Scottsdale Center For The Performing Arts

I have been to several music events at this venue. The sound is outstanding! The venue has an intimate seating arrangement, allowing for excellent viewing from any seat. My one complaint is that the seating chart needs to identify a wall that blocks the outside seats, and you can not exit into the aisle. You must walk back across all the seats into the interior aisle to exit.

This post is way over due, but here it is. I attended the Randy Travis Tribute. I use a wheelchair part time and bought a regular seat. At the time of my purchase I was not using my chair. The week of the show I had a flare up but I was not about to miss seeing one of my favorite artists. So, I showed up early and spoke with staff. The show was sold out. However, they were so sweet and accommodating. Someone from staff sat me and took my chair to a safe spot. I was even given a cell number if I needed my chair at any point during the show. I was so impressed with the kindness and assistance I received. I will definitely come back for future events here. The staff is amazing and the facility is very nice. Thank you to everyone, including all of the patrons who assisted me to my seat. You were all angels.

I saw the Fabulous Commadore's at this venue. Beautiful, small and just perfect! About 300 seats, every seat has a great view. Easy parking, restaurants nearby and wine served. I will continue to see performers here!

Best place to enjoy good music. Friendly staff and good selection of wines

My wife and I had tickets to see Robert Cray on a cold rainy March evening . It was our first time at the center. A very nice facility . There are approximately 875 stadium style , comfortable seats . Wherever you sit , your going to get a great view of the stage. The acoustics seemed a little loud at first but once you settled in they were fine. Getting old and sensitive hearing is for sissies. There is plenty of free parking around which makes an added bonus to see a show. We are looking forward to seeing more concerts in the future.

A wonderful wine tasting today. Sponsored by AJ's Fine Foods...lots of great food and nibbles... and great wine. They do events, not just a theatre.

Great sound! Lovely venue. Clean restrooms!

There are always interesting events there, free parking, easy exit from the area, nice and clean park, places to eat, the whole spirit is welcoming and pleasant. More than 10 years experience. Love it!!!

Great location on the side of the Scottsdale LOVE park lawn several eateries are available next door for times when you might be waiting on a show. Very spacious inside, beautifully maintained store, love the neon lights and modern design elements. A little chilly. Concession stand staff was great, went out of her way to find me hot chocolate! That was so nice! Volunteer Usher Mary is a doll, so friendly and warm, and a 28 year volunteer, wow! She was so lovely she even talked me into filling it a volunteer application while waiting for the show to start! The performance and acoustics were lovely and crystal clear. Beautiful talent.

My wife and I had tickets to see Robert Cray on a cold rainy March evening . It was our first time at the center. A very nice facility . There are approximately 875 stadium style , comfortable seats . Wherever you sit , your going to get a great view of the stage. The acoustics seemed a little loud at first but once you settled in they were fine. Getting old and sensitive hearing is for sissies. There is plenty of free parking around which makes an added bonus to see a show. We are looking forward to seeing more concerts in the future.

Came to a few shows Commodores were so much fun Jamie Lissow was hilarious Fun theater with plenty of seating The volunteers are so kind - good service Some drink options We will be back!

I did a search on Yelp for Juneteenth celebrations. It led me here. It says there was one previously, but not this year. So, I don't think I will be visiting this center.

Nice venue for concerts. Saw Arturo Sandoval 1/13/2024. Great Latin Jazz Ranked #1 Jazz Trumpet. Very talented composer and musician. Band provided an entertaining evening. Located in Downtown Scottsdale. Near the Library. Plenty of nearby restaurants. Outside pavilion was recently upgraded. Easy free parking.

The rooms are small, there's no concession stands nor is there vending machines (water fountains only) Pulling up, can be confusing on locating the entrance but, there's a parking garage which is free to park in. Perk! Idk...not my preferred place to go for events but, it's ok... just bring your own beverages otherwise, be prepared to sit around at events held here with a dry mouth because why on Earth would you drink the Arizona water from a water fountain, which, I'm sure is not filtered. We attended a "cruise event" here which, I was hoping would change my mind on taking more cruises in the future but, honestly I'm not sure that it did have a change mind! I'm very interested in the newest Biggest Cruise ship that was just introduced, but unfortunately, the marketing nor any of it's representatives were not in attendance, which was a shock! The cruise ship looks amazing on TV and social media and that could make me reconsider how I feel about taking cruises! There was a guy there, who asked if I were a "Bougie" traveler YES SIR, I AM because YOLO!!! As per God's plan...I pay for comfort! Blessed and Highly Favored Thanks to Diane who was awesome with the scheduled speakers and letting us know which events were held in which rooms. What a nice Lady! Give her a raise and a Month off!!! Thanks to Randal who catered to my friends concerns about a cruise nightmare, that she experience with a cruise line. Hence to another reason why I haven't been big on cruises! The good news is that, there's a restaurant just steps away, where you can grab a bite to eat and drinks. (AZ88)

On the night of my visit I was lucky enough to see the phenomenal Cecile McLorin Salvant. And while there is not a bad seat in the house, my preference is the box seating. This theater is cozy and the atmosphere allows you to get immersed in the performance. All of the theater docents are helpful and attentive so the service is stellar. There is a small refreshment bar that sells drinks including soda, coffee, wine, beer, cocktails as well as snacks. The Scottsdale Mall surrounding the theater has two restaurants; AZ88 and Jewel of the Crown Indian Cuisine that are just a stones throw away from the theater entrance, After the show I started thinking that for my next visit, because there is plenty of seating in the plaza around the theater it would be great to meet up with my friends before the show to have with our own coffee or even a cute boxed meal like a to go charcuterie box.

Went here for the "behind the likes" live show in stage 2. And it was horrible. Literally left 5 minutes after arriving. When you buy tickets they say it's seated. So I asked if they could help me find my seat and they said it's sit where you want, but every single seat was taken. I'm not sure if they sold more tickets then there were seats but that's how it looked. The ppl who scanned my ticket were rude as hell and not helpful what so ever. I drove over an hour and a half to come to this event and I left extremely disappointed. I bought 2 tickets so I would have space and an extra seat to put my belongings so the fact you can purchase 2 tickets and still not have a seat to sit in is INSANE!

Today there was a free Juneteenth celebration in Scottsdale. Bouncy house, face painting and things for the kiddies outside along with music and dancing. Food trucks and free water truck for patrons. Inside the building a large consortium of vendors advertised their services and some sold items. Free t-shirts, sparkling water, bike bags and candy for all attendees. We caught a performance by a gospel choir which got our toes tapping and bodies swaying. We also visited The Store inside which is a gallery selling artistic goods, books, jewelry and assorted items. A fun day. Free covered parking and WiFi.

Went to an outdoor concert in mid November. The facility is new, stylishly designed and functional. Parking was surprisingly easy in the garage. The reason for the 4star review is the audio. Why is the sound unbalanced at a professional facility? Why I couldn't hear the lead guitar over the booming base and drums is a shame.

Would've given 5 stars for Friday night's Flamenco show but the bartender at Encore gave an embarrassingly weak pour. When i asked if it was a fair pour he was smug ...even after being tipped. We attend a few shows each season and won't buy from the bar anymore. Flamenco performers and ushers were terrific.

We saw the ten tenors concert. It was the best concert I have ever seen. They were very engaging and interact with the audience. They danced so well and we would not mind to see them again! Highly recommended

Just a beautiful space in downtown Scottsdale. The new amphitheater will be on my radar from now on. The ticket and refreshment pricing is very reasonable.

Enjoyed our experience the service is great considering it entails the cleanliness of the facility, and friendliness of the staff. Parking is very convenient, drop off zone is easy to find. Lots of restaurants all in walking distance.

Perfect seating anywhere in the auditorium. Seating and leg room is very good. We heard Fran Leibovitz speak for 30minutes then answered audience questions for a hour. She has led a very interesting life in a unique way. Spoke about living in the city of New York and her love of books and "people " who she has encountered.

We love to go for the Show and sit in the box seat. There are many different kinds of show for everyone. This center is not too large and not too small. It had perfectly size of crowd. Parking is very convenient. We also had a chance to joint their sipping series event. It was fun experience to learn and try new drinks. The gift shop has lots of interesting stuff.

We came here for the Brazilian Festival which they hosted and it was a good time! Saw and met the Samba dancers, even got to take a photo with the owner! Such a nice group! The venue was clean, decently organized, and modern in appearance. The event included Capoeira, Samba, a fashion show, Brazilian musicians, and Brazilian artifacts. Brazilian food was outside as well as some other activities.

This performing art center is a bit difficult to find at night. I found it by following the sign to the parking garage. I don't think it has an elevator, but I honestly didn't check either, so I just went ahead and use the stairs instead. I got my little walk for the night by doing that. I crossed the pathway toward north and there it was, I found it. Automatic double doors opened, on the left, we have the main information counter and far corner there's a full bar, where you can get a drink while you wait or simply because you wanted to bring a drink while you watch your concert or whatever else is performing atm. Right across the bar is the store for the gift shop. On the right side, you will also find an information little podium set up with a chair and an assistant to answers all your information and also you walk down a little bit more, you'll find the direction sign for restrooms. The concert will be at Virginia G. Piper Theater. They open the door for us exactly at 7:30pm. It's a beautiful performing center all around. The only problem I see here is that the chairs are small, but I think that's the standard size and very tight going in and out once you're sitting on the rows. They are not comfortable nor too bad either. The soundbox are beautifully done and awesome all around. This place only let you exited the same way as entrance, which I find not too good, due to if an event of emergency will to happen. I hope they will find a way of letting people out easily. I'm one of the biggest fan of Rufus Wainwright and off course I already love him before I even came to see his concert. He is just amazing and such a beautiful person. It was a dream come true for me to watch someone like him.

I've been here over a dozen times because there are so many fun things to see and hear. This a clean and contemporary place with a fabulous gift shop, always worth perusing. I enjoy the talk cinema every 2 weeks on a Tuesday and the Operas on film once a month. My 2 favorite performances were John Waters ( so funny) and Mona Golabek amazing pianist and performer. Parking is simply next door, free and safe. A few restaurants just across the pavement. I really like the plaza right outside their door and convenient to the Civic Center Library. Every seat works well but it can be very cold in the auditorium so come prepared. A shout out to Abby at the box office who is so personable aNd helpful. It can be very chilly in the theatre but this place is convenient.

After attending this Wednesday's amazing performance by the Branford Marsalis Quartet, I realized that while I've been to this venue more than a dozen times over the years, I haven't yet written a review. So, here it is! This venue is not only beautiful and convenient, but it's the perfect size... there's not a bad seat in the house. It's clean, always has friendly staff, plenty of bathrooms, and a wonderful store as well. They also consistently feature a diverse variety of programs and events. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and Scottsdale Public Art are all divisions of Scottsdale Arts. Add all of that to the location in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale at the Civic Center Plaza, we are truly lucky to have such a special organization in our backyard. Looking forward to attending many more events here in the future!

Beautiful stage and fabulous programs/shows. Almost enjoy every performances that we attended here. The Sunday Affair/ free outdoor concert it has been our new favorite tradition here, fun for all ages.

I absolutely LOVE this venue! I've been here for multiple performances throughout my lifetime and it is always such a joy to be here. The facility is so clean and classy, and the theater itself has great acoustics. It isn't an extremely large theater which I like because every seat is a good one! The seats are super comfortable. Bathrooms are plentiful and clean. DEFINITELY check their website for their annual schedule as they literally have something for everyone from live music of all genres, plays, kids events, holiday performances, etc. Whether you're looking for a fun (and reasonable) date night or entertaining guests from out of town, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts is where to go! You also can't beat the location - right in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale with restaurants, bars, and shops just steps away. I highly recommend AZ88 for a martini and dessert after the show! I know that we'll be here again soon! Thanks for always being a great place to visit!

This place is interesting. We came here for my daughter's kindergarten graduation. There is plenty of space the outside is awesome. Little gardens everywhere. The venue is clean

We came here last evening to listen to that great voice which is Mandy Patinkin. Wow it was even better than we could have imagined. His vocal range is incredible. He started with some old old Broadway tunes from the 40s and 50s. Then moves on and starts softly speaking these words without music: Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught in a landslide No escape from reality Open your eyes Look up to the skies and see So you say to yourself. No! He's not going to sing it. And, he doesn't. He just leads into the middle of another old Broadway tune. So you think, what was that? Well, it was a tease. He starts having a dialogue with the audience about his marriage and wife. But then comes back to it. Now accompanied by Paul Ford on the piano. He sings the entire song. Bohemian Rhapsody. All the parts. Wow! Freddie Mercury would have been proud! That's how the evening went. Interspacing old show tunes with some more recent melodies. He sang a few from Steven Sondheim's "Sundays in the Park with George". It was a show he was nominated for a Tony. The best of the night, was his singing of Oh Shenandoah. What made it special was his stopping midway to recite the first part of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. He goes back to Oh Shenandoah, then finishes the second half of Gettysburg Address and the last verse of Oh Shenandoah. Absolutely beautiful. Surprisingly no tunes from Evita. A show he won the Tony for his role of Che, and made famous with Patti Lepone. He finished the evening with a tune from the movie Ragtime and the music of Randy Newman. There were two curtain calls. He and his pianist Paul Ford looked exhausted after a non-stop ninety minutes. We left feeling as if we had just enjoyed something special. This was our first time to the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and we were very impressed.

I'm re-posting my April 2019 review after discovering that Yelp removed it for violating their guidelines. I've made the modifications to make it less politically incorrect or offensive: If you're going to honor your veterans, students and teachers/educators for certain select events then its probably not a good idea to have a limited amount of "free tickets". Otherwise, it is a disrespectful slap in the face when that one student, veteran or teacher arrives on the night of the event and the sales rep says in a disingenuous tone: "We really appreciate all that you do, but we've reached our limit. Sorry." This is a misguided sales tactic. At the very least, perhaps consider offering a discount to veterans, teachers/faculty and students for your special events once you "max out" on your "allotment of tickets." Also, I spoke with someone on the phone who kept talking over me and did not allow me to complete my sentence. In essence, I couldn't even clearly voice my complaint. I eventually spoke with someone higher on the corporate ladder but to no avail. In fact the person was disingenuous and didn't seem to care about this issue.

I have never seen an event here but I have been to a few conferences and seminars, and also visited the gift shop. Its a great venue that is clean but also has an old school feel to it.

Date night with John Waters. #my filthy Valentine We came here to see the Fabulous John Waters. Front row seats. What could be better. It was so wonderful. The show itself divine in every way. Mr. Waters was So Funny, Friendly, and so easy to talk to. Yes, after the show, he talked to everyone and sign Books and LP's. He looks great for 71 years old as well and full of energy! The venue itself is fantastic! We had front row seats, but I think all the seats looked wonderful. The seating is in a half circle and you can see the stage very clearly at all angles. The temperature inside was perfect not too hot,or too cold. It was a rare night in the Valley. It actually rained which never happens. So it was a little chilly outside. But, very comfortable inside. There was a bar pre show,which they actually allowed you to take your drinks in the theater. Very unusual but, very nice. The feast rooms are large to prevent much of a line. As well as lots of seating in the Lobby. There is also a grand gift shop. With all sorts of unusual items. The Best part of the night of course was to see John Waters. There were some Ladies in the Lobby and they were selling one of his books,(Make Trouble) and an LP (vinyl) which's is a thing of the past. How Divine , and he signed them all.

We loved Louie Anderson last night. A great performer. The big disaster is the person handling the sound board. No sounds accompanied Louie Anderson's video. He graciously accepted this defect. At the end of his performance he asked for help out of the chair from the stage hands repeatedly. No one came out. He asked if anyone was there... No answer. I guess they were smoking somewhere outside. Finally Louie struggled and got out of his chair and left the stage. The audience was in shock that a great performer was left hanging. I will go to future performances but I hope a manager (is there one?) can add professionalism to this place.

Thanks to Yelp and Lindsey F., I was able to attend Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts' Talk Cinema series and watch the thought-provoking film "Melancholia," starring Kirsten Dunst, Kiefer Sutherland, and Charlotte Gainsbourg (and an impressive supporting cast, as well!). I will admit that I LIKED the film, even though people around me didn't. (In fact, the more I think about the film, the more I'm enamored w/ the story.) Last night was my first visit to the venue, and I'm impressed! Loved the stadium seating; open-air feel; and its excellent video and sound systems. The lobby was very spacious, which I love, and seems to be a nice area to relax and socialize while waiting for a show/event to start. Since I'd already eaten before joining up w/ other Yelpers for this event, I do not know if the venue offers refreshments, but I'm assuming it does, since other art theaters do; I will investigate further into the matter on my next visit, which I hope will be very soon! Te Vaka or Late-Nite Catechism, anyone? One complaint: Leg space is a bit cramped. Thank goodness the older couple in front of us left (about 3/4 into the movie), because I then could stretch my legs in front of me. I'm sorry they felt they had to leave, but I'm grateful for the extra space! LOL FYI: The opening sequences (specifically the planet scenes and the music score) hailed similarities to Terence Malick's "Tree of Life," which I felt was too indulgent- liked a few scenes, but overall did not enjoy the film-- perhaps my opinions will change if I give it another chance, but truth be told, the movie was so long and left me feeling so distanced, I doubt I want to spend any more of my time on Earth watching it again!). I think Lars von Trier, the cast, and crew did fantastic work on "Melancholia." If you like deep and though-provoking films, make sure to search for this!

We loved The World Goes Around The five performers did an outstanding job I loved the voices and the songs that were selected and the performance in general was quality for community theatre We plan to tell our friends!

Another summer series begins and we were on the edge of our seats. Acoustics and lighting are good. Seats are comfortable, if not luxurious. First performance for this season was a local home town ensemble. Box office has multiple windows, so there's no waiting and smiling faces. A large lobby and a great gift shop. Restrooms are relaxing with a rainbow of changing lights. Check the schedule for Friday nights for July & August and head down to the Center for a cool, comfortable and entertaining musical evening.

Every seat in the house is a Good seat. Small enough where I felt like a part of the performance. I came to see World-class baritone and Nashville recording artist David Britton and his musicians celebrate the season with an enchanting evening of Christmas music from around the world. It was enchanting.

Went to see Los Lobos at the Center. The band's contribution to the performance - incredible and as great as they were 49 years ago when they started. The theater - not so much. Scottsdale must think it's cool to have as little directional signage as possible. Would never have seen the entrance to the library parking lot had I not pre-viewed it on Google Street View. Then we couldn't find out way out of the lot to the narrow walkway to the street to cross. Glad other people were walking that way. comical, felt foolish. The area and center are beautiful with lot's going on. The theater itself is beautiful, stage is nice, but that's the end of the positives. Sound was generally good, but with a loud band, very difficult to pick out instruments and voices - was there someone actually mixing during the show? Doubt it, at least with consistency and actually listening to what the audience heard. When one band member went to sing his one song, his mike was off, he had to yell off to side stage and wave his arms to get someone to fix it, which was also problematic. Likewise with instrumental passages by some of the band, and harmonies. Same for the accompanying guitarist with the warmup act, Lisa Morales- could barely hear his harmonies. As much as they rake in for a show, poor audio is inexcusable. The seating seams mostly designed to give you a good view thanks to a large elevation change between rows, and primarily to gross as much money as possible per show by jamming in as many seats as possible. Imagine the worst airplane seats. I'm 5'6" and had about 4 to 6" legroom (fine for me). Also they were on the narrow side. A lot of people either showed late, or got up during the show frequently (collectively) and you practically have to stand up to let them by. Then there was a collection of people messing with their phones for long periods during the show, with the light flashing in your face. Only once did an usher come over, but that was for someone standing up with a camera flash pointing at the band. Masking: kudos for requiring a vax card or recent PCR test! Disappointed that while two upcoming shows had artists that require masks, the center does not - apparently they care less about public safety and not spreading a horrible pandemic than some of the entertainers. I know this is "debatable" but if other venues can fill their theaters and require masks, what's your excuse, Scottsdale CFA? We all want our freedoms. Mine to be free of threatening infection in a public place is just as justifiable as those who want their freedom to unmask, and don't care if they are part of the problem that is causing illness, hardship and death.,,, and more spread! No masks make as much sense as allowing smoking. No seat belts. Hollering out political views during the concert.

You will read many reviews that are positive, and I'm here to second those motions. We came here to see Diva Premal, and the theater acoustics were amazing. Also the seating is pretty good ... except a little legroom would help... we would certainly come here more often as the vibe is very intimate and up close and personal. Not to mention the building is beautiful and spacious. If you're looking for a good venue, come here. A final two tips would be to come a bit early as the parking garage has no elevator. And there is an elevator pass the women's bathroom at the end of the same hall that takes you up to a smaller women's bathroom. During intermission the line can get very long! Come, be entertained and enjoy.

Detour theater holds their play here- They are great ad we are thankful! Great Theater.

Saw the Shanghai Acrobats. Have seen other things here, It was great. Nice old theater. Good view, annoying children climbing the seats but that is the parents fault,

Beautiful evening with the fantastic music of la cholla peligrosa and the mariachi ambassadors Sol de Mexico.

Saw David Britton here for a Christmas Performance! Absolutely fabulous! Entertaining. Reasonable bar also.

I love the performances here, saw Ignite Phoenix, and a show with instruments made from salvage stuff, similiar to stomp. Beautiful theater and they have a bar going at intermission. Whats not to love!

When ASU music school performs....ASU students (or ASU card holders) enjoy for free!!!! The theater is comfortable and has a good acoustic for sound. I was impressed to see a sign in the restroom indicating they are participating on the "America's best restrooms" contest. Indeed the restroom is fancy and very clean.

Came to see Love, Loss and What I Wore. My first time seeing a show here - what a beautiful venue!! I was impressed with everything from the lobby, to the service at the bar, and even the bathrooms! Our seats were in the special "social media" rows where we could tweet during the show. What a cool concept! Not sure if it was the idea of the show producers or the theater, but I thought it was a fun thing to do and hope they do it for future shows as well. Definitely looking forward to coming back for future shows & events here!

The Deva Premal & Miten concert was put on beautifully & the first contact ticket checkers were very kind & helpful.

We had the pleasure of visiting last night to watch Love, Loss & What I Wore. This was my first visit to this theatre and I was impressed. The main entrance is actually off the street and very nice. The lobby is contemporary with plenty of seating and a cute little gift shop. They were extremely well organized at the ticket booth and the refreshment area. I liked the fact that we could take our wine into the show with us as long as it had a lid on that they provided. As for our seats even though we were up toward the top we had a great view. This is definitely the type of place where you can say there is not a bad seat in the house.

A friend and I went here last night to watch the special Q&A night performance of Love, Loss & What I Wore. It was my first time ever coming to this theatre despite all the many, many, many times I've walked past it and admired it from the outside. The Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts is a gorgeous venue. The lobby it self is incredibly contemporary and modern looking with plenty of spots to sit and lounge before you head in to your show. And the theatre itself is a very nice one with lots of wood panels and a great view of the stage, no matter where you sit. I was actually sitting in the Yelp section, as they were the event's media sponsor. Thanks for brining me along Mary! Our row, along with 2 others, were the Tweet Seats, which means we were allowed to tweet during the performance using a special hash tag and their wifi password. They asked us to post questions for the Q&A session after the performance. It was pretty neat...especially since one of my questions was chosen!

Seats too small. Cramped elbow to elbow with the strangers in the next seat. The place looked dusty and in need of a good cleaning. It's basically a concrete auditorium with a thin coat of wood veneer and carpet. Acoustics were about average. If there was any sort of emergency, a rapid departure from this place would be impossible. I did not feel too safe in here compared to a modern movie theater. If there was a fire, this place could be a death trap.

Recently, I was able to take advantage of Yelp's generous offer of two free tickets to see Love, Loss & What I Wore on their special "social media night. Everything went smoothly from the initial picking up of the tickets at will call, browsing the gift shop with many interesting, crafty and unique items, to being seated and watching the performance. The lighting, sound system and climate control are all impressive. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to tweet during the performance, but I probably didn't have the wifi on my phone set up correctly. That was my first visit to the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and look forward to returning.

PROS: (1) Excellent seating arrangement with cushy seats that are still firm. Even the "cheap seats" have a good view because the venue is pretty small (26 - 30 rows?) (2) Easy to find the restrooms, without much walking, which could be a plus for the elderly. (3) Clean, well-lit venue. (4) A cash bar with $2 water is always a welcome sight. (5) A pleasant walking area awaits you. (6) I love the gift shops at these places, even if they are a bit pricey. CONS: (1) Parking is the usually unpleasant Scottsdale parking. Street parking was already full at 6:30 p.m. The garage which was very close to the venue was already full at 6:30, also. The next closest garage (according to Google Maps) was Very confusing and difficult to navigate. There were blockades positioned in weird patterns, and someone in our party thought it was only for valet parking. I think it changes to valet parking later in the evening when the clubs start getting busy. (2) Although the seats were pleasant for the bum and moderately pleasant for a short person, there was little elbow room. In fact, my partner and I sat with interlocking arms. (3) They need more signs to identify the entrance if you are not coming from the main road (which you won't be due to scavenging for parking).

Went to see "The Butterfly Garden" presented by the Italian traveling group TPO. This was such a treat! It was basically aimed towards a very young audience, so I took my 9 year old. She absolutely loved it. Very unique presentation preformed with amazing display of light, sound, touch and music. They interacted with the children in the small and intimate setting, (we sat on cushions, on the stage, around their set), to assist them in their presentation of the life of a caterpillar/butterfly. The technology on the sensitive mat responed to the actors movements & their actions were picked up with an over-head light projection sensor as well. It's too bad they were only in town for a few days because I think anyone who missed bringing their minion to this specail treat really missed out on a very cool production!

Bravo for performing arts! When done well, they are definitely as good as it gets! It takes true passion and creativity to keep a home for them both vibrant and successful, so hats off to Scottsdale for doing just that. I attended a performance by Diavolo. The facility was beautiful and well-organized, and the show was entertaining. Flipping through the program, I appreciated the diversity of the events, from jazz to opera to dance and comedy. Whenever I am in town, I will be sure to give their calendar a gander!