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New ‘Vista’ brings culture to West Valley venue

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The Vista Center for the Arts, formally known as Valley Vista Performing Arts Center, has been rebranded as the regional entertainment venue in Surprise and the West Valley.

This 1,300-seat venue, with its incredible grand glass entrance and spacious lobby, has the capability of bringing the arts to life in our community.

Growing up in New York, like all things we become accustomed to, I failed to appreciate the arts and culture that was part of my everyday life. Living just around the corner from incredible music and theatre venues like the Paramount, Gershwin, Neil Simon, Minskoff and St. James Theatre, I was blessed to have been a part of this rich arts and cultural world. Yet, it took a move to Arizona for me to fully appreciate the value.

All of these are iconic, yet intimate venues. Their seating capacity is similar to what we have right here at the Vista. Now, rebranded, this cultural sleeping giant is bringing the same incredible experiences I had growing up, right into our own backyard.

The pilot season has some amazing entertainment, beginning with an incredibly talented international magician Xavier Mortimer on Saturday, Feb. 29. Mortimer is headlining our inaugural show, coming down from Las Vegas and fresh off his performance on “America’s Got Talent.”

The next night during opening weekend on Sunday, March 1 The Hit Men are making a stop in Arizona. This talented group of musicians have toured and recorded with Elton John, Carly Simon, The Who, Jim Croce, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Paul McCartney, Cat Stevens and more. They bring an incredible sound, performing all the hit songs from their days with these incredible talents.

During Spring Break on Friday, March 20, check out Shine on Floyd, another talented group of musicians paying tribute to Pink Floyd with an incredible laser light show and music to match.

On Tuesday, April 7 and Wednesday, April 8, the incomparable Count Basie Orchestra is making The Vista its Arizona stop during the 85th Anniversary International tour. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the most prominent jazz group of this century. The Count Basie Orchestra was formed in 1935, and through the years has been host to some incredible talents, as well as collaborated with the likes of Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.

Finally, to round out the season, the Drifters, a Bill Pinkney legacy group. This iconic group will be performing all their hits during our Vista season finale Saturday, April 11, including “Under the Boardwalk,” “This Magic Moment” and “Some Kind of Wonderful.”

Tickets are still available for all shows at TheVistaAZ.com, or by calling our box office at 623-523-8888.

We’ve been waiting for this. Whether you live in Surprise, Sun City, Buckeye, Glendale, Avondale, Goodyear or Peoria, The Vista is your regional Center for the Arts.

In my time on the City Council, developing and cultivating arts and culture has always been on the forefront of discussions to plan and grow our community. Now, we have the venue that will undoubtedly become the epicenter for growing the performing arts in the West Valley.

Come join us, bring your family, and make memories of the theatre experience that so many of us grew up enjoying.

John Williams served on the Surprise City Council from 2008-2017 and is currently the director of community education with the Dysart Unified School District.

arts, Vista, Surprise