My weekend continued with the upclose and personal theme by attending Don Bluth's Front Row Theatre on Saturday night. I have been attending community theatre here in the valley for a long time, but I never heard of this theatre until I read about them in the May issue of Phoenix Magazine. The cover story was called, Secrets of the City, and this gem is definitely one of the BEST kept secrets of them all.
Don Buth is one of Hollywood's most beloved animators, and he is a lover of the stage too. His theatre company peforms three plays a week in his living room in his Scottsdale home.
There is seating for 45 audience members, and you just cannot get more of a community feel than going to someone's home to see a play performed in their living room. When we drove up, a man with a baseball hat was standing on the opposite side of the street directing and helping us to park. Then he preceeded to escort us to the home. I did not realize it right off, but this man turned out to be Don Bluth himself. I couldn't believe it...he does it all...even acts as a parking attendant. lol
The play we saw was Blithe Spirit by noel Coward. We sat in the front row, and we had to make sure we did not stick out our feet too far, because we would have definitely tripped the cast, since they were pretty much right in front of us most of the play. The very intimate setting, the outrageously funny play, the stellar cast made for one of the most enjoyable evenings.
My only regret is that I never heard of this theatre sooner. Don has been performing plays and musicals in his home for seven years, but is moving his theatre out of his home to a new location which I heard will be around Scottsdale Rd. and Shea Blvd. His next production, Barefoot in the Park, will still be in his home, so I have yet another chance to see it there. But I know I will go see his productions wherever they go...for when I find something special...I will follow you forever.
