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A Goodyear youth theater will be among those represented at next month’s ariZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence showcase.
Acting Zone, 1832 N. Litchfield Road, earned 22 “Zoni” nominations for the annual celebration of the 2019-20 season of live theater performances. More than 35 theaters Valleywide participate in the Zonis, with more than 150 productions adjudicated every year.
The ariZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence’s youth celebration takes place at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, followed by the adult celebration at 8 p.m. While the actual ceremony will take place at the Virginia G. Piper Theater in Scottsdale, the celebration will be a ticket-only livestream event. Individual tickets are $12.50, and household tickets are $20.
Ticket sales from the annual Zonis not only underwrite the costs of the performance, but also help support the costs of managing the adjudication process of the ariZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence and other programs, such as the COVID-19 pandemic relief fund which has been providing support to individual artists and theaters in need.
Acting Zone Youth Theatre offers original productions, acting programs, and summer production experiences for kids ages 7 to 18.
• For the production “Paradox”: Best Overall Production, Original Writing (Michelle Marie), Directing (Jim Gradillas and Michelle Marie), Actress in A Major Role (Haley Buford), Actress in A Supporting Role (Brieann Wilkins), and Rising Star (Brandt Marberry)
• For “Write By Me”: Original Writing (Jim Gradillas and Michelle Marie), Actress in A Major Role (Hailey Buford), Actor in a Supporting Role (Mason Williams), Actor in as Supporting Role (Emilio Cress), Actor in a Supporting Role (Renan Katz), Actor in a Supporting Role (Nathan Guerra), Actor in a Supporting Role (Brandt Marberry)
• For “Barnyard Breakout!”: Directing (Hailey Buford, Zoe Davis, Keeley Davis and Jim Gradillas), Original Writing (Hailey Buford, Zoe Davis and Keeley Davis), Actress in A Major Role (Ainsley Pollard), Actor in A Major Role (Renan Katz), Actress in A Major Role (Haley Buford)
• For “Grandma’s Thanksgiving Farce”: Directing (Jim Gradillas), Actor in a Major Role (Mason Williams), Actor in A Major Role (Nathan Guerra)
• For “Fairy Tale Protection Program”: Original Writing (Tammy Chavet)
Acting Zone has two upcoming productions.
“Murder at Moss Creek,” written by Hailey Buford and Zoe Davis and directed by Jim Gradillas and Michelle Marie, will feature 7 p.m. shows Friday, Oct. 15; Saturday, Oct. 16; and Friday, Oct. 23. Rehearsals start Saturday, Sept. 19.
Then “Theatre of SCREAMS: Lights Out!,” written and directed by Mr. Gradillas and Ms. Marie, features a 9 p.m. show Friday, Oct. 23 and 7 p.m. show Saturday, Oct. 24.Rehearsals start Saturday, Sept. 19.
Steve Stockmar has been with the Independent Newsmedia team since 2017. An NAU alum and Peoria resident, Steve’s community journalism pursuits focus mostly on arts & culture, education, and profiles of neighbors making a difference. In his spare time Steve plays in a vintage baseball league using uniforms and rules from the 1860s, and also acts (badly) in community theater. In addition, he has an unhealthy obsession with baseball and the Chicago Cubs.
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