By Jason Stone
Twitter: @thestonecave

When Tamara Larson of Sierra Montana recently went to see a Pink Floyd cover band play at The Vista Center for the Arts, 15660 N. Parkview Place, it checked off all the boxes for her.

She said the staff was friendly. She felt the venue was clean. She noted the sound was outstanding. Even the parking situation ran smoothly.

“Overall, it was a great evening out,” Larson said. “Highly recommended.”

Larson is among Surprise and West Valley residents who are starting to attend shows at The Vista now that the theater has had another reboot after its COVID-19 shutdown.

“I was surprise how nice it is,” said Bob Whitfield of Countryside, who also attended the Shine on Floyd concert June 11. “It’s small. Not really a bad seat. I’ll be watching for other shows.”

The Vista, which is on the campus of Valley Vista High School, is small compared to arenas and stadium shows, but with 1,300 seats it’s the biggest venue this side of Interstate 17.

Former Surprise City Councilman John Williams, who runs the venue, and his staff are trying to use the size to their advantage by bringing in noted acts, which Surprise and the surrounding areas have never had before.

Already, big name comedians such as Bill Engvall and Jim Breuer have already performed, and another one, Louie Anderson, is in next season’s lineup.

For its music acts, the venue is drawing numerous retro acts, such as the Count Basie Orchestra, The Drifters and Ambrosia.

The upcoming season’s lineup includes a 9/11 country music festival, featuring Shooter Jennings, son of country music legend Waylon Jennings.

Magicians, theater acts, symphonies and other types of entertainment are also on the upcoming slate of acts.

Coming together

As full capacity crowds begin to be allowed into the venue, it’s exactly what Dysart Unified School District officials had envisioned the venue would become when it was first constructed two decades ago.

The first of two phases of the Valley Vista Performing Arts Center opened in 2008 at a cost of $16 million.

But Mr. Williams said right after the housing boom of the early ’00s, the Great Recession killed plans for the venue to open up as a professional theater right away.

However, DUSD always knew it had something unique in the West Valley and didn’t give up hopes to bring in professional acts for years.

After all, its seating capacity is bigger than such venues as the Tempe Center for the Arts, the Crescent Ballroom and the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts, just to name a few.

So when plans came together to launch its professional schedule last February, hopes were high for a strong start.

Using classrooms as dressing rooms, the venue opened to a strong start with packed crowds. But like everything else, the coronavirus killed those plans and put programming off for a year just when it was getting started.

Before that happened, DUSD Superintendent Quinn Kellis told the district’s governing board that the venue could have programming 300 days a year. For a comparison, the Peoria Center for the Arts has events about 200 days a year in a venue that seats just 274 people.

Close to home

Some fans who have attended the rebooted lineup are happy to have entertainment options so close to home.

Kenneth Steinhart of Granite Falls said he has been to multiple shows and already has tickets to several more.

“I’ve always liked what was presented,” Steinhart said.

Cathy Young of Surprise Orchards called it a “great venue” and said she checks its website to catch when new acts are announced.

Patti Antilla of Surprise went to the Summer Fiesta! concert on June 12, one of several shows she has now caught at The Vista. She said she loved the show and the comfortable seats.

“The air conditioning was perfect for such a hot day,” she said.

But not everybody can be pleased with the temperature.

“The only complaint I have is the theater is way too cold,” Steinhart said.

Temperature aside, the Vista has booked some hot acts for its upcoming season.

Magician Mike Super will be making his first Surprise appearance July 10, while Vegas magician Xavier Mortimer, who opened the venue last year, will return in February.

For country music fans, the 9/11 festival is billed as “A Tribute to Our Heroes.” In addition to Jennings, it will feature Lee Rocker, Austin Burke, Chase Bryant, Jerrod Neimann and more. It will be held over two days Sept. 10 and 11.

Country superstar Sara Evans will be performing a Christmas show at The Vista Nov. 27.

For rock and country fusion fans, Sept. 24 brings The Rise Above, comprised of former members of Journey, Chicago and Rascal Flats.

1970s hitmakers Ambrosia is coming in January.

Getting tickets

General ticket sales for the upcoming season go on sale Friday, June 25.

Ticket prices are reasonable — many ranging between $15 to $45, making it not too bad for a family of four to attend a show.

The Vista’s online site allows buyers to select tickets by a specific seat or the best ticket available. 

People can buy tickets in person as well, as the box office is open from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. daily.

However, VIP members can buy tickets to all shows before this week’s general public sale.

The Vista offers multiple levels of VIP membership, ranging from the $100 VIP Membership, which gets holders priority entrance, pre-sale access and a chance to visit the VIP room.

For as much as $10,000, a Broadway Sponsor will get major advertising placement, as well as 40 tickets to any program at The Vista. 

There’s also a Hollywood Sponsor for $5,000 and a PAC Sponsor deal for $2,500.

All of them come with access not available to the general public.

The Vista is also looking for it calls “Headline Sponsors” to claim the naming rights annually for all events.

For sponsorship, contact Kara Poling at kara.poling@dysart.org, or call 623-876-7155.

Jason Stone can be reached at jstone@newszap.com. Visit yourvalley.net.

Jason Stone
News Editor | Surprise
@thestonecave

jstone@iniusa.com

Former NAU Lumberjack who loves going to concerts (or I did), watching sports (or I did) and hanging out with friends (oh, never mind). I also enjoy backgammon, surfing and men who are not afraid to cry.