Phoenix Metro Theater Reviews

Review: THE MISS FIRECRACKER CONTEST at Live Theatre Workshop
by Zach Wetzel - September 08, 2024

This play is a lot of fun and audiences will leave with a smile on their face!...

Review: POTUS at Winding Road Theater Ensemble
by Zach Wetzel - September 07, 2024

POTUS is a dark comedy filled with strong performances....

Review: BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA at Invisible Theatre
by Zach Wetzel - September 05, 2024

BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA is by far the most moving play I have seen in Tucson. It stars Dennis O'Dell as John and Hannah Turner as Caitlyn, both making their Invisible Theatre debuts. This was my first introduction to the play, written by Anna Ouyang Moench. I recommend going in cold if you are unfami...

Review: SHRIEK at The Gaslight Theatre
by Zach Wetzel - September 01, 2024

SHRIEK is fun for the whole family!...

Review: GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY at ASU Gammage
by Herbert Paine - August 21, 2024

Written and directed by Conor McPherson, GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY doesn't feel like other jukebox musicals. If anything, with its engrossing dialog, delivered with a heightened sense of heartbreaking realism from an excellent touring ensemble, you're never quite sure how best to describe the prod...

Review: MAYTAG VIRGIN at Live Theatre Workshop
by Zach Wetzel - August 11, 2024

This romantic comedy has a big heart and lots of laughs....

Review: CABARET at The Phoenix Theatre Company
by Herbert Paine - August 04, 2024

The Phoenix Theatre Company’s production of CABARET, directed by Michael Barnard ~ outstanding and exemplifying excellence in theatre....

Review: WILLY WONKA at Saguaro City Music Theatre
by Zach Wetzel - June 22, 2024

A sweet treat, WILLY WONKA is delightful family entertainment! Photo by Ray Frieders....

Review: SPIDER-GUY at The Gaslight Theatre
by Zach Wetzel - June 09, 2024

SPIDER-GUY is extremely entertaining, with some of the best performances I have seen at the Gaslight Theatre!...

Review: TRUE WEST at Arizona Theatre Company
by Herbert Paine - June 04, 2024

Arizona Theatre Company's production of Sam Shepard's TRUE WEST bristles with raw energy, exposing the myths of the American Dream....

Review: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at The Phoenix Theatre Company
by Herbert Paine - May 30, 2024

The Phoenix Theatre Company's edition of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, directed and choreographed by Staś Kmieć, is good and quite entertaining. In its own right, it follows the tradition of the Broadway musical ~ brisk, easy to consume, emotionally uplifting, and endowed with a highly talented ensemble....

Review: GOOD GUY WITH A PUN - A Film With A Heart of Positivity
by Herbert Paine - May 22, 2024

The award-winning TV pilot, GOOD GUY WITH A PUN, is an engaging and revelatory narrative about an endearing character whose story line we are eager to follow. Film maker Dmitry Milkin has created a story about resilience and positivity in a digital age....

Review: PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS at TAZ Theatre Company
by Zach Wetzel - May 17, 2024

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS is the latest offering from TAZ Theatre Company. It is a bold, astonishing, and urgent work that demands to be seen. Written by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Robert Encila, the play gives the audience a front row seat to the devastating effects of drug addiction. PEOPLE, P...

Review: A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER at Arizona Broadway Theatre
by Herbert Paine - May 07, 2024

A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER is that rarity – a new musical with a score inspired by a theatrical style of the past that will forever remain timeless. And it’s so much fun. At Arizona Broadway Theatre....

Review: TRUE WEST at Arizona Theatre Company
by Zach Wetzel - May 05, 2024

TRUE WEST is the single greatest piece of live theater I have ever seen. Photo by Tim Fuller....

Review: WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME At The Phoenix Theatre Company
by Herbert Paine - April 16, 2024

The Phoenix Theatre Company's production of WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME, directed by Michelle Chin and featuring Kate Haas ~ a necessary and inspiring reminder of our nation's journey to freedom for all....

Review: TITANIC THE MUSICAL at Hale Centre Theatre
by Herbert Paine - April 07, 2024

The cast of Hale's TITANIC THE MUSICAL, directed by Cambrian James, is a true ensemble, highlighted by Maury Yeston’s score, operatic in style and epic in scope....

Review: HOLMES AND WATSON at Don Bluth Front Row Theatre
by Herbert Paine - March 24, 2024

Under Lee Cooley's adroit direction, Jeffrey Hatcher's HOLMES AND WATSON is a fast paced and entertaining romp towards an entirely unanticipated climax....

Review: MJ THE MUSICAL at Gammage Auditorium
by Tim Shawver - March 17, 2024

What did our critic think of MJ THE MUSICAL at Gammage Auditorium?...

Review: BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL at The Phoenix Theatre Company
by Herbert Paine - March 13, 2024

The Phoenix Theatre Company's production of BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSIC explodes with energy. Great production running through April 28th....

Review: SWEENEY TODD Strikes All the Right Notes at the Marroney Theatre
by Robert Encila-Celdran - March 07, 2024

I've just highlighted a long list deserving of recognition, if for no other reason than to remind audiences of the invisible force that fuels this pre-eminent theatre department. I'm aware of the unresolved public trauma caused by the university's decision to discontinue the program. Intentional or ...

Review: ROMEO ET JULIETTE at Arizona Opera
by Herbert Paine - March 05, 2024

Arizona Opera's revival of Charles Gounod’s ROMEO ET JULIETTE is, by all measures, a triumph of staging and performance. Following its performances in Phoenix, the production moves to the Temple of Music and Art in Tucson AZ (March 9th and 10th)....

Review: UNTIL THE FLOOD at Stray Cat Theatre
by Angela Kabasan-Gonzalez - February 28, 2024

What did our critic think of UNTIL THE FLOOD at Stray Cat Theatre? Attending a one-person play presents a unique theatrical experience, offering an intimate and immersive journey into the depths of a single performer's storytelling prowess. Yet, within this singular spotlight lies the allure and haz...

Review: TAD'S EMERGING WORLD – GLEN CANYON EXPOSED at Sedona International Film Festival
by Herbert Paine - February 28, 2024

TAD’S EMERGING WORLD is a moving homage to one of the nation's great national treasures. Directed by Dawn Kish, the film is one of the features at this year's Sedona International Film Festival....

Review: ORDER MY STEPS at Sedona International Film Festival
by Herbert Paine - February 27, 2024

Filmmaker Augusta Palmer and screenwriter Kathryn Grant's ORDER MY STEPS is an emotionally powerful film about repentance and reconciliation, highlighted by Carla Brandberg's riveting performance. One of the featured shorts at this year's Sedona International Film Festival....