Mesa Community College opens performing arts center on Oct. 25 – by Patricia Myers
Mesa Community College opens performing arts center on Oct. 25
By Patricia Myers
“MCC PAC” is the catchy moniker for the 462-seat Mesa Community College Performing Arts Center that will be open for public tours from10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, on the campus at 1833 W. Southern Ave., Mesa. Students and faculty will lead guided tours of behind-the-scenes areas including performance classrooms, music practice rooms and the scene shop, as well as the main stage
The previous day, Friday, Oct. 24, will feature a ribbon-cutting and rendition of “America the Beautiful” by the college’s bands, orchestra and choirs (current and past members). They will be directed by retired MCC music professor Don Bothwell, who nearly 50 years ago put a shovel into the dirt in 1965 to start construction of the college.
The MCC PAC building previously housed Harkins Fiesta 5 movie theaters, and was renovated at a cost of $17.5 million. The facility will offer music, dance and musical theatre programs open to the public. For future events information, go to www.mesacc.edu/pac and www.mesacc.edu/theatre-shows.
Robert Hunter, director of bands, and Paul Brewer, head of jazz studies, announced the PAC open house during the fourth annual Tom Miles Scholarship Benefit on Sept. 28 at Pranksters Too in Scottsdale. The scholarship was established in honor of the late Tom Miles, a gifted Phoenix trumpet player. The funds will assist aspiring young musicians in furthering their education through jazz camps and clinics.
Categories: News, Young Sounds