The Valley’s live theater scene is more diverse and outré than you may think, with local troupes pushing the boundaries of performance well beyond the Broadway norm. Here’s a look at five local companies who challenge convention with bold subject matter and daring, hilarious stagecraft.
All Puppet Players founder and artistic director Shaun Michael McNamara admits that his 18-and-over puppet cabaret is difficult for many people to wrap their heads around.
Based on a portion of The Book of Genesis, Children of Eden is about familial relationships, profound love and confronting the pain of letting go. This month, Theater Works’ artistic director Chris Hamby and music director Jennifer Adams bring this 1991 musical by John Caird and Grammy Award-winning lyricist and composer, Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Enchanted) back to the stage with 42 dancing and singing actors, masterful set designers, musicians and… puppets!...
Nothing says “Arizona” like saguaros, the Grand Canyon and, of course, puppets. OK, so puppets might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but with one of the most notable puppet theaters in the U.S. located in the heart of Phoenix, puppetry is a part of our local culture.
