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SCOTTSDALE DESERT STAGES THEATRE

Scottsdale, AZ 85251-1227


Review: THE COCOANUTS at Fountain Hills Theater


by Herbert Paine - March 31, 2026

By the mid-1920s the Marx Brothers (Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo) were already well known on the vaudeville circuit. Broadway gave their mayhem a larger canvas. Producer Sam Harris commissioned a musical comedy built around them, pairing their improvisational chaos with the polish of Berlin’s ...

Review: THREE SISTAHS at Black Theatre Troupe


by Herbert Paine - March 30, 2026

A tour de force, a musical perfectly crafted and performed, and directed by Dzifa Kwawu with remarkable precision. A must-see!...

Review: INSIDE OUT: MEN BEHIND BARS at The Invisible Theatre


by Zach Wetzel - March 28, 2026

INSIDE OUT is a truly moving piece of theatre....

Review: MOBY DICK at Southwest Shakespeare Company


by Herbert Paine - March 23, 2026

With four actors on a generally bare deck, and a whale that exists in our imagination, the old story of compulsion and the sea finds a fresh, unexpectedly playful life....

Review: VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE at Live Theatre Workshop


by Zach Wetzel - March 22, 2026

This production is filled with sparkling wit and fantastic performances!...

Review: THE ROOMMATE at Arizona Theatre Company


by Zach Wetzel - March 21, 2026

THE ROOMMATE is a clever and well-acted production....

Review: SIX at ASU Gammage


by Herbert Paine - March 18, 2026

What’s more satisfying than watching six wronged women reclaim their power? Watching them do it in rhinestone corsets, backed by a thunderous girl band and enough LED lighting to short-circuit Times Square. SIX, the British import that’s barreled from university revue to Broadway headliner like ...

Review: PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL at Arizona Broadway Theatre


by Herbert Paine - March 17, 2026

Stephen Casey, the director and choreographer of Arizona Broadway Theatre’s production of PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL, understands something essential about adapting a modern fairy tale, especially one rooted in a Rodeo Drive fantasy, for the stage: unless the performers anchor the story in authenti...

Review: OUR AMERICAN TRAGEDY at Sunny Gingham And Banzerini House


by Cheyenne Lewis - March 15, 2026

Nearly 161 years ago, President Abraham Lincoln was shot by actor John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre as he watched a production of OUR AMERICA COUSIN. Every American knows this famous and tragic tale, but not everyone will know the story of those on stage that night. Making its full-length premie...

Review: STOP KISS at The Bridge Initiative


by Cheyenne Lewis - March 13, 2026

Every couple deserves a space to feel safe, accepted, celebrated, and normal. Although a milestone was crossed in 2015 with the legalization of gay marriage in the United States, many people, both in and outside of the United States, are still unable to love freely. The Bridge Initiative’s perform...

Past Shows

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE
THE DROWSY CHAPERONE
Feb 3 – Feb 12, 2023

THE DROWSY CHAPERONEDST Teen Production February 3 - 12, 2023 Appropriate for All Ages “I don’t wanna show off no more!”The Man in Chair, a mousy, agoraphobic Broadway...

Neil Simon's THE SUNSHINE BOYS
Neil Simon's THE SUNSHINE BOYS
Jan 14 – Feb 5, 2023

Neil Simon'sTHE SUNSHINE BOYSDST Actor's Cafe ProductionJanuary 14 - February 5, 2023Appropriate for ages 13+"It's ham on wry." - New York PostAl and Willie as...

SEUSSICAL, JR
SEUSSICAL, JR
Jan 6 – Jan 22, 2023

SEUSSICAL JR. DST Youth Production January 6 - 22, 2023 Appropriate for All Ages "Oh, the thinks you can think" when Dr. Seuss' best-loved characters collide and cavort in...

A CHRISTMAS STORY the Musical
A CHRISTMAS STORY the Musical
Nov 18 – Dec 18, 2022

You'll shoot your eye out!A stage musical version of the 1983 film A Christmas Story. The musical has music and lyrics written by Pasek and...

THE VELVETEEN RABBIT
THE VELVETEEN RABBIT
Dec 2 – Dec 18, 2022

The Velveteen Rabbit DST Actor's Cafe Holiday ProductionDecember 2 - 18, 2022Appropriate for All Ages"When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just...

HEATHERS THE MUSICAL Teen Edition
HEATHERS THE MUSICAL Teen Edition
Oct 21 – Oct 30, 2022

We were kind before, we can be kind once more.The darkly delicious story of Veronica Sawyer, a brainy, beautiful teenage misfit who hustles her way...

Raold Dahl's MATILDA THE MUSICAL, JR
Raold Dahl's MATILDA THE MUSICAL, JR
Sep 23 – Oct 9, 2022

The children are rising up. Join the revolt! Matilda has astonishing wit, intelligence... and special powers! She's unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her...

GUYS AND DOLLS
GUYS AND DOLLS
Aug 26 – Sep 11, 2022

Sit down, youre rockin the boat! Guys and Dolls tells the overlapping stories of high-roller Sky Masterson, who falls in love with mission worker Sarah...

Oscar Wilde's THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
Oscar Wilde's THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
Jul 22 – Aug 14, 2022

This production of The Importance of Being Earnest is being played in Beverly Hills, circa 2005, in the age of early Facebook and MySpace. John...

LITTLE WOMEN the Broadway Musical
LITTLE WOMEN the Broadway Musical
Jul 29 – Aug 7, 2022

Based on Louisa May Alcott's 1868-69 semi-autobiographical two-volume novel, it focuses on the four March sisters traditional Meg, wild, aspiring writer Jo, timid Beth, and...

Raold Dahl's WILLY WONKA JUNIOR
Raold Dahl's WILLY WONKA JUNIOR
Jul 1 – Jul 10, 2022

Roald Dahl's WILLY WONKA JUNIOR DST Youth Production July 1 - 10, 2022 Appropriate for All Ages WILLY WONKA JUNIOR follows enigmatic candy manufacturer Willy...

Mitch Albom's TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE
Mitch Albom's TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE
Jun 11 – Jul 2, 2022

TUESDAYS WITH MORRIEDST Actor's Cafe ProductionSaturday, June 11 - Saturday, July 2, 2022 (Saturdays only)TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE is the autobiographical story of Mitch Albom, an...

ALTAR BOYZ
ALTAR BOYZ
Jun 10 – Jun 19, 2022

A comedy musical about a fictitious Christian boy band on the last night of their national "Raise the Praise" tour. The Boyz are five all-singing,...

ONCE UPON A MATTRESS
ONCE UPON A MATTRESS
Jun 3 – Jun 12, 2022

In this musical version of The Princess and the Pea, Princess Winnifred is an ungainly, brash girl competing for the hand of Prince Dauntless, whose...

BE MORE CHILL
BE MORE CHILL
May 6 – May 15, 2022

Jeremy Heere is just an average teenager. That is, until he finds out about The Squip, a tiny supercomputer that promises to bring him everything...

Five Women Wearing the Same Dress
Five Women Wearing the Same Dress
Apr 22 – May 15, 2022

In this comedy, set in the bedroom of the younger sister-of-the-bride, Five Women (all Bridesmaids) and One Man (an Usher) find a quiet place, between...

Disney's HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, JR.
Disney's HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, JR.
Apr 8 – Apr 17, 2022

It's the first day after winter break at East High. The Jocks, Brainiacs, Thespians and Skater Dudes all find their cliques. Basketball team captain and...

CHESS THE MUSICAL
CHESS THE MUSICAL
Mar 4 – Mar 20, 2022

In this musical, written as a metaphor for the Cold War with music written by the men of the super-group ABBA, the ancient game of...

BONNIE & CLYDE
BONNIE & CLYDE
Feb 4 – Feb 13, 2022

At the height of the Great Depression, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow went from two small-town nobodies in West Texas to America's most renowned folk...

Neil Simon's JAKE'S WOMEN
Neil Simon's JAKE'S WOMEN
Jan 14 – Feb 13, 2022

With JAKE'S WOMEN, America's premier comic playwright makes another hilarious foray into the world of modern relationships. Jake, a novelist who is more successful with...

Disney's FROZEN, JR.
Disney's FROZEN, JR.
Jan 7 – Jan 16, 2022

A story of true love and acceptance between sisters, Frozen, Jr., expands upon the emotional relationship and journey between Princesses Anna and Elsa. When faced...

The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music
Nov 19 – Dec 19, 2021

Directed and Choreographed by Trisha Ditsworth Music-directed by Cathy Hauan THE SOUND OF MUSIC is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar...

The Winter Wonderettes (Actor's Cafe)
The Winter Wonderettes (Actor's Cafe)
Dec 3 – Dec 19, 2021

The Wonderettes are back! This seasonal celebration finds the girls entertaining at the annual Harper's Hardware Holiday Party. When Santa turns up missing, the girls...

Carrie the Musical
Carrie the Musical
Oct 22 – Oct 31, 2021

Directed by Chris R. Chavez Based on the original source material, the 1974 novel by Stephen King, Carrie the Musical follows a young woman with...

Clue: On Stage
Clue: On Stage
Oct 1 – Oct 10, 2021

Directed by Mark-Alan C. Clemente Based on the iconic 1985 Paramount movie which was inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is a hilarious...

Into the Woods
Into the Woods
Sep 16 – Sep 19, 2021

Directed by Kandyce Hughes James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim take everyone's favorite storybook characters and bring them together for a timeless, yet relevant, piece... and...

Madagascar A Musical Adventure JR
Madagascar A Musical Adventure JR
Aug 20 – Aug 29, 2021

Directed by Erin Tarkington Based on the smash DreamWorks animated motion picture, Madagascar A Musical Adventure JR. follows all of your favorite crack-a-lackin friends as...

A Chorus Line
A Chorus Line
Jul 30 – Aug 8, 2021

Book by James Kirkwood & Nicholas DanteMusic By Marvin HamlischLyrics by Edward Kleban A CHORUS LINE is a celebration of those unsung heroes of the...

The Marvelous Wonderettes
The Marvelous Wonderettes
Mar 12 – Mar 28, 2021

THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES Directed by Molly Lajoie This smash Off-Broadway hit takes you to the 1958 Springfield High School prom, where we meet Betty Jean,...

Bell, Book, & Candle
Bell, Book, & Candle
Jun 26 – Aug 9, 2020

Gillian Holroyd is one of the few modern people who can actually cast spells and perform feats of supernaturalism. She casts a spell over an...

Disenchanted!
Disenchanted!
Jul 10 – Aug 2, 2020

Poisoned applesglass slippersPrince Charming. Who needs em? In this Disney-Princesses-Bridesmaids, hysterical and very direct musical, Snow White and her poss of sassy princesses prove that...

Steel Magnolias
Steel Magnolias
May 8 – Jun 14, 2020

The action is set in Truvys beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are anybody come to have their hair done. Helped...

Jake's Women
Jake's Women
Mar 13 – Apr 26, 2020

Jake, a novelist who is more successful with fiction that with life, faces a marital crisis by daydreaming about the women in his life. The...

Damn Yankees
Damn Yankees
Feb 28 – Mar 15, 2020

Middle-aged baseball fanatic Joe Boyd, trades his soul to the Devil, also known as Mr. Applegate, for a chance to lead his favorite team to...

Murder On The Nile
Murder On The Nile
Jan 10 – Feb 23, 2020

Kay Ridgeway has led a charmed life. Blessed with beauty, enormous wealth, and a new husband, she embarks on a honeymoon voyage down the Nile....

A Christmas Story The Play
A Christmas Story The Play
Nov 29 – Dec 22, 2019

Humorist Jean Shepherds memoir of growing up in the midwest in the 1940s follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker in his quest to get a genuine Red...

Annie
Annie
Nov 29 – Dec 22, 2019

With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyones hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined...

Oleanna
Oleanna
Oct 11 – Nov 17, 2019

A college student, Carol, drops by her professors office in an effort to gain his help to do better in class. John, the professor, in...

Oleanna
Oleanna
Oct 11 – Nov 17, 2019

A college student, Carol, drops by her professors office in an effort to gain his help to do better in class. John, the professor, in...

The Addams Family
The Addams Family
Oct 18 – Nov 10, 2019

THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family, features an original story and its every fathers nightmare: Wednesday Addams, the...

The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz
Oct 26 – Nov 10, 2019

Based upon the books by L. Frank Baum and the classic 1939 film, the Wizard of Oz comes to life on stage! When a tornado...

In The Kingdom Of Clouds
In The Kingdom Of Clouds
Aug 2 – Aug 11, 2019

In a world where hope and creativity have been lost, those who live in the Kingdom of Clouds bring to life a lyrical rock opera...

The Dixie Swim Club
The Dixie Swim Club
Jun 21 – Aug 4, 2019

Five Southern women, whose friendships began many years ago on their college swim team, set aside a long weekend every August to recharge those relationships....

The Wedding Singer
The Wedding Singer
Jun 28 – Jul 28, 2019

It’s 1985, and rock star wannabe, Robbie Hart, is New Jersey’s favorite wedding singer. He’s the life of the party until his own fiancée leaves...

Legally Blonde
Legally Blonde
May 17 – Jun 16, 2019

Elle Woods appears to have it all. Her life is turned upside down when her boyfriend Warner dumps her so he can attend Harvard Law....

Broadway Bound
Broadway Bound
Apr 26 – Jun 9, 2019

Part three of Neil Simon’s acclaimed autobiographical trilogy finds Eugene and his older brother Stanley trying to break into the world of show business as...

Gerry Cullity's Alice In Wonderland
Gerry Cullity's Alice In Wonderland
May 25 – Jun 9, 2019

Join the adventures of young Alice as she explores a zany wonderland in this children’s classic by Lewis Carroll. On an idle afternoon, by chance,...

Oliver!
Oliver!
Apr 5 – May 5, 2019

The streets of Victorian England come to life as Oliver, a malnourished orphan in a workhouse, becomes the neglected apprentice of an undertaker. Oliver escapes...

Death of a Salesman
Death of a Salesman
Mar 15 – Apr 14, 2019

The story revolves around the last days of Willy Loman, a failing salesman, who cannot understand how he failed to win success and happiness. Through...

Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks
Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks
Jan 18 – Feb 24, 2019

Lily, an aging but formidable retiree, hires Michael, an acerbic dance instructor, to give her dance lessons in her condo in St. Petersburg Beach, Florida....

Disaster!
Disaster!
Jan 11 – Feb 10, 2019

It’s 1979, and New York’s hottest A-listers are lining up for the opening of a floating casino and discotheque. Also attending is a faded disco...

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Jan 12 – Feb 3, 2019

An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives,...

Disney's Mary Poppins Jr
Disney's Mary Poppins Jr
Nov 16 – Dec 23, 2018

The jack-of-all trades, Bert, introduces us to England in 1910 and the troubled Banks family. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing...

A Christmas Story
A Christmas Story
Nov 30 – Dec 21, 2018

Humorist Jean Shepherd’s memoir of growing up in the midwest in the 1940s follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker in his quest to get a genuine Red...

The Bad Seed
The Bad Seed
Oct 19 – Nov 18, 2018

The scene is a small Southern town where Colonel and Christine Penmark live with their daughter, Rhoda. Little Rhoda Penmark is the evil queen of...

Young Frankenstein
Young Frankenstein
Oct 5 – Nov 4, 2018

Grandson of the infamous Victor Frankenstein, Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced “Fronk-en-steen”) inherits his family’s estate in Transylvania. With the help of a hunchbacked sidekick, Igor (pronounced...

The Butterfly's Day
The Butterfly's Day
Oct 13 – Oct 28, 2018

This Gerry Cullity original musical story adaptation of the Emily Dickinson poem imparts an inspiring magical garden tale about a Butterfly given one day to...

Boeing Boeing
Boeing Boeing
Aug 24 – Oct 7, 2018

This 1960’s French farce adapted for the English-speaking stage features selfstyled Parisian lothario Bernard, who has Italian, German, and American fiancées, each a beautiful airline...

Bye Bye Birdie
Bye Bye Birdie
Aug 17 – Sep 16, 2018

Rock star Conrad Birdie is the biggest thing to top the charts. Women love him, men want to be him and teenage girls around the...

Into The Woods
Into The Woods
Jul 8 – Aug 7, 2016

Once upon a time there was childless baker and his wife that wished to begin a family, but have been cursed by an evil witch....

Moon Over Buffalo
Moon Over Buffalo
Jun 3 – Jul 24, 2016

George and Charlotte Hay, traveling actors, are performing at theatre in Buffalo when George receives a very important phone call. Famous film director, Frank Capra,...

Shrek Jr The Musical
Shrek Jr The Musical
May 20 – Jun 26, 2016

In a faraway kingdom, the green ogre Shrek finds his swamp invaded by banished fairytale misfits, runaways who've been cast off by Lord Farquaad, a...

Glengarry Glen Ross
Glengarry Glen Ross
Mar 25 – May 15, 2016

When an office full of New York City real estate salesmen are given the news that all but the top two will be fi red...

9 to % The Musical
9 to % The Musical
Apr 8 – May 8, 2016

Co-workers Violet, Judy and Doralee have had it with their obnoxious, egotistical boss and create a wild fantasy where they give him the boot! When...

Miracle on 34th Street
Miracle on 34th Street
Nov 7 – Jan 10, 2016

Kris Kringle is the personification of good will and holiday spirit. As Macy’s holiday Santa, he enchants children and shoppers so completely that he is...

Annie Jr
Annie Jr
Nov 13 – Dec 20, 2015

With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone's hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined...

The Addams Family
The Addams Family
Oct 2 – Nov 1, 2015

The wonderfully wacky Addams Family has never been normal, but all of that is about to change. Wednesday Addams is all grown up and has...

Of Mice & Men
Of Mice & Men
Sep 4 – Oct 25, 2015

In this touching John Steinbeck classic tale of friendship, George and Lennie are migrant workers in the Great Depression trying to make money to fulfill...

Legally Blonde Jr
Legally Blonde Jr
Aug 21 – Sep 20, 2015

Elle Woods appears to have it all. Her life is turned upside-down, however, when her boyfriend dumps her so he can start getting serious about...

Witness for the Prosecution
Witness for the Prosecution
Mar 27 – May 17, 2015

Leonard Vole is accused of murdering elderly, wealthy widow Mrs. Emily French. His lawyer is convinced of his innocence until the will is read revealing...

42nd Street
42nd Street
Jan 9 – Feb 8, 2015

Peggy is terrified to fill diva Dorothy’s dancing shoes and decides to go back home to Allentown. It takes some coaxing by director Julian to...

Harvey
Harvey
Nov 7 – Jan 11, 2015

Good old Elwood P. Dowd has a best friend. His name is Harvey. Harvey is friendly, amusing and loyal. Elwood takes Harvey with him everywhere...

The Wizard Of Oz
The Wizard Of Oz
Nov 14 – Dec 21, 2014

A young girl from Kansas opens the door to a gloriously strange land, and so begins one of the most beloved tales of all time!...

Footloose!
Footloose!
Oct 3 – Nov 2, 2014

Music and dance are banned in a sleepy rural community. Newcomer Chicago teen Ren McCormack takes on the town’s high-powered minister in a tough uphill...

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Sep 5 – Oct 26, 2014

In this powerfully gritty drama Randle McMurphy is convicted of statutory rape and chooses to serve time in a mental hospital rather than state prison....

Alice In Wonderland
Alice In Wonderland
Aug 22 – Sep 21, 2014

Enjoy Gerry Cullity’s original music and lyrics of this original adaptation. Join the adventures of young Alice as she explores a zany wonderland in this...

Rocky Horror Show
Jul 12 – Aug 10, 2013

A wonderfully weird and wacky musical production, the newly engaged Brad and Janet experience a car breakdown and find themselves one stormy night in the...

The Mousetrap
Jun 7 – Jul 28, 2013

Agatha Christie’s murderous timeless classic The Mousetrap originally opened in London, in 1952, and has captured the imaginations of its audiences ever since. The mystery...

The Butterfly's Day
May 23 – Jun 23, 2013

This Gerry Cullity original musical story adaptation of the Emily Dickinson poem imparts an inspiring magical garden tale about a Butterfly given one day to...

The Foreigner
Mar 22 – May 19, 2013

One man’s lack of words yields an abundance of knowledge when he and a friend lie about his native language. Set in a Georgia fishing...

Legally Blonde the Musical
Apr 12 – May 11, 2013

The blonde and beautiful Elle Woods has the world on a string until her boyfriend, Warner, dumps her. A demolished-turned-determined Elle emerges on a mission,...

Disney's Little Mermaid Jr.
Feb 22 – Mar 24, 2013

The beloved musical occurs in the depths of the sea with the adventurous mermaid, Ariel, who schemes to leave her sea life behind for land....

The Elephant Man
Feb 8 – Mar 10, 2013

This remarkable story delivers an up-close and true account of the pain and loneliness of one John Merrick, a rarest of human beings from 19th...

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