LIGHTHOUSE: a new musical
2025-06-27 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-06-28 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-06-28 19:30 - 21:30 UTC | Center for the Arts at Kayenta
MUSICAL THEATER
LIGHTHOUSE: a new musical
music & story by Veronica Mansour
book & lyrics & story by abs wilson
workshop directed by Lisa Quoresimo
June 19-28, 2025
The Lorraine Boccardo Theater
With graduation in the rearview mirror, Buss is desperate to run away from her Minnesota hometown and everyone in it. The only problem? She can’t outrun herself. LIGHTHOUSE is a sweeping pop-country musical that celebrates the idea that maybe, just maybe every version of yourself is worth being.
The Center for the Arts at Kayenta is proud to be part of the development journey for this new promising musical.
TICKETS

FIRST FRIDAY: July 4th!
2025-07-04 17:00 - 21:30
Enjoy live music, food , and a pop-up boutique market in the Kayenta Art Village beginning at 5:00pm, with film screenings in the theater, and good vibes all around.
July’s FIRST FRIDAY features live music from Runaway Fire, and an exceptionally fun screening of 1776 the musical!
MORE INFO
Photo courtesy of Donna Conversano / www.conversanophoto.com

Film Screening: 1776
2025-07-04 19:30 - 22:00
FILM
1776
Friday, July 4th, 7:30pm
part of First Fridays at Kayenta
The Lorraine Boccardo Theater
A lively and witty musical that brings to life the dramatic debates of the Second Continental Congress as America’s founding fathers struggle to declare independence. With humor, heart, and history, 1776 captures the spirit and tension of a nation on the brink of revolution.
Runtime: 2hr 21m
TICKETS

CineSizzle: CLUE
2025-07-11 19:30 - 21:30
CINESIZZLE
CLUE
Friday, July 11, 7:30pm
The Lorraine Boccardo Theater
The whodunit board game comes to life as guests are invited to a swanky mansion to learn who is blackmailing them.
Run Time: 94 minutes

CINESIZZLE: Hot Days. Cool Films.
This July, escape the brutal heat and dive into a different kind of desert experience with CineSizzle!—a film series where the only thing sizzling is the lineup. From air-conditioned afternoon escapes to breezy sunset screenings, we’re bringing you a handpicked mix of fun, quirky, and unforgettable films, curated by our staff and board.
Expect the unexpected—from cult classics to indie gems and everything in between. Whether you’re looking to cool off or just enjoy something different, CineSizzle! delivers cinematic joy in the heart of the desert.
$10 TICKETS $50 Cinesizzle Package

CineSizzle: The Candidate
2025-07-12 19:30 - 21:30
CINESIZZLE
The Candidate
Saturday, July 12, 7:30pm
The Lorraine Boccardo Theater

Robert Redford stars as an idealistic lawyer reluctantly running for U.S. Senate. As his campaign gains traction, he’s forced to confront the compromises of politics. A sharp satire, The Candidate explores the cost of authenticity and the hollowness behind media-driven electoral success.
Run Time: 109 minutes

Hot Days. Cool Films.
This July, escape the brutal heat and dive into a different kind of desert experience with CineSizzle!—a film series where the only thing sizzling is the lineup. From air-conditioned afternoon escapes to breezy sunset screenings, we’re bringing you a handpicked mix of fun, quirky, and unforgettable films, curated by our staff and board.
Expect the unexpected—from cult classics to indie gems and everything in between. Whether you’re looking to cool off or just enjoy something different, CineSizzle! delivers cinematic joy in the heart of the desert.
$10 TICKETS
$50 Cinesizzle Package

CineSizzle: The Mostly Serious History of Wine
2025-07-13 15:00 - 17:00
CINESIZZLE
The Mostly Serious History of Wine
Sunday, July 13, 3:00pm
The Lorraine Boccardo Theater
This witty documentary blends comedy with historical insight, tracing wine’s evolution from ancient rituals to modern tasting rooms. With playful narration and unexpected facts, it explores how wine shaped culture, religion, and trade—offering a mostly accurate, always entertaining, tour through the global history of vino.
Run Time: 65 minutes
$10 TICKETS $50 Cinesizzle Package

CineSizzle: Driveways
2025-07-18 19:30 - 21:30
CINESIZZLE
Driveways
Friday, July 18, 7:30pm
The Lorraine Boccardo Theater
In this quietly powerful drama, a young boy and his single mother forge an unexpected connection with their elderly neighbor. Directed by Andrew Ahn, Driveways is a tender meditation on loneliness, intergenerational friendship, and finding family in unlikely places.
Run Time: 85 minutes
Hot Days. Cool Films.
This July, escape the brutal heat and dive into a different kind of desert experience with CineSizzle!—a film series where the only thing sizzling is the lineup. From air-conditioned afternoon escapes to breezy sunset screenings, we’re bringing you a handpicked mix of fun, quirky, and unforgettable films, curated by our staff and board.
Expect the unexpected—from cult classics to indie gems and everything in between. Whether you’re looking to cool off or just enjoy something different, CineSizzle! delivers cinematic joy in the heart of the desert.
$10 TICKETS$50 Cinesizzle Package

CineSizzle: Pan's Labyrinth
2025-07-19 19:30 - 21:30
CINESIZZLE
Pan’s Labyrinth
Saturday, July 19, 7:30pm
The Lorraine Boccardo Theater
Set in post–Civil War Spain, Guillermo del Toro’s dark fantasy follows young Ofelia as she escapes into a haunting mythological world. Blending harsh reality with magical realism, Pan’s Labyrinth is a visually stunning tale of resistance, innocence, and the enduring power of imagination.
Run Time: 112 minutes
Hot Days. Cool Films.
This July, escape the brutal heat and dive into a different kind of desert experience with CineSizzle!—a film series where the only thing sizzling is the lineup. From air-conditioned afternoon escapes to breezy sunset screenings, we’re bringing you a handpicked mix of fun, quirky, and unforgettable films, curated by our staff and board.
Expect the unexpected—from cult classics to indie gems and everything in between. Whether you’re looking to cool off or just enjoy something different, CineSizzle! delivers cinematic joy in the heart of the desert.
$10 TICKETS$50 Cinesizzle Package

CineSizzle: Cinema Paradiso
2025-07-20 15:00 - 17:00
CINESIZZLE
Cinema Paradiso
Sunday, July 20, 3:00pm
The Lorraine Boccardo Theater
A nostalgic love letter to cinema, this Italian classic follows a boy’s lifelong bond with a small-town movie projectionist. Through laughter and tears, Cinema Paradiso celebrates the magic of film, the pain of growing up, and the bittersweet beauty of memory.
Run Time: 123 minutes
Hot Days. Cool Films.
This July, escape the brutal heat and dive into a different kind of desert experience with CineSizzle!—a film series where the only thing sizzling is the lineup. From air-conditioned afternoon escapes to breezy sunset screenings, we’re bringing you a handpicked mix of fun, quirky, and unforgettable films, curated by our staff and board.
$10 TICKETS$50 Cinesizzle Package

CineSizzle: Dave Made a Maze
2025-07-25 19:30 - 21:30
CINESIZZLE
Dave Made a Maze
Friday, July 25, 7:30pm
The Lorraine Boccardo Theater
An artist named Dave builds a maze in his apartment, and he is soon trapped within when it becomes a larger-than-life labyrinth. His friends set out to save him, but their rescue mission is jeopardized by the fantastical creatures that lurk in his lair.
Run Time: 80 minutes
Hot Days. Cool Films.
This July, escape the brutal heat and dive into a different kind of desert experience with CineSizzle!—a film series where the only thing sizzling is the lineup. From air-conditioned afternoon escapes to breezy sunset screenings, we’re bringing you a handpicked mix of fun, quirky, and unforgettable films, curated by our staff and board.

$10 TICKETS $50 Cinesizzle Package

CineSizzle: Kinky Boots
2025-07-26 19:30 - 21:30
CINESIZZLE
Kinky Boots
Saturday, July 26, 7:30pm
The Lorraine Boccardo Theater
After inheriting his family’s failing shoe factory, Charlie finds salvation in an unlikely partnership with drag queen Lola. Based on a true story, Kinky Boots is a heartwarming comedy about stepping out of your comfort zone—and into a fabulous pair of heels.
Run Time: 105 minutes
Hot Days. Cool Films.
This July, escape the brutal heat and dive into a different kind of desert experience with CineSizzle!—a film series where the only thing sizzling is the lineup. From air-conditioned afternoon escapes to breezy sunset screenings, we’re bringing you a handpicked mix of fun, quirky, and unforgettable films, curated by our staff and board.
Expect the unexpected—from cult classics to indie gems and everything in between. Whether you’re looking to cool off or just enjoy something different, CineSizzle! delivers cinematic joy in the heart of the desert.
$10 TICKETS $50 Cinesizzle Package

CineSizzle: Forks Over Knives
2025-07-27 15:00 - 17:00
CINESIZZLE
Forks Over Knives
Sunday, July 27, 3:00pm
The Lorraine Boccardo Theater
This compelling documentary advocates for a whole-food, plant-based diet to combat chronic illness. Featuring expert interviews, real-life case studies, and striking health statistics, Forks Over Knives challenges viewers to rethink food’s role in preventing disease and promoting long-term wellness.
Run Time: 90 minutes
Hot Days. Cool Films.
This July, escape the brutal heat and dive into a different kind of desert experience with CineSizzle!—a film series where the only thing sizzling is the lineup. From air-conditioned afternoon escapes to breezy sunset screenings, we’re bringing you a handpicked mix of fun, quirky, and unforgettable films, curated by our staff and board.
Expect the unexpected—from cult classics to indie gems and everything in between. Whether you’re looking to cool off or just enjoy something different, CineSizzle! delivers cinematic joy in the heart of the desert.
$10 TICKETS $50 Cinesizzle Package

FIRST FRIDAY AT KAYENTA
2025-08-01 17:00 - 20:00
every First Friday / 5:00pm-8:00pm
FREE to attend!
Kayenta Art Village
We’re thrilled to introduce First Fridays at Kayenta, happening on the first Friday of every month, all year long! Enjoy live music, food trucks, and a pop-up boutique market in the Kayenta Art Village beginning at 5:00pm, with film screenings in the theater, and good vibes all around.
Photo courtesy of Donna Conversano / www.conversanophoto.com

Friday August 1 Lineup:

Summer Shorts with FMASU
Kayenta’s First Friday and The Film and Media Alliance of Southern Utah team up to present a handful of short films curated by FMASU, the nonprofit behind Desertscape International, HorrorFest International, and the Guerilla Filmmaking Challenge.
5PM-8PM
Free
“ASTROVAN” (16 min.), directed by Matt Heder
“BOTTLE GEORGE” (13 min.), directed by Daisuke “Dice” Tsutsumi
“DEATH AND COOKIES” (9 min.), directed by Aaron Stephen Tharp
“MARGARET THE BRAVE” (27 min.), directed by Danny Chandia
“TIGER” (13 min.), directed by Loren Wateres

Live Music in the Courtyard // Mark Boggs
5:30PM-7:30PM
Free

Kayenta Art Village Spotlight: Rusted Cactus
4:00PM-8:00PM
Desert Charm, Inspired Cuisine
The menu at The Rusted Cactus provides unique dishes that capture the flavor of the season. Within the walls, the Lewis and MacKay families hope to create a dining experience with shared plates that will cultivate a love of food, friendship and new flavors.
LEARN MORE

KAYENTA NEW PLAY LAB: Spoiled
2025-08-15 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-08-16 15:00 - 17:00
Spoiled
by Ken Narasaki (Los Angeles, CA)
Friday, August 15, 7:30p
Saturday, August 16, 3:00p
The Lorraine Boccardo Theater
An honest family drama about a tense Nisei (second generation Japanese American) mother and the adult children she’s emotionally scarred. As buried trauma, cultural guilt, and generational wounds erupt, the siblings must confront whether survival means staying — or finally walking away.

TICKETS

KAYENTA NEW PLAY LAB
Now in its third year, the Kayenta New Play Lab is where bold new voices in American theater come to life. Over three exhilarating weeks, six visionary playwrights—chosen by a panel of esteemed local and national theatermakers—dive into an intensive creative residency, shaping fresh, original works for the stage.
Audiences are invited to witness the magic unfold through staged readings of these brand-new plays—raw, real, and alive with possibility. Stay after each reading for an engaging dialogue with the artists, where your feedback helps shape the evolution of each piece.
Whether you’re a dedicated theatergoer, a curious creative, or someone who simply loves the thrill of live performance, the New Play Lab is your front-row seat to the next wave of theatrical storytelling. Come be part of the process. Come be inspired.

The 2025 Kayenta New Play Lab is generously sponsored by Douglas Caputo and Desert Dweller Real Estate.

KAYENTA NEW PLAY LAB: Persuasion, a modern romance
2025-08-16 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-08-17 15:00 - 17:00
Persuasion, a modern romance
by Lisa Quoresimo (Cedar City, UT)
Saturday, August 16, 7:30pm
Sunday, August 17, 3:00pm
The Lorraine Boccardo Theater
Los Angeles, 2014. Anne’s father Elliot and sister Elizabeth, former television stars, have spent the last of the family’s fortune on their latest round of cosmetic surgeries. Anne tries to keep the family afloat by renting out their house and working as the in-house chef. One of the houseguests turns out to be the love of Anne’s life: Celia Wentworth. Unfortunately, it appears that Celia has never forgiven Anne for not having the courage to openly pursue their relationship twenty years ago.

TICKETS

KAYENTA NEW PLAY LAB
Now in its third year, the Kayenta New Play Lab is where bold new voices in American theater come to life. Over three exhilarating weeks, six visionary playwrights—chosen by a panel of esteemed local and national theatermakers—dive into an intensive creative residency, shaping fresh, original works for the stage.
Audiences are invited to witness the magic unfold through staged readings of these brand-new plays—raw, real, and alive with possibility. Stay after each reading for an engaging dialogue with the artists, where your feedback helps shape the evolution of each piece.
Whether you’re a dedicated theatergoer, a curious creative, or someone who simply loves the thrill of live performance, the New Play Lab is your front-row seat to the next wave of theatrical storytelling. Come be part of the process. Come be inspired.

The 2025 Kayenta New Play Lab is generously sponsored by Douglas Caputo and Desert Dweller Real Estate.

KAYENTA NEW PLAY LAB: Persuasion, a modern romance
2025-08-17 15:00 - 17:00
Persuasion, a modern romance
by Lisa Quoresimo (Cedar City, UT)
Saturday, August 16, 7:30pm
Sunday, August 17, 3:00pm
The Lorraine Boccardo Theater
Los Angeles, 2014. Nearly 20 years ago, Anne was persuaded to give up the love of her life. When Celia Wentworth suddenly walks into her house, will she be able to forgive Anne? Will Anne have the courage, this time, to stand up for what she wants? Will Anne’s family, full of faded television stars, ever tolerate a transition to moderately-priced moisturizers and out-of-season Birkin bags?

TICKETS

KAYENTA NEW PLAY LAB
Now in its third year, the Kayenta New Play Lab is where bold new voices in American theater come to life. Over three exhilarating weeks, six visionary playwrights—chosen by a panel of esteemed local and national theatermakers—dive into an intensive creative residency, shaping fresh, original works for the stage.
Audiences are invited to witness the magic unfold through staged readings of these brand-new plays—raw, real, and alive with possibility. Stay after each reading for an engaging dialogue with the artists, where your feedback helps shape the evolution of each piece.
Whether you’re a dedicated theatergoer, a curious creative, or someone who simply loves the thrill of live performance, the New Play Lab is your front-row seat to the next wave of theatrical storytelling. Come be part of the process. Come be inspired.

The 2025 Kayenta New Play Lab is generously sponsored by Douglas Caputo and Desert Dweller Real Estate.

WORKSHOP: Voice & Speech for the Actor
2025-08-18 18:00 - 21:00
Want to be heard with clarity and confidence, and vocally transform into your character? Join LA-based performer and teaching artist Paul Turbiak for a Voice & Speech Workshop designed to meet you where you are. You’ll build awareness, tools, and a reliable framework for freeing your natural voice, being fully heard and understood, and making bold, character-driven vocal choices. Come ready to move in comfortable clothes, and bring a short, memorized piece – a monologue, poem, or song – that makes you feel something when you speak it.
REGISTER

As part of the Kayenta New Play Lab’s mission to support generative artists and develop new theatrical work, we’re excited to offer two exclusive workshop sessions designed specifically for actors. These Monday evening workshops are led by visiting theater professionals from outside the region—each bringing unique expertise in performance, process, and the development of new work.
Whether you’re a seasoned performer or an actor looking to deepen your craft, these sessions are an opportunity to learn from nationally recognized artists, explore new techniques, and connect with the creative process at the heart of new play development.

Meet Your Instructor: Paul Turbiak
Paul Turbiak has appeared onstage all over Los Angeles and beyond. Recent theater highlights include Pascal in Pascal and Julien (2025 Stage Raw Award), Lee in True West (Center for the Arts at Kayenta), and Ariel in The Tempest (Independent Shakespeare Company). He has appeared onstage at The Geffen Playhouse, LATC, Pasadena Playhouse, Garry Marshall Theatre, Independent Shakespeare Company, 24th Street Theatre, the Bootleg, Rogue Artists Ensemble, Colony Theatre, Actors Co-op, Not Man Apart, A Noise Within, Sacred Fools, North Coast Repertory Theatre, East West Players, The Speakeasy Society, Son of Semele, Theatre of NOTE, the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, and REDCAT. Paul has picked up a number of film and commercial credits along the way, and his voiceover work can be heard in over 30 feature films. BA in Theater—Gordon College, MFA in Acting—CalArts. paulturbiak.com

KAYENTA NEW PLAY LAB: Central Standard Time
2025-08-22 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-08-23 15:00 - 17:00
Central Standard Time
by Maddox Pennington (Los Angeles, CA)
Friday, August 22, 7:30pm
Saturday, August 23, 3:00pm
The Lorraine Boccardo Theater
Central Standard Time is a stand-alone installment in a trilogy of plays. It follows Jay, a thirty-something nonbinary/trans person, home to his family hometown in rural Oklahoma, where he intends to take over a family business that has been left to him and try to make a life among his Native family.
TICKETS

KAYENTA NEW PLAY LAB
Now in its third year, the Kayenta New Play Lab is where bold new voices in American theater come to life. Over three exhilarating weeks, six visionary playwrights—chosen by a panel of esteemed local and national theatermakers—dive into an intensive creative residency, shaping fresh, original works for the stage.
Audiences are invited to witness the magic unfold through staged readings of these brand-new plays—raw, real, and alive with possibility. Stay after each reading for an engaging dialogue with the artists, where your feedback helps shape the evolution of each piece.
Whether you’re a dedicated theatergoer, a curious creative, or someone who simply loves the thrill of live performance, the New Play Lab is your front-row seat to the next wave of theatrical storytelling. Come be part of the process. Come be inspired.

The 2025 Kayenta New Play Lab is generously sponsored by Douglas Caputo and Desert Dweller Real Estate.

KAYENTA NEW PLAY LAB: Mountain Meadows And The Little Schoolteacher
2025-08-23 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-08-24 15:00 - 17:00
Mountain Meadows And The Little Schoolteacher
by Debora Threedy (Dammeron Valley, UT)
Saturday, August 23, 7:30pm
Sunday, August 24, 3:00pm
The Lorraine Boccardo Theater
This play is based on the life of Juanita Brooks, particularly the years from 1918 to 1951. The central mystery of her life is this: She was a seemingly ordinary Mormon housewife. Widowed as a young mother, married a second time to a man 17 years her senior, she had five children of her own and helped raise her husband’s four sons. She held positions of authority in her Church. She worked at a job for almost her entire life. How did such a woman come to publish the first accurate account of the 1857 Mountain Meadows Massacre, the full story of which had been actively suppressed by the LDS Church for nearly a hundred years? Where did she get the courage to tell the truth despite the opposition of her community and even family?
TICKETS

KAYENTA NEW PLAY LAB
Now in its third year, the Kayenta New Play Lab is where bold new voices in American theater come to life. Over three exhilarating weeks, six visionary playwrights—chosen by a panel of esteemed local and national theatermakers—dive into an intensive creative residency, shaping fresh, original works for the stage.
Audiences are invited to witness the magic unfold through staged readings of these brand-new plays—raw, real, and alive with possibility. Stay after each reading for an engaging dialogue with the artists, where your feedback helps shape the evolution of each piece.
Whether you’re a dedicated theatergoer, a curious creative, or someone who simply loves the thrill of live performance, the New Play Lab is your front-row seat to the next wave of theatrical storytelling. Come be part of the process. Come be inspired.

The 2025 Kayenta New Play Lab is generously sponsored by Douglas Caputo and Desert Dweller Real Estate.

WORKSHOP: The Responsive Body
2025-08-25 18:00 - 21:00
This workshop invites actors to engage the body as a sensitive, powerful instrument for stage performance. Through a blend of physical awareness, movement exploration, and ensemble-based exercises, participants will cultivate a deeper connection between body, breath, and impulse. The session will emphasize presence, responsiveness, and the actor’s ability to listen and adapt in real time. Whether you’re preparing for a demanding role or simply seeking to unlock new dimensions of your physical expression, this workshop offers tools to expand your range and heighten your awareness. Come ready to move, take creative risks, and rediscover the body as a vital source of imagination and play.

As part of the Kayenta New Play Lab’s mission to support generative artists and develop new theatrical work, we’re excited to offer two exclusive workshop sessions designed specifically for actors. These Monday evening workshops are led by visiting theater professionals from outside the region—each bringing unique expertise in performance, process, and the development of new work.
Whether you’re a seasoned performer or an actor looking to deepen your craft, these sessions are an opportunity to learn from nationally recognized artists, explore new techniques, and connect with the creative process at the heart of new play development.

Meet Your Instructor: Sadie Kuwano
Sadie Kuwano is a Los Angeles and NYC-based actor and teaching artist, originally from Studio City, CA. On screen, she’s a series regular on In the Vault (seasons 1 and 2, Crackle) and has appeared in 9-1-1 (ABC), I Think You Should Leave (Netflix), Criminal Minds (CBS), Fresh Off the Boat (ABC) and Good Trouble (Freeform). Selected theatre includes Heroes of the Fourth Turning (Center for the Arts at Kayenta), PunkPlay (Circle X Theatre), Round Yon Virgin (IRT Theater), The Cerealist Bowl (AEG Presents: Phish), Mama Mama (Coin & Ghost), and Ubu Roi (Stairwell Theater NYC). Education: CalArts BFA, LACHSA @sadieontheinternet

KAYENTA NEW PLAY LAB: The Secret History of the Mahulley Monster
2025-08-29 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-08-30 15:00 - 17:00
KAYENTA NEW PLAY LAB
The Secret History of the Mahulley Monster (Or The Cryptid Play)
by Chelsea Sutton (Los Angeles, CA)
Friday, August 29, 7:30pm
Saturday, August 30, 3:00pm
The Lorraine Boccardo Theater
When Dr. Kam Vandermeer visits the Midland Paranormal Convention to present her research on the mysterious Mahulley Monster, C-List paranormal TV personality Peter McGillis seems determined to poke holes in her story. But as they delve deeper into Kam’s evidence, their bickering only unearths something stranger than either one of them can explain.

TICKETS

KAYENTA NEW PLAY LAB
Now in its third year, the Kayenta New Play Lab is where bold new voices in American theater come to life. Over three exhilarating weeks, six visionary playwrights—chosen by a panel of esteemed local and national theatermakers—dive into an intensive creative residency, shaping fresh, original works for the stage.
Audiences are invited to witness the magic unfold through staged readings of these brand-new plays—raw, real, and alive with possibility. Stay after each reading for an engaging dialogue with the artists, where your feedback helps shape the evolution of each piece.
Whether you’re a dedicated theatergoer, a curious creative, or someone who simply loves the thrill of live performance, the New Play Lab is your front-row seat to the next wave of theatrical storytelling. Come be part of the process. Come be inspired.

The 2025 Kayenta New Play Lab is generously sponsored by Douglas Caputo and Desert Dweller Real Estate.
