Dreamers and their Dreams

Sunday, June 2 – 2013 – 2:00pm

Prescott’s own Kelly Gebhardt Taylor shares the stage with other nationally acclaimed vocal artists in this tribute concert to your favorite “dreamers” from the worlds of opera, musical theatre and contemporary music.  

A portion of EVERY ticket sale will go to the scholarship programs of PrescottCenter for the Arts, Prescott Pops Symphony and the Yavapai Symphony Association.  These scholarship programs support youth involvement in music in the form of individual scholarships and contributions to local area music programs.

 To purchase tickets please click here or visist or call the box office at 928.777.1370 Tuesday through Friday 10:00am to 2:00pm.

You may purchase tickets online by clicking here or by calling 928.777.1370 Tuesday – Friday from 10:00am until 2:00pm.

Thursday, June 20th – 6:00pm

Join us for an evening of excitement and fun as we explore love in all its capacities. 

Singing, dancing and music come together to create a show filled with warmth and hilarity. Bring the kids to this family friendly show and discover the joy a little love can bring! 

Acts include vocals and instrumentals from local area artists, a spectrum of dance and as an added treat enjoy comedic “cracked” fairytale skits performed by the IndepenDance Drama Club. 

Click here to purchase tickets online by clicking here or call the box office at 928.777.1370 Tuesday through Friday from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

Saturday – June 22nd – 7:00pm

Here Come Cowboys Debut Album Release Party!

This is a FREE event and is sure to be a night to remember!  Come help celebrate the release of their debut album.  Doors open at 6:30!

HERE COMES COUNTRY MUSIC – HERE COME COWBOYS

The Arizona desert is heating up this summer with Here Come Cowboys’ upcoming self-titled debut album! On this full-length record is a full band sound, comprised of bold acoustic guitar tones, rippin’ leads, drums, upright bass, cello, keys, horns, heartbreaking melodies, rich harmonies, and a pedal steel that will collapse your veins.  Come bring it all to life at the Elks Opera House on June 22nd, 2013 at 7:00pm. 

Biography: 

When the eclectic minds, open hearts, and adventurous spirits of songwriters Bobby Bennett and Steph Griffin came together, Here Come Cowboys was born.
 
In 2010, Steph and Bobby took a leap, packed up their guitars and headed out of Ohio, giving a nod to fond memories and down home people who helped mold them into who they are today.  Goodbye Big Ohio. Hello Prescott, Arizona!
 
There is magic in the desert, and soul in the mountains. In Prescott, both exist in perfect harmony, allowing a community of creative people to breath life into the beauty that surrounds this town.  For the last three years, Steph and Bobby have been creating new music and a new life in Prescott – the birthplace of Here Come Cowboys and now, their proud hometown.
 
Together, these two voices join to sing a sweet dialogue of tight harmonies that carry each melody, and satisfy each listening heart.  A music teacher by day and a mountain-biking songwriter by night, Stephanie Griffin finds inspiration from the country singing of Loretta Lynn and Emmylou Harris. She found her own Gram when she found Bobby Bennett.  Complete with a truck, dusty boots, and a pure country style, Bobby and his J-100 can pump out country tunes like it’s nobody’s business.  Together, side-by-side, Steph and Bobby are Here Come Cowboys.   

This is Americana music – reawakened and handcrafted with stories, memories, dreams, and a lil’ sparkle and twang.  Come bring it all to life when Here Come Cowboys release their debut album at the Elks Opera House on June 22nd at 7:00pm!

Visit their website at. www.herecomecowboys.com

Hot August Night

The Ultimate Tribute to Neil Diamond

Sunday, June 23rd – 7:00pm

Hot August Night starring Dean Colley is the closest thing you’ll see to an actual Neil Diamond concert. This stunning re-creation features hit after hit after hit from the catalogue of one of the greatest musical icons of all time, Neil Diamond. You’ll hear all your favorites including “Sweet Caroline,” “Crackin’ Rosie,” “Shilo,” “Play Me,” “America” and many more! 

Tickets are available by clicking here or by visiting or calling our box office at 928.777.1370 Tuesday – Friday from 10:00am until 2:00pm.

Elk in the Attic

Friday, July 25th – Sunday, July 28th, 2013

Suitable for the entire family, The Elk in the Attic returns! Prescott’s own show – written by local playwright Christopher Hoy based on his book of the same name, with original music and lyrics by D-Squared and Judy Clothier is directed by two of Prescott’s ‘grown up’ youth. Stage Direction by Tiffany Antone and Technical Design and direction by Cason Murphy plus a cast of Prescott’s current youth and adults. The stunning masks from last year’s production, designed by Jacob Devaney and Galandriel Sardonicus, and superb costumes by Gail Youngman make a return to the EOH stage.

Made possible with Generous Sponsorship from Kieckhefer Foundation, the Salt River Project and PAAHC with additional support from APS.

The Story:
Taking place in Prescott, AZ, but applicable worldwide, the play begins when a large number of drought-weary forest animals risk everything to temporarily take up residence in Prescott. Nine-year-old Tim Armstrong discovers a huge bull elk named Bill living in the attic above his bedroom and learns he is not the only kid at his school with new animal friends. When the adults find themselves polarized and frustrated by the animal invasion and the situation threatens to get out of hand, high-flying Eagle returns from a trip to the top of the world with important news about the future of all living things.

Don’t miss the celebration! The Elk in the Attic is produced in honor of the achievement of the Elks Opera House Foundation over more than a decade of work to restore the EOH and promote it as the beautiful performance venue it is. A show by Prescott, for Prescott, on the historic Prescott Opera House stage – with thanks from the EOHF.

Friday through Saturday performances are at 7:00pm and Sunday’s matinee performance is at 2:00pm.

Ticket are available by clicking here or by visiting or calling our box office at 928.777.1370 Tuesday-Friday 10:oo-2:00.

.

The Elks Building and Opera House, listed in The National Register

The Elks Opera House Original Interior. Photo UBP Sharot Hall Museum. Reuse only by permission.

of Historic Places in 1978 and dedicated by the Elks Lodge #330 in 1905, continues today as a fixture of downtown Prescott, Arizona. The building remains in private hands, while the theatre space is owned by the City of Prescott.

There are several gift naming opportunities available including seats, opera boxes, decorative restoration and more!

Names of donors or their designees for amounts of $500.00 or more will be placed on plaques on the walls of the theatre.

Your gifts ensure the future of this Prescott Gem!

In the Beginning

A request published in the 1904 Prescott Daily Journal Miner urged

Early 1900s Elks Opera House Interior. Photo UBP Sharot Hall Museum. Reuse only by permission.

businessmen of the city to attend a meeting on Feb. 12 to discuss a proposal from the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge #330 to include and opera house, at an estimated cost of $15,000, to the building they were erecting on East Gurley Street.

“Prescott should have a good opera house and there never was a good chance before to have one for the money that this will cost, and if this chance is lost it will be a good long time before another such opportunity is offered,” the newspaper notice stated.

The Elks Lodge’s original plans did not call for a theatre. Entertainment-hungry residents raised the necessary funds and it was incorporated into the plans for the three-story building housing the lodge on the top floor, offices on the second floor and retail space on the ground floor.

The granite cornerstone of the building was laid on April 3, 1904, with an excited crowd in attendance. Architecturally, the building represents a transition from the Victorian commercial styles of the 19th century to the Sullivanesque and New-Classical designs of the early 20th century.

The February 10, 1905, Prescott Weekly Courier reported:
“The peer of that theatre is not found east of San Francisco until the great cities of the Mississippi Valley are reached, and even there our theatre is outclassed only as to size, for our theatre is about as perfect as the handiwork of man generally gets to be.”

The grand opening of the Elks Opera House was Monday, Feb. 20, 1905. Actress Florence Roberts acted in the opening-night play, Marta of the Lowlands, written by Angel Guimera and billed as a romance of old Spain. The orchestra was composed of musicians from Prescott, Jerome and Phoenix. Opera boxes sold for $20.00 and general admission was $2.50. The box office proceeds totalled $1,225, leaving a $600 to $700 net profit for the Elks Lodge.

The Weekly Arizona Journal headline asserted:

The elks Opera House c1915. Photo UBP Sharot Hall Museum. Reuse only by permission.

“Opening of Elks Theater Last Night Brilliant Social Event.”

Prescott residents were equally proud of their opera house, around which they built their business and social lives. The location – one block east of the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza and along the streetcar route – was ideal. Prescott was a convenient stopover for companies traveling between the larger cities to the east and west. Famed performers Sir Harry Lauder and John Phillip Sousa were among the notables who appeared at the Elks. Tom Mix and Tony the Wonder Horse were repeat performers at the theater.

The venue, which at the time boasted 900 seats and eight dressing rooms, also was used a great deal for balls, civic presentations and high school graduations. The acoustics were considered “superb.”

The Advent of Cinema

The 1915 film masterpiece, Birth of a Nation, was shown at the Elks in 1916. During the silent film era, the theater had a small orchestra to provide the accompanying music. By 1929, the silent movie days were over, their demise owing to the Western Electric sound system. Movies were a mainstay of the Elks Opera House through the 1970s, with live performances returning in the 1980s.

Major physical changes started at the Elks Opera House in the 1940s, when the opera boxes and ornamental finishes were removed to accommodate wide-screen movies. The copper elk statue atop the roof and an inside box office also eventually disappeared as did a second set of balcony stairs.

Under New Management

The Arizona Community Foundation purchased the Elks Opera House in 1982. That same year the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Yavapai College managed the theater from the mid-1980s until 1992, when the college’s performing arts center was built. Prescott College succeeded as Elks manager and during its stewardship, the building benefited from many grant-funded structural repairs and equipment upgrades.

The City of Prescott acquired the Elks Opera House from

The Elks Opera House Original Interior. Photo UBP Sharot Hall Museum. Reuse only by permission.

the Arizona Community Foundation in February 2001, paying $250,000 in a bid to preserve the historic landmark and ensure its continued use as a community gathering place. The Elks Opera House Foundation was organized by a group of Prescott citizens in late 2002 as a non-profit, tax exempt Arizona corporation.

Article 1 of the incorporation document states: “The character of the affairs which the corporation initially intends to conduct includes, but is not limited to , fundraising for the benefit of the Elks Opera House and Building, 121 East Gurley Street, Prescott, Arizona; restoration of the Elks Opera House and Building; educating the public regarding performing arts, cultural and economic values; contracting with various entities for rental operation of space within the building; and any other non-profit functions which may benefit the building, the theater space and the foundation.”

The Foundation continues, in partnership with the City of Prescott which owns the theater space, to plan rehabilitation, renovation and restoration and to enhance the use of the opera house by marketing to all producing and performing entities as well as to meeting and convention planners.

The City of Prescott and the Elks Opera House Foundation are steadfast in their partnership to restore the 102 year old Elks Opera House in downtown Prescott to its original glory. Recent improvements to the Elks Opera House include the restoration of the first lobby, the addition of heating and air conditioning, and the renovation of the green room and dressing rooms. On Friday, December 9, 2006 “Bill”, the much beloved elk made of Arizona copper who adorned the top of the Elks Opera House from June 5, 1905 to 1971 was returned to the top of the Elks Opera House following his restoration and rehabilitation. “Bill” had been moved in 1971 and taken to the Elks Club, B.P.O.E. #330 when they moved to their new building.

The latest step in the renovation of this grand old theatre is currently underway and continues through November 15, 2007. This phase includes the renovation of the inner (2nd) lobby, concessions upgrades, and the installation of a new, state-of-the-art sound system. In the lobby the existing dropped ceiling has been removed, the artwork will be restored, and the electrical wiring and fixtures are being upgraded. The concessions upgrades will include the addition of a new soda fountain, refrigeration, ice machine, ice well and hand sink. The existing concession stand will be refinished. The City of Prescott is contributing over $135,000 to the sound system and concessions. An Arizona Heritage fund grant and a match by the Arizona Questers will fund the $40,000 lobby renovation.

Main Floor Seating Layout

If you would like to rent the Elks Opera House for your event, we can assist you with planning.

The Elks is a great venue for your wedding or any performance event you might need to accommodate.

Full information on the dimension of the theater, green room, stage, backstage areas, lobby, and balcony can be obtain by contacting Colette Greenlee.

928.777.1359

colette.greenlee@prescott-az.gov

For Elks Opera House rental contracts and information please contact  (928) 777-1359