If you’re easily offended, you might want to stay away from the Tempe Improv on Friday and Saturday evenings. If you’re not, then you’ll be able to see comedian Jim Norton do some new, topical material this weekend. “If you’re offended by Bill Cosby rape jokes or strap-on stories, or…
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing two-time Pulitzer Prize in Drama finalist Gina Gionfriddo. Her most recent work, Rapture, Blister, Burn has been hailed as a great feminist play. Much of our conversation revolved around where the idea for the show came from and what message…
Heard any good jokes lately about New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his (allegedly) soft balls? We’re guessing that you have, since many a comedian (not to mention sports wags nationwide) have gotten a lot of mileage out of the whole hullabaloo surrounding Deflategate. And such cracks and quips…
Take a deep breath, Phoenix. Between shakeups at major institutions, changes coming to arts hubs, and a slew of closings and openings, there’s a lot going on — and even more to take in. What better time to take the pulse of the state’s arts scene? Jackalope Ranch wants your…
Comedian and author Jim Gaffigan has a lot on his plate (that’s only sort of a food joke). Somehow between guest-hosting The Late Late Show, publishing his latest book, Food: a Love Story,, and raising five children, he managed to squeeze in a few minutes to speak with Jackalope Ranch…
We see very little from local playwrights, a rare breed whose work is usually relegated to workshop productions before being tucked away forever. Richard Warren is one among a very few exceptions, at least lately. Last season, a staged reading of Warren’s Revocable Trust received a lot of attention. His…
When the top 10 finalists from Season 11 of So You Think You Can Dance hit the stage at Comerica Theatre on Sunday, January 25, Tempe-born Bridget Whitman will be among them — performing not only for fans of Fox’s hit TV show, but also friends, family, and fellow dancers…
How do performance and installation artists make the transition from the structure of school to the chaos and uncertainty of the real world? [nueBox], a nonprofit arts organization, has some ideas. Their year-long residency programs provide creatives with studio space (through a partnership with Phoenix Center for the Arts) as…
Change is in the air for Scandalesque co-founders Julianna Curtis and Christy Zandlo. The two women who founded the nightlife entertainment company back in 2004 have parted ways to pursue their own projects. Zandlo, whose stage name is Pyrrha Sutra, says the split between her and Curtis ended amicably. “It…
Gina Gionfriddo is something of a playwriting dynamo. Her last two full-length plays, Becky Shaw and Rapture, Blister, Burn, were both finalists for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama. Her work goes far beyond the stage though; Gionfriddo wrote for Law and Order for several years, and more recently wrote an…
Six local theater companies have announced that they’ll honor tickets purchased for canceled Actors Theatre productions. The professional company announced in December 2014 that it would close after nearly 30 years. Originally, Actors Theatre representatives had said that refunds would not be granted for purchased tickets to shows in the…
Chris D’Elia didn’t start doing stand-up until 2006, but that’s not to say he didn’t start working on his comedy well before then. “My family’s real funny, so I had to be funny,” D’Elia says. “I really had no choice.” Almost nine years ago, D’Elia began participating in open mic…
For comedian Paula Poundstone, it’s all about bringing people together through laughter. Well, and making people lose control over their bodily functions due to laughter. Oh, and also getting a break from her 15 cats at home. “I know that not everyone is going to find everything I say hysterically…
Oh, 2014, parting is such sweet sorrow. That’s because it was a stellar year for art, dance, comedy, architecture, and all-around culture in metro Phoenix. In no particular order, these are the best things I saw…
Let us explain: Kevin Hart’s coming to town. The comedian’s keeping plenty busy at the box office in Chris Rock’s Top Five and a string of upcoming releases, The Wedding Ringer, Get Hard, and Ride Along 2. And on Friday, January 30, he’s coming to a performing arts venue near…
Early on Friday, December 19, Actors Theatre announced via press release that it will shutter after 29 years. “The simple truth is we’re out of money,” Actors Theatre board president Renee Gerstman says in the release…
The cast and crew of NBC’s Parks and Recreation recently finished shooting its final season. Which is a bummer. The final season will air two back-to-back episodes at a time. Which means it’ll go by super fast. And NBC canceled pretty much all its new comedies. Which makes a post-P…
Those attending this year’s opening night performance of Ballet Arizona’s The Nutcracker, choreographed by artistic director Ib Andersen, must have thought they’d been treated to a two-for-one special. The ballet we witnessed during the first act bore little resemblance to the ballet we watched during the second — leaving us…
You’ve probably seen or heard Joe Rogan before, whether you intended to or not. He’s a pretty busy guy, considering that he does the color commentary for the major UFC events, has his own successful interview-based podcast The Joe Rogan Experience, and shows up on a wide variety of television…
Year of the Rooster, now crowing its head off at Stray Cat Theatre, serves up a compelling theatrical medley of black comedy, tough characters, and pretty pathos. Intelligently handled by young playwright Eric Dufault, this angst-drenched story is presented by a quartet of characters who demonstrate what happens when pain…
Fans of Disney’s 2013 film Frozen take note: Center Dance Ensemble has been telling the Hans Christian Andersen tale that inspired the movie for more than 20 years in a production called Snow Queen. Performances continue through Sunday, December 21, at Herberger Theater Center, where CDE is the resident dance…
If you’ve been around YouTube, Tumblr, or the general Internet over the past few years, chances are you’ve heard of Mamrie Hart and Grace Helbig, seen one of their videos on either Helbig’s It’s Grace YouTube channel or Hart’s You Deserve a Drink, laughed, cried, and possibly had your life…
