Four Events Celebrating The 50th Anniversary of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

PVCC'S SGT. PEPPER'S PROJECT:

Lecture: The Significance of the Album Cover

Thursday, February 16th, 12:30pm-2:00pm, Center for the Performing Arts Theater, Tomi Johnston (Art History Professor)

Lecture: The Revolutionary Recording Process

Tuesday, February 21st, 12:30pm-2:00pm, KSC 1000A, Dr. Brett Reed (Music Professor)

Performance: A LIVE recording session

Wednesday, March 1st, 12:30pm-2:00pm, Center for the Performing Arts Music Room (CPA 115), Dr. Brett Reed and Dr. Christopher Scinto

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50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE BEATLES'

SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND CONCERT

March 10-11, 2017 at 7:30pm,  $8-$20 admission.  (Sunday, March 12th performance canceled).

Come and experience the Beatles' legendary album performed live by the PVCC Faculty Rock Band, Special Guest vocalists and a 30 piece orchestra.  Proceeds from this event will benefit the Paradise Valley Community College Student Scholarship Fund. 

Click Here to purchase tickets online

Student Spotlight: The Ghostlight Project

by Courtney Kenyon

On January 19th, the night before the inauguration of our newly elected president, at 5:30pm various theatres all over the country turned on one light. It was a solemn reminder of the times ahead, but it was also a light of hope and courage.

PVCC was no different. At the appointed time, with a small, but mighty, gathering in the Studio Theatre, on a rainy evening, our light was lit. Our ghost light. In the theatre world, a ghostlight is lit at the end of the night when all the work is done and serves as a single light source for safety and visibility should anyone enter the theatre after hours. Of course, that’s just the practical use. On January 19th, our ghost light was lit in solidarity with other theatres as a message that we are a safe space. This initiative was brought to our humble theatre by The Ghostlight Project. 

I found a small blurb about this initiative while scrolling through articles on BroadwayWorld and didn’t think much of it. About a week later, I saw a theatre with whom I have previously worked was participating and it was then that it hit me: I needed to do it, too. So I asked Andrea Robertson, the head of the theatre department, if PVCC could also participate and she enthusiastically wrote back, “Of course!” I only had a couple of days to put anything together, so our ceremony was very humble, but it was incredibly powerful.

Being a theatre artist, I’m not usually overly political. In fact, I’ve been told that I’m “militantly opposed” to politics. And while that might be true to some extent, this time it’s different. I won’t make this writing about politics, but I will say this: as an artist, as someone who makes their living in the arts, as a woman, as an LGBTQ ally, as someone who believes in the unity of science and the arts, and as someone who believes that anyone and everyone should be able to express who they are and be loved for it, my world is threatened. Our world is threatened. But standing in that room, holding hands with my friends, the people I love, my voice shaking and tears escaping my eyes, I knew I was not alone.

The Ghostlight Project’s mission is this, “Inspired by the tradition of leaving a ‘ghost light’ on in a darkened theater, artists and communities will make or renew a pledge to stand for and protect the values of inclusion, participation, and compassion for everyone--regardless of race, class, religion, country of origin, immigration status, (dis)ability, age, gender identity, or sexual orientation. 

January 19th is a moment of gathering within a larger resistance to intolerance at all levels. We aim to create brave spaces that will serve as lights in the coming years. We aim to activate a network of people across the country working to support vulnerable communities. This is not a substitution for protests or direct action, but rather a pledge for continued vigilance and increased advocacy.”

I think it goes without saying that PVCC is a brave space. A safe space. A space of inclusion. I’ve known that since the first day I walked into class. The dedication, inclusivity, love, and compassion that encompasses every person that walks through those doors is an inspiration. It’s something for which, personally, I’ve yearned since my high school theatre days. And I won’t sit idly by while it’s threatened. I will fight for those I love and for those I don’t even know. We will be a light and we will tell the world that all are welcome here.

With love,

Courtney Kenyon

For more information about The Ghostlight Project, please visit www.theghostlightproject.com.

 

Two Beatles Events in 2017

A JAZZ TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES

February 2, 2017 at 7:30pm. $6-$12 admission. Center for the Performing Arts. 

Join the PVCC Faculty Jazz Ensemble as they perform new arrangements of songs from the Beatles’ 1966 album REVOLVER.

Click here to purchase tickets online. 

50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE BEATLES' SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND

March 10-11, 2017 at 7:30pm, March 12, 2017 at 2:00pm. $8-$20 admission. 

Come and witness the Beatles' legendary album performed live by the PVCC Faculty Rock Band, Special Guest vocalists and a 20 piece orchestra.  Proceeds from this event will benefit the Paradise Valley Community College Student Scholarship Fund. 

Click Here to purchase tickets online

Saturday Concert Series: Grupo Liberdade

October 15th will be an exciting day at PVCC!

PVCC Fine & Performing Arts Open House from 1:00p-4:00pm

Saturday Concert Series with Grupo Liberdade and Queso Good food truck at 6:00pm.

Grupo Liberdade is a performance group dedicated to freedom of expression through Culture, Movement & Sound. We promote COMMUNITY, DIVERSITY & EMPOWERMENT drawing upon the traditional & contemporary rhythms of Brazil and beyond while bringing an original sound & energy to our desert metropolis. Specializing in Batucada including the Afro-Brazilian styles of Samba, Samba Reggae, Côcos and Maracatu, Grupo Liberdade strives to share the infectious sounds of Brasil with Arizona to further enrich, move & inspire.   

Since 2004, the group has performed throughout Arizona under the direction of Brazilian native, Poranguí from leading the Annual Phoenix Parade of the Arts through downtown Phoenix, to drumming & dancing in the new year for thousands of party-goers at the historical Hotel Congress in Tucson.  Founded in 2008 by Angelique Starks, the SambAZ Dancers have quickly become one of the liveliest and most notable Samba acts in the country.  Dedicated to creating music to move the body & soul, this project brings together diversity on all levels with an incredible show of talented musicians & dancers that must not be watched, but experienced! 

Jazz, Film + Art at PVCC: Three Free Events, One Night

On Wednesday, October 19th, the Center for the Performing Arts will host three FREE events for the campus and community. 

5:30pm – CPA Lobby/Art Gallery: Closing reception for the art exhibit A STRIKING MARK 

6:30pm – CPA Mainstage Theater: TELL NO ONE, the first film of the 2016-2017 Film Festival, whose theme is international mystery and suspense films.

7:00pm – CPA Outdoor Stage: JAZZ UNDER THE STARS featuring music performed by PVCC Jazz Ensembles

Fall 2016 Fine Arts Open House

Saturday, October 15th | 1:00 PM - 4:00 pm

On Saturday, October 15th Paradise Valley Community College’s Center for the Performing Arts (CPA) will host the Fine Arts Open House. This free event features demos, performances, tours, workshops, and hands-on activities.  Music, dance, theatre, costume design, creative writing, film, and studio recording are among the fine and performing arts programs that will be showcased. Information about classes, programs, events, scholarships and performance opportunities will be available, and those in attendance will be treated to a variety of special performances and workshops throughout the afternoon.

 

MUP181: Urban Arts Ensemble at PVCC

Mural by El Mac and Augustine Kofie. Circle 6 Studios, Phoenix, AZ.

This fall, the Division of Fine and Performing Arts at PVCC is pleased to offer MUP 181 #42142, the  Urban Arts Ensemble. A mixture of hip-hop dance, music, spoken word and technology, the ensemble will be led by Samuel Peña, creator of AZ Beat Lab and graduate of the ASU Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts' School of Music.

Learn more about Samuel and his work through his Q&A and video interview with the Herberger Institute:

Fall registration is now open. Enroll in MUP 181 #42142 by clicking on the schedule below. Class begins on 9/13.

Curious about the ensemble experience? Hear from our instructors about what makes the PVCC Ensemble experience rich, affordable and unique: