16. Gammage Auditorium
City: Tempe, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (480) 965-3434
Address: 1200 S. Forest Ave.
Description: One of the Valley’s architectural jewels, Gammage was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and completed in 1964. A redesigned adaptation of Wright’s never-built Baghdad Opera House, the auditorium has 50 concrete columns supporting the round roof, which has a pattern of interlocking circles. The 3,000-seat auditorium had an extensive renovation and continues to be known for its acoustic excellence as well as its beauty. This is the place to see touring Broadway shows; Gammage has hosted Wicked, The Color Purple, and Sweeney Todd. It also books smaller theatrical performances and pop and classical music concerts. The stage accommodates a full symphony orchestra and a massive pipe organ.
17. Tempe Center For The Arts
City: Tempe, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (480) 350-2822 (box office)
Address: 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy.
Description: The $63 million performing arts center is located on Tempe Town Lake, just blocks from Mill Avenue and the city’s core. Its 88,000 square feet feature a 600-seat 4-tiered theater that accommodates dance and drama. A more intimate studio seats 200. The center also houses a gallery and meeting rooms. The center is home to the Actors’ Renaissance Theater, the Arizona Academy of the Performing Arts, Childsplay, the Desert Dance Theater, and the Tempe Little Theater, among others.
18. Arizona State University Art Museum
City: Tempe, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (480) 965-2787
Address: 51 E. 10th St.
Description: The campus art museum is linked with the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at the Nelson Fine Arts Center. The light rail connection to Tempe and ASU provides easy access to the museum’s contemporary art exhibitions, which include touring national works. Programs encourage free expression of social issues through a variety of media, including new media. Free admission.