Monday, June 30, 2025
Arizona Theatre Company Announces 2025 National Latine Playwrights Award Winner, Festival in Tempe
Arizona Theatre Company (ATC) today named Puerto Rican playwright Edwin Sánchez the recipient of the 2025 National Latine Playwrights Award for his powerful new work Lottery Boy. Sanchez’s work was chosen from more than 78 entries. This marks Sánchez’s second time receiving the honor.
Now in its 29th year, the award celebrates Latine voices in American theatre and recognizes outstanding achievement in playwriting. Notable winners of the National Latine Playwrights Award include Luis Alfaro (MacArthur Fellowship or “genius” grant recipient), Karen Zacarías (Helen Hayes Award recipient), Kristoffer Diaz (Pulitzer Prize Finalist, 2024 Tony Nominee), Octavio Solis (NEA Fellowship), and Charise Castro Smith (co-writer of the Disney hit Encanto – Golden Globe, Winner, Best Motion Picture, Animated), and more.
In addition to naming the NLPA winner, ATC celebrates its second year hosting a Festival at Tempe Center for the Arts on Saturday, October 4 that invites the community to enjoy a reading of the prize-winning play, connect with other artists, and more festivities.
“Edwin Sánchez’s taut comic play, Lottery Boy, is a perfect play for this year's NLPA” comments Matt August, Kasser Family Artistic Director. “I was immediately stuck by the play’s deep emotion, its wonder, and its cinematic style. The main character is infinitely lovable, put in an impossible situation with a band of misfits, and gets to have a magical dialogue with his dead parent that all of us wish we could have. It’s an exciting, moving, topical story about overcoming obstacles while we pursue the American Dream.”
ATC’s Playwright-in-Residence and NLPA & F Director Elaine Romero remarks, “Winning the NLPA twice is sort of like winning the lottery. We are so thrilled to recognize Edwin Sánchez’s artistry once again.”
Since its inception in 1995, the National Latine Playwrights Award has aimed to uplift and amplify Latine voices across the United States. It is one of the longest running awards dedicated to Latine playwrights, offering national visibility, a cash prize, a workshop of the play, and now a staged reading of the winning play. Historically, the award has been highly effective. Of the last 30 winners, 27 have gone on to have their work produced nationally or internationally and continue to be recognized by awards from the Tonys, Golden Globes, Pulitzer, and The National Endowment for the Arts, among many others.
When asked to reflect on winning the award this year, Sánchez responded, "While I treasured it the first time, this time feels sweeter to me. Maybe it's because it's later in life and it proves to me that I still have stories to tell, that I still matter as a playwright, or maybe it's because it's from a community I respect so much. I think it's both, and I am truly grateful for the honor."
Sánchez was first awarded the NLPA back in 2011 for La Bella Familia and currently has a play being adapted for film with Concord Studio called Unmerciful Good Fortune with Rosario Dawson set to lead the production. A common theme resonates through each of Sánchez’s works – does the end justify the means?
Lottery Boy features a life transformed by money. At just 15 years old, Paco suddenly finds himself the winner of one of the largest lottery jackpots ever. But more money means more problems, more betrayals, and Paco finds that he is no longer sure which world he belongs in. He goes through the highest highs and the lowest lows as he realizes the only person he trusts isn't really there. The play cleverly pierces the veil between this world and the next as Paco discovers the true power of his late father's love.
Sánchez will be given a one-of-a-kind award sculpted by world renowned artist Zarco Guerrero. This is the second year Guerrero will make a unique sculpture for the NLPA winner. ATC will be partnering with Xico, a Latin & Indigenous Arts Organization, and Arizona Mexico Commission, a cross-border collaboration for this event.
The public is invited to attend the 2025 National Latine Playwrights Award & Festival which will take place at the Tempe Center for the Arts on Saturday, October 4, and will include a staged reading of Lottery Boy, an awards ceremony honoring Sánchez, and a post-show roundtable discussion. The event will be emceed by President & CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Monica Villalobos. The reading will be directed by Jerry Ruiz, Associate Professor at ASU’s School of Music, Dance, and Theatre.
Tickets are free and will be available closer to the event date. Visit atc.org/nlpa for more information. Tickets may be available at the ATC Box Office at Tempe Center for the Arts the evening of the event, depending on previous demand.
About Edwin Sanchez
Winner of the National Latino Playwriting Award for La Bella Familia, Edwin Sanchez’s recent productions include Unmerciful Good Fortune and Trafficking in Broken Hearts, both in Los Angeles, as well as the world premiere of the romantic comedy I’ll Take Romance at the Evolution Theatre in Ohio. Other productions include: Diosa, produced by Hartford Stage after a successful workshop by New York Stage and Film, Trafficking in Broken Hearts at the Bank Street Theater in New York, Unmerciful Good Fortune at the Intar Theater in New York, for which he received the Princess Grace Playwriting Award in 1994, and Barefoot Boy With Shoes On at Primary Stages in New York. This play was selected by the Eugene O’Neill Playwrights Conference to represent the National Playwrights Conference at the Schelykovo Playwrights Seminar in Russia; Icarus produced by Fourth Unity, Actors Theatre of Louisville as part of their Humana Festival, San Jose Rep and regionally throughout the U.S.; and Trafficking in Broken Hearts Atlantic Theater in New York, and productions in Brazil and Switzerland. He was also among the playwrights involved with Brave New World, an organization commemorating the events surrounding September 11. Edwin is on the playwriting faculty at Wesleyan University.
About Arizona Theatre Company
Arizona Theatre Company’s (ATC) performances provide space for individuals to share moments of joy, communion, and relief. The company's diverse range of productions invites audiences to connect, offering an escape from daily pressures and a chance to rediscover the power of community through laughter, love, and reflection. Founded in 1966 and celebrating its 57th season, ATC is led by Kasser Family Artistic Director Matt August. ATC is the only League of Resident Theatres (LORT) member in Arizona; operating in Tucson and Phoenix, and is the preeminent professional theatre in Arizona, recognized as the Official Arizona State Theatre. More at atc.org.
Auditions for THE COMEUPPANCE at Stray Cat Theatre announced for July 13
AUDITIONS ANNOUNCED FOR
THE COMEUPPANCE
by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
directed by Seth Tucker
Tempe Center for the Arts Studio Theatre
September 26 - October 11, 2025
WHEN/WHERE:
Sunday, July 13th, 2025 - 12pm-4pm
BALLET THEATRE OF PHOENIX campus
6201 N 7th St Phoenix, AZ 85014
Callbacks will be on Wednesday, July 16th in the evening.
ROLES AVAILABLE:
Non-union only.
All abilities, ethnicities are encouraged to audition.
We will also be casting understudies.
EMILIO: He/Him, any ethnicity, mid to late 30s. A Berlin-based installation artist who has spent the last two years becoming accustomed to being a father, or as he would describe it, his “COVID Project.”
CAITLIN: She/Her, any ethnicity, mid to late 30s. A stepmother to the children of a well known congressman. Death pluralizes itself in her life through a string of multiple miscarriages.
URSULA: She/Her, non-white, mid to late 30s, visually impaired. The residue of her grandmother’s passing and a failed surgical attempt to save her eye has left her with a hesitancy for life, so much so that she refuses to attend the twenty-year reunion.
KRISTINA: She/Her, non-white, mid to late 30s. A derma surgeon whose marriage to a resentful general surgeon has perceivably driven her from a “straightedge” identity to a drinking habit that is cause for worry.
FRANCISCO: He/Him, non-white, mid to late 30s. A medically discharged military serviceman. His accident has left him with seizure-inducing PTSD.
PLEASE PREPARE:
3 Minutes or under (One Monologue or Two Short Contrasting Monologues)
STYLE: Contemporary, Comedic-Drama
DIRECTOR NOTE:
Looking for natural, honest, and layered performances. The show takes the characters on a rollercoaster of emotions—vulnerable to volatile—punctuated by sharp comedic turns and moments of broken tension. Looking for range and storytelling. They form a self-declared “Multi-Ethnic Reject Group,” and casting will reflect a diverse and inclusive ensemble of artists.
TO SCHEDULE AN AUDITION:
PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO rmay@straycattheatre.org WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
1. NAME
2. PHONE NUMBER
3. CHARACTER(S) YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR
4. A WINDOW OF TIME YOU WOULD PREFER. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND ALL AUDITIONS ARE ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SCHEDULED BASIS IN 5 MINUTE INCREMENTS. WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO ADHERE TO YOUR WISHES BUT CANNOT MAKE ANY PROMISES.
YOU WILL RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION EMAIL WITH:
1. IMPORTANT INFORMATION
2. AN AUDITION FORM TO COMPLETE BEFORE ARRIVAL
3. AN AUDITION TIME SLOT
ANY QUESTIONS: rmay@straycattheatre.org
PAY: There is a $400 stipend for all actors cast.
A smaller stipend is offered for understudies.
ABOUT THE SHOW:
From the author of GLORIA and the current Broadway hit PURPOSE - When a group of old classmates meet to pre-game their twentieth high school reunion, everyone is nervous for the night ahead. As alcohol and pot help the self-declared “Multi-Ethnic Reject Group,” let their guards down, they begin to reminisce about their teenage selves and reveal how their lives have unfolded since graduation. Brilliantly witty, theatrical, and moving, THE COMEUPPANCE focuses on millennials and their reckoning with the world they will soon inherit.
“…truly takes us to a new theatrical level in content as well as form. This penetrating work explores so many layers that it is best to let the experience take you where it will.” - Broadway World
Childsplay's 2025/2026 Season!
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CLICK HERE for more information, and to purchase tickets when available |
WEEK AT A GLANCE: June 30-July 6, 2025
Click on any show title to get more information on that production
LIMITED RUN:
OPENING:
Saturday, June 28, 2025
ROCK OF AGES - Ghostlight Theatre - September 4-September 14, 2025
by Chris D'Arienzo
Rock of Ages takes you back to the time of big bands with big egos playing big guitar solos and sporting even bigger hair! This Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical features the hits of bands including Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister and more.
*Content Warning: Sexually Explicit content, and Strong Adult Language throughout. Recommended for Ages 17 and up.
BASKERVILLE - Ghostlight Theatre - October 16-October 26, 2025
Ken Ludwig's Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery
Get your deerstalker cap on – the play’s afoot! Comedic genius Ken Ludwig (Lend Me a Tenor, Moon Over Buffalo) transforms Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic The Hound of the Baskervilles into a murderously funny adventure. Sherlock Holmes is on the case. The male heirs of the Baskerville line are being dispatched one by one. To find their ingenious killer, Holmes and Watson must brave the desolate moors before a family curse dooms its newest heir. Watch as our intrepid investigators try to escape a dizzying web of clues, silly accents, disguises, and deceit as five actors deftly portray more than forty characters. Does a wild hellhound prowl the moors of Devonshire? Can our heroes discover the truth in time? Join the fun and see how far from elementary the truth can be.
I HATE HAMLET - Ghostlight Theatre - December 4-December 14, 2025
by Paul Rudnick
Andrew Rally seems to have it all: celebrity and acclaim from his starring role in a hit television series; a rich, beautiful girlfriend; a glamorous, devoted agent; the perfect New York apartment; and the chance to play Hamlet in Central Park. There are, however, a couple of glitches in paradise. Andrew’s series has been canceled; his girlfriend is clinging to her virginity with unyielding conviction; and he has no desire to play Hamlet. When Andrew’s agent visits him, she reminisces about her brief romance with John Barrymore many years ago, in Andrew’s apartment. This prompts a seance to summon his ghost. From the moment Barrymore returns, dressed in high Shakespearean garb, Andrew’s life is no longer his own. Barrymore, fortified by champagne and ego, presses Andrew to accept the part and fulfill his actor’s destiny. The action becomes more hilarious with the entrance of Andrew’s deal-making friend from LA, spouting the laid-back hype of the Coast and offering Andrew a fabulous new TV deal worth millions of dollars. The laughs are nonstop as Andrew wrestles with his conscience, Barrymore, his sword, and the fact that he fails as Hamlet in Central Park.
*Content Warning: Mild Adult Language and Innuendo.
Recommended for those 13 Years and Up.
DEFYING GRAVITY - Ghostlight Theatre - January 28-February 8, 2026
By Jane Anderson
This free-structured look at the 1986 Challenger disaster places the teacher who died with six others as they hurtled into space at the center of an exploration of our need to reach beyond ourselves and dare the universe. Defying Gravity artfully interweaves the past with the present and the lives of participants and bystanders, drawing parallels among painter Claude Monet's artistic quest, the zest of the teacher selected to the first civilian astronaut, the perspectives of her grieving daughter, the aspirations of elderly tourists who drive their Winnebago to Florida to watch the space shot and dream of hotels in space, the guilt felt by a NASA mechanic, and his girlfriend's fear of heights.
*Content Warning: Mild Adult Language
Recommended for those 13 Years and Up.
BOEING BOEING - Ghostlight Theatre - March 12-March 22, 2026
By Marc Comoletti
This door slamming farce features self-styled Parisian lothario Bernard, who has Italian, German and American fiancées, each a beautiful airline hostess with frequent “layovers.” He keeps “one up, one down, and one pending” – until unexpected schedule changes bring all three to Paris, and Bernard’s apartment, at the same time.
*Content Warning: Mild Adult Language and Inuendo.
Reccommended for those 13 Years and Up.
THE SHARK IS BROKEN - Ghostlight Theatre - May 7-May 17, 2026
By Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon
The first summer blockbuster movie is being filmed—but no one working on the film would know it. Dive deep into the tumultuous, murky waters of the making of a major motion picture with testy, feuding costars, unpredictable weather, and a shark prop whose constant breakdowns are looking like an omen for the future of the movie. In this comedy co-written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, the short tempers of Jaws stars Robert Shaw (father of co-writer Ian), Richard Dreyfuss, and Roy Scheider take center stage as they bond, argue, drink, gamble, and pray for an end to the shoot, not knowing it will change their lives forever.
*Content Warning: Adult Language
Recommended for those 13 Years and Up.
THE COMEUPPANCE - Stray Cat Theatre - September 26-October 11, 2025
by Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins
directed by Seth Tucker
Tempe Center for the Arts Studio Theatre
From the author of GLORIA and the current Broadway hit PURPOSE - When a group of old classmates meet to pre-game their twentieth high school reunion, everyone is nervous for the night ahead. As alcohol and pot help the self-declared “Multi-Ethnic Reject Group,” let their guards down, they begin to reminisce about their teenage selves and reveal how their lives have unfolded since graduation. Brilliantly witty, theatrical, and moving, THE COMEUPPANCE focuses on millennials and their reckoning with the world they will soon inherit.
“…truly takes us to a new theatrical level in content as well as form. This penetrating work explores so many layers that it is best to let the experience take you where it will.” - Broadway World
REYKJAVÍK - Stray Cat Theatre - December 5-20, 2025
by Steve Yockey
directed by Ron May
Tempe Center for the Arts Studio Theatre
James is in Reykjavík for the Northern Lights, but they’re not here. So he ventures into the 24-hour dark of the Icelandic winter and finds himself entangled with dangerous strangers, malevolent birds and the mysterious Huldufólk. Playwright Steve Yockey (SLEEPING GIANT, MERCURY, PLUTO, WOLVES, OCTOPUS), a genre-bending master of suspense, takes us to the end of the Earth to experience a dark, supernatural-tinged world populated with haunting characters who defy expectations at every turn.
“…a phantasmagorical parable…if you’re 18 or older—and if you wish to be transported to a stunningly original world of mystery, sensuality, passion, and menace—book your passage now…Reykjavík is a magical trip.” – DC Theatre Arts
HOW TO DEFEND YOURSELF - Stray Cat Theatre - February 13-28, 2026
by Liliana Padilla
directed by Elizabeth Broeder
Tempe Center for the Arts Studio Theatre
Seven college students gather for a DIY self-defense workshop after a sorority sister is sexually assaulted. They learn how to “not be a victim,” how to use their bodies as weapons, how to fend off attackers. The form of self-defense becomes a channel for their rage, trauma, confusion, anxiety and desire – lots of desire. With sharp humor and brutal honesty, HOW TO DEFEND YOURSELF explores what we want, how to ask for it, and how to heal in an impossibly violent world.
“Profound, funny and shocking.” – The Daily Beast
ANGELS IN AMERICA PARTS I AND II - Stray Cat Theatre - May 1-16, 2026
by Tony Kushner
directed by Ron May
Tempe Center for the Arts Studio Theatre
Arguably the most ambitious American play of our time: an epic that travels from earth to heaven; focuses on politics, sex and religion; transports us to Washington, the Kremlin, the South Bronx, Salt Lake City and Antarctica; switches between realism and fantasy, from the tragedy of AIDS to the camp comedy of drag queens to the death or at least the absconding of God…and we’re finally taking our swing at it. We’re doubly thrilled to announce our Associate Head Kitty Louis Farber will be taking on the role of Roy Cohn.
F 5.1 - 7:00pm - PART I
Sa 5.2 - 7:00pm - PART I
Su 5.3 - 2:00pm - PART I
F 5.8 - 7:00pm - PART II
Sa 5.9 - 7:00pm - PART II
Su 5.10 - 2:00pm - PART II
T 5.12 - 7:00pm - PART I
W 5.13 - 7:00pm - PART II
Th 5.14 - 7:00pm - PART I
F 5.15 - 7:00pm - PART II
Sa 5.16 - 12:00pm - PART I & 7:00pm - PART II
“A vast miraculous play … provocative, witty and deeply upsetting … a searching and radical rethinking of American political drama … PERESTROIKA is not only a stunning resolution of the rending human drama of MILLENIUM APPROACHES, but also a true millennial work of art, uplifting, hugely comic and pantheistically religious in a very American style.” - New York Times
THE WIZARD OF OZ - Fountain Hills Theater - July 18 – August 3, 2025
Fri. & Sat. at 7:30 pm & Sun. at 2:00 pm
Rated G
Two Acts. Approx. Run Time: 2 hrs.
A Musical in the Mainstage Theater
By L. Frank Baum
With Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg
Background Music by Herbert Stothart
We’re off to see the wizard! This beloved tale, in which a Kansas farm girl travels over the rainbow to discover the magical power of home, has entertained audiences for generations. For everyone who loves Wicked, here’s the original story to delight and entertain the whole family.
Dance and Vocal Arrangements by Peter Howard
Orchestration by Larry Wilcox
Adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company
Based upon the Classic Motion Picture owned by Turner Entertainment Co. and distributed in all media by Warner Bros.
THE WIZARD OF OZ is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC. www.concordtheatricals.com
Mainstage & Mainstage Too Individual tickets are $40.00 for Adults and $18.00 for Youth 17 and under. Group, Senior, Veteran and Students discounts available.
Youth Theater Individual tickets $18.
All performances at Fountain Hills Theater 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd. Fountain Hills AZ 85268. Call 480-837-9661 x3 or visit https://fhtaz.org. The Box Office is open Tuesday -Saturday, 10am-5pm.
CAPTAIN PRESTON THE PIRATE SCOURGE - Fountain Hills Theater - August 15-31, 2025
It’s a ‘b-arrr-el ‘of laughs when Captain Preston, a pirate who is trying to make a name for himself and the governor's bored daughter Wendy, join forces to find the fabled "Pearl of Poseidon". Can they face the dread pirate Redfang and take him down a ‘peg-leg’ or two? Will they fall in love? Will they find the treasure? Will they see ‘aye’ to ‘aye’?!
Mainstage & Mainstage Too Individual tickets are $40.00 for Adults and $18.00 for Youth 17 and under. Group, Senior, Veteran and Students discounts available.
Youth Theater Individual tickets $18.
All performances at Fountain Hills Theater 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd. Fountain Hills AZ 85268. Call 480-837-9661 x3 or visit https://fhtaz.org. The Box Office is open Tuesday -Saturday, 10am-5pm.
SHOWBOAT - Fountain Hills Theater - September 5-21, 2025
Show Boat tells the story of the Cotton Blossom, a Mississippi River show boat. This brand new adaptation for a new generation is based on Edna Ferber's 1926 novel, and features the glorious music of Jerome Kern, lyrics and book by Oscar Hammerstein II, adapted by Peter J. Hill.
*Contains language and situations that some may find objectionable.
Mainstage & Mainstage Too Individual tickets are $40.00 for Adults and $18.00 for Youth 17 and under. Group, Senior, Veteran and Students discounts available.
Youth Theater Individual tickets $18.
All performances at Fountain Hills Theater 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd. Fountain Hills AZ 85268. Call 480-837-9661 x3 or visit https://fhtaz.org. The Box Office is open Tuesday -Saturday, 10am-5pm.
SIX, TEEN EDITION - Fountain Hills Theater - October 3–19, 2025
Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to reclaim their identities out of the shadow of their infamous spouse – remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a euphoric celebration of 21st century girl power!
Mainstage & Mainstage Too Individual tickets are $40.00 for Adults and $18.00 for Youth 17 and under. Group, Senior, Veteran and Students discounts available.
Youth Theater Individual tickets $18.
All performances at Fountain Hills Theater 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd. Fountain Hills AZ 85268. Call 480-837-9661 x3 or visit https://fhtaz.org. The Box Office is open Tuesday -Saturday, 10am-5pm.
THE FRONT PAGE - Fountain Hills Theater -October 31-Novenber 16, 2025
The Front Page is an irresistible comedy set in a 1920’s newsroom. Hildy wants to go on his honeymoon, but there is a jailbreak and into Hildy's hands falls the escapee. He phones his scoop to his editor. Their job is to prevent the other reporters and the sheriff from finding the jail bird and scooping their story.
Mainstage & Mainstage Too Individual tickets are $40.00 for Adults and $18.00 for Youth 17 and under. Group, Senior, Veteran and Students discounts available.
Youth Theater Individual tickets $18.
All performances at Fountain Hills Theater 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd. Fountain Hills AZ 85268. Call 480-837-9661 x3 or visit https://fhtaz.org. The Box Office is open Tuesday -Saturday, 10am-5pm.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL, THE MUSICAL - Fountain Hills Theater - Decenber 5-21. 2025
The tale of curmudgeonly Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by Christmases Past, Present and Future to change his destiny and save his soul. We’ve taken the spirit of the season, wrapped it in beautiful original melodies and tied it with all the holiday magic and wonder of your childhood.
Mainstage & Mainstage Too Individual tickets are $40.00 for Adults and $18.00 for Youth 17 and under. Group, Senior, Veteran and Students discounts available.
Youth Theater Individual tickets $18.
All performances at Fountain Hills Theater 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd. Fountain Hills AZ 85268. Call 480-837-9661 x3 or visit https://fhtaz.org. The Box Office is open Tuesday -Saturday, 10am-5pm.
PRIVATE LIVES, THE MUSICAL - Fountain Hills Theater - January 9–25, 2026
In this World Premier musical adapted from the famous Noel Coward comedy, Elyot and Amanda, once married and now honeymooning with new spouses at the same hotel, meet by chance - reigniting the old spark. After days of being reunited, they again find their romance alternating between bouts of love and anger.
Mainstage & Mainstage Too Individual tickets are $40.00 for Adults and $18.00 for Youth 17 and under. Group, Senior, Veteran and Students discounts available.
Youth Theater Individual tickets $18.
All performances at Fountain Hills Theater 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd. Fountain Hills AZ 85268. Call 480-837-9661 x3 or visit https://fhtaz.org. The Box Office is open Tuesday -Saturday, 10am-5pm.
THE SECRET GARDEN - Fountain Hills Theater - February 6–22, 2026
Mary Lennox is sent to live with her reclusive uncle. When Mary discovers a hidden door in the estate’s mysterious gardens, she embarks on a journey of healing and transformation. With her cousin Colin and a boy named Dickon, Mary uncovers the magic and beauty that lies within the neglected garden.
Mainstage & Mainstage Too Individual tickets are $40.00 for Adults and $18.00 for Youth 17 and under. Group, Senior, Veteran and Students discounts available.
Youth Theater Individual tickets $18.
All performances at Fountain Hills Theater 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd. Fountain Hills AZ 85268. Call 480-837-9661 x3 or visit https://fhtaz.org. The Box Office is open Tuesday -Saturday, 10am-5pm.
ALICE IN WONDERLAND - Fountain Hills Theater - March 6–22, 2026
Join Alice as she chases the White Rabbit into a topsy-turvy world that gets "curiouser and curiouser". Meet the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, the Queen of Hearts & more unforgettable characters when we go down the rabbit hole!
Mainstage & Mainstage Too Individual tickets are $40.00 for Adults and $18.00 for Youth 17 and under. Group, Senior, Veteran and Students discounts available.
Youth Theater Individual tickets $18.
All performances at Fountain Hills Theater 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd. Fountain Hills AZ 85268. Call 480-837-9661 x3 or visit https://fhtaz.org. The Box Office is open Tuesday -Saturday, 10am-5pm.
THE COCOANUTS - Fountain Hills Theater - March 27–April 12, 2026
The service stinks but the gags are four-star in this Marx Brothers romp. Groucho owns a bum hotel in Florida and he’s after a rich society dame, who’s after a match for her daughter, who’s in love with the head clerk. Trouble rolls in with the tide when the other Marxes arrive and mama’s eligible match turns out to be anything but.
Mainstage & Mainstage Too Individual tickets are $40.00 for Adults and $18.00 for Youth 17 and under. Group, Senior, Veteran and Students discounts available.
Youth Theater Individual tickets $18.
All performances at Fountain Hills Theater 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd. Fountain Hills AZ 85268. Call 480-837-9661 x3 or visit https://fhtaz.org. The Box Office is open Tuesday -Saturday, 10am-5pm.
THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN - Fountain Hills Theater - April 17–May 3, 2026
Hercule Poirot faces his most challenging case! A mysterious woman, a legendary cursed jewel, and a night train from London to the French Riviera -- ingredients for the perfect romance or the perfect crime? This is the World Premier adaptation of Agatha Christie’s whodunnit.
Mainstage & Mainstage Too Individual tickets are $40.00 for Adults and $18.00 for Youth 17 and under. Group, Senior, Veteran and Students discounts available.
Youth Theater Individual tickets $18.
All performances at Fountain Hills Theater 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd. Fountain Hills AZ 85268. Call 480-837-9661 x3 or visit https://fhtaz.org. The Box Office is open Tuesday -Saturday, 10am-5pm.
SHREW! - Fountain Hills Theater - May 15–31, 2026
Hank and Frank all love Bianca but, by her father’s command, cannot court her until her hell-cat older sister Kate marries. Enter Pete Trucio who vows to wed Kate. In an all-out battle of the sexes, the eccentric Pete has more than met his match in the fiery Kate. A World Premier musical.
Mainstage & Mainstage Too Individual tickets are $40.00 for Adults and $18.00 for Youth 17 and under. Group, Senior, Veteran and Students discounts available.
Youth Theater Individual tickets $18.
All performances at Fountain Hills Theater 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd. Fountain Hills AZ 85268. Call 480-837-9661 x3 or visit https://fhtaz.org. The Box Office is open Tuesday -Saturday, 10am-5pm.
Friday, June 27, 2025
Registration now open for Center Stage Academy's "Wizards Return" Summer Camp Musical
Wizards Return: A Magical Musical Theater Summer Camp
Dates: July 7–12
Calling all young witches, wizards, and magical beings! Step through the enchanted gates and join us for an unforgettable week at Wizards Return, where the world of musical theater collides with a realm of spells, songs, and spectacular adventures.
Throughout the camp, students will learn vocals, acting, and choreography inspired by a world of magic, friendship, and bravery. Together, they’ll rehearse and prepare an original Musical Spectacular to perform for family and friends on the final day.
Camp Highlights:
- Magical Sorting & House Challenges
- Wand Ceremony & Spellbinding Theater Games
- Daily Singing, Dancing & Acting Workshops
- House Points & Magical Prizes
- Final Day Performance for Family & Friends
Dates: July 7–12
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Thursday, June 26, 2025
Review Highlights: RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA - Arizona Broadway Theatre
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| Chelsea Udoye and Cast Photo by Alexxis Grant, Timeless Present Photos |
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 July 26
"Originally written for television in 1957 and starring Julie Andrews in its debut production, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella has seen several adaptations over the years, including TV versions that featured Lesley Ann Warren and Brandy in the title role and a production at New York City Opera. The Broadway production, which premiered in 2013, offers a vibrant, contemporary, and thoroughly engaging take on the timeless fairy tale, one that honors the original while incorporating modern updates with deeper character development. With a talented cast, rich and colorful creative aspects, and sure-footed direction, Arizona Broadway Theatre presents a solid production of this beloved musical." - Gil Benbrook, TalkinBroadway.com (click here to read the complete review)
"It’s a story line that, on one level, will appeal to children seeking enchantment and, on another, to adults attuned to the undercurrents of social commentary. It’s a tightrope act that Arizona Broadway Theatre, under Nick Dalton’s direction, navigates with remarkable balance....Udoye’s portrayal of Ella blends warmth with quiet resolve and moral clarity. Her performance makes it clear that this Cinderella wins love not by luck, but by conviction. Topher (Christopher Arellano), the prince, is equally compelling—no longer a flat archetype but a young ruler-in-training, awakened to the realities of his kingdom by Ella’s courage."
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Cast announced for ROALD DAHL'S CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY at Hale Centre Theatre
Willy Wonka/Candy Man: Nicholas Gunnell
Charlie Bucket: Griffin Avery
Charlie Bucket: Benicio "Beni" Bermudez
Augustus Gloop: William Lovell
Veruca Salt: Maddie Sue Miller
Violet Beauregarde: Janaysha Garcia
Mike Teavee: Albert Mendoza
Grandpa Joe: Gary Pimentel
Mr. Beauregarde: Trevon Powell
Mr. Salt: Cameron Rollins
Mrs. Gloop: Kathleen Richards
Mrs. Teavee: Karissa Anderson
Mrs. Bucket: Amanda Valenzuela
Ensemble: Sophia Castelluccio
Ensemble: Sarah Cleeland
Ensemble: Ava Cusiter
Ensemble: Carter Giannetti
Ensemble: Evelyn Humphrey
Ensemble: Payten McLeod
Ensemble: Max Mendoza
Ensemble: Ashlyn Taylor
Ensemble: Reegan Regard-Whipple
Ensemble: Joseph Strode
Ensemble: Camryn Taylor
Ensemble: Bennett Wood
Understudies:
Willy Wonka u.s: Brandt Norris
Augustus Gloop u.s: Payten McLeod
Veruca Salt u.s: Sophia Castelluccio
Violet Beauregarde u.s: Aubrey Tillett
Mike Teavee u.s: Bennett Wood
Grandpa Joe u.s: Justin Howell
Mr. Beauregarde u.s: Rashawn Mills
Mr. Salt u.s: Raymond Barcelo
Mrs. Gloop u.s & Mrs. Bucket u.s: Jenina Gallaway
Mrs. Teavee u.s: Alice Johnson
Male Ensemble SWING: Kamden Tinsley
Female Ensemble SWING: Carah Mollerup
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