Every once in a blue moon Arizona gets a creative mind that moves into the artistic scene and makes everyone sit up and take notice. That happened last year when Ari Levin relocated to the Valley to take the position as executive director of the Madison Center for the Arts in North Central Phoenix.
Levin previously had his own show in Las Vegas called “Xtreme Magic,” and produced and directed the opening of the 2007 NBA All-Star Game with Kobe Bryant. He has produced and directed for Paramount Studios, CNN and the BBC, as well as for the Lifetime Achievement Awards for Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Goldie Hawn and Jodie Foster and more than 30 episodes of Oprah’s “Where Are They Now?” He is a current member of the Broadway Directors and Choreographers Union and spent the last 20 years as the writer, executive producer and director of ShoWest which evolved into CinemaCon.
The celebrated producer and ASU alum now calls Gilbert home. “When we first moved here, we rented in Scottsdale for a year,” explains Levin. “Then when we were looking to buy, the crazy market caused everything to go $50-100,000 over asking price. We extended our search and found a beautiful house on the lake in Gilbert.”
“There are still a lot of places I need to visit, but so far, I've really liked going to San Tan Village and the Old Town area!” Levin says.
While he gets acclimated to Gilbert, there is a lot of thoughtful work to be done at the Madison. Levin explains, “It’s owned by the school district. We’re part of the school district and we’re governed by the school district, but we’re different.” As he develops programming, he considers what a group of performers has to offer students in the way of engaging instruction and master classes.
Upcoming shows at the Madison:
- Jimmy Buffett's Escape to Margaritaville - September 16-19
- Potted Potter – The Unauthorized Harry Experience – October 28-30
- American Ballet Theatre Studio - November 14
- The Magical World of Santa’s Circus December 2-5
Looking forward to next year, Levin has big plans, too. “In 2022 I have the 25th farewell tour of ‘Rent’ coming here,” adds Levin.
The Madison features over 900 seats in the 160,000-square-foot venue. The impressive auditorium boasts an art gallery with rotating exhibits and artists, a spacious veranda and a soaring 40-foot ceiling. In addition to performances, the venue can host in galas, weddings and corporate events. The venue also has its own covered parking structure featuring free parking.
For additional information on The Madison Center for the Arts, visit https://www.themadison.org/.
In 2020, Ari Levin moved to Arizona with his son, Jonah Levin. "We just moved here so we haven't had a chance to explore much, but the area is beautiful and I can't wait to see what's in store for us!" says Ari Levin.