Arizona’s Throwing a Birthday Party and You’re Invited

By Mariah Fleming

Arizona Centennial

As the official date of statehood draws nearer, Arizona actors, writers, musicians and artists are in full gear, helping Arizona celebrate our centennial. Music and More Arizona’s February coverage starts with the play, “In the Devil’s Frying Pan,” opening Feb. 2nd. You’ll get a head start on the February 14th centennial celebrations with this production by Desert Foothills Theatre. The presentation boasts 37 actors playing more than 100 Arizona historical figures. The play, while not a musical, has no shortage of music.

On the stage you’ll see how life in territorial days unfolded and led to the dawn of Arizona statehood. Included among the characters portrayed will be Phoenix founder Jack Swilling, historian Sharlot Hall (for whom Prescott’s Sharlot Hall is named) and Apache warrior Geronimo. “In the Devil’s Frying Pan” runs from this Thursday Feb. 2, through Sunday Feb 19th. Tickets are $15 to $30. For more information call 480 488 1981 or go to desertfoothillstheater.com.

You won’t see actors playing the parts of historical figures like Barry Goldwater or Wyatt Earp in The Arizona State University School of Theatre and Film presentation “Untold Stories/Unsung Heroes.” Instead, it offers a unique presentation that’s the fruition of two years of student research about Arizona’s history. “Untold Stories/Unsung Heroes,” utilizes a robotic puppet named AZIE and a troupe of players to unearth stories of less known but equally intriguing Arizona figures. It promises to be an entertaining take on the Arizona Centennial.

The Arizona Centennial Theatre Foundation is the hub of many performance related events that Music and More Arizona will explore with Ben Tyler in the coming week. Tyler is a noted Arizona playwright, actor and director. He is also an Arizona native and Executive Director of the Arizona Centennial Theatre Foundation. For a peek at what the foundation is up to, see centennialtheatrefoundation.com.

A partial list of other centennial happenings includes: