How stimulating, both intellectually and emotionally, to experience the ASU staged readings of "Holy Spirit on Grand Avenue" and "The Gambler's Daughter" on the 9th. If not otherwise engaged, I certainly would have attended the three staged readings on the 8th. Both plays were quite substantial, and the actors' presentations ranged from creditable to excellent. I was a little disappointed that the anticipated post-show discussion or talk back did not take place. With some fine tuning here and there, and endings which are perhaps a little more prolonged and thus stronger and more pointed, both new plays have a decided potential. I highly recommend you attend the repeat staged readings at the Phoenix Theatre the weekend of the 21st, which is why this review is submitted under those dates. There is something about the purity of staged readings, almost like reading the work in print, that really draws an audience into the very essence of a play. And the price is right. Collapse

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How stimulating, both intellectually and emotionally, to experience the ASU staged readings of "Holy Spirit on Grand Avenue" and "The Gambler's Daughter" on the 9th. If not otherwise engaged, I certainly would have attended the three staged readings on the 8th. Both plays were quite substantial, and the actors' presentations ranged from creditable to excellent. I was a little disappointed that the anticipated post-show discussion or talk back did not take place. With some fine tuning here and there, and endings which are perhaps a little more prolonged and thus stronger and more pointed, both new plays have a decided potential. I highly recommend you attend the repeat staged readings at the Phoenix Theatre the weekend of the 21st, which is why this review is submitted under those dates. There is something about the purity of staged readings, almost like reading the work in print, that really draws an audience into the very essence of a play. And the price is right. Collapse

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As always, Ballet Arizona was impressive and moving. But, as is often the case with Valley dance companies, the choice of music was less than glorious. With dozens of magnificent compostions available from the Romantic and Impressionism periods for these two world premieres, surely more inspirational music than Haydon for "Before," or Shostakovitch for "Go With It" could have been discovered. At the risk of sounding the Philistine, for me great Ballet is 40% splendid music and 60% superb dance. But I loved the performance, and will always appreciate Ballet Arizona. Collapse

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Enjoyed the contagious enthusiasm of the cast; almost made us Manilow fans. Thought the female singers particularly good as a group, with excellent stage presence. Overall, a talented group and will look forward to seeing these names in lights again. Would have liked to see more staging and lighting variety. Liked the cozy ambience of the theatre, service was excellent; only negative was food itself, which needs some tweaking. Collapse

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Center Dance Ensemble premiered their most recent production @ Herberger Theater last night. Under the artistic direction of Fran Cohen and Donald Dadey this dance tribute to not only their mothers, but mothers of all cultures was a poignant, lyrical and heartfelt musical expression honoring the strength and love given in a selfless manner by mothers to their children. The title of the season's closing production, "Songs of My Mother" was inspired by a Linda Ronstadt classic album. Dadey's and Cohen's anthology of dance is a tribute to not only a single mother, but to the mothers of these two artistic directors' heritage. This is explained in dialogue presented by both Cohen and Dadey, woven between dance scenes. The beauty of the gentle, fluid movement expressed by the dancers brings serenity to the viewer as one reflects on the experiences of our childhood and relationships with our loved ones. It is hoped you will be able to attend one of the remaining shows Collapse

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Notwithstanding recent reviews, this production is not really about public housing, social classism, or the interplay between architecture and politics. All that "stuff" could just as easily have been about saving marine mammals or conserving redwood forests. Rather, this is a splendid play about a very curious interdependence, if not co-dependence, between two very quirky couples. In Act 1, the early scenes slowly, if not painfully, establish the plot, while the very latter scenes finally begin to arouse audience tension and anticipation. But despite A+ acting, the promise of Act 2 somehow does not quite fully rise to expectations, althugh it certainly maintains the level of angst developed at the end of Act 1. So, a 3.5 (B+) play combined with a 4.5 (A+) presentation (acting, directing, set, etc.) = an overall 4 stars (A), and well worth attending. Collapse

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Sorry to be a party pooper, but I think one must curb unrestrained enthusiasm for this week's Gammage production of Mamma Mia. Compared to the Gammage presentation a couple of years ago, it lacked that degree of humour, bounce, verve, acting, yes even singing, of the previous presentation. The best I can do is award 4 stars (A), although given the very poor quality of the sound system, Mamma Mia probably only deserved 3.5 stars (B+). What fun is a romantic musical comedy, especially one with such a clever and humorous plot, if most of the lyrics are all but impossible to make out. Besides drowning out the words with overly loud music, at times some of the singers were almost shrill. Imagine attending South Pacific, Oklahoma, or Phantom, and not being able to comprehend the all important lyrics. Collapse

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This is a play which I can positively recommend for the following reasons. 1. The acting is very good to excellent. 2. The play is very well staged and directed. 3. The play is a full two hours on stage, leaving one extremely well satisfied. 4. But most significantly, it is an unusual, if not weird play, that is rarely produced. And that is what the Valley small theatre scene is all about. Go see it. Collapse

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I suppose learned professors of modern drama might well extrapolate to the entire play, that depth of design which perhaps may be discovered in the ten minute philosophical discourse found towards the end. Unfortunately, I cannot ascribe such profundity to "The Zoo Story," preferring to take the play at a more superficial face-value level, that is a somewhat weird if not almost absurd encounter in the park which grows increasingly tense throughout. But what did really mesmerize the opening night audience was the very good acting, which by the 2nd or 3rd weekend should become outstanding. The only drawback of this rarely performed and unusual, once in a decade play, is that it consists of one act rather than two. Don't miss it. Collapse

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While I do agree with a recent review in "New Times" that the director and actor offer a most creditable performance, I cannot concur that the play itself lacks substance, or could be characterized as "whacked-out," "underwritten" or a "snoozefest." Although the undersigned is known to occasionally nod off when a play does not completely occupy my interest and focus, I can truly say that I did not miss a single word during the entirety of this engaging opus. Granted the play is a little weird, but it is a captivating and fascinating weird, which was so consummate as to leave one with the feeling that this one act presentation encompassed almost two hours rather than its actual 75 minutes. If one accepts this production as basically non-philosophical, designed to elicit continuous chuckles rather than outright guffaws, then a most enjoyable evening can be spent during this final upcoming weekend. Collapse

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