Arizona Theatre Company News

Mary T. & Lizzy K. stitches together an insider's look at the unique friendship between Mary Todd Lincoln and her talented dressmaker, the successful freed slave Elizabeth 'Lizzy' Keckly. Written and directed by Thompson, Mary T. & Lizzy K. runs now through April 28, 2013 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle at Arena Stage. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The Laguna Playouse will present Hershey Felder's newest production, award-winning concert pianist Mona Golabek starring in the one-woman show, based on a true story, THE PIANIST OF WILLESDEN LANE. Adapted and directed by audience favorite Hershey Felder and based on the book The Children of Willesden Lane by Golabek and Lee Cohen, this music-filled evening recounts the personal story of Ms. Golabek's mother in Nazi-occupied Europe. THE PIANIST OF WILLESDEN LANE will perform for two weeks only beginning Wednesday, May 29 through Sunday, June 9 at the Laguna Playhouse, Moulton Theatre, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd. in Laguna Beach.

Lilly loves everything about school, especially her cool teacher, Mr. Slinger. But when he confiscates her prized possession - a purple plastic purse that plays music - joy turns to misery in Lilly's Plastic Purple Purse, today, March 29 - April 14 at The Rose. Lilly, who is used to being the brightest and loudest mouse around, will also have to get used to sharing the spotlight with her new baby brother in this charming adaptation of Kevin Henkes' award-winning children's book.

Park Square closes its season June 2013 with the beguiling thriller SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SUICIDE CLUB, a new script by Jeffrey Hatcher. A fast-paced mash-up of the unforgettable characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and 'The Suicide Club' by Robert Louis Stevenson, this script has its roots in Park Square's last wildly popular homage to the great sleuth, Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily (2010). "David Ira Goldstein (Artistic Director of the Arizona Theatre Company, former Artistic Director of Actor's Theatre of Saint Paul) and Jeff Hatcher were in the audience at that show," explains Park Square Artistic Director Richard Cook. "Jeff boasted he could write an even better Sherlock and David Ira said 'then I'll commission it.'" David Mann directs and Steve Hendrickson returns once again as the absurdly smart Holmes, this time in a thriller with multiple murders in which Holmes is either target or suspect.

North Coast Repertory Theatre presents THE ODD COUPLE by Neil Simon, directed by Andrew Barnicle. The show will run in previews April 10 - 12, 2013 and continues April 13 - May 5, 2013.

Cornish College of the Arts Theater and Performance Production departments present Bat Boy: The Musical, April 10 through 13, at the Playhouse at Seattle Center. The run of the play includes a fundraiser for the Cornish Scholarship Fund, Bat Boy: Backstage Benefit, on April 10.

Lilly loves everything about school, especially her cool teacher, Mr. Slinger. But when he confiscates her prized possession - a purple plastic purse that plays music - joy turns to misery in Lilly's Plastic Purple Purse, March 29 - April 14 at The Rose. Lilly, who is used to being the brightest and loudest mouse around, will also have to get used to sharing the spotlight with her new baby brother in this charming adaptation of Kevin Henkes' award-winning children's book.

Ni****/Fa****: a new play premiering as part of the Downtown Urban Theater Festival is a two-hander that takes on race and sexuality; a topic that, as the play's title suggests, can often be a provocative discussion. The play, written by Keelay Gipson is being co-produced by BASiC Theatre Project and directed by BASiC's artistic director and co-founder, Zi Alikhan. The show features Sean Bell and Stephen Conrad Moore in the titular roles. The show premieres in the festival tonight, March 15th.

As the preeminent professional theatre in the state, Arizona Theatre Company (ATC) announces its 47th season with the production of six electrifying plays for 2013-2014, with performances in Tucson and Phoenix. David Ira Goldstein, ATC's Artistic Director, announced the season that will include the Arizona premieres of three of Broadway's newest smash hits, a delightful long-running Broadway musical comedy and will revisit two cherished classic stories in vibrant new productions.

Get ready, 'cause here it comes- MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL that is! MOTOWN begins preview performances tonight, March 11 and will open on Broadway on April 14, 2013 at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street).Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL will feature a book by Berry Gordy and music and lyrics from the legendary Motown catalogue. Meet the company of the new musical with videos of them from past productions and roles below!

Excitement is building for Kansas City Rep's presentation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel, directed by Kyle Hatley, the theatre's associate artistic director. This is the musical theatre event that sparked delight in hearts of audience members and critics alike when it was first presented in 2011 by The Living Room (TLR), one of Kansas City's most imaginative small theatre companies. The Rep is now bringing TLR's beautifully re-envisioned Carouselto Spencer Theatre for a second production.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 2012-2013 season with Marie Jones's Stones in His Pockets, directed by J.R. Sullivan, featuring Brian Vaughn and David Ivers. The production will run at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie, from tonight, March 8 - April 14, 2013. The Press Opening is Today, March 15, at 7:30 pm.

Delaware Theatre Company has announced the cast of Daryl Roth's presentation of LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE, coming to the DTC stage this month.

Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Jennifer Bielstein have announced the world premiere of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Appropriate, directed by Gary Griffin, appearing as part of the 37th Humana Festival of New American Plays. Appropriate begins previews tonight, March 5, opens March 7 and runs through April 7.

MATILDA THE MUSICAL, produced by The Royal Shakespeare Company and The Dodgers, will begin previews tonight, March 4 and open on April 11, 2013 at Broadway's Shubert Theatre (225 West 44th Street). Meet the company of the new musical with videos of them from past productions and roles below!

Award-winning square product theatre presents the Regional Premiere of Brenda Withers' new comedy The Ding Dongs (or What is the Penalty in Portugal?). The production will mark only the second ever full production of this lauded play.

Arizona Theatre Company (ATC) brings Neil Simon's comic masterpiece about show business, friendship and growing old, 'The Sunshine Boys' to Arizona audiences. David Ira Goldstein directs one of Neil Simon's most beloved and acclaimed plays in ATC's new production that will premiere in Tucson for three weeks of performances and continue to Phoenix for an additional three weeks. ATC's 'The Sunshine Boys' opens at the Temple of Music and Art, running from tonight, March 2, 2013 through March 23, 2013. It continues its run in Phoenix at the Herberger Theater Center from March 28, 2013 through April 14, 2013.