Looking Forward in a Difficult Year

Warren Miller, past President, Board of Trustees

Times of economic turmoil challenge all, but may challenge the arts most. Some may think the arts are expendable in times of hardship, but I maintain they are even more necessary to nourish our community and to keep the human spirit enlivened, inspired, and productive.

Tsunami on the Square, founded in 1998, has become a unique part of Prescott’s cultural ambiance. I think I will not be contradicted when I say it occupies the cutting edge of Prescott’s wide-ranging cultural scene. In this year of challenges, it is worth bragging about the accomplishments of this seminal performance arts festival in a little town in the mountains of central Arizona. It is also necessary to challenge supporters of Tsunami on the Square to come forward and make sure its future is assured.

Tsunami on the Square has become a multi-faceted organization presenting one of the most important performance arts festivals in the country. It has maintained its initial goal of keeping this festival free to the public, to make it accessible to all. Tsunami has also spun off into some exciting new directions. The Circus Camp is a week-long workshop for children culminating in a children’s performance at the festival. Circus Camp had two main objectives: to connect the incredible national talent coming for the festival with local children; and to provide an opportunity for our community children to learn and perform circus skills—juggling, stilt-walking, face painting, drumming, mask making.

Tsunami on the Square’s weekend (June 18-20) gets kicked off with a Friday evening celebration and showcase of some of the festival talent with great food and drink and atmospherics only Tsunami can provide. Tsunami Sunday after the festival offers a special afternoon on the lawn of the Prescott Library just for children and families.

The least known, but my personal favorite, performance event of Tsunami usually takes place on the Thursday evening before the festival (June 17th). It is called Flourish Before the Flood and is difficult to describe. It must be experienced, but is only open to a limited number of people. It is a “site-specific dance performance” choreographed by recent graduates of Prescott College (who all studied under Delisa Myles) and their hand-chosen creative dancers along the waterway of Granite Creek. Small groups of patrons are guided along the path by costumed guides and stop at a number of sites where the dancers perform on the banks, in the trees, in the water. . . If Tsunami’s festival is cutting edge, Flourish is way beyond! Each year is unique in theme and narrative line, and every one has moved me.

I also greatly enjoy another innovation of Tsunami: Skitmercials. These are live commercial skits written and performed by the Skit Crew and are always clever, striking, funny, and entertaining while recognizing sponsors. The Skitmercials are interspersed between performance acts during the festival, but may be enjoyed in concentrated form at the Skitmercial Preview Evening and Dinner, a few nights before the festival.

Tsunami is one of Arizona’s treasures, but this year it needs special care and help. How can you help? Volunteer. Become a member of the Order of the Umbrella. Donate (remember, think globally but contribute locally). Talk about Tsunami to your friends. Come to many Tsunami events and enjoy while contributing.