Kimmel’s sister, Jill Bryan, breaks out of his shadow
BY SARAH MARMOLEJO
With a brother like Jimmy Kimmel, you would think breaking out of his shadow would be a difficult thing to do. Not if you’re Jill Bryan. Bryan is making a name for herself in comedy. By the end of it when someone mentions Kimmel, you’ll ask, “Who? Oh right, Jill’s brother.” It’s another day at the bland, dull office where “babysitting adults” and “political correctness” come hand in hand, Bryan said.
Another day, another dollar, and one more day at the office was something Bryan could no longer take while working as an administrative assistant. That is why when Bryan heard of an open mic night in town she decided to give it a shot. After all, comedy clearly ran in the family.
Bryan always loved acting and “making [her] friends laugh,” so standup comedy seemed like the way to go, but it was not until July 2006 that she gave it a shot and fell in love, at the age of 35.
As Bryan began her late comedy career, the nagging factors were always there: the late start, the maledominated field, and just the idea of failing. But Bryan didn’t let anything get to her as she raced through the doorway to success.
Bryan grew up around boys, her older brother, Jimmy, and younger brother, Johnathon, and was used to being
surrounded by male figures, especially male comedians as Jimmy rose to fame. As Bryan entered the field dealing with the overwhelming male majority, it was nothing new, and she didn’t let that stop her. It should not stop anyone, Bryan said.
“I have had always had more male friends than female friends, so it felt normal to me. But I also won’t allow anyone to treat me poorly, so my gender hasn’t been an issue so far. My only advice to women who may want to try comedy is to be a funny woman. Don’t try to be a guy. Be a woman. And be funny. That’s the only way to go.”
Gilbert is happy to stake its claim on Bryan as she breaks through comedic gender barriers here, but why here? Bryan has accomplished a great deal in her career and might be expected to live in Hollywood, but she said she loves it here; and not just because it’s a town that is slightly cheaper than Los Angeles. She was born in Brooklyn, and lived in Las Vegas between the ages of 6 and 15, then her family moved out to Gilbert and she has been here ever since.
“I love my little house, my neighborhood...it’s easy to live here. Much cheaper than L.A., the traffic is barely existent, the schools are good. I may move to L.A. or New York if my career leads me in that direction, but for now I am very comfortable.”
Bryan may enjoy living in Gilbert but that doesn’t stop her from traveling as she gets ready to go on her third tour for the U.S. military, where she will be joined by a few other comedians. For Bryan it’s not about being the most famous comedian, it’s about making people who need it smile.
“I feel like any piece of America puts a smile on the faces of the men and women who are living elsewhere because of their service. If we come
in and tell a few jokes and make them smile and laugh for an hour or so...that is well worth the 12-hour flight stuck in a middle seat between two people with pointy elbows. Here’s a secret, though... it means a lot more to me than they realize. I’m happier about being there than they are to have me.”
For information on Jill Bryan and upcoming shows, visit www.jillbryancomedy.com.
Hale to present the classic ‘A Christmas Carol’ in December
The holiday classic “A Christmas Carol” is returning to the Hale Centre Theatre from Dec. 3 through Dec. 24, with FOX 10 meteorologist Cory McCloskey returning as “Scrooge.” McCloskey is part of the “red” cast, which alternates with the “green” cast. A veteran of the stage and television, McCloskey has performed in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. His diverse roles range from the cross-dressing, saxophone-
playing “Josephine” in “Sugar,” to “Teen Angel” in “Grease” and then to young “Michael Hudson” on NBC’s “Another World.” McCloskey is a frequent big band frontman who also performs with the Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons tribute band, December ’63.
The “green” cast showcases Mark Kleinman, reprising his role as Ebenezer Scrooge for the fourth time. An ariZoni award winner, Kleinman has performed in numerous Hale productions as
well as in opera, musical theater and dramatic repertory around the world. He provided the voice of “The King” in Amazon Studios’ grand prize-winning test film “12 Princesses,” and was a semifinalist for Amazon Studios Best Actor Award.
Award-winning David Hale Dietlein will direct both casts and promises theater-goers that they are in for a true holiday treat.
The show is an enchanting musical version of Dickens’ classic tale of the three Christmas ghosts who visit the miserly taskmaster, “Ebenezer Scrooge.”
The spirits show him the error of his tyrannical, grasping ways transforming Scrooge’s life and, in doing so, remind us that it’s never too late to change for the better.
Because of the popularity of this annual classic production, a recordsetting total of 43 performances will be presented this year.
The Hale family tradition of
showcasing “A Christmas Carol” began with Ruth and Nathan Hale, who opened the first Hale theater in Glendale, California. In 1965, the Hales and the Dietleins staged their first production of “A Christmas Carol,” establishing a legacy that flourishes to this day with the 50th Glendale production already in rehearsal. In Arizona, Dietlein has received numerous awards for artistic achievement and has directed every production of “A Christmas Carol” since the Gilbert theater opened in 2003. Performance times and prices vary. Tickets range from $20 to $36 and sell out quickly. For more information, or purchase tickets, call the Hale Centre Theatre box office at (480) 497-1181 or visit www.HaleTheatreArizona.com.
is located at 50 W.
The Hale
Page Ave., Gilbert, just across the street from the historic Gilbert Water Tower Park.
Jill Bryan. Submitted photo
Asylum ’66 presented by CaZo Dance Company
Asylum ’66, a new live dance show, will be presented by the CaZo Dance Company, at the Phoenix Center for the Arts Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5. Inspired by the true life events surrounding Whittingham Hospital Asylum in England, Asylum ’66 documents the events surrounding a journalist, Liza, in 1966 who enters the mysterious CaZo Asylum after hearing rumors about the mistreatment at the all-female institution.
Her intent is to bring attention to the asylum’s retched conditions, but what she ends up experiencing is far more than she bargained for.
Tickets are $21 for general admission, $19 for students.
Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, and 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Third Street Theater at Phoenix Center for the Arts, 1202 N Third St, Phoenix.
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Asylum ’66 uses contemporary and jazz dance styles, all choreographed by CaZo founder Bridgette Borzillo, to tell an emotionally captivating story to make the audience laugh, cry, cringe and feel utterly disturbed. The owner of CaZo is a Gilbert resident.
“After presenting an in memoriam to my grandparents with [CaZo’s first dance show] Remember When,” Borzillo said, “I wanted to switch gears to something darker and more in line with the style of character I personally like to portray.”
To capture the eeriness and unsettling
vibe of a show that mixes horror with the bizarre (and yes, even an awkwardly weird love story), Borzillo turned to several sources, including niche films and television shows. “Ryan Murphey’s ‘American Horror Story: Asylum’ was one of the main triggers for my inspiration in turning to the insanity of an asylum as the basis for this show, but ‘Black Swan,’ ‘Requiem for a Dream’ and especially ‘May’ were heavy influences in deciding what types of mental illnesses these characters would have and how they dealt with them in the progress of the show as a whole.”
Barnett to honor Cline at HCPA show
BY GABRIEL CUSHING
After months of touring internationally, country singer Mandy Barnett is making her way to Gilbert early this November to sing classic songs by legendary country artist Patsy Cline.
Barnett, a Tennessee native and country vocalist, will perform at the Higley Center for the Performing Arts (HCPA) on Wednesday, Nov. 4.
Gilbert will be her first Arizona stop and the 17th gig on her tour. She will perform songs by Cline like “Crazy,” “Walking after Midnight” and “Sweet Dreams.”
“I have a long history with Patsy Cline because, back in 1994, I had auditioned for [what was] at the time a brand new musical called ‘Always Patsy Cline,’” she said. “The Ryman Auditorium is where Patsy Cline herself performed. It was going to be a brand new musical in a newly
refurbished Ryman Auditorium back in 1994, and that is kind of how I got my start in Nashville—doing stage plays. It’s how I got associated with Cline; I got to meet a lot of musicians and producers.”
Barnett explained fans of classic country music should not miss her show.
“I think that country music has changed so much over the years that it’s not every day you get to hear the timeless country classics done in a real authentic sort of way,” Barnett said.
“So I think it’ll be a treat for people who love Patsy Cline, love classic country.”
Pop purists will enjoy the concert as well.
“She wasn’t just a country singer,” she said. “She crossed genres, and a lot of her material would appeal to someone that doesn’t necessarily like country music, but likes pre-rock pop
Aura is out of this world, claims she’s ‘too weird’
BY ALEXA D’ANGELO
She calls herself an alien, claiming she is not of this world. Her unique music may prove just that.
Luna Aura is an up-and-coming Phoenix musician with two EPs under her belt, the second one just released in August.
“I play with the alien thing. I make myself creepy instead of pretty,” Aura said. “What I’m trying to say is that I am not of anything that’s happening in this world. I am my own entity.”
“You can’t put me anywhere, I’m too weird,” the 22-year-old Aura said.
Aura often wears wigs, changes her hair (only her family knows her real hair color) and plays with different contact lenses to make herself more “alienesque.” And the look perfectly matches the music. Even Aura’s sad songs are uniquely upbeat, with her electronic, forward-thinking sound being the perfect addition to those weird, eclectic summer music festivals.
Aura’s latest EP, “Supernova,” has five songs, including the single “Dancing with Your Ghost,” a catchy tune that Aura wrote in memory of her little brother, who passed away earlier this year.
Aura says the song is a testament to the everlasting connection between two beings existing in two completely different worlds at once.
“My little brother was my biggest
fan,” Aura said. “He always wanted to share my music with his friends.”
“It’s funny, now the roles are reversed. He looked up to me for so long but now I’m the one looking up to him,” she said.
Aura began singing at an early age, showcasing her unmistakable talent to only her close family. But at age 15 she began putting on live shows around Phoenix and writing her own music.
For the last four years, Aura has been focused on making music to share her message, but now she she’s hoping to share the positivity of her little brother in her music as well.
and the classics.”
Robert Zucker, manager for the HCPA, said it was a coup to book Barnett.
“Mandy Barnett is a country singer who has been around Nashville for many, many years,” he said. “One of her biggest claims to fame is there has been, for the past 10 years, a show running at the world-famous Ryman in Nashville, which was a tribute to Patsy Cline. Mandy played the Patsy Cline role in that show, and now she is touring internationally.”
Tickets range from $26 to $45, with discounts available for seniors as well as Higley High School students. To purchase tickets, visit www. higleycenter.org or the HCPA box office, which is open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday through Friday. The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m.
“I’m looking forward to coming,” said Barnett.
With this album she has had the opportunity to write with other artists and grow in her music.
“You could say the writing was starstudded,” Aura jokes. “But really the EP had different writers, all of which are fantastic, and together we were able to create some really great songs.”
Aura’s tunes have themes ranging from love to feminism and are all created using electric-based methods.
Though the writers have changed, Aura says her music still has the same sound from her first album.
“My sound has definitely matured with me, but it’s not a huge jump from the first EP,” Aura said.
“It’s just very mature, with more mature themes, I think.”
In the interim between the releases of her two EPs, Aura has been busy performing in Arizona and parts of
California.
“I got the chance to perform at the Global Dance Festival at the Tempe Beach Park not that long ago and it was incredible,” she said. “I was on the same stage as some great artists and I just loved everyone there.”
Aura puts on a commanding and wacky show, and her fans love every minute of it. Aura says that she writes music for her fans, not for herself.
“It’s an opportunity to create something that other people can relate to,” she said.
“It’s not like a write something so I can sit on my bed and jam out to myself,” she said with a laugh.
But even though Aura has become an up-and-coming artist in the last year, she says she hasn’t let it get to her head.
“My parents and my family keep me very grounded,” she said. “They are my biggest cheerleaders, but they also critique me in a way that helps me improve.”
“I truly owe my parents for everything, they raised me to be very humble and keep me that way,” she said.
Aura plans to tour with several dates in the Phoenix area in November. She will perform at Higley High School on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
“I just want to make music and show everyone, girls especially, that it’s OK to be weird and to be whatever the hell you want.”
Veteran Nashville performer Mandy Barnett will bring her show to the Higley Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, Nov. 4.
Submitted photo
Luna Aura. Submitted photo
Community invited to free art show
Southwest Visual Art League is presenting “GENERATIONS: A Fall Art Show” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Art Intersection’s lower level Galley Four, 207 N. Gilbert Rd., Suite 201.
Admission is free and hors d’oeuvres and prizes will be offered. The art show features nine local visual artists ranging in age from 19 to almost 80. Organizers are raising donations for charity through the art show with the sale of raffle tickets and the sale of art card packets. All proceeds from this will be donated to the following charities: • Operation Welcome Home.
Operation Welcome Home’s mission is to honor veterans and their families. Through a partnership with the Town of Gilbert, Operation Welcome Home is coordinating the efforts to raise funds to honor the veterans of Arizona through the AZ Wall Project.
• Sunshine Acres. The goal of Sunshine Acres is to help these children establish long-term relationships with stable parental figures and prepare them for success in adult life.
For more information about the show, visit http:// southwestvisualartleague.com/.
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Etheridge shows off newfound freedom
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
Melissa Etheridge has never felt so free. After being signed to a major label deal for most of her career, Etheridge is now doing things her way, and to celebrate, named her latest album, “This is M.E.”
“The whole experience is different,” Etheridge said. “It’s my first independent record and I’m doing that in a whole different way—starting with the budget.
“It used to be I’d get a budget from the record company. I’d write songs and find a producer. Now you don’t have that money up front.”
Now, she’s rethought the financial end of it, and has partnered with producers to collaborate on songs and releases. In return, she gives them “back end.”
“I wasn’t used to collaborating that much,” she said. “With some people, it didn’t work. The ones I worked with were amazing.”
Her newfound freedom allowed her to explore uncharted territory, namely her R&B and soul roots.
“I just loved that,” she said. “That’s where some of these sounds came from—the lush production. The songs are still me. That’s why I called it ‘This is M.E.’ This is no more
me than anything, even though it might sound different.”
When she performs Friday, Nov. 13, at Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino’s Ovations Live Showroom, Etheridge will show an even different side of her—that of acoustic musician.
“When I make a song, I have to be able to stand on stage by myself and make this song and love it and enjoy it and share it with the audience,” she said.
“It can’t be a gimmicky song. It has to be a real song. I create each one of them with that in mind. The solo tour is a unique way of presenting the songs.
“I’ve gotten much better at it now. I know what I’m doing. I have a looper, so I accompany myself a little bit more. It highlights my ability as a musician. I think a lot of people might not be aware of the type of guitar player I am.”
Etheridge said she enjoys showcasing these skills at casinos, which have become premier venues over the last decade.
“The casinos have really stepped up,” explained Etheridge, who has already begun work on a new album. “It used to be that, ‘Oh you’re playing a casino. It’s the bottom of the line.
“But casinos have made theaters that people can go to that are really great.” It’s rooms like those and the rabid fans they hold that makes her career worthwhile.
“I love it,” she said about her career. “I will always love it and continue to love it. I’m so grateful for being able to make music for a living. When you have gratitude and enjoyment, it stays fresh. Every few years,
I change musicians and approach songs different. But that’s how I keep it fresh.”
Melissa Etheridge performs at 8 p.m. Frida, Nov. 13, at Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino’s Ovations Live Showroom, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler. Tickets are $64 to $144. For more information, call (800) 946-4452 or visit www.wingilariver.com.
Cornell’s forward-thinking approach to music
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
Chris Cornell feels nostalgic. During his solo acoustic shows, Cornell enjoys singing hits and deep cuts from his bands Soundgarden, Audioslave and Temple of the Dog. But he wants to look forward, too.
In an effort to do so, on Sept. 6, Cornell released the album “Higher Truth,” which is fodder for his one-man acoustic show.
“After ‘King Animal’ came out from Soundgarden, the follow-up tours that were acoustic shows might have [featured] one or two songs that I wrote for that album,” Cornell said.
“The shows are really a look back, mostly. I want it to feel like it’s going to be a look ahead as well. With the four years of acoustic touring and bringing my entire history of songwriting to this one show, my feet finally hit the ground as a solo artist—a solo artist with an identity.”
The 51-year-old Cornell said he feels fortunate that he can switch gears between projects.
“Whether it’s touring or a one-off show [with Soundgarden] or songwriting or recording, it’s a completely different focus in every way—the songwriting, the performing, being in a band and a collaboration versus being alone,” Cornell explained.
“There’s no confusing one or the other, either. Two months on the road playing acoustic songs immediately transfers to being on stage with a really loud band,” he adds. “As soon as I’m sick of one, the other is waiting.”
This would appear to be the ideal career. Cornell doesn’t necessarily disagree.
“The closest thing I can see in terms of looking out across the landscape of other American songwriter performers would be like Neil Young, who seems to keep busy his whole career doing pretty much just that.
in so many different ways and so many collaborations.”
He cites the Young-Daniel Lanois 2010 collection “Le Noise” as an example.
“It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever heard,” he said.
“It came and went and he’s off and running doing other things. It’s pretty inspiring, but it’s good for someone like me who’s had an almost 30-year career, to look at someone whose career is over 40 and it’s still just as vital and still inspired and moving along. I’ve never seen a finish line for what I do. I’ve never viewed it as a job, so I never thought of such a thing as retirement.”
Wednesday, Nov. 4, he’s in the beginning phases of a new Soundgarden album. (Tickets from the postponed September show will be honored.)
“I’m working on new songs,” he said with a bit of hesitation. “There is no schedule of events. It’s definitely as fun as it’s ever been. I think it’s something that’s kind of better to always my one foot in. I think there were years when Soundgarden wasn’t together when I wasn’t really thinking about it.
“I wasn’t automatically coming up with song ideas that were relatable to Soundgarden. Now that we’re together again, that happens automatically.
“It feels really good. It’s a huge part of my musical identity. It’s this super close family member that I’m glad, at this point in my life, didn’t die or move to the other side of the planet where I’ll never see them. I think we’re lucky to have our band back again. I think we’re lucky to have it back on our own terms. It’s been nothing but great since it happened.”
“He’s figuring out new ways of exploring his songs and his songwriting and making albums and presenting them
So Cornell keeps working and, besides his sold-out solo acoustic tour that comes to the Orpheum in Phoenix on
Chris Cornell and special guest Hemming perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the Orpheum, 203 W. Adams St., Phoenix. The show is sold out. For more information, call (800) 745-3000 or visit www. ticketmaster.com.
Melissa Etheridge will play Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino on Friday, Nov. 13, in support of “This is M.E.” Photo by Tarina Doolittle
Chris Cornell will perform Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the Orpheum in Phoenix. Submitted photo
“Heaven Can Wait,” through Nov. 17, HCT. Joe Pendleton is not dead. He is sure of it, despite the fact that his spirit is in limbo.
“American Myth,” through Sunday, Nov. 1, TAS. “American Myth” follows a young journalist who accuses his former history professor of fabricating accounts of his Vietnam War record.
Sweet Dreams: Mandy Barnett Sings Patsy Cline, Wednesday, Nov. 4, HCA. Acclaimed performer Mandy Barnett takes patrons on a journey through the career of Patsy Cline.
Youssou N’Dour, Thursday, Nov. 5, MAC. This world music superstar was first heard in the United States as the distinctive voice featured in Peter Gabriel’s hit song “In Your Eyes.”
Red Grammer: “Hooray for the World,” Saturday, Nov. 7, CCA. Critically acclaimed, Grammy-nominated recording artist Red Grammer has set the gold standard for writing and performing contemporary children’s music.
Tower of Power, Saturday, Nov. 7, CCA.
Tower of Power’s rhythm section lays down a groove like no other band.
Chandler Symphony Orchestra, Sunday, Nov. 8, CCA. The CSO provides quality symphonic and orchestral music.
“Evil Dead: The Musical,” Tuesday, Nov. 10, through Sunday, Nov. 15, MAC. The hilarious, record-breaking Canadian musical tells the outrageous story of five college friends spending the weekend in an abandoned cabin in the woods after accidentally unleashing an evil force that turns them all into demons.
Wyatt Earp: A Life on the Frontier, Saturday, Nov. 21, HCA. This one-man show has been performed more than 755 times throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.
Phoenix Children’s Chorus: When You Believe, Saturday, Dec. 5, HCA. Celebrate the season with the 350-member choir.
Mannheim Steamroller, Sunday, Dec. 6, MAC. Grammy Award winner Chip Davis has created a show that features the beloved
Christmas music of Mannheim Steamroller, along with dazzling multimedia effects performed in an intimate setting.
The Milk Carton Kids with Julian Lage, Monday, Dec. 7, MAC. Grammy nominated harmony duo The Milk Carton Kids are a refreshing alternative to the foot stomping grandeur of the folk revival.
Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, Tuesday, Dec. 8, MAC. Their work has been viewed on the YouTube channel well over 100 million times.
Arch Allies: The Music of Journey, REO Speedwagon and Styx, Friday, Dec. 11, HCA. Arch Allies pays tribute to some of classic rock’s best songs.
Mesa Arts Festival, Saturday, Dec. 12, Sunday, Dec. 13, MAC. The Mesa Arts Festival is the premier place to find unique gifts for the holidays.
Dave Koz & Friends, Wednesday, Dec. 16, MAC. Saxophonist extraordinaire Dave Koz returns with his friends Candy Dulfer, Jonathan Butler and Bill Medley.
Alton Brown Live: Eat Your Science, Thursday, May 12, MAC. Fans can expect more comedy, talk show antics, multimedia presentations and music.
VENUES
CCA—Chandler Center for the Arts
250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler Tickets: (480) 782-2680, www. chandlercenter.org
HCA—Higley Center for the Arts
4132 E. Pecos Rd., Gilbert Tickets: (480) 279-7194, www. higleycenter.org
HCT—Hale Center Theatre
50 W. Page Ave., Gilbert Tickets: (480) 497-1181, www. haletheatrearizona.com
MAC—Mesa Arts Center
One E. Main St., Mesa Tickets: (480) 644-6500, www. mesaartscenter.com
TAS – Theatre Artists Studio
4848 E. Cactus, Suite 406, Scottsdale Tickets: (602) 765-0120, www. thestudiophx.org
