PHOENIX THEATER REVIEWS

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...

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...

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....

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....

Arizona Theatre Company’s production of THE LEGEND OF GEORGIA MCBRIDE ends on a high note, proving that, even in the absence of good writing, you can’t beat the charm and appeal of drag! The show runs through July 16th at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix AZ....

Cassandra and Kiel Klaphake, the visionary forces behind Arizona Broadway Theatre, have delivered a winner with their refreshingly revisited production of THE WIZARD OF OZ, directed by Ken Urso and featuring Jasmine Bassham as Dorothy. Runs through July 11....

HAIRSPRAY returns to Gammage Auditorium through June 25th offering audiences a welcome revisit to the original Broadway staging of one of the most frequently produced musicals of the 21st century. Ben Brantley’s 2002 NY Times Broadway review said HAIRSPRAY is 'as sweet as a show can be without too...

Director Michael Barnard brings his flare for musical staging in a brilliant well-cast production of THE PROM. Runs through July 9th at The Phoenix Theatre Company....

Well, Georgia is back. Flamboyant as ever, she blazes a familiar trail like a captive hedonist spoiling for a bog splurge. To an anxious audience, there's nothing like a good dose of sassy uproar to nurse grievances and bear the cost of delayed gratification....

Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre’s NEXT TO NORMAL, directed by Chris Chavez, is a captivating production about a mother’s bipolar disorder and the effects of her illness on her family. The well-cast show runs through June 11th....

Darian Lane’s Birth of a Murderer at Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre does a masterful job of Birthing a story that entertains and brings a jarring discomfort that still holds its audience....

Susan Morgan Cooper's documentary, I CAN’T GIVE YOU ANYTHING BUT LOVE, renders a candid and illuminating homage to one of the luminaries of The Great American Songbook ~ Jimmy McHugh. The film will be screened on June 27th at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, CA....

Richard Strand's BEN BUTLER highlights a seminal moment in the march to emancipation. Now on stage at Don Bluth Front Row Theater in Scottsdale AZ through July 8th, the play, directed by Lee Cooley and featuring an outstanding cast, is a compelling profile of courage....

Director/choreographer Cambrian James delivers a nostalgically delightful production of BYE BYE BIRDIE, featuring a knockout performance by Michala Montaño as Rosie. At Hale Centre Theatre in Gilbert AZ through July 1....

The National Tour of A Soldier’s Play at ASU Gammage is magic, being led by not only the sensational Norm Lewis but also a fantastic cast, telling a story that although set in a time and place nearly 80 years ago, is also one that still mirrors realities our communities face today....

Lots gets lost in Arizona Theatre Company's production of Noël Coward's PRIVATE LIVES. Runs through May 28th in Phoenix at the Herberger Theater Center....

The show stopping performance by triple threat Nathan David Smith seals the deal on Arizona Broadway Theatre's rousing production of DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, directed by Clayton Phillips and featuring an outstanding ensemble. The show runs through June 4th in Peoria, AZ....

The Bridge Initiative's production of Elaine Romero's LIKE HEAVEN, directed by Samantha Wyer Bello is a stirring and entertaining focus on one woman's quest for self-fulfillment. Runs through May 13th at Estrella Mountain Community College in Avondale, AZ....

Outstanding performances by a gifted group of young thespians are featured in Greasepaint Youtheatre's production of SWEENEY TODD, running through May 14th at the Stagebrush Theatre in Scottsdale, AZ....

The must-see production of Jen Silverman's THE ROOMMATE, directed by Patti Suarez and featuring the stellar performances of Debra K. Stevens and Jodie Weiss, runs through May 7th at Theatre Artists Studio in Scottsdale, AZ....

The Phoenix Theatre Company's production of A CHORUS LINE, directed by Jeff Whiting runs through May 14th: It's 'not just a handsome production; to date it’s the standout of the current season.'...

PRU PAYNE, directed by Sean Daniels and featuring Mimi Kennedy and Gordon Clapp ~ Arizona Theatre Company's emotionally powerful production of Steven Drukman's play runs through April 16th at Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix....

Black Theatre Troupe's lively and innovative production of RESPECT: THE MUSICAL, directed and choreographed by Patdro Harris, runs through April 9th....

Don Bluth Front Row Theatre's production of STEEL MAGNOLIAS features an outstanding ensemble of six seasoned actresses, under the caring and keen direction of Cheryl Schaar. Runs through April 29th....

Southwest Shakespeare Company’s ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, co-directed by Producing Artistic Director Debra Ann Byrd and Tina Packer and featuring Cynnita Agent as the queen of the Nile, is a modest if uneven production, featuring periodic flashes of acting brilliance. Runs through April 1st at the Mes...