The Power of a Circular Community
One of the things that makes our theatre truly special isn’t just what happens onstage – it’s what happens over time. Stagebrush Theatre, the home of resident troupes Greasepaint Youth Theatre and Scottsdale Community Players (SCP), embodies a circular community. A living, growing ecosystem where young student actors take their first steps onto the stage, build confidence and craft, and then carry those skills out into the world. Some become adult performers. Some become directors, educators, leaders, and creators in the wider community. And remarkably often, they come back. They come back to act. To teach. To mentor. To direct.…
Strong Audition Response for Hadestown
When auditions opened for Hadestown – Teen Edition, we expected high interest. And we got it! More than 90 of the Valley’s strongest teen performers came forward – each ready to bring preparation, focus, and a deep respect for the material – to compete for approximately 20 cast positions. Those are pre-covid audition numbers, folks! These are the best-of-the-best young artists ready to be challenged. A Brief Look at Hadestown – Teen Edition Hadestown is a powerful, contemporary retelling of ancient Greek myths, woven together with a haunting score inspired by New Orleans jazz, folk, and blues. The story…
Show Up for the Jrs of Madagascar
One of the most meaningful things we do as a theatre community isn’t only about producing musical theatre shows – it’s about showing up for one another. There’s something powerful about watching new and emerging performers step onto the stage for the first time. The nerves. The excitement. The quiet courage it takes to stand in the lights and say, I belong here. For our Greasepaint family, that moment is almost here again. From February 20 – March 1, our newest cast will take the stage in Madagascar Jr. – and this production is as much about community as it…
Small Gifts. Big Ripples.
How recurring support quietly powers community theatre Let’s talk for a minute – because this is one of those things that sounds small, but really isn’t. Community theatre doesn’t thrive on applause alone. We all love a final bow (who doesn’t?), but the real work happens long before opening night. Theatre thrives on consistency. On knowing the lights will turn on. The doors will open. The kids will show up – and that we’ll be there for them. That’s where small, recurring gifts make an outsized impact. Not louder. Not flashier. Just steady. Every kind of giving matters (yes, all…
What Theatre Teaches Kids (and Adults) That Lasts a Lifetime
The skills built onstage don’t stay there When people think about community theatre for kids, and we’re not only talking about those in Scottsdale or the Phoenix Valley, they often picture the final bow: bright lights, applause, proud smiles. But the most meaningful lessons don’t happen under the spotlight. They happen in the backstage rehearsals, in problem-solving moments, in learning how to work with others, and in showing up – even when it’s hard. That’s what we believe. Scratch that. That’s what we KNOW! And we’ve got research that confirms what families and educators have long observed: participation in community…