Theater Commentary – May 9, 2024 FURTHER SCUTTLEBUTT ON “MAD HATTER THE MUSICAL” SUGGEST IT WAS PLAGUED BY INSURMOUNTABLE CHALLENGES “Mad Hatter The Musical” Center Stage, Herberger Theater Center Phoenix AZ By Chris Curcio Theater Critic Nothing posted to Curtain Up Phoenix has received the number of comments as has the “Mad Hatter The Musical” review.  Many of the received comments requested that they not be posted to the site. The comments have been favorable about my negative reaction to the show but they have indicated further scuttlebutt about the world premiere production.  Wh ..read more

Theater Review – May 5, 2024 “MAD HATTER THE MUSICAL” SPUTTERS “Mad Hatter The Musical” Center Stage, Herberger Theater Center Phoenix AZ By Chris Curcio Theater Critic World premiere musicals are always challenging and expensive until they have been worked through the creative process and come to real life.  Broadway musicals are developed over time and are then tested on invited audiences without scenery or costumes.  Phoenix area theaters are occasionally getting world premiere shows.  They are often plays that require less development time and smaller investments than musica ..read more

Theater Review – May 4, 2024 “SLEEPING GIANT” EXPLORES SCARY SITUATIONS THAT PARALLEL CURRENT LIFE “Sleeping Giant” Stray Cat Theatre, Studio Theatre, Tempe Center for the Arts Tempe, AZ By Chris Curcio Theater Critic Stray Cat Theatre has gone through many changes in the last few seasons with mixed results.  For the end of their current season, they have brought back playwright Steve Yockey’s new play “Sleeping Giant.”  He has penned several popular Stray Cat productions including “Mercury,” “Pluto,” “Wolves,” and “Octopus.” In addition to presenting Yockey’s latest play, Stray Cat ..read more

Theater Review – April 17, 2024 “PATTI LUPONE: A LIFE IN NOTES” DAZZLES AT THE SCOTTSDALE CENTER “Patti LuPone: A Life in Notes” Scottsdale Center for the Arts, Virginia G. Piper Theater Scottsdale AZ By Chris Curcio Theater Critic Broadway diva and the reigning queen/icon of the Great White Way, Patti LuPone, dazzled a near-capacity crowd at the Scottsdale Center Tuesday re-creating her recent Carnegie Hall appearance in “A Life in Notes.”  It was a night to remember!  She winningly demonstrated throughout her generous 25 song act that her exquisite voice remains a treasure and her ..read more

Theater Review – April 13, 2024 “WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME” EXPLAINS THE DOCUMENT’S IMPORTANCE “What the Constitution Means to Me” The Phoenix Theatre Company, Hardes Theatre Phoenix AZ By Chris Curcio Theater Critic In these troubled and confusing times, it is nice to know that the United States Constitution protects our rights and freedoms. The complex document is brought to throbbingly exciting life in the artful Phoenix Theatre Company production of “What the Constitution Means to Me.”  Middle-aged Heidi explains key parts in a personal but insightful way of what the document ..read more

Theater Review – April 10, 2024 INSIGHTFUL “THE KITE RUNNER” GETS LOST IN THE INHOSPITABLE ASU GAMMAGE “The Kite Runner” Broadway Across America – Arizona, ASU Gammage Tempe, AZ By Chris Curcio Theater Critic Matthew Spangler”s theatrical adaptation of Khaled Hosseini’s best-selling book, “The Kite Runner” is an exquisitely intimate play that dissects the rich Afghan cultural heritage as it exposes its distinctive but destructive class system, women’s second-class stature, and the challenges of immigration.  But the play’s most distinguishing attribute is its exploration of the importance ..read more

Theater Commentary – March 25, 2024 MORE EXCLUSIONS ON LOCAL 24/25 BROADWAY SEASON SHOW UP IN TUCSON 2024/25 Broadway Across America – Arizona and Broadway in Tucson Seasons Broadway Across America – Arizona, ASU Gammage Tempe, AZ By Chris Curcio Theater Critic Looks like I spoke too soon with regard to the Broadway Across America – Arizona series at ASU Gammage versus the Broadway in Tucson series sponsored by the Nederlander Organization at U of A Centennial Hall. Turns out the Tempe eight-show series plus one option includes two shows previously presented in Tucson, two identical shows, plu ..read more

Theater Review – March 13, 2024 “MJ THE MUSICAL” DYNAMICALLY RECREATES THE MULTI-FACETED ARTIST “MJ The Musical” Broadway Across America – Arizona, ASU Gammage Tempe, AZ By Chris Curcio Theater Critic Michael Jackson was the consummate musical artist – singer, song stylist, and dancer par extraordinaire, plus a character actor – who was taken from the world when his career was about to have a re-birth back to the soaring days of his early success.  Who knows what more he could have created but he left a great legacy and the Tony Award-winning “MJ The Musical” is Broadway’s tribute to Jack ..read more

Theater Review – March 9, 2024 “BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL” FEATURES DYNAMIC PERFORMANCES IN A WELL STAGED TRIBUTE TO A GREAT ARTIST “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” The Phoenix Theatre Company, Mainstage Theatre Phoenix AZ By Chris Curcio Theater Critic Not only is singer/songwriter Carole King’s rich and interesting life amazing but “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” includes most of her hit tunes. The Phoenix Theatre Company’s (TPTC) marvelously explosive staging crafted by the company’s producing artistic director Michael Barnard is aided by a superb cast who sing, act, and d ..read more

Theater Commentary – March 5, 2024 LOCAL 24/25 BROADWAY SEASON SKIPS SEVERAL RECENT SHOWS BUT INCLUDES A MAJOR MUSICAL HIT 2024/25 Broadway Across America – Arizona Season Announcement Broadway Across America – Arizona, ASU Gammage Tempe, AZ By Chris Curcio Theater Critic The 2024/25 Broadway Across America – Arizona season announcement had some surprises and unexpected shows.  The season will include the huge Broadway hit “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” but why it took that show so long to play locally remains unanswered.  The season includes several recent Broadway hits that are tourin ..read more