Ruthless! The Musical Is a Crafty Campathon at Phoenix Theatre

Twenty years ago or more, Phoenix Theatre operated a black box, where those of us who liked edgier plays and musicals could go for offbeat theater. Last week, the now 93-year-old company unveiled, as part of its multimillion-dollar renovation, a new black box space. Those of us who once laughed…

Oddball Comedy Fest 2013 Wraps Up in Phoenix

For those of you who missed the Oddball Comedy and Curiosity Festival, we have some good news and some bad news. The good news: Roastmaster General Jeffrey Ross closed out the four-hour stand-up special by thanking everyone for attending the “2013 Oddball Comedy and Curiosity Festival.” That subtle denotative remark…

Good ‘N Plenty: Announcing SMoCA’s Artist Grant Winners of 2013

Good ‘N Plenty artist grants were awarded to Stefanie Francis and Ryan Avery over the weekend at Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art’s semi-annual event. The grant was created last year to support “the projects of innovative art makers, wise-crackers and trailblazers based in Arizona.” Grant funding comes from ticket sales…

A Devil Inside: Nearly Naked Theatre Takes on David Lindsay-Abaire

Nearly Naked Theatre has a tendency to comb through the oeuvres of solid contemporary playwrights and bring us productions of their earliest works, some of which hold up better than others. If you appreciate writer David Lindsay-Abaire mostly from his comparatively serious, Pulitzer-winning Rabbit Hole, presented in Phoenix by Actors…

Nearly Naked Theatre’s A Devil Inside is a Weird, Cathartic Dark Comedy

Nearly Naked Theatre has a tendency to comb through the oeuvres of solid contemporary playwrights and bring us productions of their earliest works, some of which hold up better than others. If you appreciate writer David Lindsay-Abaire mostly from his comparatively serious, Pulitzer-winning Rabbit Hole, presented in Phoenix by Actors…

Comedian Bill Burr Is Coming to Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix

Fans of Bill Burr know him as a regular on podcasts and the late-night comedy circuit. Pop culture pros probably remember him as Kuby, the assistant to Bob Odenkirk’s Saul Goodman, the main comic relief on AMC’s Breaking Bad. His loud, angry comedic style is kind of like a toned…

9 Must-See Dance Events During the Valley’s 2013-14 Season

The dance scene in the Valley is gearing back up after a summer-long hiatus from the grind of rehearsals and performances. But as with many things Phoenix, the dance world can feel disparate and hard to navigate. Lucky for you, we’ve done the hard work and gathered the dance events…

Phoenix Suns Dancer and Manager Have Tips for Auditions on August 17

Say what you will about professional cheerleaders, but these women take their job seriously. And they have to, since being a Phoenix Suns Dancer requires a lot more than just good looks and dance ability. Don’t believe it? We asked veteran Suns Dancer Brittney and Suns Dancer manager Taryn Carmichael…

Fridays: A Look Back at L.A.’s Answer to Saturday Night Live

Shout!FactoryThe cast of Fridays Whether you love it or hate it these days, it’s still tough to compete against Saturday Night Live. Although the show certainly has seen much better and much funnier days, you still can’t knock it off its perch after all these years. The powers that be…