Performances of “Les Miserables” are scheduled from Thursday, June 25 through Saturday, June 27. Submitted photo
Copperstar, Higley Center team up for ‘Les Miserables’
BY MEGHAN MCCOY
Higley Center for the Performing Arts has given Chandler’s Copperstar Repertory Co. yet another chance for a comeback by providing a theater space for its production of “Les Miserables.”
Copperstar has faced a number of hardships after Mary-Jo Okawa, the theater company’s founder and artistic producing director, and her family watched their garage go up in flames two years ago.
The three-car space had been converted into a scene shop, which held all of the costumes and props.
“The fire started in the garage and they never discovered how,” Okawa said. “My husband heard a big bang, which he thought was a gunshot. He went outside to see what was happening and our garage exploded. It had been burning for a while.”
The house was a complete loss and demolished. For the next 10 months, the family lived in hotels and temporary housing until their house was rebuilt.
Consequently, the night of the fire, Copperstar was set to hold auditions for “The Wizard of Oz.” The family showed up for the tryouts as is—complete with soot on their faces and hands. That resulted in a sea of support. Okawa received many gifts and was nominated for CBS 5’s “Pay It Forward” award. Community theaters opened their warehouses for costumes and props. However, the hardships have snowballed.
“In hindsight, it might have been wise to have taken a break when the fire happened because the years that followed have been very difficult and heartbreaking,” she said. “But truthfully, without Copperstar to keep us going and give us a bigger picture to focus on, I believe this time of our lives would have been even more difficult.”
The Okawas extended their credit and used up retirement and savings accounts as well as their children’s college funds to keep Copperstar going. By October 2014, the family was upside down, and they finally accepted defeat, thanks to the ongoing expense of rent for a studio and shop. Okawa said she found someone to rent the studio, but Copperstar is still paying rent on a nearly 3,000-square-foot shop.
To make money, Okawa has been selling Copperstar’s costumes, sets and props.
“Beginning Copperstar as I did—with no training or background in nonprofit— created a sort of snowball effect,” she said. “We started out with nothing, so we were always a show behind financially.”
Higley Center for the Performing Arts Operations Manager Robert Zucker wanted to help Copperstar and his facility at the same time.
“I sat down with Mary-Jo Okawa and talked about the realities,” he said. “She is an artistic director. I am a businessman. We have different views of putting on a performance and I think the two of us working together will have much better results. That is what this is all about... me helping them with the business operations and them restoring musical theater.”
The partnership began five years ago when Copperstar was a fledgling theater company looking for a home. Higley Center housed Copperstar for three years before it moved into the Mesa Arts Center.
Zucker said he kept tabs on Copperstar because of its work with kids and the public. Higley Center attracts the same audience.
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Music in the blood of Gilbert sisters
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
Melisza Gransbergen and her sister, Jessica, know a thing or two about music.
The Gilbert-based sisters, who hail from Chicago, grew up inspired by their musically inclined parents and grandparents. They are rolling those memories into the cover band The Real Thing.
“Our dad, who plays bass with us now, was always in bands,” said singer Melisza Gransbergen. “We grew up going backstage to different concerts.
“I remember being little and being backstage at REO Speedwagon. That’s how we grew up. We would fall asleep on the band room floor. After they were done, we’d sneak into the bass drum and fall asleep.”
In the duo’s formative years, their family supplied the girls with guitars, pianos, microphones and even karaoke machines.
“We were locked in our rooms for hours at a time, singing, singing, singing. We made our own mix tapes.”
All of that paid off for the Gransbergen sisters. Melisza manages the band and shares vocal duties with Jessica,
“Since Copperstar left, we have been missing musical theater. I always felt it was a big hole in our offering,” he said.
Conversations that began six months ago turned serious about three weeks ago when the two organizations began a partnership.
“Honestly, we could not be more excited or thrilled,” Okawa said. “We truly thought we were done and had made peace with it, but we were still grappling with a lot of debt. When Bob Zucker contacted me and asked if we were interested in coming back, I honestly did not think it was possible. But Bob believed in us and has worked very hard to make it happened and we are delighted.”
Copperstar’s first performance at the Higley Center will be “Les Miserables” from Thursday, June 25, through Saturday, June 27.
Okawa said they have been applying for the rights of “Les Miserables” since 2008 because it is one of her favorite shows.
“It was just a fantastic turn of events and a blessing (for) the rights to one of the greatest shows of all times for our homecoming,” she said. “There could not be a better show for a second chance.”
Copperstar is also trying to raise $25,000 through Razoo by May 15. As of April 26, the site, www.razoo.com/story/
Savecopperstar, shows Copperstar has about $23,000 to go.
“These funds will help us catch up on nearly all of our previous debt,” Okawa said. “Proceeds from ‘Les Miserables’ will be used to finish paying our debt and maybe even pay a bit of ‘the Okawa Loan’ off as well.”
“Les Miserables” hits the stage at various times from Thursday, June 25, and Saturday, June 27, at the Higley Center for the Performing Arts, 4132 E. Pecos Rd., Gilbert. Tickets are $18 to $35. For more information, call (480) 279-7194 or visit www.higleyarts.org.
performing songs by the likes of Maroon 5, Aretha Franklin, Adele, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Foster the People and Joss Stone.
The six-piece act will perform as part of the Downtown Concert Series at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 14, at Water Tower Plaza. For more information, visit www.therealthingazband.com.
“I wanted to play for my community,” she said. “Downtown Gilbert is so hot right now. It’s exciting to see what we’re getting here in Gilbert. People are wanting to move here, too.”
Each gig is exciting to Melisza, who sees The Real Thing as a full-time job.
“I left the corporate world,” she said. “The company I had worked for let everybody go. They had two new CEOs. I was there for eight years and helped build it up. I managed call centers all around the United States.”
When she was laid off, she saw it as a sign to pursue music full time.
“I wasn’t managing the band at that time,” she said. “It’s just been insane since then—in the best way possible. I love it. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
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Copperstar Repertory Co. is bringing “Les Miserables” to the Higley Center for the Performing Arts. Submitted photo
The band is guitarist Terry Bussoletti, singers Melisza and Jessica Gransbergen, drummer Louis Ippolito and bassist Pete Gransbergen. Not shown are keyboardist/saxophonist Jim Morrow and sound technician Jeff Thomas. Submitted photo
ON STAGE
Michael McDonald, Saturday, May 2, WHP. McDonald is known for such hits as “What a Fool Believes” and “I Keep Forgettin’.”
“War & Peace—Homage to the Great Wars,” Saturday, May 2, CCA. The Chandler Symphony Orchestra, a group of volunteer musicians led by conductor Jack Herriman, will provide “War & Peace—Homage to the Great Wars.”
“Oh, the Places We’ll Go!,” Saturday, May 2, CCA. The Chandler Children’s Choir will sing songs that will inspire attendees to soar “Over the Rainbow.”
“The Three Javelinas Gala,” Saturday, May 2, TCA. Guests will be treated to a cocktail hour, live music, silent auction, southwestern photo booth and a VIP production of “The Three Javelinas.”
“Greater Tuna,” Saturday, May 2, Thursday, May 7, and Saturday, May 9, TPT. The play is filled with colorful characters in the third smallest town in Texas, the fictional city of Tuna.
A-Track, Sunday, May 3, MDN. At the age of 15, A-Track became the youngest DJ to win a DJ-battling world championship and the first to win all three major championships.
“For Lovers And Others,” Friday, May 8, WHP.
“For Lovers and Others” is a concert featuring Jidenna, Sevyn Streeter, BJ The Chicago Kid, Charles Hamilton, Anthony Lewis and John Hart.
“Remember When...An Old-Fashioned Love Story,” Friday, May 8, and Saturday, May 9, CCA. The CaZo Dance’s inaugural show will take audience members on a journey of love, family, loss and the appreciation of life itself.
War, Saturday, May 9, WHP. War has had a string of hits such as “Low Rider,” “Spill the Wine” and “Why Can’t We Be Friends.”
Sons of the Pioneers, Saturday, May 9, TPT.
Sons of the Pioneers have been celebrating the songs of the West for more than 75 years.
Fifty-Six, Sunday, May 10, TPT. The group will perform hits from such artists as Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Carl Perkins and Elvis.
Eddie Money, Friday, May 15, WHP. Money has scored hits like “Baby Hold On” and “Two Tickets to Paradise.”
“The Wizard of Oz,” Thursday, May 21, through Friday, July 3, HCT. “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” as Dorothy and Toto join Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion on a journey to the magical land of Oz.
Vertical Horizon, Sunday, May 31, LW. Vertical Horizon is a popular alternative rock, post-grunge group who had a string of hits in 1999 and the early 2000s. Some of its hits include “Everything You Want,” “You’re a God” and “Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning.)
The Chainsmokers, Sunday, May 31, MDN. The Chainsmokers put out remixes of popular indie tracks.
VENUES
CCA—Chandler Center for the Arts
250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler Tickets: (480) 782-2680, www.chandlercenter.org
HCT—Hale Center Theatre
50 W. Page Ave., Gilbert Tickets: (480) 497-1181, www.haletheatrearizona.com
LW—Livewire
7320 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale Tickets: (480) 970-1112 or www.Livewireaz.com
MAC — Mesa Arts Center
One E. Main St., Mesa Tickets: (480) 644-6500, www.mesaartscenter.com
Dirty South, Sunday, June 7, MDN. Dragan Roganovic, otherwise known by his stage name Dirty South, is a world-renowned DJ, two-time Grammy-nominated producer and global festival headliner.
Butch Walker, Friday, June 12, LW. Bradley Glenn Walker III, known as Butch Walker, gained his first taste of major label success in the ‘90s as a member of the group Marvelous 3, whose single “Freak of the Weak” became a modern rock hit in 1999.
MDN—Máyá Day + Nightclub
7333 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale Tickets: (480) 625-0528 or www.mayaclubaz.com
TCA—Tempe Center for the Arts
700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe Tickets: (480) 921-5761 www.childsplayaz.org
TPT—The Palms Theatre
5247 E. Brown Rd., Mesa Tickets: (480) 924-6260, www.thepalmstheatre.com
WHP—Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino
5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler Tickets: (800) 946-4452 or www.wingilariver.com/wild-horse-pass
