In the fall of 1990, a local group of art enthusiasts joined together to help bring more arts to the region. It’s 25 years later, and the Idaho Falls Arts Council has changed a lot, but our goal hasn’t. Our mission to educate and enrich the community through the arts has expanded to include an annual season of shows, two free art galleries, nine artist studios, ARTitorium on Broadway, Roaring Youth Jam, and much more.
Whether you grew up attending the Colonial Theater or you are newer to town, we hope you’ll join us at one of our incredible shows this season to help us celebrate an amazing 25 years. On Sept. 17-18 we have a special two night engagement with American Idol darling David Archuleta to celebrate both our anniversary and IF 150. These shows are not part of the season package and are already filling up fast. This show could not be more perfect for the whole family; Archuleta is fresh off a two-year hiatus and will be bringing new songs to the stage along with hits such as “Crush”.
Our season really kicks off a couple weeks later with Andy Hackbarth and Wayward Tambourine on Oct. 10. Andy uses his classical training to meld different genres of music like Americana and Folk with Indie Pop to create a sound that is both worldly and down-home. We love to have comedy in the fall, like last year’s Colin and Brad Show, and we are hoping to get another Full House with comedian Dave Coulier on Oct. 24. Dave Coulier is best known for playing Uncle Joey on the TV show Full House, but he is also the voice behind a ton of your favorite animated characters. He is sure to have the whole family laughing with his combination of impressions and stand up.
It has only been in the last few years that IFAC has had non-musical stage productions on season, and this year we are very excited about Aquila Theatre’s The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes on Nov. 6. The Aquila Theatre brought through an incredible production of Wuthering Heights last season, and this show promises to be even better as the audience follows Holmes and Watson through a twisted web of intriguing cases and meets several other classic characters.
Although maybe best known for his roles on 30 Rock and Glee, Cheyenne Jackson is an award-winning Broadway veteran. He will be joined by the Teton Chamber Orchestra on Nov. 14 to recreate a range of recognizable songs. Jackson’s magnetic presence and killer voice will change the way you hear “Maria” from West Side Story.
We kick back off after the holidays on Jan. 7 with all of the biggest hits from the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s by the guys who sang them the first time around. The Hit Men is composed of original members of the Four Seasons, the Shondells, and more. Songs like “Oh What a Night” and “Mony, Mony” will have everyone dancing in the aisles and singing along.
Keeping with nostalgia, our show on Jan. 20 is a live musical production of the iconic ‘80s film Flashdance. Flashdance: the Musical follows Alex as she pursues her dreams despite the struggles, and finds love along the way. Don’t miss all the classic songs like “Maniac” and “What a Feeling” paired with incredible dancing, and yes, there will be water on stage. Break up the winter blues for good with Kathleen Madigan on Jan. 30. This hilarious woman has been featured on Blue Collar Comedy and finds humor in everyday life and the people around us. Don’t miss the chance to laugh with us!
Timber! is a really exciting show we have coming on Feb. 6. We’ve seen and hosted cirque shows before, but this has a totally different flavor. Cirque Alfonse comes from Quebec and they have incorporated rugged lumberjack culture into their act. There will juggling and throwing axes, jumping through saws, balancing on logs, and many more stunts that feel truly death-defying.
We’re keeping the energy up on Feb. 26 with Feet Don’t Fail Me Now by the group Rhythmic Circus. This combination of a seven-piece funk band, a beatboxer, and 4 incredibly talented tap dancers is unlike anything you’ve seen before. Along with this show, Nick Bowman, the choreographer and lead dancer for the group will host a special tap masterclass for dance students, which will be a once in a lifetime experience.
The Hunts are a young group of seven brothers and sisters that are making their way through Idaho Falls for a second time on March 11. We had them on the Colonial Theater stage a few years ago for an incredible show, and we expect them to be even better this time around. Their alt-folk songs balance their home-grown musical education with a unique magic and youthful hope.
Our next show is a twist on the classical. Portland Cello Project, on March 18, which takes a classical arrangement of cellos, horns, and percussionists, in unexpected directions with covers of Taylor Swift and Kanye West along with more classical faire.
On April 7, we are bringing back Broadway with a live production of the classic ‘70s film Saturday Night Fever. The hits of the BeeGee’s and other classics soundtrack Tony’s struggle to balance his dead-end job and dim prospects with being king of the discotheque. Don’t forget your white suit and disco dance moves for this show.
Our season closes with a true anniversary celebration with Live at 25 on May 7. Live at 25 will celebrate the Idaho Falls Arts Council’s beginnings with a revamped version of Getting Our Act Together, which unites the best talent in Eastern Idaho on one stage. The show will be full of surprises and followed by an anniversary party to celebrate the season and 25 years of the arts in Idaho Falls.
This season has a huge variety of shows, with something for every interest and every age. Whether you are hoping to sneak out for a date night or share a new experience with the grandkids, we’ve got something in our line up.
Don’t forget, if you really like what we are bringing in, you can purchase a Season Package or 5+ Show Packages with huge discounts. Check out www.idahofallsarts.org for clips of the shows, more information on ordering tickets and everything else the Art’s Council is doing.