Following the trend of many other Sunbelt States, Arizona's population is growing at an unprecedented rate. As a result, its theater community is becoming an increasingly significant player on the national stage.
Unlike other forms of arts and entertainment, theater in Arizona hasn't been heavily influenced by Native American cultures. Instead, the state's live theater is largely an imported urban enterprise. Theater productions are primarily centered in the major urban regions of Tucson and the Phoenix metropolitan area, as well as in mid-sized cities like Flagstaff, Prescott, Sedona, and Casa Grande.
While small events, festivals, and performing companies can be found in Arizona's vast, largely rural Native American reservations, the cities hold the majority of the state's theater activity, including the biggest productions with the highest attendances.
Phoenix Area Theater
In the Phoenix suburb of Tempe, on the campus of Arizona State University, a popular theater venue is the Gammage Auditorium. The building is one of Frank Lloyd Wright's final designs, and this, along with its affiliation with the University, gives the auditorium a special cultural status. With a capacity of over 3,000, the auditorium hosts a variety of traveling Broadway shows, as well as concerts, dance performances, and other events. The Gammage also contains three lobby galleries of visual arts, and is active in the local community, with a portion of its profits going to the University.
In Gilbert, another suburb of Phoenix, the Hale Centre Theatre holds performances every week of the year. Established in 1947, the theater hosts Broadway shows, as well as local and seasonal performances, including a three-week run of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. The Hale Centre Theatre is known for its high production values, long history, and the frequency of its performances.
In downtown Phoenix, the Herberger Theater Center is home to three theater companies – the Actors Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, and Childsplay. The theater also hosts performances by several other local and regional organizations. Of the three resident companies, the critically acclaimed Actors Theatre is best known for its progressive and provocative performances of unusual national, international, and local plays. Plays by this company are perfect for adult audiences who are not interested in the usual theater fare.
The Herberger Theater Center's Arizona Theatre Company produces plays that are appealing to everyone, including children. The Theater Company has a year-round schedule that includes classics by many well-known playwrights, from William Shakespeare to August Wilson, and has been in existence for over 40 years. Theater patrons can even catch the Arizona Theatre Company performing in Tucson.
Also at the Herberger Theater Center, Childsplay is what its name suggests-- a theater company by and for children. The company performs shows meant to educate young people. Childplay's production values are equal to those of many adult theater companies, and their performances are regularly reviewed in local papers.
Another large Phoenix-area company is the Phoenix Theatre, whose stated mission is to "serve Phoenix's diverse and increasingly urban communities." Created in 1920, the company, originally known as "the Phoenix Players," has worked to establish itself as a force to be reckoned with. The company, whose theater is also located in downtown Phoenix, performs plays in a variety of genres, including dramas, comedies, and musicals.
Outside Phoenix
The Beowulf Alley Theatre Company, established in 2001, is located in downtown Tucson. With a theater philosophy that combines classical and contemporary urban attitudes, the company seeks to enrich Tucson culture by celebrating diversity, and presenting a unique theater style. The company performs a typical October through April season, and produces many classics, in addition to contemporary works.
The Arizona Classical Theatre, based in Prescott, focuses on classical plays, particularly the works of William Shakespeare. The company has a year-round, high-quality production schedule, and hosts the annual Arizona Shakespeare Festival. The festival has been running for over 10 years, and takes place each July in Prescott's Ruth Street Theater. Every year, the company puts on several performances of two of Shakespeare's plays, updated for the 21st century.
The Canyon Moon Theatre Company has existed for over a decade, performing in the intimate Charles W. Raison Theatre on the outskirts of beautiful Sedona. The company performs two programs, the Main Stage series, and the Splinter Series. The Main Stage productions focus on conventional plays, while the Splinter Series is more experimental and adventurous. The company also hosts many special events, including conversations with theater luminaries, and a poetry slam.
Founded in 1972, the Theatrikos Theatre company in Flagstaff is one of the most popular theater companies in the state. The company performs in downtown Flagstaff's Doris Harper-White Community Playhouse, a small venue constructed in 1923. The company maintains high artistic standards, performing socially conscious dramas, along with well-intentioned comedies. The company is also deeply involved in the Flagstaff community, contributing to many local causes and employing area youths with positive volunteer opportunities.
With so many theater companies and events, Arizona has become one of the premier theater states in the country. Theater lovers who visit Arizona will have no difficulty finding high-quality stage productions in almost any of the state's towns, suburbs, and cities.
