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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‘Kinky Boots’ Sashays Through The Phoenix Theatre Company
by Rebecca Rudnyk
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Kinky Boots is based on an independent British film, which was inspired by the true story of Steve Pateman who found a niche market in an attempt tried to save his family’s failing shoe business. Although it had a somewhat rocky start, Kinky Boots defied the odds, ultimately winning 6 Tony Awards in 2013, including Best Score (for pop icon Cyndi Lauper, the first female to win an individual Tony in the category) and the top spot, Best Musical. The show closed in April of this year, after more than 2,500 performances on Broadway…
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Phoenix Theatre Company Presents ‘Sisters in Law’
by Rebecca Rudnyk
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The Phoenix Theatre Company’s new mainstage show, Sisters in Law, based on the best selling book by Linda Hirshman, is an intimate look at the relationship between the first two women to serve on the US Supreme Court. Though they have very different ideologies, both Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg are incredible pioneers, and the bond they built in the years they served together as justices is a compelling premise…
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The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane Comes to Valley Youth Theatre
by Rebecca Rudnyk
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Valley Youth Theatre has done it once again. This lovely little theatre company that provides a forum for young people to develop and hone their skills continues to show its range, and tear down the stigmas that often shadow children’s performances. This is not a middle or high school school production. These kids care. They don’t just care. They aren’t just going through the motions. They are laying their hearts out on the stage every night. They are serious about our forum. They are planning their future theatre careers, and ambitiously working towards those goals. And because of them, I am confident that our beloved forum will continue…
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Altar Boyz Parodies 90s Pop in Arizona Broadway Theatre Production
Upon walking into the mainstage space at Arizona Broadway Theatre (ABT) for Altar Boyz, there is a sense of poppy nostalgia. As a young girl, I fell in love with a boy for the first time watching New Kids On The Block music videos on VHS. I came of age witnessing friends arguing over the epic NSYNC versus Backstreet Boys debate. So I was taken back to my youth walking into a beautiful venue with those songs providing the background music….
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