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Herb Paine ~ Herb has served as Senior Contributing Editor and lead theatre critic for BWW's Phoenix Metro Region since 2014. He was acclaimed as BEST THEATRE CRITIC by PHOENIX magazine (2022 BEST OF THE VALLEY).

He is President of Paine Consulting Services, now in its thirty-sixth year of operation, specializing in organizational development, strategic planning, turnaround management, mergers, and governance. In addition to his work with corporations and government, he is a nationally recognized expert on all aspects of nonprofit organization management and has consulted extensively with arts and cultural organizations on strategic positioning, branding, and audience development. 

His provocative social and political commentaries were a regular feature on KJZZ/91.5 FM, NPR’s Phoenix affiliate. These days, Herb offers his perspectives on a variety of issues at IN THE CENTER LANE WITH HERB PAINE | Substack ~ https://herbpaine.substack.com. .

Herb is an avid fan of theatre, both on and off stage. His most recent acting credits include roles as Sgt. Jeff Pugliese in the National Geographic Channel’s April 2014 docudrama "Inside the Hunt for the Boston Bombers;" the King of France/Chaudron the forger/Ser Piero, DaVinci's father in Theater Works' "Finding Mona Lisa;" Inspector LeStrade in Fountain Hills Theater’s "Sherlock’s Last Case;" and Berry Bernard in the short film "Living Will." 

Jeanie Bishop has been a BWW contributor since 2013. She has written reviews and features in Tucson, Phoenix, Toronto, Sacramento and internationally. 

Born and raised in the Philippines, Robert Encila-Celdran resides in Tucson, Arizona where he works as a full-time theatre educator. A Fine Arts scholar from the University of Arizona, he founded Studio Connections, a non-profit theater company and arts organization for children and youth. As a director, Robert helmed over a hundred productions, including some of his favorites: Chicago, Noises Off, Man of La Mancha, JB, A Man of No Importance, Pippin, America Hurrah, and Sunday in the Park with George. As a member of Actors’ Equity, Robert appeared locally as an actor with Borderlands Theater, Arizona Theatre Company, and Invisible Theatre, and across the country as a musician in New York City’s BB King’s, The Players’ Club, and Birdland -- the Jazz Corner of the World. Robert is a freelance writer, a touring musician, and a proud family man.

Suzanne Whitaker is a Georgia native now living in Arizona. She is a retired sailor - Go Navy! - and semi-retired attorney, mediator, arbitrator, and professor. A fan of the stage since before she can remember, Suzanne studied ballet and enjoyed playing oboe and piano, and she still sings in the car. She has performed in youth and community theatre and loves a good show, except for courtroom drama: enough of that, already. Suzanne has coached and judged drama, high school mock trial, and law student competitions. She is delighted to join Broadway World, and is grateful to Herb Paine and Alan Henry for the intro.

Zach Wetzel is an award-winning performer, arts educator, director, and BroadwayWorld critic based in Tucson. He is from Los Angeles, California and holds a BM in Voice from Brigham Young University. Full-time Zach is the Music Program Director at BASIS OV. On Saturdays he teaches Voice, Violin, and Viola at Instrumental Music Tucson.

Zach enjoys "helping young artists find their voice" through vocal and instrumental music. He is a teacher first and foremost. Zach has music directed kids at Live Theatre Workshop, Arts Express, Saguaro City Music Theatre, and The Phoenix Theatre Company. TPTC is one of the oldest and most respected professional regional theaters in the US. Zach's work in teaching and performing has been featured on ABC KGUN9 as well as in Voyage Phoenix, Shoutout Arizona, and Bold Journey Magazines.

As a singer and actor, Zach has appeared on stages from Utah to Los Angeles to Arizona and beyond. He has soloed as a vocalist with The Arizona Musical Theatre Orchestra, at Unity of Mesa, and at Arizona Theatre Company. Zach enjoys playing darkly comedic character roles whenever he can. Some of his favorites include Mr. Wormwood in MATILDA and The Cat in the Hat in SEUSSICAL: THE MUSICAL.

As an adult music director, Zach has worked at Live Theatre Workshop, Arts Express, The Arizona Musical Theatre Orchestra, and Winding Road Theater. He is a seasoned vocal coach able to get a strong sound out of both children and adults. Zach particularly enjoys working on professional projects that feature both adults and children. He enjoyed the opportunity to star opposite one of his former students in a production of RAGTIME: THE MUSICAL.

Website: zachwetzel.com (ZACH WETZEL). Insta: @mister.wetzel.