Tsunami on the Square
Encyclopedia
Tsunami on the Square is an annual performing arts and culture festival in Prescott, Arizona
that showcases exotic and unique performance art forms not typically seen in smaller towns. It takes place on the third weekend in June on Prescott’s historic Courthouse Square. The festival features a mix of local, national and internationally known professional performers.
In 2005, Tsunami on the Square held its first Circus Camp for children between the ages of 6 and 14. Circus Camp is held the week before Tsunami and the children get to lead the parade that opens the Tsunami on the Square Festival. They are also the opening act on the main stage. Starting in 2011, children over the age of 14 who wanted to continue learning and participating in Circus Camp were given the opportunity to become Circus Camp Counselors in Training. Several of the instructors at Circus Camp are also visiting artists who perform on the main stage at the Tsunami festival.
After Jay Ruby there have been four Executive Directors: John "J.T." Tannous, Susan Defreitas, Megan Buchanan Cherry and the current director, Andrew Johnson-Schmit.
In 2011, a new event on the Friday before the main Tsunami on the Square festival was added. Neptune's Tea Party featured an acrobatic stilt performance by The Carpetbag Brigade , excerpts of Ember Larson's folk opera, music by Dutch Holly, and music/video/spoken word by Verbobala. This event was held at the historic Elks Opera House in downtown Prescott.
Some past festival performers include The Carpetbag Brigade, Clan Tynker, Flam Chen, Koichi Tamano and Harupin-ha, Archedream for Humankind, Grupo Axé Capoeira, Kid Beyond, Bad Unkl Sista, Pyroklectic, Aero HoopStars, Troupe Salamat, Verbobala, and Jonathan Best.
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
that showcases exotic and unique performance art forms not typically seen in smaller towns. It takes place on the third weekend in June on Prescott’s historic Courthouse Square. The festival features a mix of local, national and internationally known professional performers.
History
Tsunami on the Square is named after the natural event least likely to occur in the high desert and was founded by Jay Ruby of The Carpetbag Brigade in 1998. The festival is funded primarily through donations from area residents and sponsorships from local businesses. It also receives grants from the city and state.In 2005, Tsunami on the Square held its first Circus Camp for children between the ages of 6 and 14. Circus Camp is held the week before Tsunami and the children get to lead the parade that opens the Tsunami on the Square Festival. They are also the opening act on the main stage. Starting in 2011, children over the age of 14 who wanted to continue learning and participating in Circus Camp were given the opportunity to become Circus Camp Counselors in Training. Several of the instructors at Circus Camp are also visiting artists who perform on the main stage at the Tsunami festival.
Past Directors
After Jay Ruby there have been four Executive Directors: John "J.T." Tannous, Susan Defreitas, Megan Buchanan Cherry and the current director, Andrew Johnson-Schmit.
Festival Details
Tsunami on the Square features a wide range of performance traditions and styles. Past festivals have featured acts such as Native American hoop dancing, modern dance, circus arts, acrobatic stilt walkers, fire performers, hula hoopers, blacklight theater and giant puppets. In addition to the main event, Tsunami on the Square also has traditionally included a site-specific performance on the Thursday before the festival called Flourish Before the Flood.In 2011, a new event on the Friday before the main Tsunami on the Square festival was added. Neptune's Tea Party featured an acrobatic stilt performance by The Carpetbag Brigade , excerpts of Ember Larson's folk opera, music by Dutch Holly, and music/video/spoken word by Verbobala. This event was held at the historic Elks Opera House in downtown Prescott.
Some past festival performers include The Carpetbag Brigade, Clan Tynker, Flam Chen, Koichi Tamano and Harupin-ha, Archedream for Humankind, Grupo Axé Capoeira, Kid Beyond, Bad Unkl Sista, Pyroklectic, Aero HoopStars, Troupe Salamat, Verbobala, and Jonathan Best.