ENTERTAINING AND EDUCATIONAL “BLACK NATIVITY” OPENS AT BTT

“BLACK NATIVITY”
Black Theatre Troupe, Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center
Phoenix, AZ

A holiday surprise comes from the Black Theatre Troupe’s entertaining but richly enlightening “Black Nativity.”  “Black Nativity” looks at the way American Blacks interpret Christ’s birth.  They developed their unique observations that utilize traditional themes and music but also provide distinctive soulful tunes that tweaks in their story.

“Black Nativity’s” first act looks at the conventional Christmas story interpreted with straightforward earnestness as many traditional carols are presented with different sounds coming from dynamic re-orchestrations.

“Black Nativity’s” second act is a more culturally exclusive telling … Continue Reading

PHOENIX THEATRE’S “TWIST YOUR DICKENS” SLAMS “CHRISTMAS CAROL”

“TWIST YOUR DICKENS”
Hormel Theatre, Phoenix Theatre
Phoenix, AZ

For years, I reviewed Actors Theatre’s annual staging of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”  While always well acted, beautifully designed, and creatively staged by the company’s producing artistic director Matthew Wiener, seeing the same show year-after-year became a bit of a bore.  Now that Actors Theatre has sadly closed, their holiday show has disappeared until Phoenix Theatre decided to turn a sly eye to the immortal tale and produce Chicago’s Second City developed humorous slam, “Twist Your Dickens.”

The hysterical jab at the story includes the familiar characters … Continue Reading