Entertainment Magazine: Tucson / Phoenix: Arizona Theatre Co.: 2012 Season

Arizona Theatre Company's new year starts with old classics

Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps

January 14 - February 4, 2012
Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have ... Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps. A mind-blowing cast of four actors play over 150 characters in this fast-paced tale of an ordinary man on an extraordinarily entertaining adventure.

The madness begins when mild-mannered Richard Hannay starts his evening at the theatre and ends the night with a dead body in his lap. Caught in maze of murder, espionage and flirtatious entanglements, our hero careens from the British music hall to the moors of Scotland and back to the London Palladium in search of a plausible alibi and the true identity of the killer. Broadway's most intriguing, most riotous, most unmissable Tony-winning comedy smash proves that anything the movies can do, the theatre can do more hilariously!

The Great Gatsby

February 25 - March 17, 2012

Considered by many to be the Great American Novel, The Great Gatsby is at once titillating, fascinating and shocking in its portrayal of The Jazz Age that was soon to disappear from the American landscape. In this first authorized adaptation since 1926, Simon Levy brings the humor, irony, pathos and loveliness of F. Scott Fitzgerald's American classic to the stage.

Navigate the languid atmosphere of wealth and privilege with Nick Carraway as he observes the glittering, elaborate parties of his neighbor, the infamous and illusive Jay Gatsby. Part of ATC's AMERICA PLAYS! Celebrating Great American Stories series, The Great Gatsby's sharp depiction of the "American Dream" resonates anew for each generation.

Red

April 7 - 28, 2012
Master Abstract expressionist Mark Rothko, one of the most visionary artists of the 20th Century, has landed the commission of a lifetime, a series of murals for New York's Four Seasons Restaurant. As he wrestles with the overwhelming task of creating multiple paintings on a grand scale, his new young assistant questions his views of art, creativity and commerce.

What follows is a raw and provocative dialogue between master and novice, old guard and new guard exploring the question, "Is art meant to provoke, soothe or disturb?" Based on true events, Red is a searing portrait of an artist's ambition and vulnerability as he tries to create a definitive work for an extraordinary setting. Red is the winner of six 2010 Tony Awards including Best Play, the most honored play of the Broadway season. Contains mature language.

Arizona Theatre Company

Subscriptions for Arizona Theatre Company’s 2010 season are currently on sale. Visit www.arizonatheatre.org for more information.

Tucson, AZ performances take place at the Temple of Music and Art (330 S. Scott Avenue); call the Box Office at (520) 622-2823.

Phoenix performances take place at the Herberger Theater Center (222 E. Monroe Street); call the Box Office at (602) 256-6995.

Tours of the Tucson Temple of Music and Arts

Arizona Theatre Company now provides tours of the historic Temple of Music and Art.

Tours begin in the courtyard of the Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Avenue, and are guided by ATC docents. Tours are typically one-hour in length.

Docents will discuss the history of the building, its restoration and renovation, and take visitors on a backstage tour for a behind-the-scenes look at the theatre. All tours are open to the public and are free of charge, though space is limited.

Following the tour, patrons will receive a voucher good for discounted tickets to the current Arizona Theatre Company production. For tour information and reservations contact Don Gest at (520) 884-8210 Ext. 8610. Reservations are required.

The Temple of Music and Art was dedicated on October 21, 1927. Virtuoso violinist Jascha Heifetz performed at the Grand Opening ceremony.

Throughout its seven decades, the Temple passed through many hands and served various functions before finally being historically renovated and rededicated in October in 1990. At that time, through an agreement with the City of Tucson, ATC became the managing tenant of the facility.

For more information about Arizona Theatre Company and the 2012 season, call the ATC box office in Tucson or Phoenix. All Tucson performances take place at the Temple of Music and Art in downtown Tucson (330 S. Scott Avenue); call (520) 622-2823. All Phoenix performances take place at the Herberger Theater Center in downtown Phoenix (222 E. Monroe Street); call (602) 256-6995. Or, visit www.arizonatheatre.org.