Play Again / Free Screening!

Thursday, March 28 at 5:30pm at the Loft Theater, 3233 E. Speedway
Doors open at 5:00 p.m.
Conversation and refreshments until 8PM
All ages welcome!

Join us for this special FREE SCREENING of the provocative documentary Play Again, featuring a post-film discussion with producer Meg Merrill!

One generation from now most people in the US will have spent more time in the virtual world than in nature. New media technologies have improved our lives in countless ways. Information now appears with a click. Overseas friends are part of our daily lives. And even grandma loves Wii. But what are we missing when we live behind screens? And how will this impact our children, our society, and eventually, our planet? At a time when children play more behind screens than outside, Play Again explores the changing balance between the virtual and natural worlds. Is our connection to nature disappearing down the digital rabbit hole?

This moving and humorous documentary follows six teenagers who, like the “average American child,” spend five to fifteen hours a day behind screens. Play Again unplugs these teens and takes them on their first wilderness adventure – no electricity, no cell phone coverage, no virtual reality. Through the voices of children and leading experts including journalist Richard Louv, sociologist Juliet Schor, environmental writer Bill McKibben, educators Diane Levin and Nancy Carlsson-Paige, neuroscientist Gary Small, parks advocate Charles Jordan, and geneticist David Suzuki, Play Again investigates the consequences of a childhood removed from nature and encourages action for a sustainable future. (Dir. by Tonje Hessen Schei, 2010, 80 mins., Not Rated, Ground Productions) Digital.

I’ve often wondered about this 21st century obsession with Play Station, video games, computer technology, Ipads, Iphones, etc. When I was growing up people warned us about too much television, but society has moved way way beyond the TV set. Since I grew up virtually barefoot in rural, tropical Hawaii, with lots of Nature around me, I miss it here in urban, dry Tucson. And then there are people who grow up in huge, concrete cities without any yard, garden, or nearby park.

Maybe it is time to go back to Nature to some degree. See this movie & find out how.

New Voices. New Stories. New Focus.

The new AZ Illustrated debuts February 4th

at 6:30 p.m. on PBS 6

Tucson, Arizona – – Arizona Illustrated, Southern Arizona’s weeknight news magazine series for over 30 years, and the flagship local TV production for Arizona Public Media (AZPM,) has undergone a make-over. The new AZ Illustrated (pronounced A-Z-Illustrated) debuts in its regular weeknight time slot at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, February 4, 2013. The new AZ Illustrated features different hosts and topics each night – Metro, Science, Nature, Arts and Politics – offering insight and discussion relevant to Southern Arizona audiences. Tapping into the wealth of talent and experience of AZPM’s award-winning producers, reporters, and production team, while introducing new specialists from the community, the series will feature new voices, new stories and a new focus.

AZ Illustrated METRO

Mondays cover education, business, government, and the policies that affect our daily lives.

The host for AZ Illustrated Metro is Maria Parham, the newly appointed Editorial Page Editor of the Arizona Daily Star. A new face on television, but a long-time veteran of print journalism in the Tucson community, Maria has experience and insight on education, business, and government in Southern Arizona. Produced by AZPM’s Andrea Kelly, Metro will provide a deeper look at many of the decisions and developments that affect the community. Andrea will work with a host of other AZPM reporters to ensure the content on Mondays is current and that it keeps the audience informed about the economy and public affairs.

Arizona Illustrated SCIENCE

Tuesdays explore issues and advances in health, science, and technology.

Jane Poynter, the new host of AZ Illustrated Science, is no stranger to the Southern Arizona science community. A scientist, author, entrepreneur, and expert on sustainable development, Jane will provide perspective and context for the health, science and technological advancements that continue to change our world. The show will explore the broad range of science in the community and ask the larger questions about what that science and technology means and how it actually affects people’s daily life experiences. Producer Georgia Davis, a journalist, documentary producer and former network news director, brings her wealth of experience to the Science segment.

Arizona Illustrated NATURE

Wednesdays dive into the environmental news and issues unique to our desert landscape.

Host Georgia Davis steps from behind the scenes to the front of the camera to host AZ Illustrated Nature. The show’s mission is to raise awareness and understanding about the area’s many ecological treasures while addressing pertinent local and national subjects such as solar energy, recycling, development, hydrology and water conservation, ecotourism, and other topics. The show will tap into the abundant professional resources from the University of Arizona and community for their perspectives, concerns, and possible solutions to different challenges. The producer for Nature is AZPM veteran journalist, producer, and former Arizona Illustrated host, Tony Paniagua.

Arizona Illustrated ARTS

Thursdays embrace the vibrant cultural community that is distinctly Southern Arizona.

Providing a unique perspective on arts and culture, host Elizabeth Burden, an artist and journalist, brings her passion to showcase the multi-faceted arts and cultural community that embodies Southern Arizona. Program features will include music, spoken word, in-studio performance, stories, and guest interviews, enlightening the audience on the power of art to enrich lives and change minds. AZ Illustrated Arts producer, Mark McLemore, is a seasoned radio producer and host, having created over 300 episodes of Arizona Spotlight, which airs weekly on NPR 89.1. Arizona Spotlight has given Mark a deep appreciation of Southern Arizona’s arts and cultural assets.

Arizona Illustrated POLITICS

Fridays provides in-depth analysis of the week’s political news.

Jim Nintzel, host and producer of Politics, continues in his role as host of the political night for AZ Illustrated. The title of the program has changed, but the in-depth political coverage will continue to provide viewers with cutting-edge interviews with politicians and their views in a new setting.

Each AZ Illustrated show will begin with a two-minute summary of the top local and state news events of the day, anchored by AZPM’s Christopher Conover. Many stories will cross platforms to radio, NPR 89.1, and online. Frequently, stories that originate online or on radio will be further explored on AZ Illustrated.

About the new studio:

The new AZ Illustrated will provide Southern Arizona viewers with a 360° perspective of their community. The series will be broadcast from a custom-designed, versatile, 360° studio which will accommodate one-on-one interviews, round-table discussions, demonstrations, and live performances. The studio, designed by local Tucson architect Rick Joy (Rick Joy Architects) features a spectacular circular photographic backdrop of the Tucson skyline and its iconic mountain ranges. The backdrop photograph was taken by Jeff Dey. The new studio design will provide a welcoming environment to guests – a meeting place for community dialogue and discussion. V