Kate E. Cook News

There's just one month left to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Phoenix Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

Village Theatre is thrilled to kick off the 2018-2019 Season with the World Premiere of The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes by Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond (Romantics Annonymous at the Old Globe in London, Disney Channel's Vampirina). This production will be directed by Village Theatre associate artistic director,Brandon Ivie (Lizard Boy, Jasper in Deadland) and choreographer Al Blackstone, who was recently nominated for an Emmy for his work on the popular television show So You Think You Can Dance

Robert Kolby Harper has conceived a thoroughly entertaining remake of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, running through June 10th in Phoenix Theatre's Mainstage, and featuring knockout performances by Kate E. Cook and Brian Golub as Seymour and Audrey.

Seymour, a nerdy floral clerk, discovers a new peculiar plant he names "Audrey II" after his co-worker crush. This foul-mouthed, R+B-singing plant might just be Seymour's ticket to fame, fortune, and the girl of his dreams! However, Seymour discovers Audrey II's intent towards global domination. Can Seymour save the world and get the girl? Find out in the delightfully devious, cult classic, sci-fi musical smash, Little Shop of Horrors!

5th Avenue Theatre presents MAMMA MIA, which opened February 9th and runs through the 25th. The ABBA jukebox musical follows Sophie, a young woman determined to have her father walk her down the aisle, despite not knowing who he is. After reading her mother's diary, she narrows down her father's identity to three possible men, and, much to her mother's dismay, invites them all to the wedding.

Rehearsals begin today for The 5th Avenue Theatre's new production of Mamma Mia!, the celebrated musical that features the music of global pop sensation ABBA. The 5th Avenue Theatre is the first producing theater company in the Pacific Northwest to be granted the rights to create its own refreshed version of the show, which toured the world for nearly 20 years.

This holiday season Lorna Luft, the beloved performer and daughter of film and television icon Judy Garland, will star as Louise in The 5th Avenue Theatre's new production of Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn, which began rehearsals this week.

Joining Broadway star Cortney Wolfson and Disney star Stephanie Renee Wall onstage this summer in the world premiere production of Romy and Michele's High School Reunion at The 5th Avenue Theatre is a sensational cast that's the coolest thing since the invention of Post-its!

What a glorious feeling! This holiday season, Village Theatre brings to the stage one of Hollywood's most beloved classics,Singin' in the Rain. Based on the MGM film, which is widely lauded as one of the greatest movie musicals of all time, Singin' in the Rain is a faithful adaptation by the original award-winning screenplay team, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, with songs by Nacio Herb Brown andArthur Freed. The production will be helmed by much of the same creative team that launched last season's hit musical, Billy Elliot, with Artistic Director Steve Tomkins once again in the director's chair.

Have you ever seen a production where you thought that the actors where too good for the show? That's how it felt watching Studio 18 Production's inaugural show 'Bonnie & Clyde' at 12th Avenue Arts. I am very impressed that this brand new company threw together such a talented cast for this musical, and at such an esteemed venue. Unfortunately, with its pandering plot line and repetitive score, this musical felt beneath the caliber of those involved.

Time is running out to vote for the 2015 BroadwayWorld Phoenix Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 18. Nominations were reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors. Voting runs through December 31!

Voting is fully underway for the 2015 BroadwayWorld Phoenix Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 11. Nominations were reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors. Voting runs through December 31.

Voting has opened for the 2015 BroadwayWorld Phoenix Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of November 27th. Nominations were reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors. Voting runs through December 31.

Voting has opened for the 2015 BroadwayWorld Phoenix Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of November 27th. Nominations were reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors. Voting runs through December 31.

In Phoenix Theatre's Season-opening production of CHICAGO, Michael Barnard has gathered a storm of production quality ~ uplifting music, sexy and vintage costumes, elegant set design, and kickass choreography. The show, however, is all flash without the fire of Bob Fosse's satiric vision.

Arizona's version of the Tony awards took place at the Tempe Center for the Arts on Monday, September 16th. Forty theatres participated around the valley including youth, contracted, and non-contracted theatres. Hale Theatre, who falls under non-contracted, swept sixteen awards, receiving the most earned out of all theatres valley wide.

Hale Centre Theatre presents the Tony-winning musical HAIRSPRAY, now playing through Aug 24th 2013 on Thursdays at 7:00PM, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, and Saturday afternoons at 3PM. Prices are $15 for children(ages 6-12), $20 for students, and $25 for adults. Check out a first look at the production below!

Mesa Encore Theatre presents Guys and Dolls, a musical fable of Broadway, now through November 18th, at the Mesa Arts Center. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!