Phoenix isn't usually among those cities one thinks when one lists the nation's capitals of culture. This is in spite of the city's sheer size, which has it ranked as fourth biggest in the nation. As Arizonans increasingly partake of theatre Phoenix, the biggest city in the Southwest, begins to take its place among the more renowned culture centers.
Young cities, without hundreds of years behind them, face challenges in asserting themselves. The rewards of successfully doing so, however, are significant, and in ways beyond inter-city rivalry. These cities, typically built along a pre-existent network of freeways, always face challenges in making true communities. The theatre is a wonderful way to build community.
Phoenix, AZ grew to maturity during the era of highways and television. Both of these features of modern life, in different but complementary ways, tended to act against the cultivation of a robust urban lifestyle. A highway based city lacks an older city's warm, human-scale pedestrian life, with its pleasure of walking from shop to shop, and neighbors gossiping on the corner.
If anything, television is even more debilitating to urban life, since it offers the ultimate convenience of being entertained in one's own home. We now have several generations who might be expert in the finest television drama, but who have no idea of the unique energy of a live performance before a packed house.
By way of response, Phoenix has built its downtown into a surprisingly wonderful neighborhood and hub of culture. The first treat is the neighborhood's very architecture, a visual treat. Couples and families often enjoy themselves simply strolling underneath the starry night skies, perhaps taking in a fine meal at one of the neighborhood's varied restaurants.
Some spaces provide world class popular entertainment, which adds sizzle to the downtown experience. The Orpheum focuses on popular, broadly loved performances, including Broadway musicals. The Comerica is a music hall and stage that entertains the public with the world's finest pop music and comedy stars.
Two architectural gems house true, live drama. The Phoenix Theatre on McDowell Road offers new dramas by talented, up and coming dramatists as well as the occasional cutting edge musical. It has classes for teenagers who aspire to write and act, as well as a variety of other outreach to develop public appetite for play going.
The Arizona Theatre Company has its home in the lovely Herberger Theater Center, with another venue in Tucson. It too is committed to cultivating an appetite for drama, with outreach programs for school students and their teachers. Its program emphasizes popular but excellent fare, such as new thrillers and suspense drama, along with dramatic efforts from the finest of TV writers.
With so much sophisticated entertainment available, this desert is only a desert in its lacking water, not culture. More people are choosing to come downtown for dinner and a show, leaving the TV behind. One can always let the DVR recorder store TV fare for the some other time.
Young cities, without hundreds of years behind them, face challenges in asserting themselves. The rewards of successfully doing so, however, are significant, and in ways beyond inter-city rivalry. These cities, typically built along a pre-existent network of freeways, always face challenges in making true communities. The theatre is a wonderful way to build community.
Phoenix, AZ grew to maturity during the era of highways and television. Both of these features of modern life, in different but complementary ways, tended to act against the cultivation of a robust urban lifestyle. A highway based city lacks an older city's warm, human-scale pedestrian life, with its pleasure of walking from shop to shop, and neighbors gossiping on the corner.
If anything, television is even more debilitating to urban life, since it offers the ultimate convenience of being entertained in one's own home. We now have several generations who might be expert in the finest television drama, but who have no idea of the unique energy of a live performance before a packed house.
By way of response, Phoenix has built its downtown into a surprisingly wonderful neighborhood and hub of culture. The first treat is the neighborhood's very architecture, a visual treat. Couples and families often enjoy themselves simply strolling underneath the starry night skies, perhaps taking in a fine meal at one of the neighborhood's varied restaurants.
Some spaces provide world class popular entertainment, which adds sizzle to the downtown experience. The Orpheum focuses on popular, broadly loved performances, including Broadway musicals. The Comerica is a music hall and stage that entertains the public with the world's finest pop music and comedy stars.
Two architectural gems house true, live drama. The Phoenix Theatre on McDowell Road offers new dramas by talented, up and coming dramatists as well as the occasional cutting edge musical. It has classes for teenagers who aspire to write and act, as well as a variety of other outreach to develop public appetite for play going.
The Arizona Theatre Company has its home in the lovely Herberger Theater Center, with another venue in Tucson. It too is committed to cultivating an appetite for drama, with outreach programs for school students and their teachers. Its program emphasizes popular but excellent fare, such as new thrillers and suspense drama, along with dramatic efforts from the finest of TV writers.
With so much sophisticated entertainment available, this desert is only a desert in its lacking water, not culture. More people are choosing to come downtown for dinner and a show, leaving the TV behind. One can always let the DVR recorder store TV fare for the some other time.
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