Theatres around town had to close the curtains on their season early this year as COVID-19 began its murderous rampage during what looked like a very promising year for performing arts in the Valley. Amongst those hit by the social distancing is Phoenix’s beloved Space 55. And while they might be weathering the economic storm, for the time being, the company thought they would have to end their season without the last production of the year, Radio Free Europa, written by in-house playwright Ashley Naftule…
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Social Distancing in a World Without Theatre
by Rebecca Rudnyk – This may be wildly inappropriate. Knowingly stepping out of my lane. I write about theatre. But writers need to write, out of...
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Sam McPheeters’ ‘Mutations’ Reveals The Many Strange Faces of Hardcore Punk
Both above and underground, bookstores are riddled with literature about music written by people who “were there.” Mutations goes far beyond any of those other books because it’s by a real writer. Sam shifted his focus from screaming to the written word in the mid-2000s, releasing two excellent novels (the black comedy The Loom of Ruin and the sci-fi Exploded View) as well as a plethora of articles and short stories. Therefore, in addition to Mutations containing interesting subject matter, it’s damn good writing…
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An Inside Look at A God Awful Small Affair
Since the dawn of what we know as 21st-century modern drag, it would be inaccurate to say LGBTQA-friendly bars have no place in the drag scene. After all, many of these bars were friendly spaces which allowed these events to flourish with the queer community behind them. Once upon a time, bars couldn’t simply advertise their LGBTQA-friendly stances and operated their promotion out of the spoken word, but in the year of 2020, the possibility of drag outside of the classic gay bar setting grows each year…
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YabYum Seven: Rochelle Anvik
Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Rochelle Anvik and I am a professional ballet dancer with Ballet Arizona and I am an interior decorator when I am not on my toes…
Unique Revival of ‘Once on This Island’ Tours Through ASU Gammage
Once on This Island originally premiered on Broadway in 1990. Based on the 1985 novel “My Love My Love” by Rosa Guy, which is ultimately based on Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid,” the musical is the brainchild of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty of Ragtime and Anastasia fame. The revival premiered at Circle in the Square in late 2017, winning a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical and receiving several other notable nominations…
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Limited Run of ‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’ Hits ASU Gammage
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is a jukebox show about the singer and songwriter whose extremely successful career spanned decades. First through songs she wrote for others, ultimately culminating in a solo career. Originally premiering on Broadway in January 2014, it received several Tony nominations including Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical. Beautiful played over 2,400 performances at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre, launching its first national tour in 2015, and closing in October 2019…
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‘¡Americano!’ is a Must See at The Phoenix Theatre Company
¡Americano! is special. The show ended with such an impact, that I found myself giddy with excitement to start writing about it. Grateful for the experience,...
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Broadway Classic ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ at ASU Gammage
Fiddler on the Roof is a musical about tradition. Family. Culture. Oppression. Love. It’s about finding personal strength and making tough choices. Holding on and letting go. It is one of the most known pieces of modern art that pays homage and reverence to Jewish culture, both as a religious faith and a way of life. And it does so through the eyes and narration of one of the most endearing and generally likeable characters in theatre lore…
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‘La Cage Aux Folles’ Graces Arizona Broadway Theatre
La Cage Aux Folles is an endearing staple in the Broadway lexicon. With a book by Harvey Fierstein and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. It had its first run on the Great White Way in 1983-1987, winning 6 Tony Awards including Best Book, Best Score and Best Musical. Its subsequent Broadway revivals in 2004 and 2010 won several Tony Awards, including a Best Revival Tony for both…
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Experience the Genre-Defying ‘Flight’ at Tempe Center for the Arts
by Rebecca Rudynk – So I just saw this show. This undefinable show. A show so unique that I don’t know which box I should try...
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An Inside Look at Rubye Moore’s Drag Talent Show ‘The Beatdown’ at The Rock
Hidden in the wide open, the queer paradox known as the Phoenix-metro drag scene has something for everybody: whether you’re in the mood for pageantry, goth, high-fashion, or the down to earth, every day (except Monday) there seems to be a new drag show at any given gay bar in the Melrose District…
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