Theater Remembrance – December 12, 2025

GREAT TPTC SUPPORTER CAROLYN PAIN WILL BE MISSED

By Chris Curcio
Theater Critic

Back in September, the Phoenix theater community lost one of its best performer/director/observer and supporter, Carolyn Pain.  She spent decades at The Phoenix Theatre Company (TPTC) as an ardent mentor to administrators, artistic directors, and performers.  At 92 (almost 93) she will be missed and her support will be treasured by those who remember her rich and inspiring legacy.  After attending a TPTC rehearsal, she left and while driving home she made an unfortunate turn resulting in her death.

My association with Carolyn goes back to my 1979 Phoenix arrival when I saw almost all her performances and directorial work at the then Phoenix Theatre, a prominent community theater.  Her expertise and polish graced a multitude of productions and when Carolyn was involved, Phoenix Theatre shows shined with the Pain aplomb.

Throughout the years, I always watched Carolyn’s productions.  I remember giving her many accolades as a performer and director but I also recall times when a Carolyn production missed the mark.  As a critic, I had to remark on those mistakes.  But Carolyn was always the consummate professional.  She would still greet me at TPTC openings with a warm embrace and pleasant words.  We wouldn’t discuss those “bad” reviews but she never stopped showing affection.

When she ended performing and directing, she was always at TPTC openings and she sincerely welcomed the arrival of Michael Barnard as TPTC Producing Artistic Director and his partner Vincent Vanvleet as Executive Director.  She cherished TPTC’s growth and it’s change from a community theater to a major regional and professional troupe.

She was excited to watch the theater’s physical growth with the opening of the Dr. Stacie J. and Richard J Stephenson Theatre which, unfortunately, she never saw completed but she did see it during its construction.

She would always meet me when I would see her at TPTC openings and she always said “I always read your reviews but I don’t always agree with your opinions.”  And that’s the way it should always be with a critic.  Read the reviews and disagree when you don’t agree and think about why you disagree.

Carolyn Pain will be missed and remembered with affection and love by all those who worked and performed with her at The Phoenix Theatre Company.  Her legacy will last and will always be a permanent part of the theater’s history.  I doubt TPTC will ever again find another involved supporter/performer/director like Carolyn Pain.  She deserves the grade below for all her guidance and support of The Phoenix Theatre Company over many years.

Grade: A+