Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Review Highlights: DEAR EVAN HANSEN - The Phoenix Theatre Company

Mason Ballard
Photo by Brennen Russell

highlights from local critics reviews - (click link at bottom of each review to read complete review)

Click here for more information on this production that runs through August 2

"After so many seasons of jukebox musicals and stage adaptations of films, it's refreshing when a new original musical comes along, especially one like Dear Evan Hansen which has a powerful score and a story filled with passion and emotion. Focusing on themes of loneliness and the desire for connection, and centering on mental health struggles, Dear Evan Hansen is a show infused with raw emotional depth. The Phoenix Theatre Company's production of this Tony-winning Best Musical features a fantastic cast, featuring Mason Ballard and Elyse Wolf providing phenomenal performances as Evan and his mother, and succinct direction that combine to create an emotionally resonating production."   - Gil Benbrook, TalkinBroadway.com (click here to read the complete review)

"Michelle Chin’s stellar staging is presented in the much smaller Hormel Theatre where you feel part of the show and gain its insightful impact.  The small musical – it only has eight characters – is perfectly suited to the theater’s intimate confines.  And the impeccable cast further brings the enlightening show to moving life.  At TPTC, local audiences can finally see why this musical is so trend-setting.    -Chris Curcio, Curtain Up Phoenix (click here to read the complete review)

"The great ache at the center of DEAR EVAN HANSEN is the simple, shattering idea that no one really knows what their children are going through. The musical says it out loud, over and over. It’s a world where one teen after another insists that their parents have no idea who they are. And yet the adults who are busy, flawed, but trying, keep believing that they do. It’s this gap between the ages, the space between the public face and the inner monologue, that gives the show its tremble. This production presented by The Phoenix Theatre Company and directed and choreographed with sensitivity by Michelle Chin gently underlines that tremor."   - David Appleford, Broadway World (click here to read the complete review)
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Monday, June 15, 2026

Your first look at EVIL DEAD, THE MUSICAL at Fountain Hills Theater

 




















photos by Patty Torrilhon

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Childsplay's YETi Accepting Applications for Season 11



Application closes: August 18th at 11:59 PM

If you are a teen who loves theatre and you'd like to learn to produce it, you are invited to apply for our teen theatre's 11th season!

Youth Ensemble Theatre Inc. or "YETi" is a teen theatre company that produces shows and events from the ground up. From show selection, to assistant directing, to playwrighting, to fundraising, costume design, social media marketing, event planning, and SO MUCH MORE.

All guided by theatre professionals who mentor young people through the process.

Techies and stage hands thrive in this environment as well as performers and leaders. Members of the ensemble get guaranteed casting in all shows and/or a guaranteed part of the production team.

Grow with other theatre lovers and be apart of a passionate community of young people, theatre makers, and future leaders in the field.

Questions? Email yeti@childsplayaz.org

We can't wait to meet you!
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WEEK AT A GLANCE: June 15-June 21, 2026

Click on any show title to get more information on that production



LIMITED RUN:




OPENING:

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Sunday, June 14, 2026

Auditions for MATILDA THE MUSICAL at Valley Youth Theatre announced for June 16


from our friends at Valley Youth Theatre:

Don't miss your chance to audition for Valley Youth Theatre's production of the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit, “Matilda The Musical!, happening on Center Stage at the Herberger Theater Center this August! 

We're looking for young performers ages 20 and under to help bring this beloved story to life. Whether you're a seasoned performer or stepping onto the stage for the first time, there's a place for you at VYT.

No participation fees
No ticket quotas
Professional-quality productions
A safe, supportive environment where young artists shine

Doors open at 3:30 p.m. Auditions begin at 4 p.m.

Location:
Valley Youth Theatre
525 North First Street, Phoenix

PLEASE PRE-REGISTER
Pre-registration helps auditions run smoothly and gives you time to prepare. Walk-ins are welcome, but pre-registering is strongly encouraged.

Audition information and registration:
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Saturday, June 13, 2026

Rebel Phoenix Theatre Collective's 2026/2027 Season!



REBEL PHOENIX THEATRE COLLECTIVE ANNOUNCES SEASON TWO:
BURN THE SYSTEM

Rebel Phoenix Theatre Collective is proud to announce its 2026-2027 season, Burn the System, featuring three bold contemporary plays that challenge expectations, question institutions, and celebrate those who refuse to stay quiet.

ADMISSIONS
By Joshua Harmon
November 2026

A sharp, funny, and provocative examination of privilege, identity, and the contradictions that emerge when personal ambition collides with progressive values.

FAT HAM
By James Ijames
February 2027

Winner of the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Fat Ham reimagines Hamlet through the lens of a queer Black family gathering, exploring identity, generational trauma, and self-determination.

ANGRY FAGS
By Topher Payne
April/May 2027

A dark comedy about queer resistance, community, and what happens when marginalized people decide they've had enough.

Following a successful inaugural season featuring Lost Girl, STEW, Perfect Arrangement, and The Christians, Rebel Phoenix Theatre Collective continues its mission to amplify underrepresented voices and create theatre that sparks conversation, builds community, and inspires change.

Audition, ticketing, and production information will be announced throughout the year.


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Devil's Dice Productions' 2026 Season!





Angelic Troublemakers: A Solo Show Special
June 19th and 20th
Scottsdale Neighborhood Arts Place

Join Devil's Dice Productions for the premiere of three new monodramas, each inspired by the lives of famous political activists!

Much like our flagship show “The Death of the Swan,” these one-person performances were created as part of the Acting 2 class at Scottsdale Community College, and developed into standalone shows. Each show focuses on a different figure of cultural or historical significance, and uses a mix of found text and quotes to tell their story.

Angelic Troublemakers: A Solo Show Special features the following shows:

BLIND JUSTICE by Jazz Kapita

“We need, in every community, a group of angelic troublemakers.” – Bayard Rustin

TO GAIN A VICTORY by Bre Hansbury

“This is everybody’s fight.” – Viola Liuzzo

MARSHA’S NIGHT by Sirus Ruffin

“No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.” – Marsha P. Johnson

For the June 19th and 20th evening show: Doors open at 7:00 PM. Show
begins at 7:30 PM.

For the June 20th matinee show: Doors open at 11:30 AM. Show begins at 12:00 PM.

For more details or answers to any burning questions, please email
devilsdice.productionz@gmail.com. We hope to see you there!

The National Immigrant Justice Center

15% of your purchase will go to the National Immigrant Justice Center. The National Immigrant Justice Center is a US-based organization that works to establish and defend the rights of immigrants regardless of background. By helping provide representation and legal services, the NIJC helps keep families together and prevents members of our community from being deported based on unjust laws and illegal government action.

If you would like to make an additional donation to the NIJC, you can do so through our donation page. Thank you for your help!

For our June 19th BREAK-EVEN show, all of our profits will go directly to the National Immigrant Justice Center!

In celebration of Juneteenth, Devil's Dice Productions will be holding our first-ever BREAK-EVEN Night! This means what it says on the tin- we will ONLY take as much as we need to break even (covering rental cost, merch production costs, etc), and the rest of the money we take in will go to charity. Buy a ticket for the June 19th show and help raise money to defend immigrant rights- all while supporting local arts!



Double Feature: Jane is Dead and The Fall

During the month of July, we’ll be bringing you a double feature of two new plays: Jane is Dead by Eric Parsons and The Fall by Maddie Natoli!

Jane is Dead is a tragically comedic two-person show focusing on the titular Jane who, while waiting for her husband to return home from the war, has her world turned around by an unwelcome visitor.

The Fall is a mind-bending murder mystery about a woman whose life begins to unravel after an accident, and the secret at the center of the incident that she’s desperate to hide.

Tickets will go on sale soon.





Turn of the Screw

The title of this show might be familiar to those of you who are either well versed in classic literature or in netflix original horror shows. Devil’s Dice will be presenting the Turn of the Screw by Jeffrey Hatcher, based on the novella by Henry James. 

A young governess who has journeyed to a lonely English manor to care for two orphaned children becomes convinced that the spectre of the former governess and her lover are haunting them- but are the ghosts real? Or is the danger only in her mind?

Our performances will star Maddie Natoli and Jordan Yanofski in the roles of the Woman and the Man respectively, and will run from August 7th to August 14th.

THE TURN OF THE SCREW (HATCHER) is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Dramatists Play Service.
www.concordtheatricals.com

Tickets will go on sale soon.

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Friday, June 12, 2026

Your first look at PRINCESS FINDS A WAY at Paradise Valley Community College

 



photos by Taylor McMurray

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Cast announced for CHARLOTTE'S WEB at East Valley Children's Theatre





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Thursday, June 11, 2026

Registration now open for Tempe Family Theatre's Summer Intensive, INTO THE WOODS, JR

 
Families can register at this link: https://tempefamilytheatre.com/classes
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Auditions for THE LEGEND OF ROBIN HOOD at Ronin Theatre Collaborative announced for June 27


SYNOPSIS: The Legend of Robin Hood is an original tale that takes a dramatic new look at the heroes and villains of Sherwood Forest. Pulling from the classic ballads, popular stories, and actual historical figures, this bold new adventure takes everything you know and love about the Robin Hood mythology and mixes it with new surprises and characters in a more complex, realistic world. We find out what it takes to turn a man into a hero.

Production Team

Director: Elizabeth Kalita
Playwright: Nathan Makaryk
Stage Manager: Kody Hernandez
Fight Choreographer: Pantheon Movement Arts

PRODUCTION INFO:

All actors must be comfortable with combat & English accents. 

A dialect coach will be available for the actors. 

This show will have an intimacy coordinator.

Rehearsals: M-Th 6-10pm, Sun 12-3pm. Starting rehearsals 7/26

Run: September 10th - 13th, 2026

Where: The Irish Cultural Center & McClelland Library, 1106 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Compensation: $100

AUDITION INFO:

When: 12-6pm June 27th, 2026

Where: The Great Hall at The Irish Cultural Center & McClelland Library, 1106 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Headshots/Resumes: Email to RoninTheatreCo@gmail.com

What to bring: Be prepared with a list your potential conflicts and stage combat experience form the forms. Auditions will consist of cold readings.

Please see Signup Genius link here:


When Signing Up: Give us your name, email, and what roles you are interested in.

CALL BACK INFO:

When: 12-3pm June 28th, 2026

Where: Conference room at The Irish Cultural Center & McClelland Library, 1106 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004

ROBIN of LOCKSLEY- Male Presenting 30s A member of the kingsguard turned reluctant saviour of Knottingham.

WILLIAM de WENDENAL- Male Presenting 30s A member of the kingsguard forced to choose between duty and morals.   

JOHN LITTLE- Male Presenting 30-50s “A large, impressive man” Leader of the Sherwood Forest Bandits. Humorous and measured, he knows that stealing is wrong but must do what needs to be done to protect the women and children of his homeland. Must be well over 6ft tall. 

WILL SCARLET- Male Presenting 20-30s  The best fighter of the bandits. His ambition is fueled by his hatred for King Richard.  

ALAN A DALE- Male Presenting 20-30s “This, this is fun.” Whimsical, playful and dangerous, Alan is the wild card of the bandits. 

FRIAR TUCK- Male Presenting 30-50s “Heroes die gloriously. But drunkards always survive.”Jolly & peaceful, Friar Tuck is the voice of comfort and reason for the bandits. 

LADY MARIAN- Female Presenting 30s A beacon of kindness, Marian is a woman who uses her status to help the villagers of Knottingham. 

ELENA GAMWELL- Female Presenting 20s-30s A girl raised in a fighter’s world, she is tough and viscous in all things but her love for WILL SCARLET

GUY of GISBOURNE- Male Presenting 40s “Unquestionable loyalty, no political experience, a complete madman” Merciless captain of the sheriff's guard. The fear of everyone, including the sheriff. 

WILLIAM de FERRERS Male Presenting 20s-40s Lackey to GUY of GISBOURNE with more intelligence and ambition than he is given credit for. 

ARABLE de BUREL- *This role is precast

BARON ROGER de LACY-*This role is precast

MUCH the MILLER’S SON- Male Presenting 10-12 yrs old “You’ll be bigger than John Little someday”  The heart of the bandits. An eager rebel in training.

*A parent or guardian must fill out the audition form and be present for the audition. 

STUTLEY/ GUARD- Male Presenting 20s-40s A greedy towns person double casted as a skilled guard.

MUNDAY/ DAVID of DONCASTER/ GUARD- Male Presenting 20s-40s A greedy towns person, an outlaw, a skilled guard.

MORG/ ARTHUR a BLAND- Male Presenting 20s-40s “A very large guard” and an outlaw.
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MACHINCAL - Chandler Gilbert Community College - June 25-27, 2026


June 25-27 | 7:00 pm
Blackbox Theatre 2626 E. Pecos Rd. Chandler, AZ 85225

Machinal, is an expressionist play written by Sophie Treadwell in 1928, inspired by her experience as a journalist covering the Ruth Snyder murder case. In the 1993 published edition, Judith E. Barlow pens the introduction stating: "As our lives become ever more mechanized and standardized, the story of one lone individual seeking to make her voice heard grows in relevance Machinal, is an expressionist play written by Sophie Treadwell in 1928, inspired by her experience as a journalist covering the Ruth Snyder murder case.
 
Tickets: cgc.edu/arts
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