Phoenix Metro Theater Reviews Page 2

Review: ELF THE MUSICAL at The Phoenix Theatre Company
by Herbert Paine - November 25, 2023

A large dose of seasonal good cheer is precisely the kind of theatrical diversion that ELF THE MUSICAL fulfills in The Phoenix Theatre Company’s production, running through December 30th....

Review: THE VANDAL at Theatre Artists Studio
by Herbert Paine - November 21, 2023

Hamish Linklater's THE VANDAL receives an engaging and moving treatment at Theatre Artists Studio. Directed by Carol MacLeod, the play runs through December 10th....

Review: AIN'T TOO PROUD: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS at ASU Gammage
by Herbert Paine - November 15, 2023

AIN'T TOO PROUD at ASU Gammage ~ the enjoyment of watching synchronized moves performed under the bright, intense spotlights while hearing Motown songs sung and sounding every bit as good as the originals. Runs through November 19th....

Review: THE LADY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS at Order Chaos Theatre Company
by Angela Kabasan-Gonzalez - November 12, 2023

What did our critic think of THE LADY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS at Order Chaos Theatre Company?...

Review: THE GOSPEL AT COLONUS at Black Theatre Troupe
by Herbert Paine - October 31, 2023

Black Theatre Troupe’s production and David Hemphill’s inspired direction lift THE GOSPEL AT COLONUS to grand heights, aloft with emotional impact, a message about the timeless quest for redemption, and the profound ability of gospel music to elevate the human spirit. Runs through November 12th....

Review: BAREFOOT IN THE PARK at Arizona Theatre Company
by Herbert Paine - October 24, 2023

Arizona Theatre Company's production of BAREFOOT IN THE PARK may aim to reconnect audiences with Neil Simon’s sophisticated and clever turns of plot and words, but, notwithstanding the cast’s determined efforts, the show feels tired and dated, save for a stunning performance by Kyra Kennedy....

Review: MACBETH at Southwest Shakespeare Company
by Herbert Paine - October 23, 2023

Southwest Shakespeare Company's MACBETH is the stuff of great drama, thick with psychological import, mad acts of violence, and the fog of war....

Review: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at Hale Centre Theatre
by Herbert Paine - October 22, 2023

Hale Centre Theatre's production of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, directed by Cambrian James, brings magic to the classic with full-bodied, robust-sounding voices and solid performances by its leads....

Review: Arizona Opera Presents FRANKENSTEIN ~ A Masterpiece of Horror and Humanity
by Herbert Paine - October 17, 2023

Arizona Opera's production of Gregg Kallor’s FRANKENSTEIN is an absolute triumph and a significant addition to the operatic repertoire. The world premiere continues at The Temple of Music and Art in Tucson, October 21 and 22....

Review: TIANANMEN: A NEW MUSICAL at The Phoenix Theatre Company
by Herbert Paine - October 16, 2023

TIANANMEN: A NEW MUSICAL is The Phoenix Theatre Company's ambitious but modest effort to honor the courageous student protesters of Tiananmen Square. The show runs through October 29th....

Review: TINA ~ THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL At ASU Gammage
by Herbert Paine - October 11, 2023

TINA ~ THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL ~ At show's end, with the sound of Tina's music still echoing in one's mind, the most that may be remembered is why there wasn't more of the explosive high energy and volume of a live concert. At ASU Gammage through October 15....

Review: JADE at Chelsea Film Festival
by Herbert Paine - October 11, 2023

JADE is a refreshing and uplifting film that gives an empathetic face to black fatherhood. Directed by NAACP Theatre Award winner Robert Manning Jr. and featuring Luke Tennie and Noam Shapiro, the film will have its East Coast premiere at the Chelsea Film Festival on Friday, October 13th....

Review: AGNES OF GOD at Theatre Artists Studio
by Herbert Paine - October 09, 2023

Theatre Artists Studio delivers a riveting production of John Pielmeier’s AGNES OF GOD, directed by Judy Rollings. In a cerebral play that pits faith against reason and is a murder mystery to boot, Rollings's cast keeps the audience invested in a drama that is well-paced and loaded with gravitas....

Review: GLORIA At Stray Cat Theatre
by Herbert Paine - October 03, 2023

Under the astute and inspired direction of Dolores E. Mendoza, GLORIA (Stray Cat Theatre’s 22nd Season opener) the lines and action of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins's play are transformed into a jarring high-voltage theatrical experience. Runs through October 14th at Tempe Center for the Arts....

Review: JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT at Arizona Broadway Theatre
by Herbert Paine - October 01, 2023

Arizona Broadway Theatre's production of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, directed by Ken Urso, featuring Jazmin Noel Moehring as the show’s Narrator, and supported by the non-stop energy of an outstanding ensemble, is a thrilling musical theatrical experience....

Review: STEEL MAGNOLIAS at Hale Centre, Gilbert, Arizona
by Suzanne Whitaker - September 26, 2023

Gilbert Arizona’s lovely Hale Theatre opened Robert Harling’s STEEL MAGNOLIAS Tuesday, September 19, with shows running through November 21, 2023. ...

Review: STEAL AWAY at Black Theatre Troupe
by Herbert Paine - September 20, 2023

Under the direction of Walter Belcher, Black Theatre Troupe's rousing production of Ramona King's STEAL AWAY features a spirited ensemble of actresses. A winning allegory about economic justice, wrapped in loads of laughs and feelings, the show runs through October 1st....

Review: THE WEIGHT OF A FEATHER at PBS Passport
by Herbert Paine - August 31, 2023

Kristin Atwell Ford's THE WEIGHT OF A FEATHER is a stunning documentary feat that will leave an indelible mark on the heart and mind of its viewers. Its message is a profound, enlightening, and deeply moving reminder of our place in the web of life. Available on PBS Passport....

Review: SOMETHING'S AFOOT at Hale Centre Theatre
by Herbert Paine - August 30, 2023

Hale Centre Theatre's delightful mystery/comedy, directed by Cambrian James, runs through October 7th....

Review: DISASTER! at Arizona Broadway Theatre
by Herbert Paine - August 28, 2023

DISASTER! runs through September 15th in Arizona Broadway Theatre’s Mainstage Theatre....

Review: BEETLEJUICE at Gammage Auditorium
by Tim Shawver - August 24, 2023

What did our critic think of BEETLEJUICE at Gammage Auditorium?...

Review: DREAMGIRLS at The Phoenix Theatre Company
by Herbert Paine - August 14, 2023

The Phoenix Theatre Company’s production, directed by Daryl Brooks, has three key elements that hold this golden oldie together ~ Miciah Lathan, for sure; the astonishing and stellar performance of Antonio King; and, of course, the compositions of Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen. Runs through September 3...

Review: VENUS IN FUR Heats Up the Stage at Live Theatre Workshop
by Robert Encila-Celdran - August 10, 2023

Subversive and riveting, David Ives's clever adaptation of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch's novella titillates and shocks, delving into mythology while blurring the line between the divine and the pedestrian. In channeling Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, Ives's stab at foreplay is piquant and dangerous. Shoul...

Review: ON GOLDEN POND at Don Bluth Front Row Theatre
by Herbert Paine - July 30, 2023

ON GOLDEN POND at Don Bluth Front Row Theatre through September 2nd ~ Seasoned with flashes of humor and sentimentality, the play thrives around the solid performances of Joe Musil as Norman Thayer, Jr. and Barbara McBain as his wife Ethel....

Review: 20S.30S at Regal Cinemas ~ A Love Story
by Herbert Paine - July 11, 2023

Jee Hoon Seo’s short film, 20s.30s., premiering at the Micheaux Film Festival on July 13 in L.A. is a uniquely compelling portrayal of love lost and found....