Herbert Paine - Page 15

Daniel Berrigan's THE TRIAL OF THE CATONSVILLE NINE is designed to arouse contemplation and to challenge our sensibilities and sensitivities. It is a work of intellect, written by a man of the Word with a poetic talent. In service to its message, the cast of iTheatre Collaborative's production has ably and forcefully delivered the Goods. Runs through November 3rd on the Kax Stage at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix.

In all its technical aspects ~ Kurtis Overby's choreography, Savana Laveille's costumes, Amanda Gran's wigs and makeup, Kirk Bookman's lighting ~ Arizona Broadway Theatre's production of TITANIC THE MUSICAL, directed by Danny Gorman and featuring a superb cast, is equal to anything you'd see on the Great White Way, exemplary in its stagecraft. Runs through November 10th.

Arizona Theatre Company's Season-opening production of Karen Zacarias's NATIVE GARDENS, directed by Jane Jones, is ripe with the bloom of vibrant performances by Arlene Chico-Lugo, Bill Geisslinger, Keith Contreras, and Robynn Rodrigues. At Herberger Theater Center through October 21st.

Patty Stephens has returned to Don Bluth Front Row Theatre for an all too brief (October 4th-6th) encore as Mary Todd Lincoln in Vaughn McBride's PASS MY IMPERFECTIONS LIGHTLY BY. Clad in Victorian style mourning dress, she delivers a virtuoso performance, embodying the complexity of emotions of one of the most controversial First Ladies in American history.

The joyful noise emanating from downtown Gilbert is the unrestrained laughter of audiences during Hale Centre Theatre's uproarious production of Norman Krasna's timeless screwball comedy, DEAR RUTH, directed by Cambrian James and featuring a superb cast. The show runs through November 13th.

As Arizona Opera continues its groundbreaking initiative to introduce audiences to new or under-presented but nevertheless worthy works, it has selected Astor Piazzolla's tango opera, MARIA DE BUENOS AIRES as its Season opener. Sensual, mysterious, and provocative, the work features stellar performances by Catalina Cuervo, Celeste Lanuza, and Luis Alejandro Orozco. Next stop after its run in Phoenix is the Temple of Music and Art in Tucson on October 6th and 7th.

With the launch of their new company, Arizona Regional Theatre, co-directors Kayla Etheridge and Kimberly Sheperd have aimed high and hit their mark with a commanding production of JEKYLL AND HYDE, THE MUSICAL. The show runs through October 7th at the Third Street Theatre at the Phoenix Center for the Arts.

With a cast that captures the angst and humanity of David Lindsay-Abaire's characters, Theatre Artist Studio's production of RABBIT HOLE, directed by Barbara Acker, is a solemn and reverential journey into the heart of darkness and the light at the end of the mourning cave. Runs through October 21st.

Space 55 presents Ashley Naftule's quirky semi-dark comedy, THE FIRST ANNUAL BOOKBURNERS CONVENTION, directed by Dennis Frederick, and running through September 30th.

Bruce Graham pulls no punches in WHITE GUY ON THE BUS, his stinging broadside at the underbelly (the hypocrisies and contradictions) of racism that contaminates the American soul. The power of his punch is sustained in iTheatre Collaborative's riveting production of WHITE GUY ON THE BUS, superbly directed by the company's artistic director, Christopher Haines and featuring a first-rate cast and a riveting performance by Matthew Cary. Running through September 22nd in the Kax Theatre at Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix.

A/C Theatre Company's staging of Andrew Lippa's THE WILD PARTY, is a wildly engaging tribute to the roar of another decade and its edgy underbelly. Featuring Alanna Kalbfleisch in a defining role, the show runs through September 23rd at Phoenix Theatre's Hardes Theatre.

Ron May's direction of Annie Baker's THE ANTIPODES is theatre of the highest order. Brilliantly executed with a superb cast. Stray Cat Theatre's season opener runs at Tempe Center for the Arts through September 27th.

Michael Barnard's production of WEST SIDE STORY (at Phoenix Theatre through October 14th) is a triumph of direction, featuring stellar performances by Joy Del Valle, James Gish, and Alyssa Chiarello.

Arizona Broadway Theatre's production of SWEENEY TODD, directed by Kiel Klaphake and running through September 16th at Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix, is a definite cut above with sterling performances by Tony Edgerton as the human guillotine and Cassandra Klaphake as Mrs. Lovett.

Hale Centre Theatre's season-opening production of THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, directed by the inimitable Cambrian James ~ is two and a half hours of spirited story-telling, featuring a bravura performance by Austin Delp as the heroic Sir Percy Blakeney. Show runs through October 6th.

Zao Theatre's production of THE ELEPHANT MAN, directed by Mickey Bryce, is a powerhouse of acting and stagecraft, moving and provocative in content, and featuring compelling performances by Kellen Garner as John Merrick and Tyler Boettcher as Frederick Treves. The show runs through September 8th.

Neil Simon's ROSE AND WALSH is a simmering but unsteady and almost trite rumination on love and loss and legacy. If it has potential, it's unfulfilled in Theatre Artists Studio's current production of the play, running thru Sept 2.

BEAU JEST, Don Bluth Front Row Theatre's season opener, features the welcome directorial debut of Lee Cooley, aided and abetted by a solid cast ~ Hillary Low, eric Bond, Jared Kitch, Patty Stephens, Jim Coates, and Robert Jahanfar ~ in a fun and highly entertaining family comedy…with a strong heartbeat. Runs through September 29th.

This reviewer is in awe of what he saw opening weekend of Valley Youth Theatre's production of NEWSIES The Musical: A spectacular triumph of talent and artistry, all the more impressive because of the amazing young performers (ages 12 to 18!) whose versatility and range of technical proficiency is jaw-dropping. Kale Burr is terrific! Tony Spinosa's choreography is tremendous! So is the entire ensemble! An auspicious way to begin the company's 30th Anniversary Season! Runs thru Aug 26 at Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix.

Arizona Broadway Theatre's production of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN makes for good summer fare...cool, innocuous, and passably entertaining..but Frank Abagnole's story gets lost in the mix. Through August 12th.