above photos by Shelby Maticic
photos below by Rebecca Ulbrich
Thursday, July 5, 2018
photos - SPY LOVE ME - Brelby Theatre Company
CLICK HERE for more information on this production, which runs through July 21st
above photos by Shelby Maticic
photos below by Rebecca Ulbrich
above photos by Shelby Maticic
photos below by Rebecca Ulbrich
cast announcement - CATCH ME IF YOU CAN - Arizona Broadway Theatre
CLICK HERE for more information on this production, which runs July 13 to August 12
Cast: (in alphabetical order)
Carol Strong: Amy Burgmaier
Ensemble: Brooke Martino
Ensemble: Caelan Creaser
Paula: Carolyn McPhee
Ensemble: Charles Pang
Todd Branton: Christopher Cody Cooley
Ensemble: David Couter
Ensemble: Demi Ahlert
Ensemble: James Du Chateau
Frank Sr.: Jason Plourde
Ensemble: Lauren Alagna
Ensemble: Lauren Morgan
Det. Carl Hanratty: Matthew Mello
Brenda: Megan Moylan
Johnny Dollar: Olin Davidson
Roger Strong: Rob Watson
Frank Jr.: Sal Pavia
Ensemble: Samantha Ross
Ensemble: Sebastian Goldberg
Ensemble: Stephen C Kallas
Bill Cod: Tyler T Simms
DISNEY THE LITTLE MERMAID - Actor's Youth Theatre - August 23-25, 2018
Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater; Book by Doug Wright
Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney's The Little Mermaid is a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages. With music by eight-time Academy Award winner, Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater and a compelling book by Doug Wright, this fishy fable will capture your heart with its irresistible songs, including "Under the Sea," "Kiss the Girl" and "Part of Your World." Ariel, King Triton's youngest daughter, wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above, bargaining with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs. But the bargain is not what it seems, and Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends, Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull and Sebastian the crab to restore order under the sea. Based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the Disney film that was produced by Howard Ashman & John Musker and written & directed by John Musker & Ron Clements. Originally Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions.
Performance Dates
August 23rd-25th (with a possible date extension of August 30th-September 1st)
Thursday, August 23, 2018 7:00 PM
Friday, August 24, 2018 7:00 PM
Saturday, August 25, 2018 7:00 PM
Saturday, August 25, 2018 2:00 PM
Performance at the Higley Center for the Performing Arts
CLICK HERE to purchase tickets, which are on sale now
DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID CAST LIST
Ariel - Carmiña Garey
Prince Eric - Jake Bonar
Ursula - Kinsey Peotter
Sebastian - Adrian De Guzman
Scuttle - Ben Thornburg
Grimsby - Rick Wilson
Flotsam - Aaron Ford
Jetsam - Steven Juniel
Flounder - Charlie Hall (U/S Aaron McCaskill)
King Triton - Taylor Hudson
Chef Louis/Sailor - Chris Udall
Pilot - Noah Delgado
Windward - Aaron McCaskill
Leeward - Mia McFarland
MERSISTERS
Aquata - Carlie Meeker/Kayleah Wilson
Andrina - Miranda Bellows
Arista - Michala Montaño
Atina - Madison Brassow
Adela - Katy Udall
Allana - Kylie Merrill
MALE ENSEMBLE (Sailors)
Donovan Blau
Brock Burgess
Liam Delgado
Casey Karapetian
Aaron McCaskill
Alec Merrill
Joshua Merrill
WOMEN ENSEMBLE (Seagulls. Maids)
Sarah Brassow
Lauren Coleman
Amber Dench
Marguerite Durma
Adele Johns
Mia McFarland
Maddie Sue Miller
Lily Nelson
Emma Nielsen
Remington Rathbun
Ava Saba
Nicole Tassainer
Ghostlight Theatre presents THE SALTY DOGS - August 18
The acoustic evening will feature the unforgettable folk songs of the Kingston Trio, Peter, Paul and Mary, Bob Dylan and more. It will be a fun, sing-a-long evening with all proceeds going to benefit the Ghostlight Theater. Complimentary beverages will be offered pre-show and at intermission. The Salty Dawgs are all members of the Sun City Grand Music Club.
Saturday August 18th, 2018 @ 7:00PM
Order Tickets: Online - www.GhostlightAz.com
Reservations are Recommended ▪ Tickets are $10
13541 W Camino Del Sol, Sun City West, AZ 85375
Southwest Corner of Camino Del Sol and RH Johnson Blvd.
INTO THE WOODS, JR - Spotlight Youth Theatre - August 31-September 16, 2018
Book by James Lapine
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Dates / Show Times:
Fridays 7pm, Saturdays 7pm, Sundays 2pm
Additional 2pm matinees on Sep. 8 & 15
Be careful what you wish for! This adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s and James Lapine’s groundbreaking, Tony Award-winning musical features all of your favorite characters – Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (and his beanstalk), and the Witch, in this lyrically rich retelling of classic Brothers Grimm fables.
The musical centers on a baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse and wind up changed forever.
Auditions:
July 18 & 19, 2018 at 6:00 pm
Callbacks: July 21
Age range: 8—15
CLICK HERE for more information, and to purchase tickets when available
YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN - Spotlight Youth Theatre - October 19—November 4, 2018
Based on the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Clark Gesner
Additional Dialogue by Michael Mayer
Additional Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa
Dates / Show Times:
Fridays 7pm, Saturdays & Sundays 2pm
It’s “an average day in the life of Charlie Brown”—a day made up of little moments picked from Valentine’s Day to the baseball season, from wild optimism to utter despair, all mixed in with the lives of his friends. All of the familiar Peanuts gang, including Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, and Sally, join Charlie Brown in this classic musical adaptation of Charles Schulz’s immortal comic strip.
This family musical will be performed in repertory with the satirical play for older audiences, Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead.
Auditions:
Sep. 4 & 5, 2018
Callbacks: Sep. 6 & 8
Age range: 13—19
CLICK HERE for more information, and to purchase tickets when available
DOG SEES GOD: CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BLOCKHEAD - Spotlight Youth Theatre - October 20-November 4, 2018
By Bert V. Royal
Dates / Show Times:
Saturdays & Sundays 7pm
When CB’s dog dies from rabies, CB begins to question the existence of an afterlife. His best friend is too burnt out to provide any coherent speculation; his sister has gone goth; his ex-girlfriend has recently been institutionalized; and his other friends are too inebriated to give him any sort of solace. But a chance meeting with an artistic kid, the target of this group’s bullying, offers CB a peace of mind and sets in motion a friendship that will push teen angst to the very limits. Drug use, suicide, eating disorders, teen violence, rebellion and sexual identity collide and careen toward an ending that’s both haunting and hopeful.
Parental discretion is advised, due to language and mature themes.
This play will be performed in repertory with the family musical, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
Auditions:
Sep. 4 & 5, 2018
Callbacks: Sep. 6 & 8
Age range: 13—19
CLICK HERE for more information, and to purchase tickets when available
THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER: THE MUSICAL - Spotlight Youth Theatre - November 30-December 16, 2018
By Jahnna Beecham & Malcolm Hillgartner
Adapted from the play by Barbara Robinson
Dates / Show Times:
Fridays 7pm, Saturdays 7pm, Sundays 2pm
Additional 2pm matinees on Dec. 8 & 15
The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world—so when they crash Sunday school and demand parts in the Christmas pageant, the whole town panics. There’s not supposed to be fighting or cigar-smoking in Bethlehem, and while these kids have never even heard the Christmas story, they definitely have rewrites! Soon everyone from the terrified pint-sized shepherds to the furious church ladies is calling for first-time director Grace to fire the Herdmans. But it’s up to Grace and the Reverend to help their community see the Christmas story and the Herdman kids through new eyes, in this buoyant musical adaptation of the funny and touching holiday classic. Silent night? Not a chance. But sometimes a little joyful noise is just right for Christmas.
Auditions:
Oct. 5 & 6, 2018
Callbacks: Oct. 7
Age range: 6—19
CLICK HERE for more information, and to purchase tickets when available
BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON - Spotlight Youth Theatre - January 11-27, 2019
Book by Alex Timbers
Music & Lyrics by Michael Friedman
Dates / Show Times:
Fridays 7pm, Saturdays 2pm & 7pm, Sundays 2pm
Additional 2pm matinees on Jan. 19 & 26
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson follows America’s seventh president from his early days as a child on the wild frontier to his controversial reign in the White House. With the country divided into rich and poor (and with continued skirmishes with the Native Americans upsetting pieces of the new world), Jackson begins his steady climb from military strategist to populist rabble-rouser to President of the United States. Along the way, he meets his wife, Rachel, takes on the Founding Fathers – and rocks like no political figure has ever rocked before, with the help of an onstage trio and an entourage of singing, joking cohorts. It also asks the question: is wanting to have a beer with someone reason enough to elect him? What if he’s really, really hot?
Auditions:
Oct. 23 & 24, 2018
Callbacks Oct. 25
Age range: 14—19
CLICK HERE for more information, and to purchase tickets when available
13 - Spotlight Youth Theatre - Feb. 22-Mar. 10, 2019
Music & Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown
Book by Dan Elish & Robert Horn
Dates / Show Times:
Fridays 7pm, Saturdays 7pm, Sundays 2pm
Additional 2pm matinees on Mar. 2 & 9
Evan Goldman is plucked from his fast-paced, preteen New York City life and plopped into a sleepy Indiana town following his parents divorce. Surrounded by an array of simpleminded middle school students, he needs to establish his place in the popularity pecking order. Can he situate himself on a comfortable link of the food chain… or will he dangle at the end with the outcasts?
Auditions:
Jan. 13 & 14, 2019
Callbacks Jan. 15
Age range: 11—15
CLICK HERE for more information, and to purchase tickets when available
BEAT BUGS: SAVING STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER - Spotlight Youth Theatre - April 5-14, 2019
Book by Sean Cercone and David Abbinanti
Featuring the Music & Lyrics of John Lennon & Paul McCartney
Dates / Show Times:
Fridays 7pm, Saturdays 2pm & 7pm, Sundays 2pm
The Beat Bugs animated Netflix series centers around five pals who explore the world and learn life lessons with a little help from their friends. This new musical theatre adaptation incorporates numerous songs from the iconic Lennon/McCartney catalog, including “All You Need Is Love,””Come Together,” “Across the Universe,” “Yellow Submarine,””Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds,” “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “In My Life,” “Strawberry Fields Forever,” and “Magical Mystery Tour.”
Auditions:
Feb. 26 & 27, 2019
Callbacks Feb. 28
Age range: 8—13
CLICK HERE for more information, and to purchase tickets when available
THE MIRACLE WORKER - Spotlight Youth Theatre - April 26-May 5, 2019
By William Gibson
Dates / Show Times:
Fridays 7pm, Saturdays 2pm & 7pm, Sundays 2pm
The Miracle Worker tells the story of deaf and blind Helen Keller, and her ingenious and determined teacher, Annie Sullivan. Trapped in a secret, silent world, unable to communicate, Helen is violent, spoiled, almost sub-human — and treated by her family as such. Only Annie realizes that there is a mind and spirit waiting to be rescued from the dark, tortured silence. Through scenes of intense physical and emotional dynamism, Annie and Helen finally achieve their breakthrough, and the beginning of a whole new life for Helen, thanks to a single word.
In real life, Helen Keller (1880-1968) later became the first deaf-blind person to earn a university degree, and gained international stardom as an author, political activist, and lecturer. The roles of Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller were immortalized by Anne Bankroft and Patty Duke, both of whom starred in the original Broadway production of The Miracle Worker and also won Oscars for their portrayals in the 1962 film version.
Auditions:
March 19 & 20, 2019
Callbacks March 21
Age range: 8—19
CLICK HERE for more information, and to purchase tickets when available
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS - Spotlight Youth Theatre - May 31-June 16, 2019
Book & Lyrics by Howard Ashman
Music by Alan Menken
Dates / Show Times:
Fridays 7pm, Saturdays 7pm, Sundays 2pm
Additional 2pm matinees on June 8 & 15
Little Shop of Horrors is a Broadway and Hollywood sci-fi smash musical by the songwriting geniuses behind Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin.
The meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a new breed of plant: a foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore that promises Seymour unending fame and fortune … as long as he keeps feeding it blood!
Auditions:
April 6 & 7, 2019
Callbacks April 9
Age range: 13—19
CLICK HERE for more information, and to purchase tickets when available
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
audition notice - male ages 20s-30s for REASONS TO BE PRETTY - Laughing Pig Theatre Company
Kent, Male (age 20s-30s, any ethnicity) Confident from years of going unchallenged. Athletic and attractive, more swagger then charm. Doesn’t think he is a bad guy, just expects to get what he wants.
Rehearsals Monday-Wednesday 7:30pm-10pm starting July 30th
Performances September 28, 29, October 6th from 6:30-10pm September 30 1:00-5:00
Email laughing.pig.theatre@gmail.com with headshot and resume to schedule an audition
audition notice - THE DROWSY CHAPERONE - Almost Famous Theatre Company - July 11
"When a die hard theatre fan plays his favorite cast album, the characters come to life in this hilarious musical farce."
Audition: Wednesday, July 11, 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
For an audition appointment send a picture/resume to play@almostfamoustheater.com
Performances: September 27-30
Hardes Theatre on the Phoenix Theatre campus
Auditioning for these roles:
Mrs. Tottendale
The air-headed, proper, and bossy host of the wedding.
Female, Age: 40 to 50
Vocal range top: Db5, Vocal range bottom: G3
Underling
Mrs. Tottendale's savvy butler who is thrifty and stiff yet has an understated sense of humor
Male, Age: 35 to 50
Vocal range top: G4, Vocal range bottom: Ab2
George
Robert's anxious, dim-witted best man who has Robert's best-interest always at heart
Male, Age: 35 to 50
Vocal range top: Bb4, Vocal range bottom: F3
Tap dancing required
Feldzieg
Broadway producer who is desperate for his star to return to his show; played by Jack Adler.
Male, Age: 25 to 45
Vocal range top: Db4, Vocal range bottom: Db3
Kitty
Feldzieg's dim-witted companion who has hopes of being a star; played by Sadie Adler.
Female, Age: 24 to 30
Vocal range top: F5, Vocal range bottom: Bb3
Janet Van De Graaf
The famous bride. Glamorous and talented star of Feldzieg's Follies; played by rising star Jane Roberts.
Female Age: 25 to 35
Vocal range top: -1, Vocal range bottom: G3
The Drowsy Chaperone
Janet's alcoholic confidante and friend; played by well-established stage actress Beatrice Stockwell
Gender: Female
Age: 45 to 55
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: F3
Trix
The brave and brash female aviator who, by chance, is recruited to perform the wedding.
Female Age: 20 to 40
Vocal range top: Eb5, Vocal range bottom: Ab3
Ensemble Staff; Reporters
Tuesday, July 3, 2018
Bridge Initiative Launches National/Arizona New Play Contest for 2019 Festival
from our friends at The Bridge Initiative:
The Bridge Initiative is accepting submissions for its second Bechdel Test Festival. Playwrights of all genders from across the U.S. are encouraged to submit short and full-length plays that satisfy the requirements of the Bechdel Test: two female characters who talk to each other about something other than a man. Preference will be given to playwrights who have not been awarded by The Bridge Initiative in the last three years.
The concept that launched the Bechdel Test appeared in 1985 in a comic series titled Dykes to Watch Out For by Alison Bechdel, who attributes the idea to her friend Liz Wallace. It refers to the representation of women in film, and according to numerous press reports annually, many films continue to fail to meet its criteria. When conceiving of The Bechdel Test Fest, the Bridge Initiative decided to apply the test to theatre, charging writers to pen complex, diverse female characters. The Bridge Initiative's inaugural Bechdel Test Fest, September 9-10, 2017, was well received by artists and audience alike. More than 70 individuals were compensated for their work, in line with The Bridge Initiative's insistence on payment for artists.
Qualified professionals adjudicate all contest submissions anonymously. The highest-scoring full-length play receives a week-long development workshop, culminating in a fully staged reading as part of the festival offerings. If this winning play is not by an Arizona writer, the top-scoring Arizona playwright will be awarded a development process and a staged reading. The weekend festival also features readings of up to three short plays and full-length runners-up, a to-be-determined film component, and gender parity panel discussion. Talkbacks follow each presentation to discuss whether adherence the Bechdel Test’s requirements yields a rich experience for viewers and the impact of seeing stronger, more complex female characters on stage and screen.
For complete contest details, visit www.bridgeinit.org. Submissions ($25 for full-length and $15 for short plays) accepted through August 15th, 2018. Winners to be announced January 2019 in advance of Bechdel Test Fest April 26-28, 2019, at Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe AZ 852
video audition submissions due tomorrow for BYE BYE BIRDIE at Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre
DST is looking for boys and girls ages 13-19 for BYE BYE BIRDIE!
Video submissions are due by 6pm tomorrow night, July 4th!
1) Fill out the audition form, located here:
2) Video yourself singing a 1-2 minute “Birdie Musical style song”. . .you should be singing along to a track (either something off of youtube or itunes or whether you or someone else plays the piano – NO VOCALS OTHER THAN YOURS)
3) At the beginning of the video, introduce yourself, state whether you would like early or late cast or either and what role or roles you are interested in and whether you would accept anything.
4) Upload the Video to Youtube and email the video link to auditions@desertstages.org
Monday, July 2, 2018
WEEK AT A GLANCE: July 2 - July 8
Click on any show title to get more information on that production
CLOSING:
CONCERTS/ LIMITED RUN:
N/A
N/A
OPENING:
STILL PLAYING:
OPENING SOON:
TheaterWorks presents a Sensory Friendly performance of DISNEY THE LITTLE MERMAID on July 21st
As part of TheaterWorks commitment to increasing access and inclusion to those with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other sensory and social cognitive disabilities, The Little Mermaid will also feature a Sensory Friendly performance on Saturday, July 21 at 2pm.
Sensory-friendly performances are designed to create a performing arts experience that is welcoming to all families with children with autism or with disabilities that create sensory sensitivities.
CLICK HERE for more information regarding the accommodations included in these performances which is available on the TheaterWorks website
Sunday, July 1, 2018
Spotlight Youth Theatre's 2018 / 2019 Season!
Into the Woods, Jr
Book by James Lapine
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Dates / Show Times:
Aug. 31—Sep. 16, 2018
Fridays 7pm, Saturdays 7pm, Sundays 2pm
Additional 2pm matinees on Sep. 8 & 15
Be careful what you wish for! This adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s and James Lapine’s groundbreaking, Tony Award-winning musical features all of your favorite characters – Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (and his beanstalk), and the Witch, in this lyrically rich retelling of classic Brothers Grimm fables.
The musical centers on a baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse and wind up changed forever.
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Based on the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Clark Gesner
Additional Dialogue by Michael Mayer
Additional Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa
Dates / Show Times:
Oct. 19—Nov. 4, 2018
Fridays 7pm, Saturdays & Sundays 2pm
It’s “an average day in the life of Charlie Brown”—a day made up of little moments picked from Valentine’s Day to the baseball season, from wild optimism to utter despair, all mixed in with the lives of his friends. All of the familiar Peanuts gang, including Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, and Sally, join Charlie Brown in this classic musical adaptation of Charles Schulz’s immortal comic strip.
This family musical will be performed in repertory with the satirical play for older audiences, Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead.
Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead
By Bert V. Royal
Dates / Show Times:
Oct. 20—Nov. 4, 2018
Saturdays & Sundays 7pm
When CB’s dog dies from rabies, CB begins to question the existence of an afterlife. His best friend is too burnt out to provide any coherent speculation; his sister has gone goth; his ex-girlfriend has recently been institutionalized; and his other friends are too inebriated to give him any sort of solace. But a chance meeting with an artistic kid, the target of this group’s bullying, offers CB a peace of mind and sets in motion a friendship that will push teen angst to the very limits. Drug use, suicide, eating disorders, teen violence, rebellion and sexual identity collide and careen toward an ending that’s both haunting and hopeful.
Parental discretion is advised, due to language and mature themes.
This play will be performed in repertory with the family musical, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical
By Jahnna Beecham & Malcolm Hillgartner
Adapted from the play by Barbara Robinson
Dates / Show Times:
Nov. 30—Dec. 16, 2018
Fridays 7pm, Saturdays 7pm, Sundays 2pm
Additional 2pm matinees on Dec. 8 & 15
The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world—so when they crash Sunday school and demand parts in the Christmas pageant, the whole town panics. There’s not supposed to be fighting or cigar-smoking in Bethlehem, and while these kids have never even heard the Christmas story, they definitely have rewrites! Soon everyone from the terrified pint-sized shepherds to the furious church ladies is calling for first-time director Grace to fire the Herdmans. But it’s up to Grace and the Reverend to help their community see the Christmas story and the Herdman kids through new eyes, in this buoyant musical adaptation of the funny and touching holiday classic. Silent night? Not a chance. But sometimes a little joyful noise is just right for Christmas.
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Book by Alex Timbers
Music & Lyrics by Michael Friedman
Dates / Show Times:
Jan. 11—27, 2019
Fridays 7pm, Saturdays 2pm & 7pm, Sundays 2pm
Additional 2pm matinees on Jan. 19 & 26
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson follows America’s seventh president from his early days as a child on the wild frontier to his controversial reign in the White House. With the country divided into rich and poor (and with continued skirmishes with the Native Americans upsetting pieces of the new world), Jackson begins his steady climb from military strategist to populist rabble-rouser to President of the United States. Along the way, he meets his wife, Rachel, takes on the Founding Fathers – and rocks like no political figure has ever rocked before, with the help of an onstage trio and an entourage of singing, joking cohorts. It also asks the question: is wanting to have a beer with someone reason enough to elect him? What if he’s really, really hot?
13
Music & Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown
Book by Dan Elish & Robert Horn
Dates / Show Times:
Feb. 22—Mar. 10, 2019
Fridays 7pm, Saturdays 7pm, Sundays 2pm
Additional 2pm matinees on Mar. 2 & 9
Evan Goldman is plucked from his fast-paced, preteen New York City life and plopped into a sleepy Indiana town following his parents divorce. Surrounded by an array of simpleminded middle school students, he needs to establish his place in the popularity pecking order. Can he situate himself on a comfortable link of the food chain… or will he dangle at the end with the outcasts?
Beat Bugs: Saving Strawberry Fields Forever
Book by Sean Cercone and David Abbinanti
Featuring the Music & Lyrics of John Lennon & Paul McCartney
Dates / Show Times:
April 5—14, 2019
Fridays 7pm, Saturdays 2pm & 7pm, Sundays 2pm
The Beat Bugs animated Netflix series centers around five pals who explore the world and learn life lessons with a little help from their friends. This new musical theatre adaptation incorporates numerous songs from the iconic Lennon/McCartney catalog, including “All You Need Is Love,””Come Together,” “Across the Universe,” “Yellow Submarine,””Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds,” “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “In My Life,” “Strawberry Fields Forever,” and “Magical Mystery Tour.”
The Miracle Worker
By William Gibson
Dates / Show Times:
April 26—May 5, 2019
Fridays 7pm, Saturdays 2pm & 7pm, Sundays 2pm
The Miracle Worker tells the story of deaf and blind Helen Keller, and her ingenious and determined teacher, Annie Sullivan. Trapped in a secret, silent world, unable to communicate, Helen is violent, spoiled, almost sub-human — and treated by her family as such. Only Annie realizes that there is a mind and spirit waiting to be rescued from the dark, tortured silence. Through scenes of intense physical and emotional dynamism, Annie and Helen finally achieve their breakthrough, and the beginning of a whole new life for Helen, thanks to a single word.
In real life, Helen Keller (1880-1968) later became the first deaf-blind person to earn a university degree, and gained international stardom as an author, political activist, and lecturer. The roles of Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller were immortalized by Anne Bankroft and Patty Duke, both of whom starred in the original Broadway production of The Miracle Worker and also won Oscars for their portrayals in the 1962 film version.
Little Shop of Horrors
Book & Lyrics by Howard Ashman
Music by Alan Menken
Dates / Show Times:
May 31—June 16, 2019
Fridays 7pm, Saturdays 7pm, Sundays 2pm
Additional 2pm matinees on June 8 & 15
Little Shop of Horrors is a Broadway and Hollywood sci-fi smash musical by the songwriting geniuses behind Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin.
The meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a new breed of plant: a foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore that promises Seymour unending fame and fortune … as long as he keeps feeding it blood!
CLICK HERE for more information, and to purchase tickets when available
JAWS: LIVE, ABRIDGED & COMPLETELY UNDERFUNDED - All Puppet Players - October 5-27, 2018
We're gonna need a bigger stage!
Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM, plus additional Thursday at 8PM performance the final week of each run
Performance held at Playhouse on the Park at Central Arts Plaza
1850 N. Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Venue is across the street from Phoenix Theatre's campus
The Box Office will open one hour prior to the performance.
WARNING! All Puppet Players shows are for mature audiences with exceedingly immature tastes- (although tasting is not recommended due to risk of fur balls) no one under 17 years of age will be permitted. Shows contain strong adult language and situations. Puppets can be unpredictable—so if you are of a sensitive nature or are easily offended—puppets don’t care.
CLICK HERE for more information and to purchase tickets now!
DIE HARD: A CHRISTMAS STORY - All Puppet Players - November 30-December 29, 2018
While most families will deposit their holiday cheer with Scrooge and friends, the All Puppet Players are offering an alternative that includes a puppet Bruce Willis, a battle for Nakatomi Plaza and tons of pop-culture references to hang nice and cozy over your fireplace.
John McClane tries to save his wife and several others from master criminal Hans Gruber during a Christmas party. Nothing is safe and no holiday memory unsoiled while the puppets wreak havoc on Christmas (Yay, we said it) and bring the holiday spirit to all good little boys and girls. There’ll be caroling, and gun-fights, curse words, and all the puppet anarchy you can shake a yule log at. Enjoy the newest holiday tradition! Welcome to the party, pal!
Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM, plus additional Thursday at 8PM performance the final week of each run
Performance held at Playhouse on the Park at Central Arts Plaza
1850 N. Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Venue is across the street from Phoenix Theatre's campus
The Box Office will open one hour prior to the performance.
WARNING! All Puppet Players shows are for mature audiences with exceedingly immature tastes- (although tasting is not recommended due to risk of fur balls) no one under 17 years of age will be permitted. Shows contain strong adult language and situations. Puppets can be unpredictable—so if you are of a sensitive nature or are easily offended—puppets don’t care.
CLICK HERE for more information and to purchase tickets now!
WAITING FOR HENSON - All Puppet Players - February 1-February 23, 2019
This nonsensical-tomfoolery abandons logical construction, rational thought, and intellectually usable arguments to prove that irrationality, self-awareness, and puppets are a lethal combination when someone tries to assign meaning to them.
Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM, plus additional Thursday at 8PM performance the final week of each run
Performance held at Playhouse on the Park at Central Arts Plaza
1850 N. Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Venue is across the street from Phoenix Theatre's campus
The Box Office will open one hour prior to the performance.
WARNING! All Puppet Players shows are for mature audiences with exceedingly immature tastes- (although tasting is not recommended due to risk of fur balls) no one under 17 years of age will be permitted. Shows contain strong adult language and situations. Puppets can be unpredictable—so if you are of a sensitive nature or are easily offended—puppets don’t care.
CLICK HERE for more information and to purchase tickets now!
A FISTFUL OF PUPPETS - All Puppet Players - April 5-27, 2019
A quick-draw competition sets the stage for a gaggle of homicidal maniacs, insane humans, and a downright hilarious cast of characters, all hoping for victory and unspoiled riches. Among them is a mysterious lady, with ties to the town and seeking vengeance. To settle a long-tallied score, she must battle the band of unruly outlaws and face the cold-blooded gunslinger holding the town and her past captive. Watch and laugh as puppets and humans are infused into this celebrated genre for a show packed with sight gags, yee-haws, outrageous plot twists, audience participation and pure puppet anarchy! So grab your boots, chaps, and cowboy hats and come see the weirdest thing on stage since Paint Your Wagons.
Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM, plus additional Thursday at 8PM performance the final week of each run
Performance held at Playhouse on the Park at Central Arts Plaza
1850 N. Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Venue is across the street from Phoenix Theatre's campus
The Box Office will open one hour prior to the performance.
WARNING! All Puppet Players shows are for mature audiences with exceedingly immature tastes- (although tasting is not recommended due to risk of fur balls) no one under 17 years of age will be permitted. Shows contain strong adult language and situations. Puppets can be unpredictable—so if you are of a sensitive nature or are easily offended—puppets don’t care.
CLICK HERE for more information and to purchase tickets now!
a conversation with DEBBY BOONE, starring in 42ND STREET at Scottsdale Musical Theatre Company
by Gil Benbrook
For anyone who was alive in the 1970s Debby Boone was a household name due to her huge 1977 hit song "You Light Up My Life" which spent 10 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Boone garnered more attention when she performed the song on both the Oscars and Grammy Awards and she would go on to win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist and have a successful career in music, theatre, TV and film.
Boone has been performing since she was just a teenager when she toured with her father, Pat Boone and her sisters, and she has had a varied music recording career in various music genres including pop, country and gospel.
In 1979 she married Gabriel Ferrer, the son of Jose Ferrer and Rosemary Clooney. Boone and her children toured with Clooney and she even recorded a duet with Clooney of her famous holiday song "White Christmas" on Boone's Christmas album "Home For Christmas."
Boone has appeared in many theatrical productions, including the Broadway production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and starred as Maria in the revival of The Sound of Music at Lincoln Center.
Boone comes to Phoenix to co-star next week in the Scottsdale Musical Theater Company production of 42nd Street and Boone took a break to answer some questions about the show and her career just before joining rehearsals this past week.
For someone who doesn’t know the show, what would you tell them 42nd Street is about?
"42nd Street is about the creation of a big Broadway show in the 1930’s called Pretty Lady. It gives you an inside look from several different points of view, a jaded director who needs a big success for financial reasons, a past her prime diva who desperately needs to be relevant again, a young dancer singer with stars in her eyes and hopes for a big career on Broadway. You see the camaraderie of a hard working Broadway cast. It’s a musical within a musical and has all the elements you could expect from a Broadway show. Great songs, great dancing, big sets, conflict, romance and a lot of heart!"
How would you describe the character you play, Dorothy Brock?
"Dorothy Brock is a successful theater actress who hasn’t had any great success in a decade. She is desperate to feel relevant in the theater again. Her insecurities are masked by over-the-top demands. She knows the real reason she has the part in Pretty Lady is because of her relationship with Abner Dillon who has put up the money for the show, and yet she knows that she has what it takes to be the leading lady the show requires."
What is it about the character of Dorothy Brock that you connect with most?
"I think I connect to her insecurity and her confidence which sounds strange but I think most performers would identify with that statement. You can know you have talent and something to really bring to a show and at the same time question yourself and compare yourself to others in a way that undermines your abilities, especially as you get older."
How do you prepare when you're stepping into a show in this capacity and specifically how did you prepare for 42nd Street?
"When I come into a show like this where the rehearsal period is very short, my main objective is to come in with my lines and songs learned. Beyond that, if I feel I need to work with a vocal coach I will, and in this case - I did. I also spend a lot of time imagining a life for the character that I’m playing. I wonder what experiences have brought her to this point in her life what do all of her relationships look and feel like, etc."
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What are you looking forward to most about performing in Arizona? Have you performed here before or have any connection to the Valley?
"It is been a very long time since I’ve performed in Arizona. One of the most memorable was being part of Rosemary Clooney’s White Christmas party with my kids. It was the first city on our tour and the first time my kids had ever been on stage. It is a lovely memory that I will always cherish. I am very much looking forward to working at the Scottsdale Musical Theater Company. It looks like such a beautiful place and I know they have put on some fantastic productions!"
You do tons of concert work across the country. What drew you to a traditional musical like 42nd Street?
"Honestly, David Hock, the director, talked me into it! I would never have seen myself as right for this role. We spoke on the phone and I really like to take he had on the character of Dorothy Brock. It seemed much more real and within reach, and yet a challenge too. I absolutely love musical theater and working with a company of talented people. It is going to be so fun to be a part of a big musical like 42nd Street."
Any favorite moment in the show?
"It’s hard to say since I have not joined the rehearsal yet. I am anticipating that my final scene in Act II where I have a heart to heart with Peggy Sawyer will be a highlight for me."
What do you need with you when you're on the road or performing out-of-town?
"The most important thing is my French press and good coffee! I never leave home without them."
You had a huge hit song when you were just 21, won the Grammy for Best New Artist, have recorded various styles of music and have also done plenty of TV and stage work, I even saw you play Maria in The Sound of Music at Lincoln Center and thought you were wonderful. Which is your favorite medium and why?
"I can’t really answer that because what I love is the variety. I have been so fortunate to be able to do concerts, sing many kinds of music, to do musical theater, television and even a few movies. I guess if I had to narrow it down, the experience of singing a beautiful song on stage that allows me to communicate heart to heart with an audience, that is what I love the most."
42nd Street glorifies the golden age of Broadway. You obviously grew up in a famous family and your father Pat Boone had a hugely successful career just after the time period depicted in the show. What connection to the time period or the songs from that time do you have?
"I don’t really have a strong connection to the time period of the 1930s but I have a strong connection to the American Songbook which I have ended up singing almost exclusively at this point in my life. As I said, I love musical theater so being a part of a musical about a musical is double the fun."
What do you hope audiences will take away from seeing 42nd Street?
"I hope audiences come out of the theater smiling because they had a great time. This is a chance to see a classic Broadway musical. I think the excitement of the opening number will transport audiences right out of the pressure of their daily lives and the show will delight them all the way to the big finish!"
CLICK HERE for more information on this production, which runs July 6th to July 15
audition notice - JEKYLL & HYDE - Arizona Regional Theatre - July 9 & 10
Auditions for Jekyll & Hyde are July 9 & 10 from 6-10pm. Callbacks are July 14th.
CLICK HERE to sign up for an audition slot
Auditions will be held at Arizona Regional Theatre:
712 S. Hacienda Dr. Suite 5
Tempe, AZ 85281
Please prepare one 32-bar cutting of a ballad or song that fits the show. An accompanist will be provided. Please bring sheet music marked in the correct key. No CDs or Acappella. Headshot & Resume required.
Character Breakdown:
(All roles are currently open)
Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde:
Actor must portray both the gentle doctor and his insane counterpart. Strong acting and vocals required.
Gender: Male Age: 30-45 Vocal Range: Bass/Bari-tenor (Bb2-A4)
Emma Carew:
Daughter of Chairman Danvers Carew and Jekyll's beloved fiance, who is refined and desired by all of the socialite men.
Gender: Female Age: 20-25 Vocal Range: Soprano (A3-C6)
Lucy Harris:
Gorgeous "main attraction" at a local Gentleman's Club. Strong singer/dancer.
Gender: Female Age: 20-30 Vocal Range: Mezzo/Alto (G#3-F#5)
Gabriel John Utterson:
Serves as Jekyll's lawyer and helpful friend.
Gender: Male Age: 30-45 Vocal Range: Bari-tenor (B2-F#4)
Sir Danvers Carew:
Emma's loving father and Chairman of the Board of Governors.
Gender: Male Age:60-70 Vocal Range: Baritone (C3-F#4)
Simon Stride:
Secretary of the Board of Governors and Jekyll's rival for Emma's affection.
Gender: Male Age: 30-40 Vocal Range: Baritone (A2-G4)
Lady Beaconsfield:
The only female member of the Board of Governors.
Gender: Female Age: Any Vocal Range: Mezzo
Bishop of Basingstoke:
Hypocritical, sadistic man of the cloth and a member of the Board of Governors.
Gender: Male Age: 40-60 Vocal Range: Baritone (C#3-G4)
Lord Savage:
A member of the Board of Governors.
Gender: Male Age: Any Vocal Range: Tenor
General Lord Glossop:
A pompous retired army man and member of the Board of Governors.
Gender: Male Age: 50-60 Vocal Range: Tenor (G#3-C4)
Sir Archibald Proops:
Member of the Board of Governors
Gender: Male Age: Any Vocal Range: Baritone
Ensemble:
Townspeople, Gentleman's club dancers and patrons, party guests. Strong singers Possible double as Board of Governors
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