BWW Reviews: A WEEKEND WITH PABLO PICASSO Comes to Life Vibrantly in Tucson

The Temple of Music and Art transports its audience this time to circa 1957. We are somewhere on the southern coast of France, in a private studio known as "Le California," where we spend A Weekend with Pablo Picasso. At the helm of this one man, multi-media production, based on Picasso's writings themselves, is the play's writer, Herbert Siguenza (Pablo Picasso).

Just as Picasso, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, changed the way we look at and think about art, Siguenza makes us change the way we see the man behind the art.

Instead of seeing just the Picasso, the artist, Siguenza shows us Picasso, the activist. We are treated to Picasso, the human being, as he shares stories from his life and childhood. We are given the charismatic man with a passion for life.

And his life is his work, which Picasso reminds us as it should be: the two should go hand-in-hand.

Throughout the play's entirety, Seguenza also recreates Picasso's work - paintings and drawings. Every piece of artwork seen on stage was made by Seguenza himself and we are treated to more pieces via projections onto blank canvas and walls, courtesy of lighting designer, Ross Glanc. A Weekend with Pablo Picasso showcases Seguenza as a playwright, an actor, and a painter -- a versatile artist like the late 20th century Spanish creator.

A Weekend with Pablo Picasso, which makes its Arizona premiere with the Arizona Theatre Company , runs until April 26th at the Temple of Music and Art in Tucson, made possible by ATC's 2014-2015 Season Sponsors, I. Michael and Beth Kasser. Special performances in Spanish are at 4pm on Sunday, April 19th and at 7:30pm on Tuesday, April 21st. Tickets start at $37 and can be purchased at the box office, via telephone at (520) 622-2823, or online at www.arizonatheatre.org. Discounted rates are available to seniors and active military members. Students can purchase $10 tickets at all performances and half-price rush tickets are available for balcony seats one hour prior to curtain.

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