The upcoming season of theatrical performances kicks off in September on stages of all sizes throughout the Valley.
There have been plenty of theater closings in the last year, explains New Times contributor Robrt Pela in this week's print issue of New Times, but that's not stopping a number of companies from putting on a good show.
Pela writes:
This past season saw the closure of several estimable playhouses, among them Arizona Jewish Theater Company (which was about to celebrate its 25th anniversary), Tempe Little Theater, and Broadway Palm Dinner Theater. It's no wonder that some local companies are scrambling to reimagine themselves with newer, edgier material they hope will increase ticket sales, while others stick to popular favorites (this, therefore, is a good season for fans of Neil Simon).
According to Pela, productions will continue at (and by) performers at Herberger Theater Center, Actors Theatre, Stray Cat, Nearly Naked Theate, Arizona Broadway Theater, Desert Stages Theater, Theater Works, Phoenix Theatre, and Black Theatre Troupe (to name a few).
And the playbills will be a little edgier than normal.
"In fact, if there's a trend in theater this season, it's in more conservative playhouses scheduling this sort of edgier material -- a trick that savvy artistic directors all over town are hoping will sell more tickets," writes Pela. Check out the full rundown of fall theater 2012, plus a few predictions from Pela right here.
