Herbert Paine - Page 14

Bekah Brunstetter's THE CAKE rises to perfection in Stray Cat Theatre's current production, baked with exacting precision and balance by director Katie McFadzen, and seasoned with outstanding performances by Jodie Weiss, Megan Holcomb, Racquel McKenzie, and Christopher Haines. Runs through November 24th at Tempe Center for the Arts.

What is the color of anxiety and desperation in the life of a New York City millennial? What does it mean and feel like to be depleted under the pressures of a fast moving and highly demanding metropolis? CASHED, Serena Ryen's 15-minute firecracker of a film, fleshes out the answers to these questions, dramatically and poignantly. In doing so, she has taken a large step in fulfilling her self-described commitment 'to making art that inspires empathy and ignites questions.'

Following his inspired direction of THE ELEPHANT MAN, Zao Theatre's artistic director, Mickey Bryce, returns to themes that address the essence of humanity and expose societal hypocrisy in an equally moving and uplifting production of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. The production runs through November 17th at Centerstage Church in Apache Junction, AZ.

Four exceptional troupers are breathing fire into Yasmina Reza's incisive tragicomedy about human nature, social class, and, more specifically, personkind's proclivity to violence. GOD OF CARNAGE, winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Best Play, is a no holds barred unmasking of the subterranean impulses and suppressed tensions of what otherwise appear to be very normal, nice, and balanced folks. And, it is riotously funny. Rarely produced, this wildly physical and explosive drama, directed with precision and sensitivity by Richard Hardt, is getting the royal treatment it deserves at Ghostlight Theatre. Runs through November 4th.

Phoenix Theatre's production of FUN HOME, directed by Robert Kolby Harper, is perfect in every respect. Superb performances by Rusty Ferracane, Elyse Wolf, Becca Ayers, Olivia Fearey. Runs through December 2nd.

Desert Stages Theatre's production of Maxwell Anderson's THE BAD SEED is on stage through November 18th.

Daniel Berrigan's THE TRIAL OF THE CATONSVILLE NINE is designed to arouse contemplation and to challenge our sensibilities and sensitivities. It is a work of intellect, written by a man of the Word with a poetic talent. In service to its message, the cast of iTheatre Collaborative's production has ably and forcefully delivered the Goods. Runs through November 3rd on the Kax Stage at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix.

In all its technical aspects ~ Kurtis Overby's choreography, Savana Laveille's costumes, Amanda Gran's wigs and makeup, Kirk Bookman's lighting ~ Arizona Broadway Theatre's production of TITANIC THE MUSICAL, directed by Danny Gorman and featuring a superb cast, is equal to anything you'd see on the Great White Way, exemplary in its stagecraft. Runs through November 10th.

Arizona Theatre Company's Season-opening production of Karen Zacarias's NATIVE GARDENS, directed by Jane Jones, is ripe with the bloom of vibrant performances by Arlene Chico-Lugo, Bill Geisslinger, Keith Contreras, and Robynn Rodrigues. At Herberger Theater Center through October 21st.

Patty Stephens has returned to Don Bluth Front Row Theatre for an all too brief (October 4th-6th) encore as Mary Todd Lincoln in Vaughn McBride's PASS MY IMPERFECTIONS LIGHTLY BY. Clad in Victorian style mourning dress, she delivers a virtuoso performance, embodying the complexity of emotions of one of the most controversial First Ladies in American history.

The joyful noise emanating from downtown Gilbert is the unrestrained laughter of audiences during Hale Centre Theatre's uproarious production of Norman Krasna's timeless screwball comedy, DEAR RUTH, directed by Cambrian James and featuring a superb cast. The show runs through November 13th.

As Arizona Opera continues its groundbreaking initiative to introduce audiences to new or under-presented but nevertheless worthy works, it has selected Astor Piazzolla's tango opera, MARIA DE BUENOS AIRES as its Season opener. Sensual, mysterious, and provocative, the work features stellar performances by Catalina Cuervo, Celeste Lanuza, and Luis Alejandro Orozco. Next stop after its run in Phoenix is the Temple of Music and Art in Tucson on October 6th and 7th.

With the launch of their new company, Arizona Regional Theatre, co-directors Kayla Etheridge and Kimberly Sheperd have aimed high and hit their mark with a commanding production of JEKYLL AND HYDE, THE MUSICAL. The show runs through October 7th at the Third Street Theatre at the Phoenix Center for the Arts.

With a cast that captures the angst and humanity of David Lindsay-Abaire's characters, Theatre Artist Studio's production of RABBIT HOLE, directed by Barbara Acker, is a solemn and reverential journey into the heart of darkness and the light at the end of the mourning cave. Runs through October 21st.

Space 55 presents Ashley Naftule's quirky semi-dark comedy, THE FIRST ANNUAL BOOKBURNERS CONVENTION, directed by Dennis Frederick, and running through September 30th.

Bruce Graham pulls no punches in WHITE GUY ON THE BUS, his stinging broadside at the underbelly (the hypocrisies and contradictions) of racism that contaminates the American soul. The power of his punch is sustained in iTheatre Collaborative's riveting production of WHITE GUY ON THE BUS, superbly directed by the company's artistic director, Christopher Haines and featuring a first-rate cast and a riveting performance by Matthew Cary. Running through September 22nd in the Kax Theatre at Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix.

A/C Theatre Company's staging of Andrew Lippa's THE WILD PARTY, is a wildly engaging tribute to the roar of another decade and its edgy underbelly. Featuring Alanna Kalbfleisch in a defining role, the show runs through September 23rd at Phoenix Theatre's Hardes Theatre.

Ron May's direction of Annie Baker's THE ANTIPODES is theatre of the highest order. Brilliantly executed with a superb cast. Stray Cat Theatre's season opener runs at Tempe Center for the Arts through September 27th.

Michael Barnard's production of WEST SIDE STORY (at Phoenix Theatre through October 14th) is a triumph of direction, featuring stellar performances by Joy Del Valle, James Gish, and Alyssa Chiarello.

Arizona Broadway Theatre's production of SWEENEY TODD, directed by Kiel Klaphake and running through September 16th at Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix, is a definite cut above with sterling performances by Tony Edgerton as the human guillotine and Cassandra Klaphake as Mrs. Lovett.