Spice of Life organizer Helen Brown of Maricopa. Photo by Mason Callejas

The Maricopa High School Performing Arts Center will host the third annual Spice of Life Senior Variety Show April 8, bringing to stage talented, golden-aged performers from all walks of life.[quote_box_right]IF YOU GO
What: Spice of Life Senior Variety Show
When: April 8, 6 p.m.
Where: Maricopa High School Performing Arts Center, 45012 W. Honeycutt Ave.
How much: $15[/quote_box_right]

They will demonstrate various talents from dancing and singing to comedy and magic.

Helen Brown, lead organizer for the event, hopes the show will provide a seasoned sampling of diverse cultures and musical influences while providing good, old-fashioned entertainment.

She had the idea to bring the show to Maricopa four years ago, after attending a friend’s Spice of Life performance at the Chandler Performing Arts Center. After speaking with that event’s organizers, Brown successfully convinced them to bring the show a little farther south to Maricopa. Only one obstacle stood in the way – money.

“The people here in Maricopa always say there is nothing to do here,” Brown said. “So, I thought this would be a good show for them to see, and they don’t have to leave Maricopa to see it.”

She searched high and low for a sponsor but kept striking out. She first tried the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce which, she said, was unable to help due to financial limitations. She then tried F.O.R. Maricopa, which also was unable to help due to previous obligations.

In her steadfast efforts to deliver the show to Maricopa, Brown decided to cut out the middle man.

“I said, ‘I’m going to just finance this thing myself’,” she said, “because I really want it to come here.”

For the past two years, she has funded the show solely with proceeds from ticket sales and her own pocketbook. Helen’s husband, Vice Mayor Marvin Brown, said don’t be fooled by the limited budget. The talent is there.

“It’s a wonderful show,” Marvin Brown said. “It truly is amazing to see seniors performing at that level.”

The show is part of the City of Chandler’s production, and as such most of the performers are from elsewhere in the Valley. However the show will feature one of Maricopa’s own – singer Michael Hunt.

Since he was 4-years-old and, Hunt, 66, has developed an “eclectic” style with great range that blends the rich tones of classic balladeers with modern R&B.

“I sing most genres of music,” Hunt said. “But, my heart is into Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and even Sam Cook.”

The April 8 show runs from 6-8 p.m. with a 15-minute intermission around 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at brownpapertickets.com, and at the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce at 44480 W. Honeycutt Road, Suite 106.

This story appears in the April issue of InMaricopa.

 

 

 

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