TUCSON, ARIZ.– Southern Arizona’s performing arts presenter Arizona Arts Live brings in a variety of professional shows to Tucson, including globally recognized artists, musicians, dancers and storytellers – all at a minimal cost for students.

Chad Herzog, executive and artistic director of Arizona Arts Live, said the performances are presented on the University of Arizona campus at places like Centennial Hall and Marroney Theater, as well as off campus at Rialto Theatre, Hotel Congress and more. And there are options for students to attend all of these shows at affordable rates, he said. 

“It doesn’t matter what the show is, it’s $10 and it’s $10 for any seat in the theater. We do that thanks to help from the Marshall Foundation,” he said, adding that there are options for tickets free of charge. “We also have tickets available at the Campus Pantry, so students can pick up tickets there without any questions asked.”

Arizona Arts Live’s mission is to make performing arts experiences accessible to young people, Herzog said, including UA, Pima Community College and K-12 students. The organization brings world renowned artists and companies such as Rachel Breen, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and the Martha Graham Dance Company to students at rates typically unheard of, he said.

Martha Graham Dance Company’s last show “sold out a theater in Nevada last week, and their average ticket price was $96,” he said. “So for people to be able to see a company at 100 years old, like the Graham Company–it’s pretty remarkable.”

Herzog said the organization would not exist without students. 

Lily Wilson, a senior studying acting, regularly attends shows presented by Arizona Arts Live, which she calls unique for a college student. 

“I think it’s awesome–it’s not something that every college campus has. It certainly does make it easier for the performing arts to be supported,” she said. “They bring in all kinds of arts events.”

James Caroll, a senior in the musical theatre program said that he chooses to attend these shows to broaden his perspectives both artistically and culturally. 

“From a student perspective, I think it’s super important,” he said. “I came to college to really broaden my knowledge on different cultures and different ideas and different concepts that I wasn’t familiar with before that were totally foreign to me or I didn’t know enough about.”

There was a significant increase in students in audiences in the 2023-24 season, according to data from Arizona Arts Live. In fall 2019, less than 1% of audiences were made up of students for UA Presents, the live arts presenter before Arizona Arts Live. Last year, students made up 33% of people at shows. 

Herzog said Arizona Arts Live wants that percentage to reflect the number of students in the Tucson community. 

“The thing that makes me most happy is when our audiences look like our community,” he said. “We look at our community here in Tucson, we know that a big portion of our community is students.”

Herzog said the artists are selected by listening to the desires of the community, students included. 

Because performances can be costly, even at $10, he said he encourages students to reach out to the organization if there is a financial barrier preventing them from experiencing live arts. 

“If there is somebody that would love to experience something that Arizona Arts Live is doing, and $10 is too much, reach out to me directly, and we’ll make sure that they see it,” he said.

Arizona Arts Live is presenting a variety of shows in February and March, including pianist Rachel Breen on Feb. 14. Tickets can be purchased via the Arizona Arts Live website.

Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.