Herbert Paine - Page 25

Arizona Broadway Theatre's CAROUSEL offers an uneven ride, punctuated only by the stellar performances of Jeannie Shubitz, Jill-Christine Wiley, and Kathleen Berger and Jim Hunter's elaborate set design.

A tribe ~ a people, a culture ~ is defined by its history. If that history is wrought by famine and oppression, the experience will show in its art. Such is the case of the Irish, whose spirit, passion for freedom, and fortitude are exhilaratingly showcased in CELTIC NIGHTS: SPIRIT OF FREEDOM. The national tour of this show arrived in Scottsdale with a triumphant display of sight and sound, song and dance, woe and joy.

On the stage of Phoenix Theatre, CALENDAR GIRLS basks and steeps in the glorious glow of its brilliantly assembled cast. Under EE Moe's astute direction, not one of the superb performances in this production overshadows the other; each is precious in its own right; together, they are simply magnificent.

Director Richard Powers-Hardt and his solid cast ~ Debra Rich, Shelby Daeffler, Tom Noga, and Luke Gomez ~ deliver a perfectly balanced and inspired production of GRAND CONCOURSE, Heidi Schreck's provocative and immensely relevant masterwork. GRAND CONCOURSE will stand as one of Theatre Artists Studio's most powerful and memorable productions. The show runs through January 31st.

Southwest Shakespeare Company's mastery in interpreting the Bard's work is on display in this intelligently and innovatively conceived edition of OTHELLO, directed by Harold Dixon. Jesse James Kamps and Hope Brown deliver compelling performances as Iago and the Moor.

In addition to Idina Menzel's predictably powerhouse vocals, IF/THEN features a stellar performance by LaChanze. She is a non-stop engine of energy, delivering one knockout song after another and acting up a storm. Janine DiVita stands out as well as a talent to watch.

The interpretation and staging of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY by director/actor Tim Shawver and his fellow thespians ~ Marshall Glass, Devon Nickel, Katie Larson, Traci McCormick, and Timothy Pittman ~ are impressive, entertaining, and heartwarming. On the air now at AZ Broadway Theatre ~ through December 24th.

Many marvelous moments in Greasepaint's uplifting and well-played production of OLIVER! directed by Dale Nakagawa and choreographed by Molly Lajoie. A fine holiday treat for the family.

Hale Centre Theatre has rolled out more than just the proverbial red carpet for its 12th annual production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. It has adorned the work with all the trimmings needed to dub it a glorious theatrical experience: Corrin Dietlein's lavish and exquisitely tailored costumes; David Dietlein's engineering of not just a set but of an environment; Jeff Davis's magical lighting effects; and a marvelous cast, featuring Mark Kleinman as Scrooge.

DISGRACED treads into a quicksand from which there is neither recovery, redemption, or revelation. There is only the sound and the fury of a soul adrift in the arid land of self-loathing and his irresistible pull toward tragedy. AZ Theatre Company does standup production but can't relieve play of its shortcomings. As explosive as its onstage fireworks and confessions are ~ and there is definitely no shortage of intensity in this play ~ DISGRACED ultimately falls flat, unsatisfying, and almost objectionable like an expired bromide ~ pop pop fizz fizz but no relief.

Whimsical, lyrical, and magical. A cornucopia of imaginatively crafted and elegantly integrated design elements. Charmingly acted portrayals of delightfully distinct characters. Rich with touchingly expressed insights about the journey to human connection. The vision of Melissa James Gibson's BROOKLYN BRIDGE has been fully realized in Ricky Araiza's staging of the play at the Paul V. Galvin Playhouse on ASU's Tempe campus, featuring Olga Bezpaltchikova and a marvelous cast.

Fountain Hills Theater's SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, directed by Damon J. Bolling is perfectly on point, featuring super performance by Kyle Bennett as Seurat, stunning turn by Debra Qualtire, great supporting cast, and extraordinary technical collaboration.

Childsplay's production of Miriam Gonzales' THE SMARTEST GIRL IN THE WORLD is strong on performance and message. Directed by Debra K. Stevens, Osiris Cuen leads a spirited cast in revealing the essence and importance of family and character.

The glory of Theater Works' staging of ALMOST, MAINE, directed by Richard Powers Hardt, lies in the amazing ability of its four stars to shift seamlessly from one scene to another and to sculpt, at each new turn, distinctly different characters. It's a glorious interpretation of John Cariani's work.

Big TENS all around for THE TOXIC AVENGER, now burning up the stage of Phoenix Theatre and oozing with spectacular staging and absolutely intoxicating performances by Caleb Reese, Johanna Carlisle, Trisha Ditsworth, Nathaniel Lewis Tenenbaum, and Lucas Coatney.

Scottsdale Musical Theater Company's production of SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM, smartly directed by Hector Coris and delightfully executed by eight talented singers, is a joyous journey into the mind and soul of one of America's most prolific songwriters.

Director Robyn Allen and Theatre Artists Studio's skilled cast make AMERICAN MYTH a thought-provoking theatrical experience.

Hershey Felder take to the stage as the dean of American songwriters in HERSHEY FELDER AS IRVING BERLIN ~ currently, the second production of Arizona Theatre Company's 49th Season. And it is a bonanza!

Arizona Broadway Theatre's well-executed staging of WEST SIDE STORY, directed by Kiel Klaphake, stays true to its creators' vision and features a compelling performance by Melissa Rapelje as Anita.

In the space between the provocative opening questions and final reflections of Frank Higgins' THE TASTE TEST, a potentially clever take on identity, friendship and betrayal fizzles flat. Higgins' work is as contrived and sophomoric as a freshman stab at drama, and the performances in Black Theatre Troupe's staging don't save it.