Arts

Chandler thespians go before live audiences

BY KATY SPRINGER

Contributor

It’s not often that “revolting” children get a standing ovation – but that’s exactly what will happen next week when nearly 40 Chandler and other East Valley kids charge the stage in “Matilda The Musical.”

The Tony Award-winning show inspired by Roald Dahl that has captivated audiences of all ages worldwide is being presented by Gilbert’s Actor’s Youth Theatre and the Zao Theatre in Apache Junction. The show will run June 10-26 with evening shows on Thursdays through Saturdays as well as matinees on Saturdays.

“Matilda” tells the story of a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers. She’s unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the lovable Miss Honey.

Over the course of her first term at school, Matilda and Miss Honey develop a powerful bond, but school life isn’t completely smooth sailing: headmistress Miss Trunchbull hates children and loves thinking up new punishments for those who don’t abide by her rules.

While the story does have sad moments, Matilda proves triumphant in the end. With an outsize share of courage and cleverness, she saves her classmates and beloved teacher from the monstrous Miss Trunchbull while creating a new and happier world for herself.

“I think Matilda is a role model because it’s really important to stand up for what you believe in and to stand up for other people,” added 11-year-old Belle Elle, who plays Matilda.

It’s a theme that director Lucy Garner hopes to drive home.

“I think the relevance of ‘Matilda’ in today’s society is especially poignant,” said Garner. “My goal is for the audience to feel the opposition between good vs. evil, acceptance vs. rejection, youth vs. age, and intelligence vs. ignorance. “Through the eyes of a gifted and

The entire proscenium for “Matilda the Musical” is covered in Scrabble tiles that look like they’re falling right out of the bag.

(Zac BonDurant/Contributor)

See MATILDA on page 41

Chandler singer combines country, gospel

BY ASHLYN ROBINETTE

Staff Writer

Chandler country music artist, Rhonda Towns, has released her first inspirational Christian country gospel single after a 12-year-hiatus.

Towns said the single, “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” on Dawn Records, shares a message of hope through experiencing life with the Lord by your side.

Written by Teddy Hayes and produced by Billy Sherrill in collaboration with Towns, this single serves as a preview to her forthcoming six-track EP, “Walking In Your Wonderful Light.”

“I hope that the song will help someone, that it will touch somebody’s spirit, their heart,” Rhonda said.

Hayes wrote “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” 39 years ago, but the song seemed to be made for her, Towns said.

At the time, Hayes was living in New York. He told Rhonda that he had reached his ultimate low with only $2 in his pocket.

During Hayes’ depression, the lyrics for “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” suddenly emerged in his mind.

He told himself, “If I don’t write this song down then I’m going to lose it.”

Hayes didn’t have a pen or piece of paper, so he got into a phone booth and called his home, singing it to his answering machine.

Flash forward nearly four decades and Rhonda describes “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” as her “resurrection song” that pulled her and Hayes out of tough times.

“I initially recorded the track more than seven years ago and then everything in my personal life fell apart,” she said. “It was a very hurtful, emotional, sad and isolating time in my life.

“Today is a different day! This track is my resurrection song. It is the promise of my Heavenly Father…that he would bring me back to my true love, and that is to perform and sing for Him. I learned to trust in Him, completely and totally, during the process of my healing while walking in HIS wonderful light. …and I’m ready to share the new music and my heart once again.”

Towns said she originally recorded “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” in 2012, tried to release it in 2014, then stepped away from the music industry in 2015 when her 22-year marriage ended in divorce.

Rhonda was in such a depressing place that she told a radio promoter in

MATILDA from page 40

spunky 5-year-old, we learn that with a little moral courage, good can triumph over evil, and we can be the authors of our own life stories.”

“Matilda” delivers these lessons through high-energy dance numbers and more than a dozen songs including beloved favorites like “Revolting Children,” “When I Grow Up” and “Quiet.”

But along with the life lessons is a healthy dose of fun – and this is especially true in the set design, which came together over the course of six weeks and hundreds of production hours.

“The show is written from the perspective of the children, so a lot of the elements are larger than life,” said Stephen Hohendorf, artistic director of Actor’s Youth Theatre. “Matilda’s world consists of oversized books that seamlessly open and close to reveal different settings.

“The entire proscenium is covered in Scrabble tiles that look like they’re falling right out of the bag.”

“‘Matilda’ is one of my favorite musicals,” said 12-year-old Hailey Klatt of Chandler. “I saw it at Gammage a few years ago and loved the set! Our set is so cool and I’m excited to perform on it.” Since the first rehearsal on April 27, the cast has worked diligently to bring their characters to life – whether they’re funny, loud, fierce or crazy.

“It was imperative that we found actors who could bring these over-thetop characters to life, and we’ve done just that,” said Hohendorf. “I often forget these are youth performers because their dedication to and delivery of their roles is unmatched. It’s so joyful to see them having so much fun up on that stage.”

Hailey Klatt, 12, of Chandler, plays dual roles as a nurse and an older school pupil. “I’m a snarky big kid and I’m having fun with my character,” she said.

AYT’s production features two casts – Telly and Book – that will take turns performing over the three-week run.

Not only does this provide stage opportunities for more kids, double-casting is a special accommodation amid COVID-19.

As for the kids, they’re thrilled to be back on stage after a long hiatus, which, for many, put an abrupt stop to the thing they loved most. “This is my first show with AYT in over a year and I’m so glad to be performing again on stage,” said Hailey.

The kids’ hard work hasn’t dampened their energy: It’s time spent doing what they love most – with friends who have become more like family – to bring to life a show that resonates deeply with audiences worldwide.

Indeed, “Matilda” has won 99 international awards – including 24 for Best Musical.

“I think the reason this show has been so successful since its inception is that there’s a bit of Matilda in all of us,” said Hohendorf. “She represents anyone who doesn’t quite fit in, whether that’s in your family, at school, or in society. With determination and a little love and encouragement from Miss Honey, she realizes that she just needs to be herself for amazing things to happen.”

“Matilda” is directed by Lucy Garner with artistic direction from Stephen Hohendorf, choreography by Jessi Rodriguez, music direction by Michael Snyder, set design by Mickey Bryce and Tanja Bauerle, costume design by Laura Wanstreet, stage management by Stephanie Coffelt.

The show will be performed at Zao Theatre, 550 S. Ironwood Drive, Apache Junction at 7 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays with an additional 2 p.m. show on Saturdays.

Tickets are $20 in advance/$22 dayof and are available at aytaz.org/tickets or by calling 480-907-7050. Group discounts are available. Performances are expected to sell out quickly.

Hailey Klatt of Chandler is among the cast for Matilda. (Zac BonDurant/Contributor)

SINGER from page 40

2017 that she didn’t think she could go back to singing.

After she had talked to the radio promoter, Rhonda wanted to try listening to music again, so she popped her CD player open and “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” was somehow still there after all those years.

In part, she heard, “All of my hope was gone/but then you came and turned my world around/Then You came and helped me put my feet back on the ground.”

Hearing that, Towns said, “the cleansing tears came.”

Towns called her publicist, re-recorded the track with the accompaniment of Jim “Moose” Brown on keyboards at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville.

“I told Teddy, ‘You wrote this song for me even though we didn’t know each other 39 years ago,” Rhonda said.

Towns got COVID-19 in January, but wouldn’t let that stop her.

She said she promised God that she would spread inspirational messages through her music and that all of her future songs would be about Him.

Towns’ “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” cover displays “Matthew 14: 25-33.”

In that segment of the Bible, Jesus asks Peter to walk out to Him on water. Only after doubting Jesus, did he begin to sink.

Like Peter, people sometimes let distractions get in the way, Towns said.

“As long as we keep walking with Him and don’t get distracted and don’t let fear, doubt and unbelief get into our head, we can accomplish anything,” she said.

He wants her music to help people in their struggles and remind them to “keep on walking” with God.

The daughter of a pastor, Towns grew up in Alabama and was already singing in her father’s church at age 4.

She heard and sang old southern hymns and upbeat contemporary country Baptist songs, realizing how country and gospel music were intertwined.

Eventually, a local country music television show invited her to become a regular talent, but her family declined the offer, saying she was too young to begin her music career. In college, she was a valued member of the university gospel choir, according to her website. She made her television debut as a country music artist on Ed McMahon’s “Star Search.” Shortly after, Rhonda sent in a demo of cover tunes to the A&R Department of Mercury Records and gained the attention of producer Norro Wilson, who has worked with stars like Kenny Chesney, Reba, Sara Evans, and Shania Twain. Wilson produced her first four songs. She then had several more television appearances and was the first Black female country recording artist to appear on the “Live From L.A. Show” on the BET Network.

Two other major country western producers worked on five more songs with her. They were, Jim Cotton, who has produced songs by Billy Ray Cyrus, Alabama, Montgomery Gentry, and Harold Shedd, who produced for Alabama, Toby Keith, Billy Ray Cyrus and Shania Twain.

Despite accolades and her renowned producers, Towns said she struggled to get signed.

So, Towns formed her own independent label, Dawn Records, in 2006 from her home in Arizona and released her debut album, “I Wanna Be Loved By You.” She followed with a series of single releases to radio including “I Wanna Be Loved By You,” “Something Better” and “Slow Rain.”

“I’m a Black female country music artist and there’s been no other woman of color since Ruby Falls to come out and get radio airplay on country music radio stations,” Rhonda said. “I thought, if they’re not going to sign me to a major label then I’m going to start my own.”

Towns’ professional history includes working as a model and appearing in television commercials.

Community has always been an important aspect of Rhonda’s life, she said. Her mother would make meals for their elderly neighbors and Rhonda and her brother would help deliver those meals.

Now, Towns continues to help others by supporting the nonprofit organizations Make-A-Wish Arizona, MakeA-Wish Foundation, Save the Family Foundation of Arizona, and Military Assistance Mission, according to her website.

Towns expects to re-launch her radio show and podcast, “Rhonda Towns- ‘Plenty More Love’” in the coming months, which is anticipated to release later this year.

Her newly released song is available now via all digital retail outlets and streaming platforms.

Rhonda Towns has performed on an inspirational TV show that was produced by a Pennsylvania businessman named Lance Heft. (YouTube)

Horror flick revels in Arizona settings

BY ASHLYN ROBINETTE

Staff Writer

A new Phoenix production company hopes its debut horror anthology sheds light on all that the Arizona film community has to offer.

After securing a distribution deal with Virgil Films & Entertainment, Falling Flame Pictures released “Scare Us,” on virtual cinema last month with an upcoming VOD and DVD release June 29.

“We wanted to make a feature film that was very community driven and community based to showcase the talents that Arizona can bring to the table,” said Ryan Henry Johnston, “Scare Us” producer, co-writer, and co-director.

The synopsis: “A chilling horror anthology comprising five short stories, penned by an unlikely group of aspiring writers, in Sugarton – a small town plagued by the apparent return of an infamous serial killer, dubbed ‘Cutthroat.’

“They’ve come to share their scary stories (with each other and the bookstore owner, Peter, who leads the group), but soon discover they’ve become the stars of a sick killer’s own twisted tale.”

“Scare Us” was produced by Jason Wiechert, of Glendale, Robyn Sturgis, of Scottsdale, and Ryan Henry Johnston, former Phoenix resident. Johnston additionally directed and wrote segments of “Scare Us,” with directors Charlotte Lilt, of Glendale, Carl Jensen IV, of Flagstaff, Tom J. McCoy, of Mesa, and Ryan Kjolberg and Jordan Pillar, of Phoenix. Lilt also stars in the fright flick alongside Tom Sandoval, of Los Angeles, Ethan Drew, of Scottsdale, Michael Alvarez, of Glendale, and Michelle Palermo, of Gilbert.

“Scare Us is a testament to what the Phoenix film industry family can do,” Palermo said.

With the exception of Jeff Hare, Falling Flame Pictures chief marketing officer, all other company lead executives are from the Phoenix area. Wiechert and Lilt are co-founders with Wiechert serving as CEO and Lilt as chief creative officer.

Ed Riccio, of Chandler, is executive vice president. Shaun Clark, of Mesa, is chief financial officer.

“We want to not only bolster Arizona film narratives, but also bring Hollywood to Arizona through our connections in Los Angeles,” Wiechert said.

Wiechert and Lilt met on the set of one of Johnston’s short films in 2015 and eventually married in 2019. They say they created Falling Flame Pictures together to have more creative control over the stories they told.

They want their films to bring more depth to the motion picture world while building upon the film community in Arizona.

“Magic happens when you really believe in things,” Wiechert said. “The cast and crew really believed in this and it shows in the end product.”

The concept of making a horror anthology was born around 2016 and evolved over time, Johnston said.

Johnston and Wiechert say they had talked at length about wanting to do an anthology so that they could give opportunities to different small Arizona filmmakers to work together to make one movie that would increase storytelling in Arizona.

Originally, the film revolved around stories being told around a campfire, Johnston said. However, the producers wanted to make stories that were more adult-driven.

Each director brought three pitches to the table for different horror style films, the best ideas were chosen, then the short films were written around July and August of 2019, Johnston said.

“We thought that we could take six up-and-coming directors who may not have had an opportunity to be a part of a larger full feature film and allow each of them to focus on a specific segment of the overall anthology story,” Wiechert said, adding: “Each director wrote and directed their own segments within the overall story and the main story cohesively ties everything together nicely.”

Principal photography began in early October 2019, Wiechert said. Luckily, filming wrapped in mid-December before the pandemic hit so that January through June of 2020 was dedicated to post production.

The decision to go with horror specifically was inspired by the universal love of horror movies, its marketability and success with independent films, Johnston said.

Johnston noted the success of “It Follows,” “Paranormal Activity,” and “The Blair Witch Project” as low-budget independent horror films with little starpower.

He said they were successful because they focused on good storytelling, which is exactly what “Scare Us” aims to do.

“Myself and Falling Flame wanted to make something that didn’t feel low-budget and looked at it as a challenge,” Johnston said. “We wanted an opportunity to showcase what Arizona could do and we knew that we had the team and the talent to make that happen.’’

“Scare Us” was filmed entirely in Arizona.

The producers say they used actual locations rather than building sets because they wanted to keep Arizona’s authenticity and utilize the state’s versatile beauty.

“There’s a massive amount of beauty in Arizona and I don’t think a lot of filmmakers take full advantage of all the amazing things Arizona has to offer,” Johnston said.

“Scare Us” primarily takes place in a bookstore, so finding the perfect location for it was crucial. The moment Johnston and Wiechert stepped into Books on 7th Ave, they knew that it was the one.

This mom-and-pop used bookstore has been in business for over 30 years and has over 200,000 titles in stock, according to its website. Located in Phoenix’s Sunnyslope area at 9201 N. Seventh Ave, the bookstore has been family operated since 1990.

Another noteworthy location is Parks in the Pines General Store.

Built in 1906, Parks in the Pines General Store is over 100 years old and predates Route 66, according to its website. It is located on Old Route 66 and N. Spring Valley Rd in Parks, Arizona.

Because it is nestled among the largest Ponderosa Pine forest in the U.S., the store creates a very secluded, eerie feeling at night, Johnston said. This made it an ideal location to use as a gas station for the “Dead Ringer” segment of the film.

Each lead character in “Scare Us” wrote a scary story to share with their writers’ group, which each became separate segments of the film.

The five segments of “Scare Us” are as follows: “Night Haul,” “Untethered,” “Dead Ringer,” “The Resting,” and “After Hours.”

Hare thought of the idea to have the main characters reading their stories also play their fictional characters. This was the first time any of the actors had to play two different characters within the same film. Drew experienced a lot of fun and goofiness on set and says that everyone in Falling Flame Pictures was so passionate because they were all brought from a smaller market to make something bigger that they all believed in. “There was a huge sense of community and we all became a family by the time filming was done,” Drew said. “I remember having so many laughs with everyone.” In “The Resting” segment, Lilt was actually able to act with Wiechert because he played a supporting character. Lilt says that working with her husband was her favorite part. The cast all observed high levels of professionalism and say they were fortunate to have worked with everyone in Falling Flame Pictures. They also loved the way they bounced off one another on set and say that their bond translates on camera.

“We all just kind of mesh organically,” Lilt said. “Nothing had to be forced and you can feel it. When you watch it, you’ll see.”

The final segment of “Scare Us” is “After Hours,” which is told by Sandoval’s character, Peter. Peter is the owner of the bookstore and leader of the writers’ group who assigned the scary stories.

Wiechert hopes that fans of Sandoval from “Vanderpump Rules” will watch “Scare Us” to see Sandoval do something very different from his previous work.

Everyone from “Scare Us” still keeps in touch with one another as a family, Lilt said.

When it was safe, Hare said they rented out the Harkins Theatres at Tempe Marketplace to have a cast and crew screening so that everyone could watch the film together.

Riccio wants to do a sequel to “Scare Us,” but says they have to see how audiences respond to this film first.

“I’m hoping that this helps the government in Arizona realize the potential and benefits there are to having films here in the Valley and in the state and what it can bring to the economy,” Palermo said.

To watch the trailer or buy tickets for “Scare Us” or for more information about Falling Flame Pictures and their future films, go to fallingflamepictures.com.

Ryan Henry Johnston

This new horror movie anthology is largely the work of Valley creatives, including Ryan Johnston of Chandler.

2 teen photogs have winning contest entries

SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Two Chandler photographers had winning entries in an Arizona-wide nature photo competition.

A Chandler teen won third place in an Arizona-wide nature conservancy photo contest with his picture of three avocets standing in water that mirrored their images.

Arnav Ved, 16, who is entering his junior year at Hamilton High School took the photo at the Riparian Preserve in Gilbert and won $1,000 for his winning entry in the Nature Conservancy’s eighth annual Adventures in Nature contest.

“I stumbled on this photo while I was looking for shots to take for my photography class,” said Arnav, the son of Payal and Parthiv Ved.

“It was in the fall, so the swamp colors were really nice and bright, giving the picture that colorful look. These three birds were in the middle of the lake, moving around, and they stopped for a second in an amazing position, so I got the shot while I was laying down.”

Arnav has been taking pictures for about a year and used a Nikon D7100 DSLR for the winning shot.

Winning honorable mention was Weston Thomas of Chandler for a photo titled “Bird Attack Bird.”

Avocets are a common sight at the Riparian Preserve in the fall and spring.

Cox Communications and Arizona Highways partner with the Conservancy in the contest.

This year, more than 3,742 photos were entered by 500 Arizona teens in the creative contest. In 2019, there were 1,665 entries.

“This challenge is a great way to inspire younger generations to spend more time outside and to look at nature in different and creative ways,” said Tana Kappel, marketing manager for The Nature Conservancy in Arizona. “This competition is also the driving force behind some great partnerships.”

“This challenge is a great way to inspire younger generations to spend more time outside and to look at nature in different and creative ways.”

– Tana Kappel

Above: Arnav Ved took this picture of three avocets at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve. (Arnav Ved) Right: Arnav Ved won $1,000 for his third-place finish in the nature contest. Weston Thomas titled this picture, which got honorable mention in the contest, “Bird Attack Bird.”

Is your heart trying to tell you something?

Those odd sensations, a fl uttering feeling in your chest, erratic heartbeats? The fact is, irregular or abnormal heartbeats, known as arrhythmia, aren’t normal at all, and they defi nitely aren’t to be ignored. It could be atrial fi brillation or other heart rhythm disorders—conditions that may cause the electrical impulses of the heart to happen too fast, too slowly, or erratically, when left undiagnosed and untreated.

The fi rst step in protecting yourself is a heart health checkup with one of our heart rhythm experts at the Dignity Health Heart Arrhythmia Center – Chandler Regional Medical Center. Now’s the time to schedule a consultation with our experts. Call 480-728-5500 or visit LearnAboutArrhythmia.org.