status inspired over 40 million Chinese children to learn to play classical piano – a phenomenon coined by The Today Show as ?the Lang Lang effect.?

National Geographic Live Speaker Series

CAROL BECKWITH + ANGELA FISHER PHOTOGRAPHERS
WED OCT 24, 7:30 PM Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater
See NGL Series Pricing Photographers and filmmakers Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher have devoted their entire careers to documenting traditional African societies. They are working together against the clock to record unique and compelling ceremonies and cultures that are rapidly, perhaps irrevocably, changing in the face of modernity. Their insatiable curiosity, incredible hardiness, deep humor, and profound respect for Africa’s indigenous peoples have gained them entry into worlds closed to outsiders. Join them for an eye-opening cultural journey, more than 25 years in the making.

KENNY BROAD CAVE DIVER, ENVIRONMENTAL ANTHROPOLOGIST
WED, NOV 28, 7:30 PM Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater
See NGL Series Pricing Kenny Broad, National Geographic’s Explorer of the Year for 2011, is also an accomplished cave diver. He pursues this extreme avocation not for sport but to gain valuable insights. Doubling as a recognized, and quite funny, environmental anthropologist, Broad uses his research to solve problems of climate change and freshwater resource management. Join him for a fantastic voyage into the beautiful but dangerous ?blue holes? of the Bahamas—a potential treasure trove of scientific knowledge, captured in incredible images and video.

TIM LAMAN + ED SCHOLES PHOTOGRAPHER + ORNITHOLOGIST
WED FEB 6, 7:30 PM Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater
See NGL Series pricing Tim Laman, a renowned photographer and forest canopy researcher, and ornithologist Ed Scholes will soon publish a major National Geographic book, Birds of Paradise Revealed, taking us deep into New Guinea to observe these astonishing avian creatures. Evolved to attract mates with their extraordinarily colorful feathers, which they display in dances executed with ballerina-like grace, these birds are a living laboratory of evolution. Meet all 39 species and enjoy their secret lives, bizarre displays, and dazzling courtship antics in breathtaking visuals.

BØRGE OUSLAND ARCTIC EXPLORER
WED MAR 6, 7:30 PM Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater
See NGL Series pricing Børge Ousland is living proof that people can still achieve historic firsts in exploration. Ousland is the first person to cross Antarctica solo, unsupported with resupply, and the first ever sea crossing of the Northwest and Northeast Passages in a single season. In 2011, he led an expedition to Antarctica to mark the anniversary of Amundsen’s conquest of the South Pole. Journey with him to the Poles through his bigger-than-life images, video, stories, and adventures.

ABOUT MESA ARTS CENTER
The Mesa Arts Center, owned and operated by the City of Mesa, is a unique, architecturally stunning facility located in the heart of downtown Mesa. Arizona's largest arts center is home to four theaters, five art galleries, and 14 art studios. Guests, patrons, and students come to Mesa Arts Center to enjoy the finest live entertainment and performances, world-class visual art exhibitions, and outstanding arts education classes. The Mesa Arts Center mission is to inspire people through engaging arts experiences that are diverse, accessible, and relevant. Mesa Arts Center has received numerous awards and accolades including the ?2010 Arts Organization of the Year,? by the Arts & Business Council of Greater Phoenix; the ?2011 Best Venue to See National Acts? Best of Phoenix New Times; and most recently "2012 Best Arts Center" Critic’s Choice azcentral.com. For more information, visit MesaArtsCenter.com.