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“Lend Me a Tenor,” through Saturday, Feb. 14, HT. The Cleveland Grand Opera Company has planned a gala $50,000 fundraiser. World-famous Italian tenor Tito Morelli is slated to sing the title role in “Othello,” but he has other plans. The McCartney Years, Friday, Feb. 6, HCPA. The McCartney Years boasts that it offers a note-for-note, faithful recreation of a mid-1970s Paul McCartney concert.

“The Midtown Men,” Saturday, Feb. 7, CCA. Watch four stars from the original cast of Broadway’s “Jersey Boys” reunite as they establish themselves as rock stars in their own right, bringing to life their favorite tunes from The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Motown, The Four Seasons and more.

Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband, Saturday, Feb. 7, HCPA. Hailing from Salt Lake City, the five-man band is led by Ryan Shupe, who has been playing violin for most of his life.

“Hardcore Legend: An Evening with Mick Foley,” Sunday, Feb. 8, SUL. The WWE champion, speaker, author and stand-up artist gives a performance that is by turns uproariously funny, simply surreal and surprisingly sensitive.

“Of Legends and Lovers: Doc and Kate,” Sunday, Feb. 8, CCA. A performance of the story of the West’s most famous dentist, a man who went, as he likes to put it, “from the one who heals to the one who keels” (kills) and his life with Mary Katherine Haroney Cummings.

Roger McGuinn, Saturday, Feb. 14, HCPA. As the leader of the influential 1960s group The Byrds, Roger McGuinn was on the leading edge, combining the rock beat of The Beatles with the folk sensibilities of Bob Dylan.

“Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana: The Soul of Flamenco,” Saturday, Feb. 14, CCA. One of the nation’s premier flamenco and Spanish dance companies celebrates its 30th anniversary season with innovative music, exotic movement, passionate dancing and more.

Bill Boycott Band, Sunday, Feb. 15, HCPA. William Frederick Boycott performs historical, cowboy and original songs about the Wild West, the Oregon Trail and Wyoming, utilizing fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar and vocals.

2015 Chinese New Year Show, Sunday, Feb. 15, CCA. The Eastern Art Academy hosts the 2015 Chinese New Year Show in a lively and unique show that the entire family will enjoy. The year of the ram is welcomed with song, dance, instrument and martial arts performances and more.

Lily Tomlin, Saturday, Feb. 21, CCA. Tomlin, one of America’s foremost comediennes, takes the stage with her classic

The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, Sunday, Feb. 22, CCA. This performance, with Natalie Angst, features over 40 hit songs from four decades of jukebox chart toppers like “Tuxedo Junction,” “In The Mood,”

“Pennsylvania 6-5000,” “Chattanooga Choo Choo” and “Moonlight Serenade.”

“Love, Sex and the IRS,” Wednesday, Feb. 25 through Wednesday, March 4, TPT. Laughs, mistaken identities and multiple plots take the stage when two out-of-work musicians pose as a married couple, only to be investigated by the IRS.

“Menopause the Musical,” Thursday, Feb. 26 through Saturday, March 28, TPT. This hilarious PG-13 musical parody staged to classic tunes from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s has had audiences cheering, dancing and laughing for over 10 years.

“Strait Country,” Sunday, March 22, TPT. The Strait Country Band featuring Kevin Sterner brings audiences the virtual experience of attending one of George Strait’s concerts.

“Pump Boys and Dinettes,” Wednesday, April 15 through Sunday, May 24, TPT. Fresh off a hit Broadway revival, this fun and energetic musical about life on the roadside tells the story of four gasstation attendants (the “Pump Boys”) and two waitresses (the “Dinettes”) and the country, rock and pop music that gets them through the day.

“Greater Tuna,” Thursday, April 16 through Sunday, April 26, TPT. Take a trip down south to Texas’ third smallest town, Tuna, and meet its quirky and ever-expanding cast of characters hosted by Thurston and Arles on their talk radio show, and all played by two actors.

CCA—Chandler Center for the Arts

250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler Tickets: (480) 782-2680, www.chandlercenter.org

HT—Hale Theatre

50 W. Page Ave., Gilbert. Tickets: (480) 497-1181, www.haletheatrearizona.com

HCPA—Higley Center for the Performing Arts

4132 E. Pecos Rd., Gilbert. Tickets: (480) 279-7190, www.higleyarts.org

SUL—Stand Up Live

50 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix Tickets: (480) 719-6100, www.standuplive.com

TPT—The Palms Theatre

5247 E. Brown Rd., Mesa Tickets: (480) 924-6260, www.thepalmstheatre.com

Photographer featured at Arizona Fine Art Expo

BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON

The Arizona Fine Art Expo has been drawing visitors from around the world to Scottsdale since 2005. This year is particularly special for Gilbert photographer Jim Moon, who was chosen to participate in the prestigious expo.

“This event is juried every year,” Moon explains. “I actually submitted to be included next year, but they chose me for this year’s expo.”

Officials from the event, which is produced by Thunderbird Artists, were impressed with his work.

“Jim contacted me and wanted to do this event,” says Judi Combs, Thunderbird Artists’ founder.

“I juried him in because I like his quality and I don’t bring in a lot of photographers, but he’s outstanding.”

Moon shoots a variety of subject, including Westerns, landscapes, vintage vehicles and buildings and even one dramatic photo of lightning striking over grain silos in North Gilbert.

“It took an hour and a half and 200 shots to get that one special photo,” Moon says of his lightning photo snapped a block from his home.

Longtime shooter

Moon started shooting photos at the age of 8 and took formal photography instruction in high school.

After a hiatus from photography, he returned to it in 2008 as a way of relieving stress. A multiple heart attack survivor, he left the medical marketing field to take up professional photography full time. His work has been met with praise.

Moon received accolades in April 2014 when he was chosen to be the first photographer nationwide to be exhibited at Thomas Kinkade Gallery.

In recent years, Moon has traveled

throughout Arizona and to Hawaii, Wyoming, California, British Columbia and Colorado to capture the breathtaking landscape images that are included in the expo.

He focuses on high dynamic range photography which, he says, makes viewers feel like they can reach through and touch it.

High dynamic range photography takes an image and merges three to five frames capturing different light levels to create a photo with unique lighting and depth.

“I’m literally painting my photos in a computer,” adds Moon.

Moon’s work is collected by a variety of people.

“Doctors, lawyers, business owners, CEOs and accountants buy my work. It’s a little bit of everybody across the board,” he explains.

“I have one customer who just collects my Western photos, so he buys all of my rodeo shots, including photos taken at the Gilbert Days Rodeo.”

One Gilbert Days Rodeo image is included in this year’s Arizona Fine Art Expo. Additional photos from Moon can be seen at http://jimmoon.photoshelter. com.

Nearly 100 artists from all over the world will be featured in the 11th annual Arizona Fine Art Expo, which runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sunday, March 29. Participating artists come from diverse places such as California, Colorado, Minnesota, Kansas, Virginia, Africa, Iraq, England and Mexico.

An onsite café at Arizona Fine Art Expo features sandwiches, soups, salads, paninis, burgers and more. Season tickets are $10, or $8 for military and seniors. Arizona Fine Art Expo is located at 16540 N. Scottsdale Rd. Visit www. arizonafineartexpo.com or call (480) 8377163 for additional information.

3 conservatory grads up for major Grammys

The music industry’s highest honors will be awarded during the Grammy awards on Sunday, Feb. 8, in Los Angeles, and three different graduates of CRAS— The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences—may be called to the stage to accept the award for their work.

In total, 47 different graduates of CRAS hold credits for their work with 50 artists/ bands who are up for awards in 42 out of 83 categories. An example of a credit would be formal professional credit as an engineer, assistant engineer or production assistant on a nominated song or album.

While individuals with a credit aren’t personally called to the stage to accept the award, they directly played a role in the nominated recording. Among the credits received by CRAS grads are nominations for Record, Song and Album of the Year including music from Pharrell, Ed Sheeran, Beck, Taylor Swift, and Iggy Azalea with Charli XCX.

Of the graduates who may be called to the stage, two graduates will compete against each other for Record of the Year as Eric Weaver is nominated as vocal engineer for Iggy Azalea w/ Charli XCX’s “Fancy,” and Sam Holland as engineer for Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off.” Graduate Darrell

Thorp is nominated for two Grammys (Album of the Year and Engineered Album) for his work as engineer of Beck’s album “Morning Phase.”

“We love all the awards shows because there are always so many CRAS graduates that are nominated and win,” says Kirt Hamm, administrator of CRAS.

“We take great pride in the success of our graduates but there are few phone calls we love receiving more than from a graduate calling to tell us about their first award nomination. You don’t need to be an audio expert to hear the joy and pride in their voice as they thank us for helping them achieve this career milestone.”

Graduate Weaver is thrilled with his nomination.

“When I attended CRAS, I merely wanted to be able to put food on the table while making records and now I have the honor of being nominated for a GRAMMY,” he says.

“My time in Arizona at CRAS gave me the necessary technical vocabulary and knowledge to be an immediate asset capable of understanding the studios’ and clients’ needs. That preparation allowed me to maximize the learning experiences available when working hand in hand with

the industry’s most talented engineers, producers and artists.”

CRAS is a nationally accredited, private postsecondary college dedicated to those who seek a career in the music, game audio, live sound, broadcast and post production for film and TV industries. CRAS graduates succeed in the highly competitive fields of studio recording technology and engineering, live sound engineering and

music production/post-production for film, corporate presentations, television and game audio design. Widely recognized as a leading audio recording school in the United States, students attend the fiveday per week, 11-month program held at CRAS’ Arizona campuses in Gilbert and Tempe.

For more information about CRAS visit www.cras.edu.

The Oak Ridge Boys remain relevant after five decades

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Kindhearted and thoughtful, Duane Allen strives to keep his band, The Oak Ridge Boys, relevant while he continues to enjoy his decadeslong career.

“I think probably the reason that we are still going is because the four of us love doing what we’re doing,” Allen says.

“We feel we are doing some good with people who maybe are not reached by the newer artists who are now on radio. We’ve had our time on radio and we’re very grateful for that.”

Newer artists, he says, are making a “huge dent” on radio and filling coliseums, ballparks, stadiums and arenas. These new acts, however, help The Oak Ridge Boys, too.

Craftsman, history meet at Schimmel Shop

BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON

Chad Schimmel moves about his woodshop with a lithe agility— cutting, drilling, sanding and painstakingly assembling a variety of items at his Schimmel Shop. He took what started out as a hobby, applied his woodworking and technology skills, and carved out a niche that provides one-of-akind items that, in some cases, are historical keepsakes.

Gilbert resident Schimmel creates handmade pens, razor handles, steampunk-themed jewelry, interior design and furniture. The pieces he creates are entirely unique because of the materials used, their whimsical qualities and because they are handmade. Pens are some of the most in-demand items, including those made from the deck wood of the USS Texas battleship.

“They took this wood off of the USS Texas and I got it in chunks like this,” Schimmel explains as he displays the long 2-inch-thick planks with ghost gray paint on one side.

“I’m always after old woods because they have some significance. It’s tough and I have to search around.”

The Battleship Texas Foundation gave Schimmel wood and, in return, he made a custom pen for the organization.

estimated to be 3,400 to 3,600 years old. It was the oldest living bald cypress tree when it was destroyed by arson in 2012. Someone sent the block of wood to Schimmel knowing he would appreciate it and use it for something.

Other unique products are bolt-action and bullet pens.

“I got back some more wood and some little cards; certificates that show the wood is real, so it’s really a cool thing,” Schimmel states.

He also has battleship deck wood from the USS North Carolina. The teak wood was on the ship for 70 years and imparts a majestic plum-colored hue that makes for beautiful pens or razor handles. The ship decking pens and razor handles are popular with veterans and those who collect military or patriotic items.

Other woods that Schimmel uses for pens and razor handles include used liquor barrels that, when drilled and sanded, impart a sweet smell into the woodworking shop.

“I’ll use anything that has a fun story to it,” notes Schimmel.

He has one piece of wood from The Senator tree in Big Park Florida was

“It’s such a popular group of people that want these pens— hunters, shooters and, especially lately, the audience has gotten bigger,” explains Schimmel. “Bullets just seem to make good pens because of the way they are shaped.”

He has a few choice bullets that he uses for pens and occasionally a customer will bring in a bullet of their own.

Woodworking is a longtime passion of Schimmel’s. In high school, he was involved in woodworking and has honed his skills over the years.

“I did woodworking a lot in high school,” he explains. “Then I didn’t do anything for a few years because of college and then I picked it back up. I think I’m a born tinkerer.”

Woodworking was a side business that increasingly got bigger. A few years ago, he was torn between keeping his job as a manager at Bass Pro Shops in Mesa and making the move to grow his woodworking business. He decided to open Schimmel Shop full time. In his shop he also creates imaginative lamps from repurposed vintage items, clocks and small furniture.

Andrea McKay, the owner of Garden Gate Custom Floral Design in Gilbert Town Square, saw Schimmel’s work on the Instagram page of Fluff It Marshmallows in Gilbert.

“When I noticed the woodwork, I thought, ‘That’s exactly what I need,’” she recalls. “I actually went into their store and looked at the work that Chad did.”

So impressed with his work, she enlisted Schimmel to create a counter and table for her retail space, each having a crisp, light country style.

“I called him and he was wonderful,” McKay says. “He went right to work and

his price was really reasonable.”

This year, Schimmel will be looking to expand on the fixtures and furniture portion of his business.

Schimmel Shop is located at 224 E. Chilton Ave., Suite 10, Chandler. Visit www.impeccablepen.com for a list of products and upcoming shows. Email chadschimmel@gmail.com or call (480) 510-0717 for custom work inquiries.

FIREFLY CROSSING

“WherethePastMeetsthePresentinaUnique&EclecticWay”

not going to cancel our dates,” he says.

“They can depend on us. Probably over a period of years, we made our living on repeat dates. We go to almost the same places every year. Ninety percent of our dates are repeat business.”

The Oak Ridge Boys target venues such as fairs and festivals; attractions that boast a board of directors with everyday folks.

“They know The Oak Ridge Boys because they grew up with our music,” Allen says.

Allen and his bandmates—William Lee Golden, Richard Sterban and Joe Bonsall—are hoping to fill Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino’s Ovations Live! Showroom on Friday, Feb. 6. Allen not only loves Arizona for its fans, but its weather, too.

that includes a mixture of their hits, like “Elvira” and even a cover of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army,” as well as deep cuts.

“We have a computerized list of everything we’ve ever done in every city,” Allen says. “We try to rotate our hits among the over 50 charted singles we have over the last five decades. We will pick some of the most popular ones, but we will add songs we didn’t do last time.”

The Oak Ridge Boys will soon have even more songs to add to their set list. Allen’s New Year’s resolution is to record a “brand new album with the 12 best songs from the best writers in the world.”

Dean craves ‘spiritual’ connection with fans

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

“We always enjoy coming to Arizona because the weather is usually better in the fall and winter months,” he says. “We always come out there in February and the weather is usually a lot more pleasant than it is in other parts of the country. I love Arizona because of the different landscapes from the desert part all the way up to the mountainous part. I think it’s a beautiful state.”

The Oak Ridge Boys promise an evening

“We are going to record them as if we are the newest group on the block,” Allen says. “I’m a song man. I believe that recording great new songs is the future.”

The Oak Ridge Boys perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino’s Ovations Live! Showroom, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler. Tickets are $30 to $80. For more information, call (877) 840-0457 or visit http:// bit.ly/1BWldvG.

A Quincy, Florida, native, country singer Billy Dean is used to hearing about folks who flee the bitter cold of the north and head to the southeastern United States.

But thanks to his friends The Duttons, Dean has traveled west to spend part of his winter in Mesa, performing at the family’s East Valley High School theater.

“The Dutton family was so nice to tell me about this well-kept secret,” he says as he power walks through Mesa. “This is a great place to do shows in the winter.

“I’m from Florida, so I’m used to people going down to Florida to get out of the cold. I didn’t think about the desert of Arizona. They’re really nice to open the theater to me and see if I can reconnect with some of my fans in the area.”

Dean is playing several dates at The Dutton Family Theater in February and March. He’s playing acoustic shows, during which he tells stories about songs like his hits “Only Here for a Little While,” “Somewhere in My Broken Heart” and “If There Hadn’t Been You.”

shows, I have to say. They’re not really rehearsed. I tell the same stories, sure, but I do different songs every night. I know about 2,000 songs. I do a show in Branson, Missouri, which is where I met The Duttons. I don’t get a chance to sing these other songs.”

This year, Dean is relaunching his company, Billy Dean Music Group, and working with two artists from “America’s Got Talent:” Chloe Channell and Jason Pritchett. Also, there’s a collaboration with Alabama in the works.

“Believe it or not, Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry just recorded ‘An American with a Remington,’” he says about the song he recorded with Larry Gatlin.

“Through that process, they said, ‘We’d love to cut a project on you.’ It’ll be nice not to have to sit behind the desk and just be a singer for a while. We may do that this year.

“I’ve been in Nashville for 30 years,” Dean says. “I’ve had the great privilege of learning and hearing about the stories behind the hits. People hear hit songs on the radio all the time.”

Dean’s sense of humor also shines during the performance.

“A lot of comedy comes out,” he says. “It’s the old troubadour style of me, a guitar and piano. It’s as if they’re in my living room. That’s how I feel at The Duttons’ theater. It’s a nice intimate evening.”

Dean performs two 45-minute sets, with a 20-minute intermission in between.

“I cover a lot of music history in that time,” he says. “I do like the solo acoustic

“Those guys meant a lot to me growing up. To work side by side with them, it’s a great honor. They’re the most successful band in the history of country music.”

No matter which project he’s working on, Dean stresses the importance of songwriting, having followed in the footsteps of James Taylor, Dan Fogelberg and John Denver.

“It’s my inspiration,” he says. “It’s what I grew up listening to. This is my opportunity to do it on this scale without all the clutter. It makes for a really spiritual experience.”

Billy Dean performs through Wednesday, March 11, at The Dutton Family Theater at East Valley High School, 7420 E. Main St., Mesa. Tickets are $27 for adults. For more information, call (480) 840-6874 or visit www.theduttons.com.