Born with rhythm in his fingertips and Harlem in his bones, Fats Waller was more than a jazz legend, he was a force of personality who helped shape the sound of 20th-century American music. A virtuoso pianist, prolific songwriter, and magnetic entertainer, Waller rose from Harlem’s churches and rent parties to Broadway stages, radio airwaves, […]
By Cathalena E. Burch. Originally published by the Arizona Daily Star. For some, Arizona Theatre Company’s production of Ain’t Misbehavin’ will play out like a concert of the iconic 20th century jazzman Fats Waller’s greatest hits. But Director/Choreographer Dell Howlett thinks you’ll get far more than that when the show previews on Sunday, Jan. 25; […]
Joy has a way of sticking around. Long after a melody fades or the lights go down, it lingers tapping its foot, daring you not to smile. Daring you not to think and remember. Welcome to Ain’t Misbehavin’. When this revue premiered on Broadway in 1978, it wasn’t just reviving the music of Thomas “Fats” Waller, it was throwing open the doors to […]
By Chuck Graham. Originally published in Let the Show Begin. Atmosphere is everything in Arizona Theatre Company’s high-tech, fast-paced jewel thief saga Heist, the play that plays like a movie. No one said anything at the time, but the computerizing of special effects in movies over the last couple of decades has created a present-day […]
By: Zach Wetzel. Originally published on BroadwayWorld.com. Heist, the latest theatrical offering at Arizona Theatre Company, is a fresh and unique take on the caper subgenre. Written by Arun Lakra, Heist subverts expectations and brings audiences into a story where morality is grey, stakes are high, and no one is who they seem to be. This […]
By Laura Latzko. Originally published by Tucson Weekly. Inspired by films such as The Italian Job, Ocean’s Eleven, Snatch, The Usual Suspects and The Sting, Canadian playwright Arun Lakra’s thriller Heist explores the meticulous planning that goes into jewel theft. The show will make its U.S. premiere with a production by the Arizona Theatre Company […]
By Cathalena E. Burch. Originally published on Tucson.com. Imagine experiencing the edge-of-your-seat thrill of a fast-paced heist film like Ocean’s Eleven, only it’s not a film. It’s on stage, happening in real time with all the high-tech wizardry of the filmed version. That was the thought going through playwright Arun Lakra’s mind when he wrote Heist, […]
Heist is the story of a meticulously planned jewel theft where every second counts, every team member has a secret, and nothing goes according to plan. By Chloe Rabinowitz. Originally published by BroadwayWorld. Arizona Theatre Company will continue its 58th season with the high-stakes, adrenaline-fueled U.S. premiere of Heist by award-winning playwright Arun Lakra. A pulse-pounding thriller […]
By: Zach Wetzel. Originally published on BroadwayWorld.com. Deceived is a psychological thriller rollercoaster full of twists and turns, and is now playing at Arizona Theatre Company in Tucson. Directed by Jenn Thompson, Deceived explores a psychological chess match between characters in a Victorian London abode. What makes Deceived so juicy is that its characters are not […]
Originally published by Frontdoors Media. Arizona Theatre Company (ATC) has welcomed Reese Shughart as its new Director of Development for the Phoenix/Tempe region. With more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership under her belt, Shughart brings a mix of strategy, community connection, and mission-driven passion to Arizona’s official state theatre. Her appointment comes at a pivotal […]