Phoenix Theatre (Phoenix)

The Phoenix Theatre is a professional theatre company located in Phoenix, Arizona. Started in 1920, by a theatre troupe known as the Phoenix Players, the theatre is among the oldest continually operating theaters west of the Mississippi River.[1] The theatre is a non-profit corporation and encompasses both the Main Stage productions, the family-oriented Cookie Company, as well as Partners that Heal and numerous youth oriented programs.

History

The Phoenix Little Theatre was founded by Harry Behn and Maie Bartlett Heard (who also founded the Heard Museum) as the Phoenix Players in 1920--joining into the Little Theatre Movement of that time.[2] Four years later, it moved into the Heard family's coach house at Central and McDowell Roads.[3][1] In 1928, the theatre applied for its articles of incorporation and by its eighth season boasted 424 members. By 1940, the theatre had close to 1,000 members and remained operational throughout World War II. The theatre moved into its current home, within a municipal cultural complex that included the Phoenix Art Museum and the Phoenix Public Library, in 1951.[1] In 1954, the theatre began its Children's Theatre. In 1985, the "Little" was dropped from the name, leaving it simply the "Phoenix Theatre."

Theatre for Young Audiences

Theatre for Young Audiences reaches out to thousands of children through interactive performances that emphasize universal themes including kindness, acceptance, courage and diversity. The actors present re-inspired children's literature, such as Grimm's fairy tales, and original works. The audience is youth ages 4-12, most often on school field trips. For many students it is their first time to experience theater.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Darnall, Kris (10 December 1992), Phoenix Little Theatre Collection (PDF), Arizona Historical Foundation, retrieved 3 March 2010
  2. ↑ "Maie Bartlett Heard (b. 1868, d. 1951)," Arizona Women's Heritage Trail, http://www.womensheritagetrail.org/women/MaieHeard.php .
  3. ↑ "History of Phoenix Theatre," http://phoenixtheatre.com/history-phoenix-theatre
  4. ↑ http://issuu.com/phoenixtheatre/docs/devo_brochure_final

External links

Further reading

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