36 MAY 2022 By Jennifer Marshall Tis’ the season for hitting the town and enjoying all the upcoming theater shows downtown Phoenix has to offer. Here are two that are gracing Valley stages. A full-length interactive show called Once Upon a Bachelor opened at the Phoenix Center for the Arts (1202 N. 3rd St.) in April. Produced by CaZo Dance Theatre, the show combined live performances and pre- recorded segments with immersive audience participation. “ Once Upon a Bachelor reimagined the popular reality dating show, The Bachelor . The titular main character, Fabian, attempts to find his one true love among several famous fairytale characters,” Artistic Director Bridgette Borzillo said. In doing so, Fabian needed plenty of help deciding which character (including Snow White, Cinderella, Pocahontas, Mulan, Beauty, the Little Mermaid and the evil queen) was “The One.” That’s where the audience came in. Assistant Director Bryan Caron created the script and videos while sixteen dancers from CaZo Dance Theatre performed in the production. “When I first thought of bringing The Bachelor to the stage, I didn’t just want to mimic or parody the show,” Borzillo said. “I’m guilty of being a fan, so I wanted to add a dynamic that had never been done. That’s when I came up with giving the audience a chance to vote on which characters would be eliminated throughout the show.” With so many innovative moments featured in Once Upon a Bachelor , Borzillo and her team had to design and implement different solutions to meet challenges. “By having the audience vote on who moved forward, I had to adjust my normal choreography to accommodate different dancers, all of whom needed to know several dances they may not have been familiar with,” Borzillo said. “It was a great experience for them since they had to think on their toes during the show – they didn’t know which dancer would be chosen, so they had to be prepared to dance or sit out.” Over at the Herberger Theater Center (222 E. Monroe St.), the Arizona Theatre Company will be performing Justice , a musical about Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O’Connor in May. This is particularly exciting for Arizonans, as the retired Supreme Court Justice O’Connor calls Phoenix home. Written by playwright Lauren Gunderson, Justice features original music by Bree Lowdermilk with lyrics by Kait Kerrigan. The plot is as follows: Ginsburg has just been appointed to the Supreme Court. Welcoming her is O’Connor, the only other woman there. Through a third character, Vera, audiences discover how O’Connor and Ginsburg inspire, challenge and propel the next generation of trailblazers in American jurisprudence. “There’s a bit of magic to this play,” Gunderson said. They started writing mid-lockdown in summer 2020 and decided to tell the stories of O’Connor and Ginsburg and how their pattern-breaking careers helped pave the way for the next ‘firsts.’ “Now we have a musical about a fictional black woman Justice nominee when we are currently seeing the first black woman Justice nominee in D.C.,” Gunderson said. “Learning about these women has taught me so much and given me new heroes to admire and renewed my faith in what American democracy can do and be.” Justice will run from May 5 through May 22. herbergertheater.org phoenixcenterforthearts.org This spring, the stage belongs to empowering women Once Upon a Bachelor premiered in April at the Phoenix Center for the Arts. The show introduced audience participation: theater-goers chose which character got a rose, and which went home! PHOTO: CARLY HOMER By Sydney Carruth Springtime in the Sonoran Desert is one of the most beautiful – yet fleeting – seasons. The desert comes to life with vibrant colors, sights and smells as the weather warms up ahead of the impending summer days. May is the perfect month to get outside and explore local parks – while you’re out, why not have a picnic? Although it sounds simple, parks have been noted in surveys as an essential factor in the livability of a community, according to a National Recreation and Park Association report. Parks hold health and environmental benefits and generate social importance, providing the perfect space for a picnic with family and friends. “A study by Penn State University showed significant correlations to reductions in stress, lowered blood pressure, and perceived physical health to the length of stay in visits to parks,” according to the National Recreation and Park Association. Here are our top picks for the best parks to visit in May. PAPAGO PARK 625 N. Galvin Pkwy. Papago Park is just a few minutes from downtown Tempe and is known for its large sandstone buttes. It offers a variety of hiking trails and holds Hunt’s Tomb, a naturally occurring attraction listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The park also hosts the Phoenix Zoo, Desert Botanical Gardens, Papago Sports Complex and an archery range. INDIAN BEND PARK 3432 E. Presidio Road This park is part of the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt that runs through Scottsdale. The Greenbelt features an 11-mile oasis with lakes, walking paths and golf courses, of which Indian Bend Wash Park is included. The park is near the water, so visitors can enjoy lake scenery while exploring the area. “There’s lots of shade, it’s close to a lake, and it also provides a lot of privacy because people tend to forget that park is there – it’s hidden,” said Rea Fuller, owner and director of the Fancy Basket, a professional luxury picnic service in Arizona. ARCADIA PARK 56th St. and Indian School Road Another option is Arcadia Park, located at 56th St. and Indian School, right down the road from Ingleside Middle School. This park is ideal for families with young children as it features a playground, large grassy areas, and various picnic tables. KATCHINA PARK 4304 E. Campbell Ave. Kachina Park is tucked away in the heart of Arcadia. There are grassy areas, pavilions, picnic tables, and even a dog pool for four-legged friends. These parks have one thing in common: they provide prime real estate to host a picnic. “Picnics are important because they allow family and friends to have quality time together without interruptions, like cellphones, television and the internet. People enjoy each other’s company, talk and have fun,” Fuller said. She recommends planning your adventure ahead of time and accounting for “location, time, and of course, shade! Make sure you have enough water and keep cool,” she said. As far as the actual contents of the picnic basket? Fuller’s answer was simple: “You can’t go wrong with all of your favorite foods!” Spring: Nature’s way of saying ‘let’s party!’ The cast of Justice . PHOTO: TIM FULLER

DebbiePontikasRealtor Debbie Pontikas, Associate Broker, MBA Debbie@TheBrokery.com // 480.335.8604 // DebbiePontikas.com UNDER CONTRACT PRIOR TO MARKET 4319 E Calle Redonda, Phoenix, AZ 85018 REPRESENTED THE BUYER 4713 E Calle Redonda, Phoenix, AZ 85018 | Listed by Keller Williams