Tempe Center for the Arts

Tempe Center for the Arts (TCA) is a publicly owned performing and visual arts center in Tempe, Arizona. It opened in September 2007 and houses a 600-seat proscenium theater, a 200-seat studio theater and a 3,500-square-foot gallery. Its Lakeside Room seats 200 and overlooks Tempe Town Lake, with views of the Papago and Camelback mountains.

Tempe Center for the Arts
Exterior view of venue from the Salt River (c.2011)
Address700 W Rio Rio Salado Pkwy
Tempe, AZ 85281-5293
LocationMetro Phoenix
OwnerCity of Tempe
Capacity600 (Theater)
275 (Studio)
219 (Lakeside)
Construction
Broke ground2004
OpenedSeptember 7, 2007 (2007-09-07)
Construction cost$65 million
($88 million in 2019 dollars[1])
Architect
Project managerKitchell
Structural engineerArup Group
Services engineerStantec
General contractorOkland Construction
Website
Venue Website


Architecture

The building was designed by Barton Myers Associates of Los Angeles and Architekton of Tempe. A citizens group, formed in 1998, spearheaded a ballot initiative to create an arts center. The resulting increase in the sales tax of .1% was used to fund seed money for the management, design, and construction of the facility.

At the entrance, environmental designer Ned Kahn uses 8,000 embedded marbles and tiny mirrors to create a shimmery sunlit effect at the Center’s marquee. He echoes this shimmering effect on the west wall of the Lakeside room where a massive array of mirrors captures and digitizes the available light reflecting off the Center’s expansive negative edge pool.[1]

Unlike most theaters, this lobby is open to the public without a ticket and becomes a popular gathering place that brings art and community together while enhancing the Tempe landscape, promoting positive quality of life issues related to sustainability, recreation and culture.[1]

A management firm (Kitchell CEM) was selected by the city government to oversee a three-phase design competition, leading to the selection of the design team in 2000. Following public input, the design was completed in 2003. Construction began in April 2004 and took 40 months. The Center was completed in August, 2007, with a grand opening on September 9, 2007.

The Center features a roof made of complex geometric folded plates. The roof is highly visible from the surrounding freeways and the man-made Tempe Town Lake, which occupies the natural watercourse of the Salt River, immediately adjacent to the site. It is also visible by many airplanes landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, two miles west of the building.

Five public art pieces were included in the design:

  • Entry Marquee[2] – Ned Kahn
  • Fireplace[3]– trueNorth - Mayme Kratz and Mark Ryan
  • Fountain Reflections[4] – Ned Kahn
  • Lobby Carpet[5] – Ramona Saskiestewa
  • Aurora[6] - Brower Hatcher

The Center includes the Gallery at TCA, a visual arts gallery featuring free exhibits of two- and three-dimensional artwork by local and internationally recognized artists.

Producing Artistic Director: Ralph Remington

To advance the goals outlined in its recently completed Arts and Culture Plan, the City of Tempe has hired theater veteran Ralph Remington to serve a new role within the Community Services Department as Arts and Culture Deputy Director and Artistic Director of Tempe Center for the Arts sponsored by Northern Trust.

Remington is the former Western Regional Director/Assistant Executive Director of Actors' Equity Association and the former Director of Theater and Musical Theater for the National Endowment for the Arts. He has also written seven feature screenplays and two plays. His essay “To Be Black in America,” has been published in the African American literary anthology, “Blues Vision” while another essay, “Michael, Obama, and Post-Racial Deconstruction,” was published in the anthology “Goodbye, Billie Jean: The Meaning of Michael Jackson.” His play "Penetrating Whiteness" was a semi-finalist in 2015 at the Eugene O’Neill National Playwright’s Competition.

Ralph Remington is the founding producing artistic director of Pillsbury House Theatre, in Minneapolis, Minn., where he was also an elected member of the Minneapolis City Council.

TCA Presents 18-19 Season

Annie Moses Band - Sept 22

Grounded by faith, the Annie Moses band blends classical, folk, bluegrass, and pop in a unique way that is both fresh and poignant.

Ensemble Mik Nawooj - Oct 20

Led by composer/pianist, JooWan Kim, Hip-Hop Orchestra Mik Nawooj (EMN) creates new concert music based on the musical materials of hip-hop and by sampling compatible classical compositional techniques.

Changüí Majadero - Oct 27

Changüí Majadero has recaptured the traditional Afro-Cuban music with an innovative and unique combination of raw Cuban Roots and East LA Grit.

Dinner at Five - Nov 3

Written & Directed by Lloyd J. Schwartz (The Brady Bunch, Gilligan’s Island, Harper Valley PTA), Dinner at Five stars TV legends Kathy Garver (Cissy from Family Affair), Larry Thomas (The Soup Nazi from Seinfeld), Caryn Richman (Gidget from The New Gidget) and Christopher Knight (Peter Brady from The Brady Bunch) in a swinging play filled with one-liners, zingers and a raised eyebrow here and there.

Dailey & Vincent - Nov 17

Five-time GRAMMY® award winners individually, and three-time nominees collectively, Jaime Dailey and Darrin Vincent are one of the best duos in American music- bluegrass, traditional country and gospel - today.

The Revolutionists - Dec 2018

This irreverent comedy set during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror propels itself into modern times while standing up for one’s beliefs and who runs the world.

A Christmas Carol - Dec 6 - 23

This spectacular Broadway musical adaptation of the classic Charles Dickens tale will leave you and yours wrapped in the joy of the season.

Co-presented with resident artist:

Scottsdale Musical Theater Company

Detroit '67 - Feb 22 – Mar 17

Inspired by American history, this powerful play unfolds during an explosive moment in Detroit when the soulful sounds of Motown are breaking records and breaking down barriers.

Disrupt FEST - Apr 2019

Returning April 2019, for its third annual festival, this mashup of super-charged experiences includes provocative, unique artists who challenge preconceived concepts of the traditional performing arts.

Current Residents Artists

Past Resident Artists

Home to city-produced programs:

  • Songwriters' Showcase
  • In the Spotlight
  • Tempe Poetry in April
  • Art After Work
  • Finally Friday
  • Photo on the outside of the Lakeside looking across the reflecting pond known as Mare Undarum – Sea of Waves.
  • Photo of the lobby looking east.
  • Photo of the lobby looking west.
  • Photo of the lobby carpet design called Agua Corriente, looking down from the third floor.
  • Photo looking at the East side of the building exterior.
  • Photo looking at the West side of the building exterior.
  • TCA Exterior
  • Bridge outside TCA
  • Outside TCA Theater
  • Sunset at TCA
  • TCA Theater

See also

Notes
  1. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-11-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-11-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-11-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-11-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-11-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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