Herbert Paine - Page 19

Solid performances by Jeanna Michaels, Megan Holcomb, and Frances Murphy make for a riveting and provocative production of John Pielmeier's AGNES OF GOD, now through December 17th at Peoria Center for the Performing Arts.

In Arizona Theatre Company's reprise of the work that it first honored four years ago with its National Latino Playwriting Award, director Kinan Valdez conveys Marisela Trevi o Orta's THE RIVER BRIDE into a vivid sensory experience, moving her characters through a dreamlike voyage to a destination that has its own bank of ironies.

Under the direction and choreography of Robert Kolby Harper, a cast of sparkling talents brings scads of oxygen and energy to William Finn's A NEW BRAIN the second featured production of ASU Lyric Opera Theatre's current season.

B3 Productions presents a double bill of one-acters that feature riveting performances by Kim Lavelle in TRUE BELIEVER and Franc Gaxiola (THE LAST CASTRATO). Nailing down B3's distinctive niche as experimental provocative theatre. Gaxiola is masterful!

SOMETHING ROTTEN! is spectacular! Pure platinum! The tour is now rocking the house at ASU Gammage through November 5th. From the moment that Nick Rashad Burroughs ignites the house with an electrifying Welcome to the Renaissance, the show is a splendid nonstop concatenation of music (Brian P. Kennedy), choreography (Casey Nicholaw), sets (Scott Pask), and wardrobe (Gregg Barnes). Nicholaw's flawless direction leaves no theatrical stone unturned. At the center of this whirlwind are the sterling performances of Rob McClure, Josh Grisetti, and Adam Pascal, supported by a terrific ensemble.

Valley Youth Theatre's current production of MADAGASCAR: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE, directed by Bobb Cooper is an entertaining showcase for some young and very promising song-and-dance talents, The show runs through November 19th at the Herberger Theater Center's Stage West.

Patti Suarez and Joshua Vern deliver riveting performances in the deliciously absorbing production of Joanna Murray-Smith's SWITZERLAND, now center stage at Theatre Artists Studio through November 5th.

A compelling theme and strong technical elements set the Theater Works stage for a reenactment of Victor Frankenstein's ill-fated exercise to reanimate life but do little to compensate for a performance that plods along like the iconic monster at the center of Victor Gialanella's torturous FRANKENSTEIN.

In Arizona Broadway Theatre's spirited production of MAN OF LA MANCHA (running through November 11th, James Rio is a dynamic force, fulfilling Dale Wasserman's vision of a Cervantes who is erudite and pragmatic and a Quixote who is starry-eyed, vulnerable, and determined to save the day at whatever cost. A wholesome and uplifting show.

The essence of Neil Simon's CHAPTER TWO is finding full and glowing expression in Arizona Theatre Company's opening production of its 51st Season. The show is directed by the marvelous Marsha Mason and features stellar performances by David Mason, Blair Baker, Ben Huber, and Diana Pappas.

Under Virginia Olivieri's inspired direction, Stephen Mallatratt's play adaptation of Susan Hill's novella, THE WOMAN IN BLACK is more cerebral than scary but gifted in the production by the performances of two excellent actors, J. Kevin Tallent and Tim Fiscus. The is on stage now at Mesa Encore Theatre's Black Box through October 22nd.

Theater Works' production of THE LITTLE PRINCE, directed by Paul Pedersen, is technically elegant and sublimely well-acted, featuring standout performance by Scarlett Abernathy in the title role. A must-see reminder of universal truths about love, friendship, and loyalty. Now at Peoria Center for the Performing Arts through October 8th.

ASU Lyric Opera is fulfilling Bed ich Smetana's vision in a production that is resplendent with vocal excellence (Emily Botts, Justin Carpenter), spirited choreography (by the terrific Molly LaJoie), the vibrant colors of Alfredo Escarcega's set and Sharon Jones's costumes, the brilliant instincts of Director Dale Dreyfoos, and a highly gifted ensemble. The show runs through October 1st at ASU's Evelyn Smith Music Theatre.

As political theatre goes, Guillermo Calder n's KISS, Stray Cat Theatre's 16th Season opener, directed by Ron May, occupies the terrain between parody and reality, melodrama and documentary, laughter and catharsis. It is a play that works on a number of levels: startling an audience out of its comfort zone, engaging it in the shared discovery of uncomfortable and inconvenient truths, revealing the barriers that must be surmounted to achieve cross-cultural understanding. KISS runs through September 30th at Tempe Center for the Arts.

Uproarious and played to comic perfection, THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) is opening Southwest Shakespeare Company's 24th Season with a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino. In other words, to be quite blunt, the wit of the script and the ways of its splendid cast are as sharp as a rapier. Tour de force performances by Breona Conrad, Louis Farber, and Alexis Baigue. Directed by Debra K. Stevens.

CHICAGO is on fire and sparks are flying at Fountain Hills Theater as Victoria Fairclough and Gina Tomkus electrify the stage with sizzling performances as femme fatales Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly. Artistic director, Peter J. Hill, has imprinted the Kander & Ebb classic with his distinctive flair and produced a stylish, sexy, and slickly choreographed (Noel Irick) showcase of talent.

Marney Austin, Marcia Weinberg, and Pamela Fields shine in Ivan Menchell's intelligent and poignant comedy, THE CEMETERY CLUB, now at Theatre Artists Studio in Scottsdale, AZ.

SPAMALOT, Eric Idle's delicious and insanely funny parody of the Arthurian legend, is enjoying an equally delightful and enthusiastic sendup by the young actors of TheatriKIDS (the youth theatre program of Theatrikos Theatre Company in Flagstaff, AZ. Under the astute and inspired guidance of Theatrikos's education director Joe Maniglia and music director Kenlynn Winsor, the 32-member cast give their all to recreate the travels and travails of King Arthur (Matthew Sutphen) as he recruits high and low for his Round Table Knights to join the quest for the Holy Grail.

Melody Knudson, David Magadan, Chavez Benally deliver moving performances in Melissa James Gibson's [sic] at Mesa Encore Theatre. An ingenious construction of a play, colored with the playwright's characteristic lively, literate, and provocative dialogue, focusing on three souls seeking meaning, connection and fulfillment.

The spirit of Richard Rodgers remains alive and well as Lynn Timmons Edwards and fellow vocalists Jeanie Carroll and Christy Welty, accompanied by pianist Charly Spining and narrator Bob Edwards, deliver a rousing and inspired tribute in RICHARD RODGERS IN SONG & STORY.