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Home > About the Center

The Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts is a state-of-the-art 600 seat theatre dedicated to enhancing the cultural and educational richness of Wickenburg and our surrounding communities. 

Prior to the Webb Center’s inception, local schools and community members were underserved in terms of opportunities to attend a full range of culturally and artistically diverse performing arts events and to participate in artist outreach activities.  Through a joint effort between the Wickenburg Unified School District and the Wickenburg Foundation for the Performing Arts (WFPA), a group of local arts supporters, a theatre was constructed as an integral part of the new Wickenburg High School campus.  In recognition of a generous contribution made by the Del E. Webb Foundation, the theatre was honored to assume the name, Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts.  The WFPA continues to raise funds through grants and donations enabling the Webb Center to remain on the cutting edge of sound/lighting technology and to expand its performance capabilities. 

The Webb Center opened for its inaugural season in the fall of 2001 and has successfully developed a body of work that includes public performances, educational outreach opportunities, after school classes, a summer arts camp and an extensive artist-in-residency program. 

Programs

WEBB CENTER PRESENTS – We offer a variety of the world’s finest performers through our annual “Webb Center Presents” programs to broaden and deepen the arts experiences of our patrons.  Throughout our eight year history, we have presented a variety of performing artists ranging from classical pianists to western balladeers, highlights include: The 5 Browns, Riders in the Sky, Kathy Mattea, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, R. Carlos Nakai, Ian Tyson, the Vienna Boys Choir, American Ballet Theatre II, Ramsey Lewis, Chuck Mangione, the Phoenix Symphony, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and The Ten Tenors.  We strive to present the highest quality artists to our ever-expanding patron base.

ARTS FOR KIDS - The Webb Center's Arts for Kids program is designed to complement and enhance the local schools’ arts and culture curriculum in order to enrich the lives of students living in Wickenburg and the surrounding rural communities.  Arts for Kids arts-in-education projects include special student performances, workshops, lecture/demonstrations and master classes with professional artists each school year.

ART. WORKS. – The Webb Center’s Art. Works. after-school arts classes provide middle school students with opportunities to engage in music and drama lessons with experienced teaching artists.  The Friday afternoon sessions at Vulture Peak Middle School are designed to encourage students’ self-expression and to prepare participants for arts offerings available at the high school level.

CAMP IMAGINATION – The two week summer arts camp exposes 120 children (grades 1-12) to all of the arts genres (music, dance, theatre and visual arts) encouraging them to explore their creativity and stretch their imaginations.  Classes are geared towards students’ ages and skill levels and include dance, tumbling, drawing, television production, musical theatre, drama, technical theatre, and comedy/improvisation.  Camp Imagination culminates with a public performance starring all of the campers either onstage as actors, singers and dancers or backstage as film and technical crews. 

FLYING E RANCH RESIDENCY PROGRAM – The Webb Center will curate a new program in the 2009-2010 season with collaboration from the Flying E Ranch and The Wellik Foundation.  Dance and theatre companies are invited to stay at the Flying E Guest Ranch for up to four weeks, rehearse locally, and stage a new piece of work for premiere at the Webb Center.

Mission Statements
The mission of the Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts is to be a leader in presenting quality, live performing arts by offering artistically and culturally diverse music, dance and theatre to broaden and deepen the performance experiences of our patrons.  We are committed to augmenting the arts education of area K - 12 students by providing unique student performances, artist/student workshops, an after school arts program and producing a summer arts camp to educate and inspire the next generation. 

Vision Statement
The Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts will be a fully functioning arts center that encourages and nurtures artists to share their talent with our audiences; educates our rural community in all aspects of the performing arts; and ensures and celebrates the cultural vitality of our diverse region while preserving it for future generations.

Honors

WESTMARC’s  Best of the West Award

• 2001 “Celebrating Cultural Awareness”
• 2004 “Arts, Entertainment and Sports Venue” 

Arizona Republic’s Readers Poll

• 2007 “Best Live Music Venue”

Business Journal of Phoenix

• 2007 “Northwest Valley Star Award”

KAET’s Be More Awards

• 2008 “Be More Creative” Finalist
• 2009 “Be More Creative” Finalist

Governor’s Arts Award

• 2009 “Arts in Education” Nominee