Meet the Music Director of Failure: A Love Story - Ashley Bradford

Tell us about your experience with Class 6 Theatre  

This is my second show music directing for Class6 Theatre. I am in love with the organization, what it stands for, and the art it produces. It is a high honor to musically collaborate with the Class6 team. 

What is your special connection to this show?

I especially enjoy the music in this show, and how Dawkins used music to create a visceral  mood, feel, and experience. David Dickinson is a creative force and his vision for this show is riveting. 

What do you love? 

I love hiking, nature, wilderness camping, yoga, reading, travel to remote cultures, and fine dining. 

Get your tickets today! 

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Ashley Bradford (Failure - Music Director) holds a Bachelors in Piano Performance with a minor in Vocal Performance. She has directed and performed concert tours throughout the United States, Asia, and the South Pacific and has been featured in many recording projects, music festivals, and concert halls. Ms. Bradford also earned a Masters in Music Education from Boston University and served as President of the Arizona State Music Teacher's Association. She leads the Piano Lessons for Adults program at Master’s Music Academy. For more information about Piano Lessons for Adults, e-mail Ashley at info@MastersMusicAcademy.com

Meet the Cast of THE TAMING - Breona Conrad

Hello Breona Conrad and welcome to the Class 6 Theatre family! Can you tell us a little about your experience with Class 6 Theatre so far?

Auditioning for Class 6 started a new chapter in my life adventure:  life as an actor with a child.  "The Taming"  was the first audition I have prepared for since leaving Cincinnati in 2013.  The Class 6 family has been so warm and welcoming to me and has made my transition into acting with a family seamless and magical.  The atmosphere in the rehearsal is so relaxed, open, and comfortable.  I truly love and appreciate the collaborative nature our team has created.  We laugh, we inspire, we enjoy, and leave exhausted with smiles on our faces; I couldn't ask for a better way to jump back into theatre!

That's great to hear! Do you have a special connection with THE TAMING?

I have a unique relationship with this show.  Before leaving The Know Theatre of Cincinnati in 2013, our artistic director asked my husband and I if we would like to be in one more "farewell, Cincinnati!" show.  That show was Lauren Gunderson's "Toil and Trouble," and I had the honor of being the second woman to ever play the role of Beth alongside my husband in the role of Matt. (Get it?  We were MattBeth.  Love it.)  The show was so new to the scene that we had the opportunity to have a collaborative meeting with Gunderson and were sent some re-writes on the script.  "The Taming" has been on my radar ever since that production.  Fast forward two years, and now, here I am.  In a new city.  With a new company.  Doing "The Taming."  This now being the second play in her Shakespeare cycle of which I have been a part, it has been particularly fun to see the little similarities within the cycle: Senator Baxter is an unseen character, we learn of a hilariously obscure animal, blackberry...just to name a few.  Katherine is a role of a lifetime for me, and I can't wait to share it with you, America.

That's really amazing! Getting into your character now; who do you think your character would vote for in today's election cycle?

 HeyY'all!  What a wonderful question.  And I have a wonderful answer.  My daddy always told me, "Katherine Chelsea Hartford, the greatest leaders are those who do not wish to be leaders."   So why, why, why would I vote for anyone who is actually running for President?  You know, that write-in space is there for a reason.  That being said, I win an awful lot of pageants without even trying.  In fact, I don't even WISH to win.  I just do.  ThankYouSoMuch!

Get your tickets today! 

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Breona Conrad is elated to be making her Phoenix area theatre debut with Class 6 Theatre at the beautiful Mesa Arts Center. Before moving to Phoenix, Breona and her husband spent five years involved in the Cincinnati theatre scene, eventually taking the two person show, ​Calculus:   The Musical  ​   on a two year national tour, which passed through the Southwest and led them to   choose Arizona as their next home.  Their last show with the Know Theatre of Cincinnati was Toil and Trouble,   ​  another in Lauren Gunderson's Shakespeare cycle; which means this is back to back Gunderson for Breona, and she couldn't be more jazzed about that.  Cheers!

Meet the Cast of FAILURE: A LOVE STORY - Hillary Scott

        

                      

Hello and welcome to the Class 6 Theatre Family! This is your first experience with us, yes? 

This is my first experience with Class 6, and it has been a wonderful, whimsical, whirlwind of words, speech, sound, scenery, storytelling, music, mechanics,illustration, imagery, physicality, puppetry, poetry, and pratfalls.  I am completely swept away with the challenge of the piece as well as the joy of the ride that our director David Dickinson is taking us on.  I am loving every single second of it!    Wonderful! 

What would you say is your special connection to this show? 

Just like our keystone character's parents, my family from my fathers side came through Ellis Island, and like so many, we had our "bottoms chopped off"(that is a line from the show) meaning the last part of family name was lost in translation when coming to America in the late 1800's.  It made me feel like I knew who these people were, I really felt that I could relate and fall in love with their story, no matter how strange or abstract it may get.  What excited me the most about this story when I first read it was the language.  It reads with this amazing sound and imagery that, once I was done, I just wanted there to be more!      

Since this is a love story, who was your first love? 

I would have to say the first time I ever felt the feeling of love, you know that thing you can't describe but there is clearly something happening between your head and your heart that you can't quite put into words.  Was really when my family lost a very dear friend, a woman who had become a sort of second grandma to me.  When my family broke the news to me that she had past, the overwhelming emotion that would go on to control my perspective on life, could have only happened to that degree because I had lost someone that I had truly invested so much love into. I had allowed myself to trust and share and spend time with some one outside of my immediate relatives only to lose her and all the memories, and trust and time was gone as well.  I guess sometimes you don't know what love is until you don't have it anymore.  I don't think I truly understood the weight of love again until my nephews and nieces were born.  I look at them and I think "there is no way that I could love this individual THIS much" I love them so much that sometime I just want to burst into tears because my heart is rejoicing so much.  THEIR investment in me was that of my investment on that family friend, and that is core shaking, life changing kind of love.    

Now finally, how does this quiz say you will die?   

Well buzzfeed had this to say about that..... I guess their are worst ways to go.  How ever it is, I have faith in the all mighty that it was the way it was meant to be and He will take of me and my loved ones.       

You’re going to die being smothered by kittensYou’re sweet, adorable, and have a gentle nature. People are drawn to your kindness, and you always lend a helping hand. You’ll exit this world surrounded by cuteness.  

Get your tickets today! 

And why not take the quiz yourself? Make sure to SHARE your result and mention #Class6Theatre _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Hillary Scott is very excited to share the stage with so many wonderfully talented individuals for her first Class 6 production.  Hillary was most recently seen in The Hormel New Works Festival: Evening of Short Plays this past spring at Phoenix Theatre, where she contributed in working with local actors and directors in efforts to help up and coming playwrights during the developmental process of their new works.  Other credits include Germaine in Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Bee Bee in SuBurbia, Sloane in Something in the Air, and her personal favorite Grace in George Bernard Shaw’s The Philanderer. She has a playwright credit in the 2007 Vortex of Creative Writing, as well as production manager credit with Scottsdale Conservatory Theatre.  If Hillary is not on stage she can most likely be found running around Phoenix Theatre contributing to their community outreach and audience engagement.  Hillary wants to thank you all of you for taking the time out of your day to share in this magical process that is Failure: A Love Story.  Also, a very special thank you to her sweetheart David Struyf. Without whom she'd be lost.

Meet the Director of THE TAMING - Amanda Noel Trombley

Hello Amanda! Welcome back and thank you for directing another Class 6 production! Remind us of your involvement. 

I first came to class6 to direct a staged reading of Stop Kiss and was thrilled to be asked back last season to direct How I Learned to Drive. I also understudied for 12th night last season and now I'm so excited to be direction in rep with David Dickinson again. 

What excited you about this play?

What first excited me about the show is how smart and funny it is. I kept laughing out loud reading it for the first time and I'm sure my husband thought I was a little crazy from how often the giggles came. As I started preparing more for the production I found that what I loved even more than the humor is how passionate each character is and how hopeful this play is which is a rare emotion in anything to do with politics these days. And now I'm excited about how great my cast is in bringing this brilliant script to life. So basically I am excited about all of it.

This show is pretty political; would you say you have a political affiliation? 

I don't really fall very easily into a political party. I'm like the Pope- only way less people care what I think because I have no money or clout. Also, I am not half as cool as the Pope. But getting back to the point which is how I don't really feel like I side well with anyone politically… maybe that's another reason why I was drawn to this show. Katherine's vision of a new kind of politics appeals to me.

After taking the quiz, which founding father are you?

I got Sam Adams… probably because when beer was a choice, I chose it.

Sam Adams
You’re a bit of a wild card, but no one can question your devotion to something when you’re passionate about it. You’re energetic and enjoy taking initiative, and don’t fear getting in trouble if it’s for a good cause.

Get your tickets today!

A native of Arizona, Amanda Noel Trombley earned a Bachelor's from Pepperdine University and an MFA in Shakespeare and Performance from Mary Baldwin College in association with the American Shakespeare Center. Since graduating, she has been involved with theatre around the valley as an actor (Sister James in Doubt, Germaine in Picasso at the Lapin Agile, and more.), director (How I Learned to Drive, Anatomy of a Hug, The Tempest, and more), writer (Alphabet Shakespeare series, her blog: AlphabetResolutions.com, and more), text coach, and teacher. Amanda is grateful to create art with wonderful people in a place she loves. Serve, Love, Mend.

Meet the Director of FAILURE: A LOVE STORY - David Dickinson

 
















Hello and welcome back! You've had a blog spotlight before (twice even!), but remind us about your Class 6 Theatre involvement.

​I've been involved with the company since its inception, first as a board member, website developer, and then as an actor and a director.  I've had some great on stage experiences with the company, with my favorite being performing THE BIBILE: THE WORD OF GOD (ABRIDGED) to a full house at the Shepherd of the Hills United Church of Christ.  Those people got ALL the jokes.  It was raucous!!

How were you introduced to this show? 

I was sent the script by Eric this summer.  I read it and it touched me deeply.  Old memories and connections to my own family history rose to the surface that had been idle for decades.  I cried a lot.  I cried right there with the script in my hands, in my house.  It was ridiculous.  I couldn't stop.  I don't really cry much when I read scripts and not like that!  I was sitting on my couch sobbing thinking, "I have no idea how to direct this show, but I feel so deeply about it I have to take it on."  ​

Since this is a love story, what would you say was your first love?

​

​Basketball.  ​My older brother played basketball and that is all I ever wanted to do as early as I can remember.  I was the best basketball player on Horatio Place as I spent my 10,000 hours perfecting my jumpshot, fade-away and dribbling in the driveway of my childhood home.  Early pictures of me are with an orange nerf ball and a basket!

Now finally, how does this quiz say you will die?  

You’re going to die being smothered by kittensYou’re sweet, adorable, and have a gentle nature. People are drawn to your kindness, and you always lend a helping hand. You’ll exit this world surrounded by cuteness.

Get your tickets today!

And why not take the quiz yourself? Make sure to SHARE your result and mention #Class6Theatre

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David Dickinson returns to Class 6 Theatre after acting in Twelfth Night, The Bible (abridged) and directing Sylvia.  David has been privileged to perform regionally and internationally with Chlidplay. He currently is a member of Phoenix Theatre’s Partners that Heal, an improv troupe serving the Phoenix Children’s Hospital.  He is an Associate Artist of the Megaw Actors Studio where he continues to train and is represented by the FORD/Robert Black Agency.  Recent stage credits: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (Childsplay) and Opus (Actors Theatre of Phoenix).  On television he hosts Food-Ball, a teen cooking competition. www.davidjdickinson.com​

The Complete Works of Class 6 Theatre (Abridged)

Beginning our 7th season is miraculous to me.  Well, beginning each season was miraculous to me.  But as more and more local theatre companies go under, and as I keep, unfortunately, aging, I thought it was a good time to celebrate our 7th birthday, and hopefully provide a fun little vaudeville history of Class 6 for both the patrons and donors who've brought us this far, as well as the new patrons and donors we're meeting this season.   

This show's a small writing effort in the spirit of other, popular, abridged productions that you may have seen (perhaps even one or two by Class 6!).  This was meant to be fast, then faster, funny, but with a few poignant moments.  Don't know if we succeeded, but it was totally worth a try! 

Plus, the zaniness of a life in the Theatre (by David Mamet) where we get an unadulterated peek into the backstage lives of 2 actors in a repertory company, seemed to be complemented by this zany duo, literally running through all the shows we've ever done.   

And since one of the unofficial mottos of Class 6 is to not let its shows run too long, this clocks in at a brisk 65 minutes.  Which I hope sort of sets the tempo for the season.  More theatre in less time.   

And since another motto is to never repeat ourselves, this hearkens back to our simple beginnings, but with a new angle and a new style.   

We're here to entertain you, and it's a privilege, not a right.  So as long as you keep enjoying what we do, we'll keep doing more of it. 

We're doing this saucy little romp for one week only, so get your tickets now!    

-Eric Schoen

Meet the Stage Manager of TWELFTH NIGHT - Courtney Jackson

 Hello Courtney Jackson! Thank you for all that you do! You've done many projects with Class 6 Theatre, right?
 
Twelfth Night will be my seventh production with Class 6 Theatre. Every production has been a memorable one and I enjoy working with Artistic Director/Production Manager Eric Schoen.

Amazing! What gets you excited about this production?

I'm just excited to be working on a production which has a fresh approach to one of Shakespeare's classics. I can't wait to see how this turns out.

Do you think you relate to any particular Shakespeare character? 
 
I would say that I'm more like Katherine from Taming of the Shrew - yet  I don't believe that I would just give in like that at the end.

Get your tickets today!

And why not take the Shakespeare quiz yourself? Make sure to SHARE your result and mention #Class6Theatre and #TwelfthNight!

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This is Courtney's seventh production with Class 6 Theatre. She has earned a Bachelors in Arts in Design and Production at Arizona State University and has worked with Chicago Dramatists (Freshly Fallen Snow) and Remy Bumppo (You Never Can Tell) in Chicago, IL. Courtney is happy to be back with Class 6!

Enjoy Special Post-Show Discussions - TWELFTH NIGHT

Join us on the second Wednesday and Friday (5/20 and 5/22) of the run for Special Post-Show Discussions! Don't miss your chance to chat with the cast and directors of these great productions! Ask your questions, make your comments, have your voice be heard! These events are available to the audiences of the evenings and take place immediately after the performance.

Wednesday, May 20th

Friday, May 22nd

Get your tickets today! 

Staged Reading Series - THE TAMING - 5/19

Make sure to join us for the final staged reading series of our 2014-2015 season!

Staged Reading of 

THE TAMING

by Lauren Gunderson

Tuesday, May 19th, 2015 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM (MST)

Mesa, AZ - Farnsworth Theatre

Class 6 Theatre presents:

The Taming, by Lauren Gunderson

Directed by Sarah Hayes

Tuesday, May 19th, at the Mesa Arts Center

Doors open at 6:30pm

Staged reading, free, delicious food, and a surprise or two

Pay what you can admission

donations at the door or donate ahead of time on Eventbrite

Please RSVP so we know how much food to get

 

Tweetering, pandashrews, and undying giddiness for James Madison -- what else could you expect to find at a Miss America pageant? In this hilarious, raucous, all-female "power-play" inspired by Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, contestant Katherine has political aspirations to match her beauty pageant ambitions. All she needs to revolutionize the American government is the help of one ultra-conservative senator's aide (Pat) on the cusp of a career breakthrough, and one bleeding-heart liberal blogger (Bianca) who will do anything for her cause. Well, that and a semi-historically-accurate ether trip. Here's lookin' at you, America.

 

This is the last staged reading event of our 6th season.  Join us for some fast, fresh fun and still get home before your bedtime.

RSVP Today!

Meet the Cast of TWELFTH NIGHT - Jaime Fox as Viola

 
Hello Jaime Fox! We are so glad to have you back! Can you tell us a little about your Class 6 Theatre Experience?

Besides being fortunate enough to get to perform with Class 6 in several of their productions, I'm also an avid supporter of Class 6 in any way possible.  They put on incredible, sometimes edgy, unique shows and I'm so pleased with how this company is growing.

What would you say excites you about this show? 

I'm basically a Shakespeare nerd so everything about this show excites me!  It's such a fun script and we have a really outstanding cast - I can't wait to get started!  Plus it's an acting challenge I'm eager to tackle. 

Do you have someone who you think serves as a good role model for your gender?

Wow...this is a surprisingly hard question to answer!  I have some that I feel might be common: Hillary Clinton, Ruth Bader Ginsburg - both women who broke gender barriers and showed amazing strength.  Anne Frank was also a role model to me as her writings about coming of age was so valuable to me when I was younger as were her views on humanity.  Hannah Sennesh is an Israeli icon who joined the army during WWII and became a paratrooper.  She wrote during her time while imprisoned and I found her courage and spirit of hope so compelling.  I often feel like expectations for women can be so narrow minded, which is why I really like women who break away from the mold, which is something I hope to do as well!

Which Shakespeare character do you think you are and why? 

Hmmmm.....well, I took that quiz and it told me I was Viola - which is AWESOME!  The quiz results said: "Like Viola, you break boundaries and challenge conventions."  Yes!  Success!  Ok...who do I THINK I am...hmmmm....I think I can be a little like Hamlet because I tend to over think things and can be mopey at times (sans the murderous and incestuous tendencies of course).

Like Viola, you break boundaries and challenge conventions. You try anything, and more often than not, you enjoy it. Because of your courage, friends often draft you to help with their complicated plans, and that's how you end up in quandaries. Be brave, and never compromise your unique personality to fit in.

Get your tickets today!

And why not take the Shakespeare quiz yourself? Make sure to SHARE your result and mention #Class6Theatre and #TwelfthNight!

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Jaime Fox (Viola) is so excited to be back on the Class 6 Theatre stage again this sea-son! She has performed in their previous productions of “How I Learned to Drive”, “Julius Caesar” and as part of a special understudy performance in “Goodnight, Desde-mona.” Locally, Jaime has worked with Arizona Jewish Theatre, Nearly Naked Theatre, Phoenix Theatre’s 2nd Draft Series and Pandora’s Best of Festivals. In Israel, she has worked with the Guild Theatre of Ra’anana and Tel Aviv Theatre. Jaime currently works in the Education Department at Childsplay and studies with the Megaw Actor’s Studio. She is represented by Leighton Agency.