By Richard Schultz, May 2015 Issue.
Newsies
Broadway in Tucson
Set in New York City at the turn of the century, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a ragged band of teenaged newsies, who dreams only of a better life far from the hardship of the streets. But when publishing titans Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack finds a cause to fight for and rallies newsies from across the city to strike for what’s right.
Newsies is inspired by the real-life Newsboy Strike of 1899, when newsboy Kid Blink led a band of orphan and runaway newsies on a two-week-long action against Pulitzer, Hearst and other powerful newspaper publishers.
The stage version introduces seven new songs by the original team of Alan Menken and Jack Feldman, while keeping many of the beloved songs from the 1992 film, including “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day,” “King of New York” and “Santa Fe.”
Newsies
Through April 26
Broadway in Tucson - UA Centennial Hall
1020 E. University Blvd., Tucson
Tickets: $25-$100; 520-903-2929
broadwayintucson.com
A Weekend with Pablo Picasso
Arizona Theatre Company
The work of Pablo Picasso forever changed the way the world looks at art. This one-man show, written by and starring actor and artist Herbert Siguenza (pictured), will forever change the way that audiences think about Picasso. In a performance that explodes with color, Picasso’s most intimate thoughts rip through the air with each thundering brushstroke as Siguenza creates six new masterpieces live on stage in this Arizona premiere.
Picasso was the first rockstar artist – a ferocious pacifist, obsessive art maker, flamboyantly opinionated philosopher and self-proclaimed clown – who relished his passionate views about love, death, war, beauty, eternity and creativity.
Siguenza creates a joyful and mesmerizing portrait of the maestro, based on the writings by Pablo Picasso, as he dances, sculpts, shares secrets, clowns, draws and impersonates a matador while extensively quoting the father of modern art. Todd Salovey directs this Arizona premiere, set in 1957, detailing three days with a genius inside his private studio on the southern coast of France.
Siguenza, an accomplished visual artist and has exhibited both nationally and internationally, is also a founding member of the performance group Culture Clash. Along with Richard Montoya and Ric Salinas, Culture Clash is the most-produced Latino theatre troupe in the United States.
A Weekend with Pablo Picasso
April 30-May 17
Arizona Theatre Company
Herberger Theater Center
222 E. Monroe, Phoenix
Ticket: $43-$67; 602-256-6995
arizonatheatre.org