Theater Review – September 24, 2017

PHOENIX THEATRE’S DAZZLING “HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH” PUSHES THE MUSICAL THEATER TO CONTEMPORARY SUBJECTS

“HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH”
Hormel Theatre, Phoenix Theatre
Phoenix, AZ

With its stellar “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” production, Phoenix Theatre has taken a giant step from just producing the more traditional musicals they usually do so well to presenting the more off-beat musicals that explore bizarre contemporary life issues.  Not everyone will like “Hedwig…” but for those lucky enough to see this remarkably sleazy but artful staging, welcome to the new world of contemporary musicals.

“Hedwig…” centers on the title characters impersonation of … Continue Reading

SPLASHY “MAMMA MIA!” PRODUCTION AT PHOENIX THEATRE ENTERTAINS

“MAMMA MIA!”

Mainstage Theatre, Phoenix Theatre

Phoenix, AZ

Nothing profound happens in “Mamma Mia!,” the splashy musical that weaves hit ABBA tunes around a simple story set on a remote Greek island where Donna owns and runs a taverna where locals and guests have a ball.  But there’s nothing wrong with spirited entertainment which is exactly what the stellar Phoenix Theatre production delivers.

As the story unfolds, Donna’s daughter, Sophie, discovers her unmarried mother spent the summer of her conception romantically involved with three different men who visited the island.  Unbeknownst to Donna, Sophie invited them to … Continue Reading

Theater Review – September 7, 2017

“FUN HOME,” ASU Gammage, Tempe, AZ

By Chris Curcio

Theater Critic

While a review of “Fun Home,” the prize-winning musical that opened the local Broadway Across America season at ASU Gammage Tuesday, September 5, should appear in this space, the venue refused to provide this critic with press seats although other local critics did receive press seats.

ASU Gammage distributes an abundance of free tickets to each Broadway show’s opening night.  Some of these “media” tickets result in reviews but many do not review the show but are provided to stimulate free publicity.

Is not providing a theater critic who … Continue Reading