God Lives In Glass Returns The Smith Center Aug. 13

Many of Las Vegas’s finest entertainers will join hearts and voices at The Smith Center for an encore performance of the hit original musical theatre concert “God Lives In Glass” at Reynolds Hall on Sunday, Aug. 13, at 3 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the nonprofit The Composers Showcase of Las Vegas. “God Lives in Glass” is an exciting, fun-for-all-ages multicultural and multigenerational community concert event featuring some of Vegas’ favorite musical performers from Broadway and the Las Vegas entertainment community along with exciting new young performers, creating a cast that includes 60 singers, 20 dancers and a 26-piece orchestra led by renowned pianist Philip Fortenberry (The Cocktail Cabaret, Behind the Candelabra).

Las Vegas singers in the cast will include Janien Valentine, Joey DeBenedetto, Niki Scalera, Tony Arias, Katie Kern, Bruce Ewing, Armi Guzman, Steph Payne, Rebecca Spencer, Kristen Hertzenberg, Jimmy Lockett, Christine Hudman Pardy, Paul Bradly, Sam Holder, and many more, as well as young artists Molly Martin, Eliza Belk, Olivia Dease, Chandler Shulman, Harper Misegades and Griffin Misegades. The popular concert will showcase a funny, powerful, and emotionally uplifting original score written by Keith Thompson (Jersey Boys, The Composers Showcase), with musical styles ranging from pop to gospel, classical to blues, and reggae to R&B. “It’s my honor and pleasure to share an encore presentation of this remarkable musical that is meant to bring us together as a community, especially now when it seems like we need it more than ever,” says Thompson. “This musical never attempts to instruct or promote any ideology or doctrine. It is meant merely to entertain while it holds up the 'glass' as a mirror that allows us to glimpse a reflection of ourselves and also as a window that lets us view the world with wonder, humor, and imagination, as seen through the eyes of a child.” Inspired by Dr. Landy’s engaging book “God Lives in Glass: Reflections of God Through the Eyes of Children,” the concert features all-original songs based on drawings and stories of children from all over the world from many different cultures, races, religions, and nationalities. Tickets start at $29 and can be purchased online at TheSmithCenter.com.

VEGAS ARTS & CULTURE, BE COUNTED!!

THE AFTA ARTS & ECONOMIC PROSPERITY 6 (AEP6)

The Economic Impact of Spending by Nonprofit Arts and Culture Organizations and Their Audiences

The NEVADA ARTS AND CULTURE AEP6 audience survey deadline is MAY 31st, 2023!

WHAT IS AEP6? ​ Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) is an economic impact study of the nation’s nonprofit arts and culture industry. It is the largest and most inclusive study of its kind ever conducted, with a specific focus on 360 participating communities from across all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. ​ The Nevada Arts Council, Clark County Public Arts Office, and the City of Las Vegas Office of Cultural Affairs are research partner organizations identified to assist Americans for the Arts with two primary data collection efforts:

• An audience-intercept survey of attendees to arts and culture events that take place in the community

• A budget and attendance survey of the comprehensive universe of nonprofit arts and culture organizations that exist in the community.

​Each participating community receives a final report customized for their survey data and based on an economic input-output model tailored for their specific local economy. Researchers then use the localized findings to extrapolate national impact estimates for the entire nonprofit arts and culture industry.

WHY IS AEP6 SUPER IMPORTANT TO NEVADA'S FUTURE? ​ AEP demonstrates that an investment in the arts provides both cultural and economic benefits.

In 2017, AEP5 documented that the nonprofit arts industry generated $166.3 billion in economic activity, which supported 4.6 million jobs and generated $27.5 billion in government revenue.

• Nonprofits are businesses, employ people locally, purchase goods and services from within the community, are members of Chambers, and attract tourists. The Creative Economy contributes more to Nevada's GDP than Mining!

• The combined $5 billion in direct arts funding by local, state, and federal governments yielded $27.5 billion in revenue.

THE AUDIENCE SURVEY - IT'S NOT TOO LATE FOR APRIL & MAY EVENTS! ​ Audience surveys will be collected from attendees at performances, events, exhibits, venues, and facilities during the 12 months from May 2022 through May 2023.

• Customized QR Codes are available for participating organizations.

ORGANIZATIONAL SURVEY- CHECK YOUR INBOXES ARTS LEADERS! ​ Americans for the Arts will conduct an economic impact survey of those organizations from January through April 2023.

• The survey will collect information about each organization's revenues, expenditures, physical (in-person) attendance, virtual attendance, staff size, and volunteers.

• The survey will also include a set of diversity and inclusion questions designed to identify organizations that primarily center underserved communities

Micro°Fests, Earth Day and Water Celebration in Sandy Valley on April 22

April 22 is Earth Day worldwide and will be celebrated in Sandy Valley, Nevada, by honoring those who have defended Sandy Valley's local aquifer with history, art, science, and music at its second annual event of a planned decade of micro°fests rain or shine, free for all ages at the Sandy Valley Senior Center, 690 Quartz Avenue from noon to 4 p.m.

Participants are asked to "Bring Your Lunch" as its tradition.

Sandy Valley Earth Day: Decade of Micro°Fests was founded by the trustee of Richard and Drue Bale Family Trust, M. Donnelly, with a theme of water.

Sandy Valley, forty miles south of Las Vegas, has modern amenities and fierce vigilant protection of its local aquifer. For a decade, dozens of unstoppable resident volunteers worked with geologist Joy Fiore, lawyer Al Marquis, Judge Dawn Haviland, and others to stop large companies from taking water from their Sandy Mesquite aquifer to ship it roughly 20 miles over mountains to Primm for high-profit casino commercial use. That would have likely caused permanent drought in this mostly micro-agricultural horse-raising community. These unconquerable residents became known as the "Water Warriors."

It started when the Bacher and Knight families, living on Cherokee Avenue, saw industrial trucks with giant conduit pipes plowing into the dry lakebed outside their windows on a holiday weekend. Their combined quick action stopped the effort of the companies. This water celebration will showcase art commissioned by muralist and Sandy Valley resident Shawn Ealy to honor them. It will be permanently displayed above a sleek steel water fountain in the Senior Center. Shawn's painting collage will feature local gems, sand, artifacts, and an interpretation of the warrior logo amidst a locally inspired water scene.

After the lead attorney died, the water warriors hired resident super-lawyer Al Marquis. Al is a Sandy Valley ranch owner, cowboy poet, and philanthropist, beloved for generosity and quick wit. He returns this year with his presentation, "Preserving Our Water," which shares legal battle twists, turns, and adventures, that resulted in the remarkable victorious decision from the Nevada Supreme Court that protects Sandy Valley, locally known as the "little village that beat the 'big guys' against all odds."

Nevada's local history will be remembered with a memory book of articles, photos, testimonies, and ephemera that will stay with Ealy's permanent art as a growing history archive.

Sandy Valley is part of the Goodsprings mining district, where Joe Good's abundant springs supply water to miners, companies, and travelers. Mary Blake of Goodsprings Historical Society, who returns a second year to Earth Day, will share the intricacies of collecting, distributing, and managing water. Of note, their annual walking tour is a "must-do!" Many dine afterward at the historically preserved Pioneer Saloon, which donates to GHS and other community events. Goodsprings "names wall" is featured in Pioneer's dining garden. Walking tour brochures are available in their general store.

Las Vegas Valley Water District retired engineer, Sandy resident Kevin McMahan, will speak about large and small water systems, pumping, purifying, and understanding the dynamics of water.

Southern Nevada Gem and Mineral Society lifetime member and Kids Club educational ambassador, Mary Beth Paladino, returns to talk about Marine Fossils and host an activity table with giveaways.

Rounding out the event is Reiki Master Eileen Meeks, Pahrump dot-com owner of Stoned Healer, who will share scientifically proven water "memory."

A joyful acoustic jam, hosted by Pioneer Saloon owner, guitarist Stephen Staats (aka Old Man Liver), and Remynders band member Kevin Magowan will play water-themed tunes, a few sing-alongs, as well as original music. Between presentations will be easy rubber-duckie games, giveaways, and a mermaid photo-op!

Earth Day was established in 1970 by Senator Gaylord Nelson to bolster public consciousness about air and water pollution. Employing Dennis Hayes to coordinate grassroots college involvement, their efforts led to establishing of the Environmental Protection Agency, Clean Air, and Clean Water Acts. Working collaboratively with Republican Pete McClosky, they chose April 22 because that is between Spring Break and Final Exams to maximize student participation.

Event details:

Event line: 702-723-0085

Facebook: Click here

Handicap accessible, free parking.

The adjoining park has shaded picnic tables, bathrooms, and a grass lawn.

Directions from Las Vegas: Take I-15 south, Exit 12, and continue on Route 161, left on Sandy Valley Road (curvy mountain pass), right on Cherokee, which bends left and becomes Quartz, 690 Quartz on the far west end.