Most Viewed Stories
Yuma's Heritage Concert Series opens Sunday
The Yuma Sun is giving away two tickets for The Four Preps concert. To enter the giveaway, look for details on www.Facebook.com/YumaSunNews. The winner will be announced at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
An upcoming concert series brings great performers to town, plus gives audiences the chance to support local parks simply by buying a concert ticket.
Proceeds from the Heritage Concert Series, which kicks off Sunday at the Historic Yuma Theatre, support restoration efforts ranging from the Yuma Territorial Prison to the Yuma Quartermaster Depot.
“The Heritage Concert series was begun in 2004 as a way to promote the downtown and to encourage greater use of the Historic Yuma Theatre,” said Charles Flynn, executive director of the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area Corp. “Since then, not only has this series been a great success, routinely selling out the shows, it has also encouraged other private promoters to bring in more shows, thus offering the Yuma community even more entertainment variety.”
But impact from the concert series reaches beyond the walls of the historic theater.
“Another benefit of the shows is that the Heritage Area uses the revenues from the shows to help support the operations of the two state parks in Yuma, which the community assumed control of when the state budget crisis threatened their closure,” Flynn explained.
The Historic Yuma Theatre is located at 254 Main St.
The first show in the series is Sunday at 2 p.m. That show features a performance by The Four Preps, known for hits such as “Big Man” and “Lazy Summer Nights.”
The concert series concludes in late March.
Tickets are $131 for the six-show series and $25 for single tickets. Tickets are available at the Yuma Art Center, 254 S. Main St. (373-5202); Parks and Recreation, One Civic Plaza (373-5243); the Yuma Civic Center, 1440 Desert Hills Drive (373-5040); and online at www.YumaShowTickets.com.
THE SCHEDULE:
The Four Preps
WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 9, at 2 p.m.
THE SHOW: This holiday gala has entertained and inspired audiences from coast to coast. The yuletide program features The Preps' timeless harmonies, which amassed eight gold singles and three gold albums, including the million sellers, “26 Miles,” “Big Man,” “Gidget,” “Down by the Station” and “Lazy Summer Night.” The group features original lead singer, Bruce Belland, with an evening of favorite oldies, including “Sh-Boom,” “Unchained Melody” and “Little Darlin'.”
An Irish Christmas 2012
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m.
THE SHOW: An all-Irish company of 18 performers will present an evening of music, traditional dance, storytelling and laughter. Special guests this year include Ciaran Maguire and Collette Dunne, members of the Kerry Dance Troupe, and musicians from the Kerry Trad Orchestra.
Reviews:
“….music, dance and song that leaves everyone breathless” (The Village News)
“…Magical…glorious Irish music…electric… remarkable….pure joy…a great Irish night” (The Irish Herald)
“…The capacity crowd nearly brought the house down at the end of the evening” (The Irish Herald)
New Shanghai Circus
WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 24 at 2 p.m.
THE SHOW: The company of 21 performers represents some of the finest gymnasts and acrobats from China, including many who have received gold, silver and bronze medals in China's national competitions. The presentation of Chinese circus acts dates back to harvest festivals of 2,000 years ago. This modern-day performance is enhanced by choreography, lighting, scenery and music. Performances rang from jugglers to comic knife throwers and the bicyclist who finishes by piling about 10 of his colleagues aboard his vehicle.
Reviews: “The acrobats of China are one of the most unique and entertaining shows featuring breathtaking feats of strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, contortion, and magic” (New York Times)
“The talents of the Shanghai acrobats are beyond compare...watch these acrobats and be stunned and thrilled” (Kansas City Star)
Atlantic Steps
WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m.
THE SHOW: A young dancer from Connemara is bringing one of Ireland's oldest dance forms to the world stage with Atlantic Steps, an international-touring adaptation of his phenomenally successful Irish show, “Fuaim Chonamara.” The well-known Cunningham family of dancers regularly performs alongside Irish greats, including De Danann, The Chieftains, Sharon Shannon, Altan and Dervish & Teada. The Galway natives have already toured to huge acclaim in Korea while accompanying Ireland President Mary McAleese on an official state visit. The Cunningham Family's “Fuaim Chonamara” show was a headline act at the Volvo Ocean Race spectacular in Galway in 2009, when 20,000 people from many countries danced at Galway's docklands.
Hunts Family Show
WHEN: Saturday, March 2, at 7 p.m.
THE SHOW: The Hunts (all nine of them) cover a wide spectrum of musical genres, ranging from indie to folk and include a diverse repertoire of cover of cover tunes. They are a talented family of multi-instrumentalists, including champion fiddlers and world-ranked dancers.
The Hunts have performed all over the United States. They have opened for the Virginia Symphony and performed for Queen Elizabeth. They have played performing arts centers, outdoor festivals, colleges and high schools all across the country.
American Juke Box
WHEN: Wednesday, March 20, at 7 p.m.
THE SHOW: A trio of Broadway's top vocalists salutes “Breakfast at Tiffany's,” “The Way We Were,” “Titanic,” “The Graduate,” “Wizard of Oz” and many more classics from the film industry.
Features editor Darin Fenger can be reached at dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.
