Tempe Conventions & Visitors Bureau

It’s September 1. It’s almost fall.  Here in the beautiful, but toasty until the end of October Sonoran Desert, it’ll be a while before we actually experience fall weather, which we’re all really craving right about now.  However there are a few signs that fall is here.  Public schools and ASU are back in session, fall clothing fills retail racks, football teams are gearing up for the season.  And, the lights of Broadway are beginning to twinkle.

For me, the opening of a new season of glorious ASU Gammage Tony Award-winning Broadway shows signals the onset of fall and I anticipating this year’s fantastic musical filled lineup. From September through June, there’s something for everyone who loves great musical theatre.  There are monsters to suite every taste, tried and true returning favorites and exciting new productions here for the first time. I can hardly wait until September 27 when it all begins. Here’s what we have to look forward to:

Sept. 27-Oct. 23 - Young Frankenstein
Oct. 19-24 - Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Nov. 17-21 - Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
Dec. 7-12 -   Hair
Jan. 4-9 -  Dreamworks’ Shrek the Musical
Feb. 22-27 - 9 to 5: The Musical
Mar. 29-Apr. 3  -  Fiddler on the Roof
Apr. 27-May 8  -  Billy Elliot the Musical
May 17-22 -  Mamma Mia!
June 7-12 - Les Misérables

For showtimes and tickets, visit www.asugammage.com!

Tempe’s own Stray Cat Theatre is offering a special deal for their 9th season. Those who love locally produced, cutting-edge and delectably entertaining theatre can now become a Stray Cat Addict and get four tickets for the price of three. Four adult tickets are now on sale for $60 and four senior or student tickets are just $45.

You can use all four tickets in one night, or you can treat yourself to all four Stray Cat productions this season.

Stray Cat Theatre kicks things off with “Reasons to be Pretty,” a funny lesson about why it might not be best to tell someone that you love about their physical imperfections. The show runs from September 24-October 9.

Score your Stray Cat Theatre Addict tickets at https://www.ticketturtle.com/?retail=sct. For more information about Stray Cat’s 9th season, visit www.straycattheatre.org. All performances are held at the Tempe Performing Arts Center, located just east of Mill Avenue on Sixth Street.

Don’t you love it when you find something great in a place where you least expect it?  How many times have you gone to the Post Office on Mill Avenue to do the usual Post-office things, totally oblivious to the fact that there is some pretty great art in your midst? And I’m not talking postage stamp art.  I’m talking about the art that’s always on display in the big, display worthy Mill Avenue P.O. windows.

For instance, right now there is a wonderful exhibit titled “Urban Metal” that is a commentary on how people are surrounded by industrial forms, materials and structures everyday on the city streets, in school, at their homes and in businesses.  What better place for this exhibit than in full view on Mill Avenue, an everyday street where you’re surrounded by all of the above mentioned forms, materials and structures?  It’s so Tempe!

The featured artists are Joan Waters of Phoenix, Jose Benavides of Chandler, John Tuomisto-Bell of Phoenix and Ryan Lamfers of Tempe. Each artists’ work is distinctive and unique, which makes me stop and take a closer look each time I go by the P.O.  Believe me,  there are some very cool pieces in this exhibit.   

So the next time you’re at the Mill Avenue P.O. or waiting to cross the street at Mill Avenue and 5^th Street, be sure to  linger for a while at the windows and enjoy the art. (Think of it as a kind of urban version of  “stop and smell the roses”.)  The eye-catching exhibits change regularly and always highlight local artists working in a variety of media and themes.

The students are back! This is one of my favorite times of year. I love to see the streets of Tempe bustling with ASU students returning for the fall semester. It’s the first time away from home for many. For others, it’s the last year of college before joining the “real world.” A record number of students are moving into the residence halls this week — 13,000.

ASU has a Web site that lists all of the activities happening for students and parents during Welcome Week: http://students.asu.edu/fallwelcome.

It’s time to put on your favorite maroon and gold attire and get ready for an exciting year! Classes begin on August 19 and the first football game is Septmber 4. To buy tickets, go to www.thesundevils.com.

Curious about what’s happening at Tempe Town Lake? 

There was a breach of a section of the west dam of Tempe Town Lake on July 20. Crews are working now to repair the dam and refill the lake by early November.

For the latest updates and information about the lake, please visit  www.tempe.gov/lake and click on the yellow bar at the top of the page that reads,  “Dam Replacement Information Here.” The direct link is http://www.tempe.gov/lake/DamReplacementUpdates.htm 

On that page, you will find the Friday Status Report, which provides a quick-to-read list of weekly accomplishments, photos showing some of the work, a link to information releases, answers to frequently asked questions and a variety of videos and lake-related links.

For more information, please email townlake@tempe.gov or call 480-858-2188.

Looking for something to do on Monday nights? If you like jazz and live music, then Dave’s Electric Brew Pub in Tempe is a must! Jam’n Jazz Productions  is presenting a new Jazz Series at Dave’s Electric Brewpub every Monday Night at 8 p.m. In addition to the great entertainment, you can also enjoy $5 glasses of wine and the tasty dishes served at this popular brew pub. Upcoming shows include:

AUG 9        STU SIEFER GROUP WITH SIMON AMES & SANTO MAGLIO
AUG 16      JEFF LIBMAN TRIO

For more information, please visit http://www.jamnjazzproductions.com/ or www.daveselectricbrewpub.com.

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