The Hyatt Regency Phoenix has recently completed an extensive renovation including upgrades to all guestrooms and a new lobby. As reported by OldWestNewWest.com, the $15 million renovation also involved improvements to the fitness center, meeting space and the hotel’s iconic rooftop restaurant the Compass Arizona Grill. The Hyatt is located across from the West Entrance to the Phoenix Convention Center at 2nd Street & Adams. For more information please visit Hyatt Regency Phoenix Hotel Completes $15 Million Renovation or take the time to stroll over and see the fantastic new Gensler-designed lobby. It’s quite a sight.
Continuing their long tradition of charitable giving to the state of Arizona and Downtown Phoenix interests, the Virgina G. Piper Charitable Trust recently awarded the Arizona Theatre Company and Actors Theatre of Phoenix a $150,000 grant. The Arizona Theatre Company in Phoenix is based at the Herberger Theater Center between 2nd and 3rdStreets on Monroe. The Herberger is currently undergoing an extensive renovation in celebration of its 20th birthday in October. For more information on the Piper Grant please visit ATC and Actors Theatre of Phoenix Awarded $150,000. The Arizona Republic recently published a “Viewpoint” highlighting the influence of the Herberger Theater Center on the region over the past 20 years. Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard is quoted as saying “All that came later to enliven and refresh Downtown Phoenix – theaters, museums, sports arenas, bars, restaurants, galleries – sprang from the inspiration and example of the Herberger Theater.” To read the entire story, please visit: Herberger Theater Influence Spreads Throughout Region.
On Friday (4/2) at 7 p.m., you can be part of Voice and Vision: A Graffiti/Spoken Word Explosion at the Herberger Plaza. As part of a month-long campaign, the ATC has collected stories from staff, theater patrons, and community members describing times during which they “found their voices.” You can watch and listen as ATC staff and volunteers read these stories aloud while four talented artists paint a graffiti-art mural ignited by the personal stories they hear. Words, color, art, passion—all in one at the beautiful Herberger Theatre Center.
Director Juliette Carrillo’s treatment of the Tennessee Williams’ classic–widely believed to be an autobiography of Williams’ life during his artistic awakening–is daring while giving the proper amount of respect to a classic.
[title of show]—yes, that’s really the title and not a typo—is a musical about two hyper-talented thirtysomething songwriters in New York trying to write a new musical about two hyper-talented thirtysomething songwriters trying to write a new musical. In New York.
Here’s a little bit of my interview with her:
Born in New York City in 1904, Fats Waller penned over 400 songs in his short life during the 1920’s, 30’s, and 40’s. He died, sadly, at the young age of 39. Many of his songs are still sung today and the cast of “AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’” belted out 30 of them during Saturday night’s Arizona Theatre Company production. Truthfully, I could have listened to 100 more.
