A NIGHT WITH NOEL, TWO SHOTS and More to Round Out Actors Theatre's 2014 Summer Season

Actors Theatre's first-ever No Sweat (For You) Summer Season heads into the final four weeks with two plays and three cabaret-style concerts surrounding the main productions of The Book Club Play (through Aug. 17) and The Cottage" (through Aug. 10) at Black Theatre Troupe, 1333 E. Washington St. in Phoenix. All tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at www.actorstheatrephx.org.

Upcoming performances include:

A NIGHT WITH NOEL: Saturday, July 26, 10pm. Hosted by Ian Christiansen. Sir Noël Peirce Coward was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise." Actors Theatre's production of The Cottage is influenced by the style of this great artist.

THAT'S LIFE: FROM SINATRA TO SONDHEIM: Sunday, July 27, 7pm, Sunday, August 10, 7pm. Kristen Drathman, Rusty Ferracane, and Craig Bohmler present an evening of song celebrating standards from the Great American Songbook and classics from the Broadway Stage. With music from Harold Arlen, Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Julie Styne, Marvin Hamlish, Kander & Ebb, and Stephen Sondheim.

TWO SHOTS: Wednesday, July 30, 7pm. Written and performed by Ben Tyler and David Barker. Two Men, Two Plays, One Evening: The Sperm of Ten Men, written and performed by Tyler, who in 1991 agreed to be a sperm donor for his brother and sister-in-law. Dodging Bullets, written and performed by Barker about an incident in 2004 in an upscale Boston suburb when a brain surgeon tried to kill Barker and his sister.

BLACK AND 25 IN AMERICA: Wednesday, August 6, 7pm. Written and performed by Jeremy Gillett, the play explores the issues of race, class, gender and identity through the life stories of characters Big Man, Joshua Thomas Northington III, Darron and Marcy. Gillett gives his audience insight on what it means to be a young, Black adult in America. Through a series of vignettes, the play reveals how each character feels invisible and without voice.

ADAM AND FRIENDS: Wednesday, August 13, 7pm. Adam Smith and Special Guests After a year in the recording studio, Adam Smith returns to the stage with this very special performance; a preview of his new, up and coming CD titled So Simple Now and songs from his current album Around the Bend with a few favorite cover songs. Adam will be joined on stage by special guest performers sharing a of Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and James Taylor of 30 years ago -- with a today sound.

About Actors Theatre of Phoenix - Actors Theatre produces contemporary live theatre that is brave, powerful and talk-provoking. Our mission is to create contemporary professional theatre that amplifies the cultural conversation of our communities with powerful and innovative programming. The ideas and themes embedded in the work we produce are the framework for civic dialogue within our community. We have built a reputation as the company that takes the most risks and consistently delivers thought-provoking theatre. Actors Theatre has been named Producing Theatre Company of the Year by the Arizona Theatre Alliance and Arts Organization of the Year by the Arts and Business Council of Greater Phoenix.

For more information, visit www.actorstheatrephx.org.