Things to do in Chandler: Arts
Chandler Center for the Arts
http://www.chandlercenter.org
Featured photo: Sean Mason (CCA website)
The Chandler Center for the Arts is located in the heart of downtown Chandler, Arizona. Located on Arizona Avenue and Chandler Blvd, it is hard to miss. As a performer who moved here from Los Angeles, I get incredibly excited by performance venues. During several family visits here prior to moving, I was always struck by the center’s majestic marquee and had dreams of performing there myself. Upon moving here, I marched myself to the space to see what it was all about. I’m happy I did. Full disclosure, I now sit on the Chandler Cultural Foundation Board which supports CCA. Board member or not, I can’t recommend this space enough when looking for something to do in Chandler.
For those who are non-performers and love to enjoy music and the arts, the Chandler Center for the Arts is really worth visiting and supporting. Over the years, the programming has consistently become more and more diverse to reflect the diversity that is Chandler. For example, the 2023-24 season includes Leelah James, Howie Mandel, Las Cafeteras, Boney James, Pink Martini and musicals Beauty and the Beast and North. These are just a few acts featured in the power-house line up this year.
The space is jointly owned by the City of Chandler and the Chandler Unified School District. The Chandler Center for the Arts functions dually as the home theater for Chandler High School and the arts center for the City of Chandler. This is exciting to me because students at Chandler High have the benefit of performing in a state-of-the-art facility and local residents benefit from reasonably-priced to free events for the community. Additionally, there are two art galleries associated with the center, The Gallery at CCA (on site) and the Vision Gallery located at 10 E. Chicago Street. Excitingly, both galleries present the work of engaging, enlightening and relevant artists.
What I like about it:
- I’m a theater geek; the mainstage at the Chandler Center for the Arts is insane! It’s huge, has amazing light and sound capabilities and seats 1500. There are also two other smaller stages and presentation areas that are salivation-worthy for those that might need space for a speaking engagement, awards ceremony or a one-person show, for example. These are the Hal Bogle Theater (350 seats) and The Recital Hall (250 seats). (Note: The CCA books quickly. Plan ahead.)
- Plenty of free parking
- Comfortable seating, not a bad seat in the house.
- Wider variety of music and arts presented each season.
More information:
- Website: https://www.chandlercenter.org/
Social:
- https://www.instagram.com/chandlerarts/
- https://www.facebook.com/ChandlerCenterfortheArts/
- https://open.spotify.com/user/kzqruypq0wzoyxshq0m7ivna6