Last year, David Ira Goldstein retired as artistic director of Arizona Theatre Company after 25 years of breathing life into 190 main-stage plays, workshops and presentations in Phoenix and Tucson. It seems he couldn't stay away for long: Goldstein is returning to direct The Diary of Anne Frank, now through May 12 in Tucson at Temple of Music and Art; and May 17-June 3 at Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix. PHOENIX magazine recently caught up with Goldstein to ask him what he's been up to in pseudo-retirement and how he prepared for his latest production.

(Editor's note: Answers have been edited for clarity.)