Scottsdale theater re-opens doors after renovation

With renovations complete, and an all-star line up of talent, the Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts Virginia G. Piper Theater is ready to re-open its doors.

"We are basically updating a theater space that was created in the early 70s and making it more technologically sound," says Meredyth Mindte, production manager for the SCPA.

The theater's interior was redesigned by local architect John Douglas who worked alongside the theater consulting firm Fisher Dachs Associates.  The renovations began in March 2008 with the lobby of the building, reconstructing a new box office and café with a more modern appeal.  Then it was into the theater itself, gutting it and starting from the ground up.

"The space has become more intimate, more welcoming, and more warm and inviting by changing the house shape itself," says Mindte. 

Eighteen months and $16.6 million later, the floor plan was reconstructed which provides better sight lines for the audience as well as better access for its disabled patrons.  The theater was also equipped with state-of-the-art lighting, video and sound, and a more flexible fly system for more efficient scenery changes.

The first to display her talent on the revamped stage will be the Tony Award-winning Kristin Chenoweth.  She will be singing and acting during the ARTrageous Celebration to benefit the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and the SCPF on Oct 24. 

The theater will host many performances this season ranging from classical music to satire.  Some of the comedians include Martin Short, Jason Alexander and The Monty Pythons John Cleese.

"It's such a wide variety of programs.  We think that everything we are presenting is very high quality and will be exciting for our local audiences," says Dr. Jeffrey Babcock, artistic director of SCPA and vice president of the Scottsdale Cultural Council. "We try to appeal to a lot of different tastes and interests.  We have a great cross section of really talented people."

Grammy Award-winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma, singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, and the Martha Graham Dance Company are some of the main events of the season.  The SCPA has also added two new additions to its seasonal lineup, the Scottsdale Jazz Festival, and Talk Cinema which screens previews and discussions of unreleased foreign and independent films.

The jazz festival will include a performance by trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, singer-songwriter Ximena Sarinana and host a ballroom dancing competition.

It's a community competition in Salsa, Cha Cha and Argentine Tango, says Andrea Hashim development associate for the SCPA. 

"We are trying to have an opportunity for our community to come out and compete in a relaxed environment," adds Hashim.

The competition is open to dancers ages 13 and up, with five different levels of competition.  The first three are designed for solo routines, and are comprised of the junior level, ages 13 to 16, the youth level, ages 17 to 19, and the amateur level, ages 18 and up. The last two levels are broken up into the pro/amateur, 17 and under, and the pro/amateur, 18 and older.  This is the duet portion where a professional teacher can perform an original routine with one of his/her students.  The competition will be judged by national and international ballroom champions who will be awarding medals and cash prizes.   

"We really want to push it to our SCC dance students that this is an opportunity for them to really showcase their skills that they are learning in their classes," says Hashim

For more information on the rules and guidelines for the competition visit www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org.