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Isaac Lucero has moved from Las Cruces to Alamogordo to apply everything he learned in the New Mexico State University Theatre Department as the new program director at the Flickinger Center for the Arts and Patron’s Hall.
Lucero, who graduated from NMSU in 2020, began work at the 620-seat Flickinger in May. After a hiatus of nearly 15 months because of Covid, the first live show at the theatre was June 29. A full schedule of live performances began in July. The Flickinger also has begun a full slate of workshops, dance classes and art classes.
Next door to the Flickinger, Patron’s Hall is an event center and performance space that is home to the Heritage Art Gallery and a coffee shop and ice cream parlor.
Lucero is inviting Las Cruces patrons of the arts to attend live performances at both venues and is also welcoming artists and performers to book their shows at the Flickinger or Patron’s Hall and show their art in the Heritage Gallery.
“I love Las Cruces,” said Lucero, 29. “I know of lot of people there. I’m always open to collaborate on any sort of show.”
Las Cruces also knows Lucero.
He played Riff Raff in the NMSU Theatre Department’s 2013 production of “Rocky Horror Picture Show” (the last production at Hershel Zohn Theatre), starred as Peter Shaw in “Silent Sky” (winning a Theatre Department best-leading performance award), sang, danced and acted in 2019’s “My Fair Lady” and played Feste (the clown) and also composed original music for “Twelfth Night” in 2015 at NMSU. Lucero was the Snow King in Las Cruces School of Dance and Music’s 2019 production of “The Nutcracker,” and starred in “Lend Me a Tenor” and “The Laramie Project” at Las Cruces Community Theatre.
“Starting new somewhere is a really special experience for an artist,” Lucero said. “First and foremost, that’s what I consider myself. I want to be in a spot where I can feed my soul.”
Moving to Alamogordo is a gift, Lucero said, because it allows him to “reach people outside my circle.”
Alamogordo has a population of about 33,000, about one-third the size of Las Cruces, but the Flickinger is larger than both the ASNMSU Center for the Arts and the Rio Grande Theatre, and has a reputation for quality shows that are well attended.
“Art can really happen anywhere,” Lucero said.
At many theaters in the western United States, he said, “young people are taking over the reins. There seems to be a lot of young blood” among artistic directors. They are marketing differently to meet the challenges of coming out of the pandemic and dealing with multiple competing entertainment platforms, Lucero said.
But, “people still want to go see live shows,” he said, and live theater is “a good tool for reminding people of their shared humanity.”
Flickinger Center history
The nonprofit Alamogordo Civic Auditorium, Inc. was created in 1983 to provide a facility for the performing arts in Alamogordo and Otero County. In 1988, Alamogordo resident Margaret Flickinger bought the Sierra Theater, a 1950s-style movie theater, and donated it to the organization. The theater and the organization were renamed Flickinger Center for the Performing Arts. The inaugural performance at the theater was in December 1988 by the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. The inaugural season started in October 1992.
The Flickinger Center is located at 1110 New York Ave. in Alamogordo.
Contact Lucero at 575-437-2202 (office), 760-420-7261 (cell) and programdirector@flickingercenter.com. Visit flickingercenter.com.
Here is what is on the season schedule at the Flickinger Center. Check flickingercenter.com
for updates.
Start time for all shows is 7 p.m. except as noted. Visit www.etix.com/ticket/v/17205/flickinger-center-for-performing-arts for tickets.
Auditions
Live performances
Summer Street Concert Series
All performances are 8 to 10 p.m. at the Flickinger Center. Tickets are $7. Visit flickingercenter.com/summer-street-concerts.
Aug. 14: Rosewater Blues. Texas, classic and Latin blues as well as classic rock, country rock and modern alternative.
Sept. 4: Calista Band. Original songs with soulful vocals and telecaster tones.
Sept. 18: Seven Stone. Rock out with a local favorite and classic rock band.
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