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Archive for the ‘Art’ Category

Marlo Thomas is about to star in the Arizona Theatre Company’s upcoming production of George is Dead. Thomas is primarily known for some of her major television roles such as That Girl though she has enjoyed a successful career on the stage. She has starred on Broadway in the plays Thieves, The Shadow Box and Shadow Box. Thomas was born in Detroit, Michigan in November of 1937. Her parents are Rose Marie and famous comedian Danny Thomas. Her brother and sister also entered show business and her sister as worked as an actor and her brother is a television producer. Marlo Thomas’ first regular work came with her appearances on the Joey Bishop Show.

The Arizona Theatre Company was established in Tucson, Arizona in 1966. At the time it was known as the Arizona Civic Theatre and was based in the basement of an old hotel in Tucson, the Santa Rita. The theatre has maintained an extremely strong professional perspective and has grown through the years to become one of the premiere theatre companies in the state. It was one of the first equity companies in the state and through the years has gained national recognition for its standards and excellent productions. It became a duo city theatre and currently performs out of Tucson and the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix. Toursists visiting Phoenix and who stay in one of the best Phoenix hotels often include a prodution by ATC in their agenda. Its list of seasonal productions is diverse and the company has produces everything from the latest cutting edge play by Paula Vogel to Shakespeare and Shaw.

The Herberger is located downtown theatre district and has various performance venues. The venues include the Center Stage, the Performance Outreach Theater, Stage and West. Other major Phoenix companies are based out of the Herberger and include the professional company Actors Theatre. Arizona Theatre Company’s current season includes The Kite Runner, George is Dead, Ain’t Misbehavin’, The Glass Menagerie and The Second City Does Arizona, or Close But No Saguaro.

If you find yourself in Barcelona, the Picasso Museum should be high on your list.  It’s in the Gothic Quarter, where the art work is displayed in five Medieval palaces in Carrer de Montcado 15-23, and it’s open from Tuesday to Sundays, even on holidays.  The paintings and statues show the artist’s relationship with the city, created in his childhood and adolescence, and which continued throughout his life.

The museum reveals Picasso’s relationship with the city of Barcelona, a relationship that was shaped in his youth and adolescence, and continued until his death.  The collection contains about 3,500 works, many donated by Picasso and includes work from all his various periods, including his Blue Period.  I remember I hadn’t truly understood Picasso as an artist until I saw all his work grouped together in a retrospective show in London.  It was then that I decided I wanted to see more, and that if I ever found myself in Barsa, I would have to come here.

Finally, I made arrangements to stay in one of the Barcelona spain luxury hotels. We arrived early because I’d seen really long lines the previous day, but the trains were delayed and we talked with some people on the street, and by the time we got there, the lines were enormous.  I discovered, though, that the lines move quickly and it only took about a half hour to get inside.

Purchasing the combined entrance allows you to go to the special exhibition as well.  You begin there.  When I visited the museum, the exhibit concerned the art work that was in his apartment when Picasso died.  It allowed me to see the how the work of other artists affected him, especially as I moved on to the regular exhibit.  For instance, there were some African sculptures and masks, and that’s reflected by Desmoiselles D’Avignon.  In the permanent collection, the rooms are arranged according to phases, and proceeding from his youth to his old age.  It’s a fascinating education in the life of an artist.