Originally published on SignalsAZ.com >> Here
In just a few days, legendary entertainer Vicki Lawrence is taking the stage at the Jim and Linda Lee Performing Arts Center at Yavapai College. She’s bringing her one-woman comedy show, Vicki Lawrence & Mama, to our region — and to say the community is ready would be an understatement.
But this upcoming performance is about more than just one great night of entertainment. It represents something much larger — a rising cultural movement here in Central Arizona. It’s a reminder that entertainment and the arts are not just fun distractions. They are vital to community, economy, and identity.
A Legacy of Building Community Through Culture
At Fain Signature Group, we’ve always believed that great communities are built on more than roads and rooftops. They’re built on experiences, opportunity, and shared purpose. That belief is woven into everything we do — and it’s one of the driving reasons my father, Bill Fain, helped champion the creation of the Prescott Valley Events Center nearly two decades ago.
At the time, the idea of building a major, indoor arena in a small but fast-growing region like Prescott Valley seemed ambitious — maybe even unlikely. But my dad saw what others didn’t: the potential for this community to become a destination. He believed that families, entrepreneurs, and visitors would be drawn to a place that invested not only in housing and infrastructure, but in arts, sports, and entertainment.
He was right.
Today, that once-ambitious vision lives on in the Findlay Toyota Center — a 5,000+ -seat, climate-controlled arena that stands as the only indoor entertainment venue of its kind in Central Arizona. From concerts and comedy tours to sporting events and expos, it has become a cultural cornerstone — a place where thousands of people come together to celebrate, laugh, cheer, and connect.
Without that kind of foresight, building something like this today would be nearly impossible. But thanks to that early investment, Prescott Valley now enjoys an economic and cultural asset that benefits local businesses, supports tourism, and brings national-caliber entertainment to our doorstep.
Fast forward to just a few years ago, the Prescott Valley Performing Arts Center, adjacent to the Findlay Toyota Center, approached us about providing land for their vision for the arts. Today, this neighborhood theater provides a venue for children, teens, and adults to express their passion for the arts. Now, they are planning to expand their facilities to better serve the community. “All the world’s a stage”, and so is our community.
Entertainment Builds More Than Memories
It’s easy to measure the impact of venues and events in terms of ticket sales or hotel bookings. But the real impact is more personal — and more profound. It’s a teenager seeing a live show for the first time and realizing they want to pursue the arts. It’s a small business that sees a spike in customers during event weekends. It’s a visitor who comes to town for a performance and ends up falling in love with the community.
That’s why we didn’t stop at physical spaces. Just like the Findlay Toyota Center was built to give people a place to gather and experience world-class entertainment, we also wanted to give the community a voice, a platform, and a positive source of local news, events, and storytelling.
So we launched Talking Glass Media.
Positive News, Shared Purpose
Through TalkingGlass.media and its flagship publishing platforms SignalsAZ.com, CAST11.com, F1RST2KNOW Events Newsletter, we’ve created a digital town square — a space for celebrating the good, the inspiring, and the unique stories that define our region. From upcoming events and live shows to small business features, youth achievements, and hometown heroes, these platforms exist to amplify the vibrancy of Central Arizona.
We built these platforms for the same reason we helped bring the Events Center to life: to support a better life for all. We believe in the power of positive information, storytelling, and shared experiences to build stronger communities. In a world filled with noise and negativity, our mission is to provide a steady stream of meaningful, uplifting, and locally-driven content that reflects who we are and what we’re becoming.
The Arts as a Magnet for Growth
Bringing someone like Vicki Lawrence to town is a reflection of that progress. When our media team interviewed her on our CAST11 podcast, she said something that stuck with me: “Guys, you gotta laugh and find the humor in things. You gotta pass it on.” That’s the power of entertainment — to lift people up, to bring us together, and to remind us what we share in common.”
Events like this also drive economic growth. They attract tourists, stimulate local spending, and encourage entrepreneurs to invest in a community with culture, character, and energy. Businesses relocating to Central Arizona are looking for more than just infrastructure — they want quality of life. A vibrant arts and entertainment scene makes us competitive in a way few other assets can.
That’s why we see these efforts as essential. They support our schools, our businesses, and our families. They give people a reason to stay, to return, and to invest.
What’s Next?
Prescott Valley is at a turning point — and we are embracing that momentum with everything we’ve got. From our stages and studios to our digital platforms and downtown plazas, we’re building a community where the arts are not just welcome — they are celebrated and championed.
So yes, we are thrilled along with The Jim and Linda Lee Performing Arts Center at Yavapai College to welcome Vicki Lawrence to our region. But even more than that, we’re proud of what her performance represents: a place that’s coming into its own, growing on its own terms and investing in the kind of life we all deserve.
We hope you’ll join us. Because when you buy that ticket, laugh with your neighbors, and share the experience — you’re part of something bigger than a night out. You’re helping build the future of Central Arizona.
Let’s enjoy the shows! – Brad Fain.
