Phoenix isn't usually the first city that comes to mind when one thinks of major culture capitols, but that isn't for lack of trying. It certainly has the size, currently ranking as number four among the most populous cities in the United States. Further, Arizonans have adopted the habit of taking in theatre Phoenix, the largest city of the Southwestern United States, assumes its due place as a culture capital.
Newer, Sunbelt cities, without deep histories compared to those North and East, have some real challenges in establishing themselves as true, whole, urban centers. Doing this is about a lot more than the egoistic goal of being as renowned as Boston or Philadelphia. These cities, so often first laid out as mere meshes of highways, need to become real communities, and developing live theatre is a great aid in building community.
Phoenix, AZ came of age during our modern era of freeways and TV. Both these commonalities of modernity, for different but dovetailing reasons, worked to retard the development of a vitalizing city life. Cities built on freeway grids lack old cities' energizing foot traffic, which offers human pleasures of strolling from place to place, and engaging fellow pedestrians and diners.
TV is perhaps still more of a poison to urban culture, as it offers the numbing temptation of entertainment without so much as leaving the living room couch. Today whole generations might be savvy to quality drama on TV, but lack any notion of the thrill of live drama in front of hundreds of their fellows.
Responding to this challenge, Phoenix has cultivated a cultural center right where it belongs, in the heart of the city's downtown. The first pleasure one takes in is the architecture. It delights many whose night involves little more than taking a starlit stroll after dinner at one of downtown's many fine 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.
Among these treasures are two lovely spaces that provide the best in live drama. The Phoenix Theatre, located on McDowell Road, presents contemporary plays penned by some of the most gifted playwrights in the country, and the also features new musicals. To help the taste for live entertainment cross into the next generation, it offers writing and acting classes for teenagers as part of its ambitious public outreach program.
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.
Newer, Sunbelt cities, without deep histories compared to those North and East, have some real challenges in establishing themselves as true, whole, urban centers. Doing this is about a lot more than the egoistic goal of being as renowned as Boston or Philadelphia. These cities, so often first laid out as mere meshes of highways, need to become real communities, and developing live theatre is a great aid in building community.
Phoenix, AZ came of age during our modern era of freeways and TV. Both these commonalities of modernity, for different but dovetailing reasons, worked to retard the development of a vitalizing city life. Cities built on freeway grids lack old cities' energizing foot traffic, which offers human pleasures of strolling from place to place, and engaging fellow pedestrians and diners.
TV is perhaps still more of a poison to urban culture, as it offers the numbing temptation of entertainment without so much as leaving the living room couch. Today whole generations might be savvy to quality drama on TV, but lack any notion of the thrill of live drama in front of hundreds of their fellows.
Responding to this challenge, Phoenix has cultivated a cultural center right where it belongs, in the heart of the city's downtown. The first pleasure one takes in is the architecture. It delights many whose night involves little more than taking a starlit stroll after dinner at one of downtown's many fine 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.
Among these treasures are two lovely spaces that provide the best in live drama. The Phoenix Theatre, located on McDowell Road, presents contemporary plays penned by some of the most gifted playwrights in the country, and the also features new musicals. To help the taste for live entertainment cross into the next generation, it offers writing and acting classes for teenagers as part of its ambitious public outreach program.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment