In 2020, a small community arts
center with an annual operating budget of under $400k received a
3.2 million dollar donation.
Now it’s closed.
What happened?

Solving a Mystery &
Preserving A Legacy

American Theatre is in crisis. Not since the 2008 recession has America seen so many theatres—theatres of all shapes, sizes, and from communities all across America—close. American Theatre Magazine and the NYTimes have done extensive reporting on the unique challenges currently facing the theatre industry. In this sense, the closing of Prescott, Arizona’s longest running community theatre is not unique to much of what is happening across the nation. What is unique is that we have an opportunity to document Suze’s Prescott Center for the Arts closing in real time, to analyze (and learn from) the events that led to it’s closure, and to ensure that the organization is remembered as the robust cultural epicenter that it was. From the organization’s conception as the Prescott Fine Arts Association in 1968, to its final moments as Suze’s Prescott Center For the Arts, this organization has touched countless lives. SACRED GROUND will tell the story of “Everybody’s hometown” theatre through interviews with the many (many) artists who have worked there and the patrons and audience members who have sustained it. 

An
organization in
crisis

Chronicling the collapse that never should have happened.

A Cultural Cornerstone

Originally called the Prescott Fine Arts Association, Suze’s Prescott Center for the Arts has been a feature of Prescott’s downtown since 1968.

Volunteers Make It Happen

We speak to the people who made Suze’s Prescott Center for the Arts what it was.

The Legacy

What comes next for Prescott’s Theatre community?

More to come…

Discover the rich history of Suze’s Prescott Center for the Arts through intimate interviews and captivating stories. This website will continue to populate with images, clips, and updates as production progresses.

A Storied Past

When a church gets a second life…

Celebrating Theatrical Heritage

Prescott’s theatre began here

Showcasing Prescott’s Artists

Prescott’s Talent

Exploring Theatre Life

Ephemera from shows past

Discover Sacred Ground

Don’t miss this chance to explore the legacy of Suze’s Prescott Center for the Arts. Join us in documenting this iconic theatre’s story.