Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the Phillip England Center for the Performing Arts Foundation has struggled to find its footing; now, new board members are moving ahead with ambitious plans to not only revive the center, but create new opportunities for the community.
“We are really taking a step forward to work more in partnership with the [Camp Verde Unified School District] and specifically to get more students involved,” said PECPAF’s Interim President Jane Whitmire, Ph.D., who also said the foundation plans to go beyond providing entertainment.
“We really want to make this more accessible to all age groups and expose them to things that perhaps they have never been exposed to, including their own talent,” she said.
Additionally, the foundation plans to focus on more culturally-diverse presentations.
“We have a very diverse population here,” Whitmire said.
Dia de los Muertos Celebration
Currently, PECPAF is preparing to host Camp Verde’s first-ever Dia de los Muertos celebration, which will take place at PECPAF on Sunday, Nov. 6.
“It’s the first time the foundation has ever focused on a target audience, so we’re excited about it,” Whitmire said.
At a recent PECPAF board meeting, members discussed promotional outreach to the entire Verde Valley Latino community using print and radio advertisements.
The board also discussed the event’s activities, which will include a mariachi band, festive decorations, dancers and art activities — all of which are being coordinated by Camp Verde Community Library Specialist Leticia “Letty” Ancira.
“Letty is working with tons of energy; we hope to get the entire community excited,” Whitmire stated.
Recent Events & Halloween
On Sept. 18, PECPAF hosted the Green River Folk Festival, which featured live performances from local musicians Eric Ramsey, Mike McReynolds and Tony Cook.
Reno & Sheila and Creekside also performed.
Songs ranged from country and bluegrass covers to original folk and blues.
Approximately 50 people turned out for the festival, which was presided over by B.J. Davis, PECPAF’s Interim Vice President and Treasurer.
Davis addressed the audience and reiterated PECPAF’s message, “We really want to get the kids and teachers involved in these events and be a part of [CVUSD] and help them be a part of this performance community so that you as the audience can see what your kids are doing and see how much talent there really is in this school.”
In PECPAF’s reception area, posters for the 1977 movie “Kingdom of the Spiders” rested upon large easels.
For Halloween this year, PECPAF will host a screening of the movie, which was filmed in Camp Verde, and features William Shatner as the main character.
In addition to the screening, PECPAF has been advertising locally for anyone who was involved in the film to attend the screening to share their stories in a discussion panel.
So far, Whitmire said she has the names of two or three people who were involved, of whom she’s “hoping they won’t be shy about sharing their experiences.”
The screening and discussion will take place at PECPAF on October 30.
For additional details, visit pecpaf.org.
