Merely Players at the Tempe Center for the Arts takes viewers on a fantastical journey of the stage with featuring the history, photographs and wonderful costumes.
Performers have the exciting and challenging job to create a persona and transport audiences to another time and place through “the stage” which is examined in TCA’s latest exhibition. Merely Players highlights stories like "The Mouse King", A Midsummer's Night Dream and Chicago, which have been apart of its history from the beginning. TCA has collaborated with many local theater and ballet companies including Arizona Opera, Childplay Theater, Phoenix Theater, Ballet Arizona and Brose Brothers’ Productions to bring this exhibition to life. “The artistic talents of local costume makers, the creative diversity of Arizona performing arts organizations and the increasing popularity of cultural events where costumes play an important role”, states TCA Curator, Michelle Nichols Dock.
This exhibition showcases exquisite costumes including a modern little red riding hood complete with cape, a gruesome steampunk inspired wolf, beautiful ethereal fairies and stunning flapper dresses! Also there is a vast collection of masks titled "40 Years of Zarco Mask Making". The centerpiece of the exhibition is a dramatic display of about 100 masks sprawling the massive gallery wall with all created by the talented artist Zarco Guerrero. Merely Players examines “the costume” and the important roles they play in helping the performer bring the character to life.
Do you love costumes and creating them, then be sure to take a wonderful workshop inspired by the Merely Players theatrical costumes exhibition including “Starter Corsets” with Local costume designer, Cynthia Randall on April 16, 1-4 pm (with tickets for just $35 each), create your own pattern for a period style or cosplay corset at home with basic materials (previous sewing experience required).
Also create your own masterpiece during TCA’s “Work Series” on March 16th recreating Georgia O'Keefe's Calla Lillies (tickets are $35 and take place 6-8:30pm) with local artist Laura Hukill. Also the don’t miss the wonderful performances by Childsplay AZ with their latest production “Goodnight Moon” bringing to life the classic bedtime favorite, for ages 3 and up every Saturday (1 & 4pm) and Sunday (1 & 4pm) through April 10th with tickets ranging from $12 to $26.
This exhibition was made possible through the generosity of the Arizona Opera, Ballet Arizona, Brose Brothers’ Productions, Childsplay, Phoenix Theatre, Southwest Shakespeare Company, the TCA Foundation, Tempe History Museum, Tempe Public Library, costume consultants Rebecca Akins and Sandie Tignor and artists John and Sabrina Floyd, Zarco Guerrero, and Cynthia Randall. The exhibition will be on display through May 14, 2016 in the TCA Gallery.
The TCA Gallery is open Tuesday- Friday 10-6 pm and on Saturday 11-6 pm and admission is free. Be sure to check TCA Gallery out online for more information regarding this exhibition, the gallery, or special events and be sure to follow them on Twitter and Instagram at @TempeArts. *All images are courtesy and copyright of TCA and gallery shots are by Nicole Royse.
