Live theatre is a different kind of beast than most forms of performance art…
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‘Miss Saigon’ Reveals Consequences of War at ASU Gammage
Miss Saigon is generally considered a modern classic. A cannon work in Broadway’s soaring age of powerful, post-Golden Age, works. It opened in the West End in 1989 and premiered on Broadway in 1991, winning several Tony Awards for performances, although none for technical or developmental components. Based on Puccini’s Madame Butterfly and inspired by a photograph of painful childhood separation after the Vietnam War, it was the Schonberg/Boublil collaborative work immediately following Les Misérables…
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Valley Youth Theatre Brings Roald Dahl’s ‘Matilda’ to Life
by Rebecca Rudnyk
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Matilda is a musical based on the beloved children’s novel written by Rold Dahl, the author of other acclaimed classics including “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “James and the Giant Peach.” The show premiered in London in 2011 before moving to Broadway. It was nominated for a multitude of Tony Awards in the 2013 season, winning Best Book, Best Scenic Design, and Best Lighting Design…
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‘The Book of Mormon’ Rings in Unapologetic Delight at ASU Gammage
by Rebecca Rudynk
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The Book of Mormon is simply delightful: Unwaveringly blunt, raucously hilarious, and unapologetically offensive. It tackles the taboo and the sacred. The absurd and the heartwrenching. While it maintains the structure and cadence of a traditional Broadway musical, it is anything but. Unlike any other show out there, it is absurdly special…
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Scottsdale Musical Theatre Company Presents ‘The Pajama Game’ at Tempe Center for the Arts
by Rebecca Rudnyk – The Pajama Game is a musical straight out of the Golden Age of Broadway. Based on the novel “7 ½ Cents” by...
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Experience ‘Wicked’ at ASU Gammage
by Rebecca Rudnyk
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I have a confession. From the outset, I must admit that my perspective on Wicked is well established and unwavering…
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‘Hello Dolly!’ and the 2019 ASU Gammage Season
It’s the start of a new year. The brief reflective period when we pause, if only for a few moments, for an exercise in introspection. Contemplation of the year past. Ambitions for the months to come. Even if things are good, we imagine how they can be better. How we can be better. Yes, January is a wonderful, fleeting, hopeful month…
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‘Elf: The Musical’ Delivers Heartwarming Fun at Phoenix Theatre
by Rebecca Rudnyk
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Elf: The Musical is a show based on the much-loved 2003 film, a movie that has become a holiday staple in countless households. A quotable and beloved cult classic, both film and musical alike are built on pure, adorable, laugh out loud comedy…
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‘Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical’ Inspires Audiences at Valley Youth Theatre
by Rebecca Rudnyk
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Valley Youth Theatre (VYT) began its 30th season with a huge bang, producing a beautiful spectacle with Newsies. Its second show of the season, Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical, is much more understated. That is not to say it is without vibrancy and talent, because it is jammed full of it. But Polkadots is a different type of show…
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‘Fun Home’ Musical Brings Intimate Self Discovery to Phoenix Theatre
by Rebecca Rudnyk
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I still remember the first time I listened to the cast album for Fun Home. In reaction to buzz in the Broadway channels, I downloaded it, somewhat unsure of what to expect. Almost immediately, I understood why people were so excited…
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Radio Phoenix Broadcast: Serene Dominic
Serene Dominic joins the Senior Editors on another edition of The YabYum Hour…
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