PHOENIX THEATER REVIEWS

2 couples head into a forest and get caught in the middle of a magical prank that leads to disastrous and hilarious results....

BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING STORY is the most earnest jukebox musical to date. The chord progressions and resolutions felt like being at an oxygen bar. It's ripe with nostalgia, fascinating for its window into 1960s pop and rock music, and spirit lifting for its recording of a beautiful human life...

Arizona Theatre Company's current production hits the mark as a historical reminder and, through masterful performances by its cast of three, depicts institutionalized racism's capability to destroy even the most loving relationships....

At the University of Arizona's Centennial Hall. on January 28, 2020, the Tucson Desert Song Festival presented Thomas Hampson, baritone, with Lara Downes, piano, and the Beyond Liberty Players: Stephen Buck, synthesizer; Judy Kang, violin; Jesus Morales, cello; and Alex Laing, clarinet; The show lib...

Little Women is arguably one of the most recognizable pieces of literature, and meg jo beth amy & louisa provides an intimate look into the creative experience of Louisa May Alcott....

Astonishing is a word some would use to describe something amazing they witnessed. In most cases and with most shows this word would suffice. However, what I saw on December 7th, 2020 at ASU Gammage does not just surpass this simple word, it stamps it into the ground. SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musica...

Remarkable, astonishing, captivating, all words that couldn't begin to describe what I witnessed at The Black Theatre Troupe. It is one thing for a show to move you to tears by its message, but this production has the ability to do much more. The Black Theatre Troupes production of Black Nativity mo...

Following a rousing October run of BLOODY, BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, Arizona Regional Theatre (ART) has mounted Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens' LUCKY STIFF -- a two-act, 17-song whodunnit which has been a favorite of Valley venues over the years....

BWW Review: AMERICAN PSYCHO is Killer Fun at Stray Cat Theatre Stray Cat's name has become synonymous with high quality productions and American Psychos is a bloody, glistening example of why....

Mesa Encore Theatre's current production of Gilbert and Sullivan's THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE pushes the already campy comic opera....

Tackling roles that involve the depiction of historical figures can be a mountainous task. For most, it takes research, time, and great direction to execute. The same could be said about mental health. They are enthralling when mastered, captivating audiences as the drama unfolds. The flawless cast ...

When it comes to theatre and Disney fans alike, the stage production of Beauty and the Beast is a staple. For many a performer, the chance to personify the characters we've grown up with is a lifelong dream, envisioning our selves dawning the gown, the fur and claws, or not so reluctantly beating on...

The first clue that ANASTASIA was going to be different than what I expected was a note on the title page reading, “Inspired by the Twentieth Century Fox Motion Pictures.” Plural? A savvy journalist, I quickly asked Siri to bring up the imdb page for “Anastasia”. Turns out Fox made ANASTASIA...

Macbeth and his wife are determined to ascend to the throne. Following a prophesy that comes true, Macbeth will do whatever it takes to keep the throne. Macbeth murders everyone he perceives to be a threat to his throne and loses his grip on reality as he does so....

Lord Edgar has a new wife, but his connection to his dead wife, Irma Vep, threatens to destroy his new relationship and his career as an Egyptologist....

On Monday October 14, 2019, Arizona Opera and its Valley Friends presented a concert of arias by the Marion Roose Pullin Studio Artists at the Mon Orchid Gallery, a small hall with excellent, if somewhat live, acoustics. As a rule, AZ Opera chooses six singers and one pianist to be their studio arti...

FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE PARODY MUSICAL Slays at All Puppet Players. Guttural, laugh out loud, wipe the tears away kind of funny with jokes as fast, furious, and perfectly obnoxious as a jackhammer. Warning: Explicit Language....

Everything comes together with a swell of vitality in Arizona State University Music Theatre and Opera's production thanks to stars Mary Ott and Kathlynn Rodin, Music Director Greg Paladino, and Director Robert Kolby Harper....

King Henry had an insatiable desire to continue the Tudor dynasty. His legacy remains in the women he wronged and murdered in order to obtain this goal which ultimately fell to a female heir. His wives shaped his legacy and they won't let him forget it....

It's not be the most lavish production, but it's got a lot of chudzpah. If you're a Sondheim fan who's not adverse to long and sometimes less than pitch-perfect performances, then pack a lunch and get your tix! https://bit.ly/2lGsKT8...

It takes a lot more than the actors' performance to make a great show. Along with the acting, a spectacular set and visuals, Lighting and sound, and staying true to the material are cogs that set one well-oiled machine of a show apart from the others. Zao theatres production of The Great Gatsby is a...

Appearing at Tempe's Gammage Auditorium for the third time since 2015, THE BOOK OF MORMON is gaining momentum as it tours....

When you think of a group of young performers doing a musical, most people enter with the assumption of low quality and newbie type talent. This largely stems from the mindset of not believing young folks can put in the same hard work as any other seasoned professional. However, when you take a grou...

Everyone wants to get out of Skid Row, including Seymour. So, when an unidentifiable plant brings him fame and resources, how will Seymour respond to the pressures of fame?...

BWW Review: CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY gets raves from Eight-year-old, first time Gammage attendee. Just into her Summer break between second and third grade, Adalyn 'Addy' Cable raved about the National Tour of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY currently playing at Tempe's Gammage Auditoriu...