OUR CAUSE

Let The Show Begin, at www.TucsonStage.com, is intended to become the city's online home for professionally written arts reviews. Credibility will be the gold standard of Let The Show Begin.

The value of all art is subjective, to be sure, but I have been writing about Tucson artists for 35 years. Arts in the Old Pueblo have always been a beacon shining across the southwest.

It is a remarkable history, one that today’s artists who draw inspiration from these desert spaces have a responsibility to maintain. Raw creativity rather than polish and poise are often the gifts that we receive in the audience.

Just like the sauces in our food are famous for being spicy rather than sophisticated, so is the art that nourishes our spirit.

Let The Show Begin wants to reach deeper into this bubbling sauce pot, bringing out more flavors by encouraging musicians, dancers and actors to feel like they all have value in the arts community.

There will be feature stories, as well, about dedicated enthusiasts working with non-profit arts groups making a difference by sharing their time, energy, knowledge or money to produce events, expand the venues and generously support Tucson’s amazingly talented artists.

Just because an artist has a day job doesn’t make the art any less valid. Out here on the frontier of civilization everybody has to be more resourceful – it’s the Tucson way.

That’s why Let The Show Begin is a free service provided through the ideals and dedication of several people combining their talents and their love of the arts.

They are: Chuck Graham, arts critic/columnist

Bernice Chesi, project coordinator

Bill Dell, webmaster

Kathy Liddiard, graphic artist

Let The Show Begin intends to help spread the word so no worthy event dies of neglect. Once a show opens, we will be there on opening night to publish a review on line by noon the next day -- far sooner than any print publication. After opening night a review will be posted in time to influence the rest of the opening weekend.

A fine performance that goes unnoticed is like that unheard tree in the forest. If no one sees it, does it actually exist?

These are tough economic times, but if the artists and the audiences stick together we can all enjoy onstage insights and entertainment we couldn’t get any other way.

Watching more television is definitely not the answer.

Let The Show Begin will also cover the sorts of independent films and art films I call "movies for grownups." The reviews will be posted the Friday each film opens. Sometimes films get advance screenings. Reviews of these pictures will be posted the day the movies open.

One art form seldom covered in the so-called mainstream press is  dance -- ballet and modern along with jazz dance. Tucson's dance community is a small but courageous one. Local dance companies have managed to survive for years like those tropical plants that live on nothing but the nourishment they can take from the air.
Let The Show Begin wants to give all these dancers the attention they deserve. Reviews of dance concerts as well as feature stories on the companies will be an important part of the coverage. Single night performances will be reviewed as well.
Jazz is also included in the mix, all forms from traditional New Orleans stomps to big band to bebop and straight ahead, as well as smooth jazz and avant garde. Over more than 100 years of jazz history, these musicians have discovered incredible landscapes of sound and developed them accordingly. I want to write about all of it.
Tucson's jazz scene is richer than it has been for decades. Nationally prominent musicians are finding creativity in these harsh deserts and bare-bottomed mountains. Frequent visitors to Let The Show Begin will find news of all these creative pursuits.

No matter if you are in theatre, dance, music or film, email us those press releases and jpeg photos three weeks in advance. We want to help to LET YOUR SHOW BEGIN.