By The Phoenix Theatre Company Director Rod Kaats chats with us about Murder for Two and gives us a peek inside this fast-paced musical murder mystery comedy. He may have even revealed the identity of the murderer off-camera, but no spoilers here! Two actors. Ten suspects. One piano. Tickets are on sale now! Q: Please tell us about Murder for Two. Kaats: Murder…
Director’s Download: Brendan Stackhouse Revisits this Classic Brendan Stackhouse brings his extensive experience as the Resident Director of the North American tour of Les Misérables to our production! He speaks about the grand scale of the show in the Dr. Stacie J. and Richard J Stephenson Theatre, the story’s timeliness, and keeping it fresh in Phoenix. Whether it’s…
By Elizabeth Montgomery The Tony award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen asks its characters to navigate the complicated ways people try to connect. For the actors telling their stories, that means looking beyond the choices each character makes to understand the fear, love, and longing beneath them. We spoke with members of the cast about how they…
The people have spoken! Les Misérables is EXTENDED! Due to overwhelming demand, The Phoenix Theatre Company has extended one of the world’s most beloved musicals through October 18! Whether you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to see it or you’re already planning a return visit, there’s now even more time to experience this unforgettable…
By Elizabeth Montgomery Dear Evan Hansen music director, Alan Plado, shares what he enjoys about music directing this production, keeping the integrity of a well-known musical album, and how every great musical encourages characters to sing when words fail. Q: Dear Evan Hansen has one of the most recognizable contemporary musical theatre scores. What stands out…
By Theresa Kellar-Tonner Les Misérables has been performed thousands of times in over 40 countries, 438 cities, and has been translated into 21 languages, and yet audiences seem to always want more. When Les Misérables was performed at The Phoenix Theatre Company in 2009, it became the highest-grossing show in the theatre’s history at…
By Elizabeth Montgomery Dear Evan Hansen costume designer, Cari Smith, talks through costuming a modern-dress show, the character whose playlist she had on repeat, and how to honor an iconic striped polo. Q: How challenging was it to find the right shirt for Evan? Smith: In the first production meeting, I asked Michelle, “So do we use the polo??” Both of us…
By Elizabeth Montgomery In 1953, a group of volunteers came together to support The Phoenix Theatre Company, and they haven’t stopped since. The Phoenix Theatre Company Guild has spent more than 70 years raising funds for the nonprofit theatre, growing from a small volunteer organization into one of the Company’s most steadfast community…
By Elizabeth Montgomery Molly Lajoie doesn’t remember a time before dance. She was two-and-a-half when her mother enrolled her in her first ballet and tap class, and she’s been dancing ever since. Now, Lajoie is one of the valley’s most accomplished choreographers and Director of The Phoenix Theatre Company’s Summer of Dance program. With credits spanning Arizona Opera,…
By Elizabeth Montgomery Dear Evan Hansen takes the stage at The Phoenix Theatre Company this summer, directed by Michelle Chin in what she describes as a bucket-list production. Featuring a score by newly minted EGOT winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the musical has become one of the defining works of contemporary musical theatre,…
Amanda D’Archangelis and Sami Horneff met in the world-renowned BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop. Recent work includes: THE RADIUM GIRLS, co-written with Lisa Mongillo and directed by Tony-Winner Marissa Jaret Winokur, which is eyeing a world premiere production in the 26-27 season (also a 2022 NAMT Finalist, a 2019 Eugene O’Neill NMTC Semi-Finalist, and five-time winner at The 2021 National Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival); SINGLE RIDER (Off-Broadway 2018); COMING ATTRACTION (Wilbury Theatre Group 2019); and THE BREAK (Omaha Creative Institute 2018). Upcoming: BANDIT QUEEN, a new pop-Americana musical about Pearl Hart, the Wild West’s most notorious female bandit, which has been developed through artist residencies at The Legacy Theatre in Branford, CT and Drama Club Camp in Mount Vernon, ME; PANDORA IN BLUE JEANS with book by Adam Morrison, which explores the life of controversial “Peyton Place” author Grace Metalious; and PSYCH, a 90’s spin on the myth of Cupid & Psyche commissioned by Wichita State University. Amanda and Sami’s songs have also been performed at concert venues and educational institutions across the country. They are proud to be 2019 York Theatre Company New/Emerging/Outstanding Writers, 2024 Playbill Songwriter Series Featured Artists, and 2025 Write Out Loud Contest grand prize winners! For more, visit: @darchangelisandhorneff on instagram | www.amandadarchangelis.com and www.samihorneff.com
