Tempe Takes Center Stage at ASU Gammage Expressions

Rows of chairs are set on the stage. Rosy lights illuminate the warmly lit audience. A nervous yet excited energy fills the air as performer Gary Bekert steps up to kick off the evening. Welcome to ASU Gammage Expressions. 

For 16 years, the Tempe theater has opened its doors — and its stage — to ASU students, staff, professors and members of the Tempe community, giving them the opportunity to stand in the spotlight where so many stars have performed. 

Gary Bekert, former ASU Gammage Food and Beverage Manager, traditionally opened the show during his time on staff. Though he has since retired, Expressions wouldn’t be Expressions without his inaugural performance, and he continues to return each year to begin the evening. Equipped with his trusty guitar, Bekert breaks the ice with a joke or two before strumming and singing an original piece. On this particular evening, he performed “Go Home,” a song he wrote with his late partner. After the final note, Bekert reassures the audience, “from this point on, there’s nothing but fun and merriment,” a gentle shift from the song’s somber tone to the high-energy performances still to come. 

Throughout the evening, original works fill the stage alongside beloved favorites, including “Burn” from Hamilton and “It Couldn’t Please Me More” from Cabaret. Some artists perform with backing tracks, while others accompany themselves — like Grace Mickelson, who delivered a stunning rendition of Hozier’s “Take Me to Church” while playing piano. 

Husband-and-wife duo James and Emma Mattison performed their original song “I Get a Fever,” the only slide guitar piece in their repertoire. After the crowd’s cheers subsided, Emma shared, 

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to perform on this stage. Thank you.” 

Comedian Joley Paige earned some of the loudest laughs of the night with the line, 

“You don’t end up on the Gammage mic if P.E. was easy for you.” 

A sentiment that felt both true and relatable to almost everyone in the room. 

For more than two hours, 23 local performers showcased their talents. Singers, pianists, guitarists, spoken word artists, stand-up comedians and dancers — performing as solo acts, duos, and trios — paraded across the stage. The talent is undeniable, but what’s even more magical is the audience. 

“I challenge you, if you choose to accept it, to meet someone new tonight,”  

Samuel Peña, the evening’s emcee, encouraged as the stage was set for the next performer.  

Like clockwork, audience members turned to greet one another. Smiles spread, laughter echoed, and genuine human connections formed. A room that began as a collection of strangers transformed into a supportive, connected community. 

One of the final performances of the evening came from student Lindsey Stevens, who sang “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac. During an instrumental break, nerves briefly crept in as she admitted, “I don’t know how you all did this,” prompting even louder cheers of encouragement from the crowd.  

She persevered and finished strong. 

“I didn’t think I’d be able to be on a stage like this during my college career, so I’m really thankful,” she later shared, which brought another wave of applause. 

Expressions is truly one of a kind — not just as an event, but in the way each evening unfolds differently. While some performers and audience members are veterans, newcomers continually step into the spotlight, leaving you eager to return again and again to witness fresh talent on a historic stage.