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