Theater Review – October 11, 2026

FASCINATING “EUREKA DAY” EXPLORES ISSUES WE CONFRONT DAILY BUT A MEDIOCRE PRODUCTION DOESN’T BRING THE PLAY TO VIBRANT LIFE

“Eureka Day”
Stray Cat Theatre, Studio Tempe Center for the Arts
Tempe, AZ

By Chris Curcio
Theater Critic

As our society confronts multi-faceted challenges, the problems invite a variety of possible answers.  Because complex issues often have multiple solutions debates begin as people fall sway to specific responses that result in heated discussions.

Playwright Jonathan Spector explores this debate with sharp wit and clever arguments in his Tony Award-winning play “Eureka Day.”  Stray Cat Theatre is presenting the play’s local premiere in what … Continue Reading

Theater Review – September 23, 2026

“PHANTOM” STILL ELABORATELY GRAND AT ASU GAMMAGE FOR THE SIXTH TIME BUT THE SHOW IS TIRED

“The Phantom of the Opera”
Broadway Across America – Arizona, ASU Gammage, Tempe, AZ

By Chris Curcio
Theater Critic

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s elaborately grand musical “The Phantom of the Opera” is back locally for its sixth ASU Gammage appearance.  The new production is heavily influenced and patterned after the 1986 premiere London staging that appeared on Broadway in 1988.  The tour is complete with most of the late Maria Bjornson’s original monumental and ever-changing sets and her stunningly elaborate costumes.

But all is not well … Continue Reading

Theater Review – August 29, 2026

“MURDER FOR TWO” IS A ZANY WHODUNIT

“Murder for Two”

The Phoenix Theatre Company, Hormel Theatre
Phoenix, AZ

By Chris Curcio
Theater Critic

“Murder for Two,” The Phoenix Theatre Company’s (TPTC) latest attraction, is a musical theater murder mystery.  Few thrillers are musicals, but the show has all the expected malarkey a whodunit should contain plus a splash of songs that add to the daunting mayhem all highlighted by two gifted comedians.  One performer plays the detective trying to solve the crime and a bunch of potential suspects are handled by the other actor who uses costumes, accents, eye spectacles, and … Continue Reading

Theater Review – July 18, 2026

SUPERB LOCAL “LES MISERABLES” IS REMARKABLE

“Les Misérables”
The Phoenix Theatre Company, Stephenson Theatre
Phoenix, AZ

By Chris Curcio
Theater Critic

“Les Misérables” is a masterful musical that explains 19th century French societal changes as all citizens wanted equality and a right to succeed.  The musical uses Victor Hugo’s all-encompassing 1862 novel to tell the story with the added beauty of Claude-Michel Schonberg’s melodic and richly expressive score.

It is a challenging show to stage because of the complex characters who must sing, dance, and act with flawless expertise.  The musical has played in the Valley before in the touring production that … Continue Reading

Theater Review – July 1, 2026

“BEAUTY AND THE BEAST” BRINGS THE FAMILIAR TALE TO VIBRANT LIFE

“Beauty and the Beast”
Broadway Across America – Arizona, ASU Gammage
Tempe, AZ

By Chris Curcio
Theater Critic

As one who saw the original Broadway version of “Beauty and the Beast,” I approached the latest touring production at ASU Gammage with a tad of skepticism.  Could a new staging all these years after the 1994 New York presentation still bring Disney’s romantic fairytale alive?

The production turned out to be a fine representation of the well-known tale and while not quite as elaborate scenically as the original, the staging introduced a … Continue Reading

Theater Review – June 13, 2026

BRILLANT “EVAN HANSEN” IS ABOUT GROWING UP AND TPTC’S STAGING IS STELLAR

“Dear Evan Hansen”
The Phoenix Theatre Company, Hormel Theatre
Phoenix AZ

By Chris Curcio
Theater Critic

The brilliant Tony Award-winning musical “Dear Even Hansen” has only played locally once before the current exemplary The Phoenix Theatre Company (TPTC) production.  That presentation was the road tour at the cavernous ASU Gammage.  At ASU Gammage, the intimate show that dissects the challengers of growing up and conquering insurmountable obstacles was dwarfed by the theater so it was difficult to understand.

At TPTC, Michelle Chin’s stellar staging is presented in the much smaller … Continue Reading

Theater Review – May 24, 2026

ATC’S “DRACULA” BRINGS NEW LIFE TO THE FAMILIAR TALE IN A MARVELOUSLY AMUSING PRODUCTION

“Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors”
Arizona Theatre Company, Center Stage, Tempe Center for the Arts
Tempe, AZ

By Chris Curcio
Theater Critic

Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” has been scaring people since its 1897 debut.  Audiences have been terrorized by the tale on stage, screen, and television but its long exposure has made it less fearful as audiences remember the plot’s famous twists and turns.  The familiar characters from the Count, to the solicitor, and the multiple female personas also contain no surprises.  With the time-honored tale’s long history, … Continue Reading

Theater Review – May 16, 2026

TPTC’S “EVER AFTER” TELLS THE FAMILIAR CINDERELLA TALE WITH PANACHE

“Ever After”
The Phoenix Theatre Company, Stephenson Theatre
Phoenix AZ

By Chris Curcio
Theater Critic

There’s always something exciting about a debut show especially a new musical premiering locally that may go on to a long career at theaters throughout the country and perhaps around the world.

The Phoenix Theatre Company (TPTC) is presenting the first production of “Ever After” based on the popular 1998 film that starred Angelica Huston and Drew Barrymore   The well-known Cinderella fairytale is intact.  Poor put-upon Danielle de Barbarac and her life of pleasing her wicked stepmother … Continue Reading

Theater Review – May 10, 2026

“ANGELS IN AMERICA – PART II: PERESTROIKA” FOLLOWS PART I IN DAZZLING SCT PRODUCTION

“Angels in America – Part II: Perestroika”
Stray Cat Theatre, Studio Theatre, Tempe Center for the Arts
Tempe, AZ

By Chris Curcio
Theater Critic

Stray Cat Theatre is presenting an outstanding production of Tony Kushner’s two-part “Angels in America.”  Last week they opened “Millennium Approaches” with a marvelous ensemble of fine local performers.  This week, the same acting company presented the second part “Perestroika” in a marvelously insightful production that darkens the play’s first half as we see how life’s implications impact people’s choices.

We discover that the … Continue Reading

Theater Review – May 2, 2026

SCT’S “ANGELS IN AMERICA – PART I: MILLENNIUM APPROACHES” IS BRILLIANTLY PRODUCED

“Angels in America – Part I: Millennium Approaches”

Stray Cat Theatre
Studio Theatre, Tempe Center for the Arts
Tempe, AZ

By Chris Curcio
Theater Critic

Tony Kushner’s 1991 “Angels in America” is a massive two-part masterpiece that brilliantly describes the AIDS crisis that plagued the world before medications controlled the disease.  It views AIDS’s effects on a very diverse population.  Staging the work is a huge undertaking for any theater company so it is rarely performed.

While “Angels” has played the Valley before, it has been years since it has been … Continue Reading