By Chris Curcio. Originally published in Curtain Up Phoenix. Unlike New York and London theatergoers, Valley theater lovers rarely see world premieres. And often when premieres play here, they aren’t by significant and well-known playwrights resulting in less than stellar theater. That’s not the case with Arizona Theatre Company’s (ATC’s) fascinatingly insightful play by Pulitzer […]
By Herb Paine. Originally published on BroadwayWorld.com. There are love stories that sweep us up in the thrill of passion, and then there are love stories that unfold with the slow, deliberate patience of real life. Bob & Jean: A Love Story, premiering at Arizona Theatre Company, belongs to the latter, but it is no less […]
It’s no mystery that Sherlock Holmes is one of the most enduring fictional characters of all time. The hyper-observant, quick-witted detective has captivated audiences since Sir Arthur Conan Doyle first introduced him in A Study in Scarlet in 1887. Over the past century, Holmes has been reimagined countless times, from classic period adaptations to modern […]
This story of love set during World War II is optimistic, charming, and full of hope. By Zach Wetzel. Originally published on BroadwayWorld.com. Bob & Jean: A Love Story at Arizona Theatre Company is beautiful. Directed by Matt August, the play is about a distant romance set during World War II. The play is written by Pulitzer Prize […]
In the world of theatre, a world premiere is more than just the first public staging of a play — it is the birth of a story, a new voice entering the artistic landscape. Regional theatres play a crucial role in this process, shaping the future of American theatre by bringing fresh narratives to the […]
We live in a day and age where instant gratification is no longer a privilege but an expectation. We get irritated when our DoorDash doesn’t arrive at the expected time. We get anxious when our internet stops in the middle of our Netflix binge. We squirm at the idea of having to wait in line […]
By Herbert Paine. Originally published by Broadway World. Arizona Theatre Company’s new production of Blues in the Night unfolds in a nameless, run-down 1930s hotel, where the weary and world-weary residents exist in a haze of longing and lost dreams. Stripped of names and bound by the same familiar struggles, characters drift through a never-ending […]
The musical revue is a dazzling celebration of powerhouse vocals and timeless blues. by Robert Encila-Celdran. Originally published by BroadwayWorld.com. ATC’s Blues in the Night sets the mood with a striking, multi-tiered scenic design by Edward E. Haynes Jr. It’s a masterful composition of four seamlessly integrated spaces, each primed for intimate storytelling. A jazz […]
An Intimate and Poignant Exploration of Wartime Romance. Arizona Theatre Company is set to unveil a powerful new play this spring – Bob & Jean: A Love Story, written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan. This deeply personal work offers a rare glimpse into the real-life courtship of Schenkkan’s parents, Bob and […]
By Cathalena E. Burch. Originally published on Tucson.com. There’s a lyric in one of the final songs in Arizona Theatre Company‘s production of Blues in the Night that director Ricardo Khan said kinda fits where we are in America today: “I got a right to sing the blues.” “I’m tempted to change it to ‘We […]
By Chloe Rabinowitz. Originally published on Broadwayworld.com. Arizona Theatre Company will welcome in 2025 with the Tony Award- nominated musical Blues in the Night by Sheldon Epps. With 26 torch songs to light up the stage, a cast of sizzling singers, and a legendary creative team, Arizona Theatre Company continues to bring outstanding creatives and […]
Tony Award-Winner Shuler Hensley and youth cast members of Arizona Theatre Company’s Holiday Musical, Scrooge! perform the National Anthem at the Phoenix Suns on December 25, 2024.
Bessie Smith: Known as the “Empress of the Blues,” Smith’s soulful voice and emotive performances defined the blues of the 1920s and 1930s. Her songs often told vivid stories of love and hardship, solidifying her legacy as a trailblazer in American music. Duke Ellington: A legendary jazz composer, pianist, and bandleader, Ellington’s innovative style and […]
The music of Blues in the Night serves as the lifeblood of the production, weaving together the soulful, passionate, and often heartbreaking narratives of its characters. A jukebox musical at its core, Blues in the Night is a rich tapestry of blues and jazz standards from the early 20th century showcasing the timeless artistry of […]
Blues in the Night is a powerful musical that celebrates the emotional depth and history of the American blues genre. Created by acclaimed director Sheldon Epps, this musical revue blends the raw sounds of blues with deeply human narratives, captivating audiences with evocative storytelling and timeless music. Working with musical director Sy Johnson, Epps curated […]
For centuries, the beloved classic A Christmas Carol has inspired selflessness and acts of goodwill during the holiday season. The legacy of Scrooge lives on in countless productions across the country. For performers in the Phoenix area, it has not only brought festive cheer to theatergoers but also helped local families in need. Since 2000, […]
By Chuck Graham. Originally published in Let the Show Begin. As promised, Arizona Theatre Company has brought back an even bigger and more dazzling production for its second consecutive year of Scrooge! with book, music and lyrics by Oscar and Grammy-winning Leslie Bricusse. Once more this tale of miserly Scrooge’s transformation into that most jovial […]
Originally published by KGUN 9. For Arizona Theatre Company’s spirited production of Scrooge!, actors in Tucson said they want to bring a unique well of emotions to the characters they will portray in the classic Charles Dickens holiday story. Matt Milne — playing young Ebenezer Scrooge and the old miser’s nephew — said his passion for acting […]
Tony Award-Winner Shuler Hensley and cast members of Arizona Theatre Company’s Holiday Musical, Scrooge! perform the National Anthem at the University of Arizona Men’s Basketball Home Opener on November 4, 2024.
By Chloe Rabinowitz. Originally Published on BroadwayWorld.com. Arizona Theatre Company will welcome back Tony Award-winning Broadway star Shuler Hensley to reprise his role as the title character in its holiday musical Scrooge! this holiday season. Performing feature roles in Broadway and West End shows like Oklahoma!, Young Frankenstein and Meredith Wilson’s Music Man, as well as feature films […]
By Cathalena E. Burch. Originally published on Tucson.com. Arizona Theatre Company this weekend is bringing back Scrooge, the holiday musical about a miserly businessman’s journey to redemption as he discovers the true meaning of Christmas. The set from Emmy-winning designer Jason Ardizzone-West includes mechanical elements that transform the expansive set from scene to scene, with video enhancements […]
By Herbert Paine. Originally published on BroadwayWorld.com Confession: This theatre critic is an unabashed fan of Jeffrey Hatcher. His prowess as a prolific and imaginative playwright shines through his ingenious adaptations of classics like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Turn of the Screw, and his original Sherlock Holmes stories, including Holmes and Watson and Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure […]
When we think of the Holiday Season, we think of the joy that it brings. We think of how it is a season where people around the world are inspired to do generous acts for absolute strangers. We think about family and how we drop our normal routines to make space for them and enjoy the […]
By A.A. Cristi. Originally published on BroadwayWorld.com. Arizona Theatre Company (ATC) continues its commitment to develop new works with its latest developmental workshop reading of Robert Schenkkan’s Bob & Jean: A Love Story, an ode to his own parents’ romantic saga during World War II. “This play is a demonstration of love transcending a lifetime. It is […]
ATC has a longstanding relationship with the renowned playwright Jeffrey Hatcher, whose works have consistently captivated audiences with their wit, depth, and insight. His ability to weave intricate narratives has made him a favorite among ATC patrons, drawing in theatergoers year after year. From gripping dramas to light-hearted comedies, Hatcher’s plays span a wide range […]
By Chloe Rabinowitz. Originally published on BroadwayWorld.com. Arizona Theatre Company will open its 57th season with the classic revenge thriller Dial M For Murder, written by Frederick Knott and adapted by playwright Jeffrey Hatcher. Director Michael John Garcés returns to ATC to pilot the production just in time for the Halloween season. “Season 57 is about great stories told by […]
Following his service in the British Royal Artillery during World War II, playwright Frederick Knott found himself fascinated by what would drive the average person to commit the heinous act of murder. And while he was noted to have hated writing – doing so only to pay the bills – there was no doubt he […]
By Ryan Fish. Originally published on KGUN9.com. Aaron Cammack is the ‘2024/2025 Resident Artist’ for the Arizona Theatre Company. He will be in three main stage productions for ATC this upcoming season, along with hosting community outreach efforts including an upcoming workshop for about 20 other local actors. It’s something that wouldn’t have been possible just […]
By A.A. Cristi. Originally published by Broadway World. Arizona Theatre Company has announced Tucson local Aaron Cammack as Resident Artist. This appointment showcases the company’s commitment to local Arizona artists, creating world-class theatre, and inspiring creativity that brings all Arizonans together. “There is real talent in the state of Arizona,” says ATC Kasser Family Artistic Director Matt August. “I […]
By Sam Dingman. Originally published by KJZZ. By the time Sam Shepard published his classic play True West in 1980, he’d already won a Pulitzer Prize. His acting career was on the rise after a star turn in Terrence Malick’s “Days of Heaven.” After more than a decade rising through the ranks of New York’s […]
The new musical will feature a book by Tony Award winner Rupert Holmes and music & lyrics by Tony Award-winning composer Mark Hollmann. By A.A. Cristi. Originally published by BroadwayWorld. Arizona Theatre Company (ATC) has begun workshopping the first-ever musical adaptation of the 1930s classic novel My Man Godfrey. The new musical will feature a book […]
Three new members have joined ATC’s Board of Trustees recently and will serve three-year terms. Arizona State Rep. Analise Ortiz, Former Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman, and Business Leader Debra Larson join the 22 current Trustees who govern the 57-year-old non-profit. Born and raised in Arizona and a Maryvale resident, Ortiz was elected to the Arizona […]
Every Season, ON Media celebrates Arts Heroes in our state, this year ATC’s Sound Supervisor Mathew DeVore was among those chosen! Read more about Mathew and his path to ATC’s Sound Department in the article below originally published by ON Media. If the goal of every live theater production is to strike a chord with […]
By Chuck Graham. Originally published by TucsonStage.com. Come for the energy (and the laughs) but stay for the artistic insight, that’s my advice when it comes to seeing Arizona Theatre Company’s bristling smack-down production of Sam Shepard’s Pulitzer Prize-nominated True West. I’ll guarantee you this – no one who watches this show thoughtfully will go […]
By Ann Brown. Originally Published by the Arizona Daily Star. Arizona Theatre Company’s production of Sam Shepard’s True West is a powerful, poignant portrayal of family dysfunction and sibling rivalry punctuated with laugh-out-loud humor. True West which opened Friday, May 3, closes the ATC season on May 18. Prolific playwright Shepard (1943-2017) is known for […]
By Zach Wetzel. Originally published by Broadway World. True West explodes onstage at Arizona Theatre Company. This is the single greatest piece of live theater I have ever seen. True West is the story of two estranged siblings forced to interact while one of them house-sits for their mother. Written by Sam Shepard and directed by Jenn […]
It’s been a while since we’ve talked shop, and we’ve missed it. With so many unseen heroes and incredible facts about True West, we have to let you in on a few secrets that you might want to keep an eye out for when you come to see the show. 1. True West has the […]
Consider the American Dream. Consider the promise that hard work breeds success. Nothing is off the table. As long as you are willing to put in the hours to make it happen, the world is at your fingertips. So, you put your head down and you get to work. You do the best you can […]
Sam Shepard has been described by New York Magazine as “the greatest American playwright of his generation,” a description earned as a result of several successful works he created. Gruff, gritty, and bold, Shepard’s work stands out amongst the peers of his time. “He was Tarantino, before Tarantino,” said Kasser Family Artistic Director Matt August. […]
By Chloe Rabinowitz. Originally published on BroadwayWorld.com. Arizona Theatre Company will present Sam Shepard’s True West in an electrifying conclusion to its 56th season. This raw and gripping production promises audiences a hilariously unforgettable journey into the heart of family, rivalry, and the American Dream. True West depicts the turbulent relationship between two estranged brothers, Austin and […]
By A.A. Cristi. Originally Published on BroadwayWorld.com. Arizona Theatre Company is delighted to announce the winner of the 2023 National Latine Playwrights Award. Chicano playwright, David A. Tucker II, has won the award for his black comedy, The Nude, for which he will receive $2500 and a professional workshop and a public reading of the […]
By Kathleen Kennedy. Originally Published in Desert Leaf. Arizona is in for a true Western masterpiece this month when ATC presents the acclaimed Sam Shepard play True West, nominated in 1983 for a Pulitzer Prize and in 2000 for three Tony Awards, including Best Play, and two Drama Desk Awards. Director Jenn Thompson brings a […]
By Chloe Rabinowitz. Originally Published on BroadwayWorld.com Arizona Theatre Company has unveiled its 57th season. From gripping mysteries to heartwarming love stories to joyful musicals, this season is set to be a celebration of memorable storytelling. “The year that lies ahead for Arizona is going to be challenging on a number of fronts. I want ATC […]
By Cathalena Burch. Originally Published by the Arizona Daily Star. One of the greatest opera divas is holding a master class and [Arizona audiences are] invited to sit in. But in Terrence McNally’s Tony Award-winning play “Master Class,” Maria Callas doesn’t sing. She talks. Which is a good thing for the star of Arizona Theatre Company’s […]
By Gil Benbrook. Originally published in Talkin’ Broadway. Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel is a poignant drama that explores love, longing, and the pursuit of dreams in early 20th-century New York City. Arizona Theatre Company is currently presenting an exquisite production of this deeply resonating drama with an impeccable cast, emotionally rich direction, and gorgeous creative elements. Set […]
By Herbert Paine. Originally published on BroadwayWorld.com. One of the great and all too infrequent joys of being a theatre critic is to happen upon a show where all the stars converge to create a stellar and commanding theatrical experience. Such a moment occurred during opening weekend of Arizona Theatre Company’s production of Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel. The […]
The Arizona House of Representatives today officially proclaimed February 15 Arizona Theatre Company Day in celebration of ATC’s contributions to enhancing the vibrant cultural landscape of Arizona. This momentous decision recognizes Arizona Theatre Company’s leadership role in the state’s artistic community and its profound impact on the cultural enrichment of residents and visitors alike. Arizona […]
Mastery is a decision. A decision to endure the uncomfortable pains that come with the evolution to greatness. A decision to surrender your soul to the grueling fires of refinement. A life-changing decision that will either breed lifelong happiness or deep-rooted regret. A decision only you can make. And when mastery does come, it does not come […]
“Theatre changes hearts,that secret place where we all truly live…” — Terrence McNally2019 Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement Acceptance Speech Terrence McNally was an American playwright, librettist, and LGBTQ+ trailblazer, described by the New York Times as “the bard of the American Theater.” One of the few playwrights of his generation to successfully pass from the avant-garde to […]
Marcia Milgrom Dodge “MMD” is a Tony, Drama Desk, and Astaire Award-nominated director and choreographer for her celebrated revival of Ragtime (Broadway and Kennedy Center), for which she also won the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Director, Resident Musical. MMD is thrilled to return to ATC after 30 years, when she directed and choreographed Some Enchanted Evening: The […]
By A.A. Cristi. Originally published by Broadway World. Arizona Theatre Company continues its virtuosic season with the Tony Award winning play Master Class, by five-time Tony winner Terrence McNally. Master Class tells the story of opera superstar Maria Callas as she delivers a hilarious and harrowing masterclass to the future stars who are nipping at her heels. Broadway and […]
By Kathleen Allen. Originally published by the Arizona Daily Star. Who knew that a play that centers around women’s lingerie could deeply examine class, race, love, deep sorrow and deep hope. That’s exactly what Intimate Apparel does. Arizona Theatre Company is staging the Lynn Nottage play, inspired by her great grandmother who was a seamstress. And you […]
Esther has spent years with her head down, working as a seamstress designing intimate apparel for women from all walks of life. They come with secrets and romances that she could only imagine. But now, one letter launches the beginning of her own adventure. Esther’s landlady, Mrs. Dickson, delivers the letter from a man named […]
Playwright and screenwriter Lynn Nottage is the first, and remains the only, woman to have won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama twice: in 2009 for her play Ruined, and in 2017 for her play Sweat. Her plays have been produced widely in the United States and throughout the world – including here, at Arizona Theatre […]
Legendary award-winning television, motion picture, and theatrical director Oz Scott returns to the stage to direct ATC’s Intimate Apparel. Scott has nearly five decades of experience directing hundreds of television episodes along with dozens of stage productions, made-for-TV movies, and motion pictures. Oz Scott is an award-winning entertainment industry veteran and highly sought after director whose notable work includes hundreds […]
By Chris Curcio. Originally published on Curtain Up Phoenix. Arizona Theatre Company has found the perfect holiday show with its glistening production of the reworked 1992 Leslie Bricusse musical Scrooge! This Scrooge does not have the evil and malicious Ebenezer seen in many shows based on Charles Dickens’ melancholy A Christmas Carol. Scrooge’s Ebenezer is […]
By Julie Coleman. Originally published by Frontdoors Media. 1. You play the title character in Arizona Theatre Company’s new adaptation of “Scrooge! The Musical.” How is this holiday show different from the classic story? It’s interesting how this particular production came to be. Arizona Theatre Company’s artistic director, Matt August, was working with Leslie Bricusse, […]
By Se’Kara Reed. Originally published by The Paper Cut. On November 30th, Ms. Barnes’s advanced choir and Ms. Lange’s journalism and sophomore honors classes went on a field trip to the Temple of Music and Art to watch Arizona Theatre Company’s Scrooge! The Musical. Directed by Matt August, the play is an adaptation of Charles Dickens’s A […]
Did you know KVOA News 4 Tucson paid us a visit? In case you missed it, check out the video below highlighting ATC’s holiday musical, Scrooge! Don’t miss Tony Award-winning star Shuler Hensley sharing his favorite line, Tiny Tim actor Beni Bermudez speaking to his experience working on the show, and Director Matt August explaining […]
By Kathleen Allen. Originally published by the Arizona Daily Star. Well, this was a surprise. We hadn’t expected to like Arizona Theatre Company’s production of Scrooge!. It’s a Christmas cliché and a too-obvious grasp for a holiday money-maker. But we couldn’t help it: We liked it. We really liked it. The musical is based on the 1970 […]
Leslie Bricusse (1931-2021) was a writer/ composer/lyricist who contributed to many musical films and plays during his long, awardwinning career. He was born in London and educated at University College School and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. At Cambridge, he was president of both the University Footlights Club and Musical Comedy Club. There, he co-authored, […]
By Tom Maxedon. Originally published by KJZZ.org. Newly released data by Americans for the Arts shows Arizona’s nonprofit arts and culture sector generated over $1 billion in economic activity in 2022. The data is part of the Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 study. Chris Elliott co-managed the data gathering effort for the national agency on behalf […]
By Barbi Walker-Walsh. Originally published by Wrangler News. Arts Unite: Tempe’s Dazzling Pact with the Official State Theater of Arizona Sets the Stage for a Cultural Renaissance. Tempe Center for the Arts and Arizona Theatre Company have announced details of a five-year partnership to bring high-quality, professional theater to Tempe. The announcement came during an […]
Cast members from Arizona Theatre Company’s upcoming Scrooge! sang the National Anthem before the Arizona Cardinals’ October 29 home game at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. The show’s headliner, Shuler Hensley, along with four of the cast’s child actors who are all native Arizonans, kicked off the game. Hensley most recently appeared on Broadway as […]
Arizona Theatre Company’s production of Scrooge! promises to be a magical and heartwarming experience, thanks in no small part to the incredible talents behind the scenes. The creative team responsible for bringing this timeless holiday classic to life is a group of seasoned professionals, each with a remarkable list of career accomplishments. Let’s take a […]
By Derek Gatopoulos. Originally published by APNews.com. Finishing her class at The Juilliard School of the arts in New York, Greek opera great Maria Callas gave her students a final word of advice. “Keep on going the proper way: Not with fireworks, not with easy applause, but with the expression of the words, the diction, and to really […]
When we think of the Holiday Season, we think of the joy that it brings. We think of how it is a season where people around the world are inspired to do generous acts for absolute strangers. We think about family and how we drop our normal routines to make space for them. We think […]
By Lloyd Schwartz. Originally published by NPR.org. Widely considered the greatest singing actor in opera history, Callas died in 1977 at the age of 53. Now, several new releases celebrate both her singing and her acting. SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “MEDEA, ACT 1: ‘DEI TUOI FIGLI LA MADRE’ (MEDEA) [LIVE]”) MARIA CALLAS: (Singing in Italian). LLOYD […]
To honor their 60-plus years in the community, Scottsdale Fashion Square is once again giving back to the many nonprofit partners who have supported us through the decades. Scottsdale Fashion Square is calling upon shoppers to pay it forward through its “Shop It Forward” program. The program has been extended for shoppers to have more […]
By A.A. Cristi. Originally published by Broadway World. Arizona Theatre Company has announced Hollywood film and stage actor Shuler Hensley as the title character in the theatre’s holiday show, Scrooge! The Musical. Hensley’s list of roles and awards is long and illustrious. His film appearances include The Greatest Showman, The Legend of Zorro, Van Helsing, The Bread, My […]
The world of entertainment has always been marked by passion, dedication, and sometimes, controversy. In recent news, the entertainment industry has been buzzing with headlines about the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strike, which has highlighted some fundamental differences between SAG-AFTRA and the Actor’s Equity Association (AEA). Let’s explore these […]
American playwright and screenwriter Neil Simon (1927-2018) is widely regarded as one of the most successful, prolific, and performed playwrights in theatre history. In addition to Lost In Yonkers, which won a Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize, his plays and musicals include Come Blow Your Horn, Little Me, Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple, Sweet Charity, The Star-Spangled […]
Named Arizona Theatre Company’s Kasser Family Artistic Director in January 2023, Matt August brings experience as a theatre, opera, and film director as well as educator. His productions have broken Broadway box-office records (Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas) and played in London, across the UK, Off-Broadway, in major regional theatres, at festivals, on […]
It’s the 1960s. You meet someone. You get swept off your feet. You fall in love. You marry them. Boom. End of story. At least, that’s what a majority of the films from that time look like. Audrey Hepburn falls in love with Fred Astaire. Debbie Reynolds falls in love with Gene Kelly. Actually … […]
It’s been 8 months since Matt August took over as the Kasser Family Artistic Director, and yet his passion and drive heading into his inaugural season has anything but slowed. His love for Arizona Theatre Company and its continued legacy of bringing about meaningful work is the perfect home for his ambition to accomplish the […]
Like so many who come into the theatre world, Matt August discovered his love for the arts in his adolescence. Since then, August has gone on to develop an extensive resume that includes working alongside Tony-winning artists and a number of celebrities before they were launched into stardom. Now, as he adds Artistic Director to […]
ATC has long been committed to inclusivity both on stage and within the organization. Everyone has a place at our theatre, and we are proud to celebrate our wonderfully diverse community. Make new friends, meet up with old ones, and bond over representation on stage and the world-class theatre being created in our own backyard.
ATC to present five mainstage shows in first year at TCA starting this October. Arizona Theatre Company will present its Valley market shows at the state-of-the-art Tempe Center for the Arts for at least the next five years thanks to a long-term partnership that will bring high-quality, professional theatre to the East Valley. In its first season at […]
By Kathleen Allen. Originally published by The Arizona Daily Star. This is a simple fact of life: Where there are drag queens there is joy. And there is an abundance of joy on the Arizona Theatre Company stage. The Legend of Georgia McBride, ATC’s current offering, is about Casey, a failed Elvis impersonator who turns […]
It’s time to celebrate the power of theatre and the artists who make it happen. Often, shows seen on Broadway get their start on regional stages like Arizona Theatre Company. As one of 75 LORT Regional theatres in the country, ATC has a long history of developing world-class theatre in Arizona, and eventually transitioning works […]
By A.A. Cristi. Originally published on Broadwayworld.com. Arizona Theatre Company, recognized as the Official State Theatre, is excited to be producing Noël Coward’s Private Lives. Director KJ Sanchez introduces new locations and time periods for the project that add glamour, grace, and Tango to Coward’s iconic, wry comedy. The first act will take place in […]
ATC’s new leader is no stranger to directing — or to Arizona, for that matter. By Robert Encila-Celdran. Originally published by BroadwayWorld.com. Matt August recalls his first introduction to Arizona Theatre Company as a fortuitous occasion. The year was 2015, a theater season that culminated with a show he directed – the eccentric and lengthily titled three-hander, The Gospel According […]
By M.V. Moorhead. Originally published by Phoenix Magazine. “Keep your mind active.” We’re often told that this is a key to long term cognitive health: doing crossword puzzles or Sudoku or Wordle, reading, writing. But being a famous, award-winning critic and essayist hasn’t kept Prudence “Pru” Payne from one of the scourges of aging: dementia. […]
By Herbert Paine. Originally published by BroadwayWorld.com. Pru Payne is a lost and found story. The title character, Prudence ‘Pru’ Payne (Mimi Kennedy), is a witty and sharp-tongued critic who, while being honored by her peers, starts showing signs of dementia. Despite losing some of her memories, she makes a few new ones with Augustus ‘Gus’ […]
By Chris Curcio. Originally published on Curtain Up Phoenix. Arizona rarely sees world premiere plays and often when plays begin here they aren’t stellar. So, it is wonderful that the Arizona Theatre Company’s Pru Payne is such a remarkable piece. Steven Drukman’s play is a sensitive and touching telling of dementia’s impacts on two very […]
Noël Peirce Coward was born in 1899 and made his professional stage debut as Prince Mussel in The Goldfish at the age of 12, leading to many child actor appearances over the next few years. His breakthrough in playwriting was the controversial The Vortex (1924), which featured themes of drugs and adultery and made his […]
By Betsy Labiner. Originally published on Taming of the Review on March 16, 2023. Pru Payne, written by Steven Drukman and directed by Sean Daniels, is a hard show to categorize. It’s timeless, firmly rooted in the 1980s but inarguably current. It’s funny, but bleak. It’s gentle and caustic in turns. It’s resigned, yet hopeful. […]
By Kathleen Allen. Originally published by the Arizona Daily Star. If Elizabeth Hardwick and Dorothy Parker had a baby, it would be Pru Payne. Pru is the acerbic, acid-tongued character in Arizona Theatre Company’s Pru Payne. Like Hardwick and Parker, Pru is a critic, a towering intellectual, and can be seriously scary when she puts pen […]
Steven Drukman’s devastatingly honest play sheds light on mental illness and the invigorating power of love. By Robert Encila-Celdran. Originally published on BroadwayWorld.com. When Arizona Theatre Company redesigned its programming two years ago, a cloud of ambivalence engulfed a complacent viewing public. The company’s commitment to supporting uncharted material by a working crop of playwrights signaled ATC’s pivot […]
Arizona Theatre Company’s 56th season features a grand slam lineup of productions under the direction of new Kasser Family Artistic Director Matt August. As Arizona’s Official State Theatre, ATC’s new home in metro Phoenix will be at Tempe Center for the Arts. Tucson productions will remain at the Temple of Music and Art. Subscriptions, including five-play […]
ATC has had the pleasure of working with countless talented and insightful directors throughout its years as a company. With ATC’s addition of Noël Coward’s Private Lives, comes the addition of accomplished director KJ Sanchez. Growing up on a ranch as the youngest of 12, Sanchez had her sights set on becoming a physical therapist. […]
With any play, the scenic designer has a responsibility to bring the words in the script to life based off of hints laid throughout it. Some scripts are more literal when it comes to describing the set, while others can be as vague as naming a simple room. Pru Payne is graced with the creative […]
Funny word: playwright — so often misspelled, given that “wright”and “write” are homonyms. But any playwright can tell you that plays are wrought — crafted — more than they’re written. You might ask four different wheelwrights to make you four different wheels; you wouldn’t ask any to write you one. Hand-wrought jewelry looks lovely on […]
THE GLASS MENAGERIE delivers a solid and heartbreaking cast at Arizona Theatre Company. By Robert Encila-Celdran. Originally published on BroadwayWorld.com. We can never know how Tennessee Williams might have fared had he remained a poet. By happy chance, his lyric acuity parlayed into a singularly rare narrative form, revolutionizing the theater landscape post-World War II. If the structure […]
ATC audiences will be treated to a star-studded cast in Steven Drukman’s world premiere of Pru Payne, as Tony Award nominee and Emmy and SAG Award winner Gordon Clapp joins Mimi Kennedy as Pru’s love interest, Gus. A theatre, television, and film actor widely known for his role as Det. Greg Medavoy for all 12 […]
By Kathy Allen. Originally published by the Arizona Daily Star. The Wingfield family is back. And you do not want to miss a visit with them. The Wingfields are the dysfunctional clan at the center of Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie,” currently on stage at the Arizona Theatre Company. Williams’ 1944 play, which has been on ATC’s stage twice before, […]
Originally published on BroadwayWorld.com Arizona Theatre Company has announced that the world premiere of Pru Payne, winner of the Edgerton Foundation New Play Award, is coming to Tucson and Phoenix this spring. The show, written by Pulitzer Prize nominee Steven Drukman, is a funny and emotional journey about the evolution of love and identity in the […]
In an ever-conscious world of mental health and self-care, many people in our generation are trained to spot toxic behaviors and encouraged to avoid them. Unfortunately for the Wingfield family, these sharp skills were hard to come by. Left and right throughout Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie, we see how the characters miss opportunities to […]
At Arizona Theatre Company we get to bring amazing artists and creators together to manifest wonderful pieces of art. In the upcoming production of Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie, Lillie Richardson has joined our team to play the one and only Amanda Wingfield. We sat down with Richardson to get to know her a little […]
Mimi Kennedy Will Lead Award-Winning Production Pru Payne Arizona Theatre Company is excited to announce that Mimi Kennedy, best known for her roles on the television series Mom and Dharma & Greg, will be returning to the stage for the first time in over a decade as the title character in ATC’s world premiere of […]
In any stage production, as soon as our eyes hit the stage we’re met with the careful collaboration of each element of design. The lights, sound, and scenic design work together to transport us into the world of the play. And if done well, the world outside of the play begins to disappear. At ATC, […]
When you have a classic such as “Pride and Prejudice,” it’s hard not to get swept up in the romance and drama that occurs between characters like Wickham and Lydia. However, in Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon’s The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley, we get a closer look at the people who were supposed to be […]
Grant funds to be distributed to Arizona Opera, Arizona Theatre Company, Ballet Tucson, and the Tucson Symphony Orchestra to mitigate the negative impacts of COVID-19 Four Arizona performing arts organizations that serve the Tucson community have been awarded grants ranging from $250,000 – $750,000 as part of a $2 million COVID relief funding distribution from […]
The Glass Menagerie is often described as a memory play. Just what does that mean? In the stage directions, Tennessee Williams writes, “The scene is memory and is therefore nonrealistic. Memory takes a lot of poetic license. It omits some details, others are exaggerated, according to the emotional value of the articles it touches, for […]
The Glass Menagerie takes place in 1937, during The Great Depression. The Depression had been ongoing for some time and its effects were widespread and deeply felt by the American public. Below are some additional events that were happening … Social Trends:• Popularity of the movies (by 1930, 90,000,000 people attended the movies weekly, including […]
Thomas Lanier Williams was born on March 26, 1911, in Columbus, Mississippi, to parents Cornelius and Edwina Dakin Williams. From an early age, Thomas, often called Tom, felt he did not belong anywhere. His father was often abusive, repeatedly taunting his son as a “sissy boy.” Edwina was a woman desperately holding onto a southern […]
Distinguished Broadway Director, Educator to Take Helm of ATC’s Artistic Process Arizona Theatre Company today announced that Matt August has been named the Kasser Family Artistic Director of the 55-year-old professional theatre company. An artistic leader, distinguished director and educator with more than 27 years of theatre experience, August has worked in diverse markets including […]
By Kathy Allen. Originally published by the Arizona Daily Star. The drama isn’t always upstairs at Pemberley, the elaborate estate where Darcy and his wife Elizabeth live. It’s definitely downstairs, in the servants domain, as well. And that’s where the action takes place in Arizona Theatre Company’s “The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley.” This is the second […]
A couple dashes of sawdust and a few splashes of ale and you’ve got one seriously out of sorts jacket. We asked Resident Costume Designer Kish Finnegan about her process distressing George Wickham’s military coat and here’s what she had to say. “This was a fun one! In theatre we do a lot of ageing […]
The theatre is a thing that many people are passionate about. They spend endless hours rehearsing lines, writing scripts, designing sets, etc. Some might say that the theatre is their life, so much so that they are still around long after they are gone … Spooky Tale #1 – David Belasco Lives and Dies Theatre […]
NOTE: ATC will present Playwright Matthew Lopez’s The Legend of Georgia McBride in Tucson June 3-24 and in Phoenix June 29-July 16. By Felicia Fitzpatrick. Originally Published on BroadwayDirect.com With a number of movie adaptations playing on Broadway over the last decade, the industry has been deep in discourse about the balance of shows that […]
During The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley, ATC will be collecting new or gently used books for children up to 18 years of age as part of Make Way for Books’ Blue Book House Project. Storybooks (board books, picture books, chapter books) and children’s literature can be dropped off in the lobby during any performance of the […]
We’re excited to announce that ATC’s metropolitan Phoenix productions beginning in October 2023 will take place in our new home at the Tempe Center for the Arts! While tickets are not yet on sale for next season, we wanted to let our loyal patrons know about this upcoming change. Watch this video to hear from […]
Max Alexander-Taylor dazzles with commanding simplicity.By Robert Encila-Celdran. Originally published on BroadwayWorld.com. If a work of art is inspired by one’s real-life travails, there’s no bigger catalyst for a masterpiece than one’s ruthless fray with desolation and mortality. That’s what we’re privy to in ATC’s one-man musical that launches the company’s 55th season: a stirringly intimate recounting […]
One-man show comes to Arizona after an acclaimed London stint. by Robert Encila-Celdran. Originally published on BroadwayWorld.com. Last summer for me was one for the books. I had the good fortune to visit London and absorb the city’s renowned theatre scene — a significant item off the proverbial bucket list. From revered classics at Shakespeare’s Globe to […]
Arizona Theatre Company announced today that its Kasser Family Artistic Director, Sean Daniels, will be leaving ATC in Spring 2023 to pursue a new opportunity as Florida Studio Theatre’s new associate director. Daniels has served as ATC’s artistic director and co-CEO since 2019, where he has helped produce and present award-winning dramas, comedies, musicals, world […]
For each show, Associate Artistic Director Chanel Bragg highlights a member of the cast or creative team who is not only local to Arizona but exemplifies excellence within their field. There is such incredible talent within our community, and as the state theatre of Arizona, we love to highlight it. In August, Bragg interviewed Emily Mohney, who is starring as Cassie in ATC’s highly […]
We’re delighted to share several sound improvements you’ll notice when you return to the theatre this fall, including additional microphones, sound mixing improvements, assistive listening device options at every performance, and open captioning at a select performance of every show. Sound Supervisor Mathew DeVore and his team will be approaching all six shows as they […]
What do we do about the servants? As evidenced in British programs such as Upstairs, Downstairs or Downton Abbey, and the more recent Hotel Portofino, the long-suffering members of the upper class have to contend with their servants as much as their own foibles. Remember Rose Buck, who was in the service of the Bellamy […]
Recently, ATC Staff members had the chance to virtually sit down with the cast and creatives of The Lion. Check out this conversation between Co-Director Alex Stenhouse and Actor Max Alexander-Taylor about how they got involved with the project.
Traditional music theater scores are said to need a good old fashioned “I want” song – remember “Wouldn’t it be Loverly” from My Fair Lady: All I want is a room somewhereFar away from the cold night airWith one enormous chairOh, wouldn’t it be loverly? Or maybe you are more familiar with “If I Were […]
Arizona Theatre Company is excited to announce that Dominican-American playwright, performer and theatremaker, Erlina Ortiz, has won the 2022 National Latine Playwrights Award with her dramedy La Egoista, for which she will receive $2,500 and a professional workshop. In conjunction with ATC senior artistic staff, panelists included director, playwright and Associate Artistic Director for Syracuse […]
World Lion Day is celebrated on August 10! ATC is celebrating as we prepare for the opening show of our 55th Season, The Lion. Enjoy this animated music video of the title song, “The Lion,” performed by Benjamin Scheuer!
Classic comedy replaces The White Chip for the fifth show in ATC’s 55th Season As Arizona Theatre Company closed its first complete two-city, six-play season in three years on July 17, the State Theatre announced that it will be producing Noël Coward’s Private Lives as its fifth show in the coming 2022/2023 Season. The beloved […]
THE LION plays to rave London reviews; will open 2022-23 season at Arizona Theatre Company by Robert Encila-Celdran. Originally published on BroadwayWorld.com. The year was 2013. Sean Daniels met singer-songwriter Benjamin Scheuer at Goodspeed Musicals, where the Johnny Mercer Foundation launched The Writers Grove: a veritable sanctuary for gifted writers to create and develop new musicals. […]
Christopher Oscar Pena delivers a riveting new play at Arizona Theatre Company by Robert Encila-Celdran. Originally published on BroadwayWorld.com. Occasionally a critic comes across a production that impairs his sense of objectivity. Indeed I’m guilty as chris peña’s play hits a little too close to home. how to make an American Son is a provocative immigration story, […]
To know chris peña is to come face to face with a hurricane — intense, relentless, focused, and deliberate. To know chris peña is to know passion, humor, generosity, and spirit. To know chris peña is to know talent. His play how to make an American Son is fueled by these emotions and a point […]
Titan CEO and headline sponsors, Class VI Partners and Wipfli LLP, are pleased to announce Arizona Theatre Company’s Managing Director Geri Wright as a 2022 Phoenix Titan 100. The Titan 100 program recognizes Phoenix’s Top 100 CEO’s & C-level executives. They are the area’s most accomplished business leaders in their industry using criteria that includes […]
A behind-the-scenes look at Arizona Theatre Company’s world premiere musical Justice. The play examines the friendship between Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, what it means to be the first and how the court continues to move forward thanks to their efforts. Playwright Lauren Gunderson also created a third character, Vera, […]
Recently, Associate Artistic Director Chanel Bragg sat down with christopher oscar peña, ATC Artistic Associate and playwright of the upcoming production how to make an American Son, which is premiering at ATC and this summer. In addition to being a playwright, peña is currently a television writer for several shows on HBO, Hulu, and ABC. […]
The White Chip, a New York Times Critics’ Pick, shows a path to recovery that is poignant, funny, and uplifting. The White Chip will be in Scotland this May for two co-produced readings in Edinburgh and Glasgow! A dry comedy about drying out, the show follows the main character Steven as he forms a new bond […]
Arizona Theatre Company’s 55th season is taking the stage to inspire positive change, celebrate the spectrum of human emotion, and entertain even after the curtains close. Single tickets will go on sale in August 2022. Subscriptions, including six-play packages and flex passes that allow patrons to choose the shows that fit their schedules, will be available […]
Matthew López is the playwright of the final show in our 55th Season, The Legend of Georgia McBride. Originally published by GBH News. Last year, Matthew López became the first Latino writer to win a Tony Award for best play. The Inheritance premiered in London in 2018 before moving to Broadway. Now, over two years […]
Thank you to The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation for their Social Impact Theatre Grant! Our Production of Nina Simone: Four Women was one of ten productions selected for its commitment to bringing different viewpoints together on challenging subjects, reaching new audiences and partnering with organizations, community members and subject matter experts to help amplify its […]
Originally published on pbs.org by Linda Hirshman. Despite their differences, the first and second female Supreme Court justices found common ground on women’s equality. By the time the nation celebrates the birth of its democracy each Fourth of July, the nine justices of the Supreme Court have mostly left town. But before departing the capital […]
Originally published by Frontdoors Media. The Event: Season 54 Gala The Cause: Arizona Theatre Company Event Date: March 12, 2022 Location: Temple of Music and Art in Tucson Presenting Sponsor: RBC Wealth Management Honorees: Char Augenstein – Georgy Award Recipient & Chef Janos Wilder – Rainmaker Award Recipient Co-Chairs: Marcia Meyer & Anastasia Palmer Johnson Dollars Raised: $370,000+ Entertainment: Annaleigh Ashford, The Cast of Nina […]
Meet Kish Finnegan, the talented costume designer for the world premiere of Justice! At the beginning of this year, Associate Artistic Director Chanel Bragg interviewed Arizona Theatre Company’s very own Kish Finnegan, the talented costume designer for the world premiere of Justice. Finnegan is one of ATC’s main costume shop attendants and identifies as a […]
On Sunday, April 3, ATC proudly celebrated the perseverance of our local theatre-makers with Industry Night for Nina Simone: Four Women. The Arizona theatre community is resilient, passionate, and beautiful. The evening consisted of a reunion of local theatre-makers and a coming together of multiple organizations including members Arizona Equity Members & Supporters (Equity Night Out) and United Colours […]
Originally published by ABC15. By Venton Blandin Taking to the stage for Women’s History Month! The Arizona Theatre company is hosting a historic production. The story of Nina Simone, a 20th century icon of American music, who was deeply affected by the experiences of Black people during the civil rights movement is about to come […]
There are The Supremes (Florence Ballard, Diana Ross, Mary Wilson). And then there are THE Supremes – Thurgood Marshall, Warren Burger, Earl Warren, et al. Both are recognized for their lasting impact on the world they inhabit. Both have been given to periodic internal dissent. Both sometimes slide a tad too close to the political. […]
Protest Songs have been around for centuries. These songs are usually associated with a movement for social change and, at their core, they draw people together to inspire action and/or reflection. It is no secret that Nina Simone used her voice and songs to support the civil rights movement and speak out against racism in the United States. […]
In early November, Associate Artistic Director Chanel Bragg interviewed Arnel Sancianco, the talented scenic designer for Nina Simone: Four Women. Arnel is a professor at Arizona State University and identifies as a first-generation Asian scenic designer of Filipino descent who is now a proud Arizona transplant! Chanel and Arnel spoke over Zoom while Arnel was in Washington […]
Christina Ham’s Nina Simone: Four Women gives us a glimpse into the artistry and activism of one of the most powerful voices in American song history, Nina Simone. By looking at her life’s work through the lens of three other women – a housekeeper, an activist, and a prostitute on the day of the Birmingham church bombing on […]
Thank you to Scottsdale Fashion Square’s Shop It Forward Program and to all those who supported Arizona Theatre Company! We are thrilled to share, we placed 1st! Shop It Forward is a grassroots community program that allows participating nonprofits in the program to earn points from qualified purchases. Under the Shop It Forward Program, nonprofit […]
Crime and punishment. Law and order. Wine and cheese. One of these is not like the others, except in Wendy MacLeod’s Women in Jeopardy!, a perfectly structured mash-up of a police procedural and Real Housewives, but with a bit more heart. MacLeod, noted playwright, essayist, and professor at Kenyon College in Ohio, gives us three women – […]
As we voyage into rehearsals for the next show in our 54th season, we are delighted to feature another Arizona artist, Arizona State University professor (and award-winning design extraordinaire) Connie Furr. We are ecstatic to take this moment to feature the local design staple as our costume designer for Women in Jeopardy!. Connie’s iconic designs have been […]
ATC is proud to partner with STEM SWAG during our 54th Season! Throughout the season they are supplying us with beautiful floral arrangements for our opening night celebrations in Phoenix. As a locally owned and operated company, STEM SWAG is proud to support the State Theatre and realizes the importance of what arts and culture brings to […]
Dear ATC Family, The wait is over. The silence that befell the theatre has lifted. The darkness that filled our stage has been banished, and the emptiness that filled both our seats and hearts has once again been filled. Theatre is back and better than ever at Arizona Theatre Company, and the timing has beautifully coincided with […]
Off The Record … Mr. and Mrs. Darcy’s chemistry sizzles on stage and off! Newlyweds John Patrick Hayden and Alexis Bronkovic met in Minneapolis while working on Born Yesterday at the Guthrie Theatre. Since then, they have appeared together on stage in the Off-Broadway Production of The Big Broadcast and Cape May Stage’s Chapter Two. Experience their real life romance in Miss Bennet: Christmas […]
On December 3, University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television junior, Camden Stankus, went on stage to play the role of Elizabeth Darcy with thirty minutes notice! This was a role that she had not understudied for, but with a script in hand, she earned a standing ovation during curtain call! She learned dances at […]
Thursday, November 18 marked another great day in the return of live theatre at ATC! Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley welcomed over 500 students from around Tucson for our first Student Matinee in almost 2 years. It was a rousing success, everyone was engaged, laughing, clapping, and “oohing and aahing” throughout the show. It was everything we love […]
Orignially published in the Arizona Daily Star. by Cathalena E. Burch Poor Mary Bennet. Jane Austen barely gave her any ink in her 19th century novel “Pride and Prejudice.” Mary, the middle of the five Bennet sisters, kind of didn’t deserve any. She was dull, her nose was always stuck in a book and she was judgmental […]
Is it the setting, England during the Regency, where a prince instead of a king ruled and empire waist dresses were introduced by another “Emma”? Is it the language, where women speak up and men listen? Where irony and social commentary meld effortlessly together? Is it characters like Elizabeth Bennet, Elinor Dashwood, Emma Woodhouse, and so […]
SHOP IT FORWARD TO HELP BENEFIT ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY! Join us in celebrating Scottsdale Fashion Square’s 60th Anniversary by Shopping it Forward from October 15 – December 15. Shop, dine, and enjoy entertainment anywhere at Scottsdale Fashion Square, and then submit your receipts to raise money for ATC, one of six participating nonprofit organizations. To […]
Meet Seth Tucker Seth conducted this interview while working at Barnstormers Theatre in New Hampshire. Renowned as the oldest summer stock of 91 years in the country, he is currently performing in a reimagined telling of “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” of Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. In this new work titled “Far From Canterbury,” he is […]
Check it out! The Production Department has been busy working on the set of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley. Follow along in this time lapse video, see the backdrop and flooring of the set come to life!
Meet Elena Quach Elena expresses that’s she is so freaking excited, and that her students are ecstatic about her being cast. Upon telling them on the first day of school that she would be missing some of the winter session, her students excitedly exclaimed, “Miss, this is so much fun, you are like famous!” Elena shared […]
Originally published on ONStageAZ.com. A new direction, mission and leadership team advance ATC into its 54th season. Arizona Theatre Company (ATC) puts artists and audiences at the heart of all it does. ATC performances bring people together to experience essential stories, from reimagined classics to contemporary plays, original works, and innovative musicals. The theatre’s mission is to […]
Originally published on BroadwayWorld.com.By Robert Encila-Celdran It’s rush hour on a Friday afternoon and I have the good fortune to locate a parking spot across the lane from the Temple of Music and Art. I don’t recall parking this close to the building in my years as a patron of Arizona Theatre Company. Of course, my sense […]
Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Awards Surprise “Now is the Moment Grants Commemoration” to 71 Nonprofits, including ATC—the Largest Single-Day Grant Initiative in Arizona History The grants were presented to the awardees throughout the day on September 13, 2021—as a complete surprise. Trustees personally met with the CEOs and Board Chairs of the organizations to […]
This summer, as we prepared to get back on the mainstage, Arizona Theatre Company’s Production Department cleaned all of our lighting instruments.In doing so, we discovered we had equipment to share! Last week, ATC donated 44 Colortrans lighting instruments, barrels, and replacement bulbs to three Tucson area high schools – Tanque Verde High School, Palo […]
The Temple of Music and Art in Tucson was filled with laughter, friendship and joy on Saturday, September 4 as nearly 150 volunteers gathered for an orientation to prepare for ATC’s long-anticipated 54th Season. A celebration as much as it was an orientation, the event brought together ushers from all 24 series’ to hear about […]
Rachel Lynett, a playwright, producer, and teaching artist, has won Arizona Theatre Company’s 2021 National Latinx Playwrights Award for Black Mexican. Set against current questions of inclusion and representation, Lynett’s play compels audiences to also ask: Who defines identity? Lynett, the recipient of the 2021 Yale Drama Prize for the play, Apologies to Lorraine Hansberry (You Too August Wilson), will receive $1,000 and a workshop of Black Mexican at Arizona […]
Live theatre can boost empathy and pro-social behavior, according to new research by Eric W. Dolan, published in PsyPost July 25, 2021. Watching a live theatre production can increase empathy for the groups depicted in the plays and may even result in real changes in charitable behavior, according to new research published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. […]