local arts

jen urso

YabYum Seven: Jen Urso

Jen Urso is a Phoenix-based multidisciplinary artist whose output — no matter the medium — is layered and compelling. Continually challenging herself, the processes she engages in to create work are intricate, intense, and often laborious. We caught up with her to find out more about her past and present, as well as what’s in store for the future, and of course, how COVID-19 is affecting the creative process…

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The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane Comes to Valley Youth Theatre

by Rebecca Rudnyk

Valley Youth Theatre has done it once again. This lovely little theatre company that provides a forum for young people to develop and hone their skills continues to show its range, and tear down the stigmas that often shadow children’s performances. This is not a middle or high school school production. These kids care. They don’t just care. They aren’t just going through the motions. They are laying their hearts out on the stage every night. They are serious about our forum. They are planning their future theatre careers, and ambitiously working towards those goals. And because of them, I am confident that our beloved forum will continue…

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New American Theatre 01

Phoenix Theatre Company’s Annual Festival of New American Theatre Brings Promising New Plays to Light

by Rebecca Rudnyk

As a lover of theatre, and everything that goes into developing a production, nothing quite compares to experiencing a new work as it comes together. From concept to paper. From paper to initial performance. From cold read to fully-staged. So the Phoenix Theatre Company’s Festival of New American Theatre is a dream come true event for anyone who loves the forum and appreciates the process…

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Altar Boyz Parodies 90s Pop in Arizona Broadway Theatre Production

Upon walking into the mainstage space at Arizona Broadway Theatre (ABT) for Altar Boyz, there is a sense of poppy nostalgia. As a young girl, I fell in love with a boy for the first time watching New Kids On The Block music videos on VHS. I came of age witnessing friends arguing over the epic NSYNC versus Backstreet Boys debate. So I was taken back to my youth walking into a beautiful venue with those songs providing the background music….

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