For Kathleen Berger, the text message arrived during the joyful chaos of a Peter Piper Pizza night with her children. It was her choreographer sending congratulations. Berger's initial confusion quickly turned to elation: she had been nominated for an ariZoni Award for her music direction of Fountain Hills Theater’s production of "Ragtime."
The AriZoni Theatre Association states it has been a cornerstone of the Phoenix-area theater scene for over 30 years, aiming to elevate and support theater in Maricopa County through its annual awards ceremony. Each year, nearly 100 trained adjudicators attend and review over 200 productions ahead of nominations.
This isn't Berger's first brush with the prestigious Valley theater awards; she's been nominated twice before as a performer. But this nomination, for the ceremony taking place Tuesday, Sept. 30, at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, holds a particular significance.
