"Forbidden Broadway"

Ladies night out, yippee! What fun!  The ladies, that is my two sisters in laws and a great friend attended a show at Mesa Encore Theater. Showing, a drum roll please.... the wickedly funny Forbidden Broadway. It is has been one of  New York’s longest-running hit musical comedy.  Well-known show tunes and performers are skewered in a hilarious medley of songs and scenes featuring knee-slapping ‘alternative lyrics.’ Performers target such famed targets (shows) such as “Chicago,” “Phantom of the Opera,” and “Les Miserables”.  Broadway legends such as Carol Channing, Chita Rivera and Ethel Merman are also poked.  This is a great show and a great place just to enjoy a good laugh.  You don’t have to be up on the latest Broadway hits to enjoy “Forbidden Broadway,” you just have to enjoy a good laugh and we did.  Our favorite spoof was the Chita/ Rita scene.  If you appreciate a good lampooning, you’ll love “Forbidden Broadway”.

After a stop at the ladies room, too much laughter, we were on our way to Scottsdale, we thought to Peppin, a Tapas Bar.  After arriving at the Mall, we soon discovered there was any additional $15 cover charge for the band.  If it had included a dancer, we would have been first in line to get in the door.  Instead we went next door to AZ88, The Bar, where we had a great snack, enjoyed the cool evening, great views of the mall and an extraordinarily modern place.  It was complete with hanging manikin legs covered with panty hose and suspended from the ceiling with, what else suspenders.  Crazy!

Beginnings of the Theater

Joseph S. Jarvis in 1937 became head to the Mesa Parks Department, his desire was "to make Mesa a beautiful place for all to live". He knew there was a need for a community recreational and cultural program.    One of his first orders of business was to start a theatre group. Throughout the past almost 70 years, from its humble beginnings on a school stage, to loading flats and properties on a truck, traveling to performance locations, and thousands of volunteers have worked to carry on the Jarvis legacy. By donating their time, talent and financial support, MET has produced over 175 full-length plays. MET has brought together members of the community to act, sing, build sets, stage manage, run lights and sound, sell tickets, usher and bake refreshments for intermission. Today, Mesa Encore Theatre still operates through the efforts of volunteers working to provide a wonderful evening of live theatre.  It is a small, intimate theatre where you can sit close to the action. A great venue for just enjoying an evening out, even in downtown Mesa.  And another history moment.