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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 19, 2022
For more community news visit SanTanSun.com
Chandler children’s theater is growing BY JANELLE MOLONY Contributor
Increasing demands for classes have prompted the relatively new children’s theater in Chandler to take on a new address to accommodate students. The owner and show director, Tiffany Selene Sivak, moved into the current studio location at Ray and Alma School in May 2021, but the space is already at its max capacity. So, Sivak leased the corner lot (formerly Say It In Signs) to build a fully functional performing arts theatre, complete with a sound studio, backstage wings, dressing rooms and room for 140 audience members. This is twice the capacity of the studio space, with more business-appropriate features. Sivak expects the new space to be open for use in August. Once the theatre construction is complete, the older studio will be designated for rehearsals and classes while the main stage rolls
Children’s Theatre Director Tiffany Selene Sivak peeks in on the construction for the new performance space at 1100 N. Alma School. (Special to SanTan Sun News)
out show after show. Starting in July, Stage Door performers will prepare for an outstanding 33 performances of “Disney Jr’s The Lion King Experience.” This is a modified production class offered by Disney, that is a “rigorous and immersive curriculum” which satisfies state and national academic standards such as Common Core ELA, Arts, and Music Education, according to LionKingExperience.com. The Lion King programs are not “just” plays, Sivak said, because students “are learning how to put on a show, but not just the content in the script itself. They are learning how to memorize important information, how to become a
character, staging skills… everything!” She also mentioned the well-known boost in self-confidence, the direct correlation to improved reading skills, and social skills akin to being on a sports team. The curriculum and scripts are modified to each grade level to accommodate developing reading levels and vocal ranges, she added. For those interested in technical design, the studio will bring back its Stagecraft 101 class and asks that families stay tuned on through the company’s newsletter and social media for that announcement. There are multiple once-per-week scheduling options for student levels to suit the needs of busy families, including classes on Saturdays. East Valley home-schooled children can look forward to twice as many daytime opportunities on either Wednesdays or Thursdays. The 15-to-18-week See
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Chandler pub serves up authentic Irish fare and were living in major cities amongst some of the poorest populations. The brisket was a meat that was popular with those communities because it was inexpensive but not necessarily easy to cook.” Brennan added there’s not a lot of beef consumption in Ireland with most of the bovine population being dairy-centric. He said, “They don’t commit a lot of resources to grow cattle for beef – much more with lamb, pork and even chicken than beef. “To that end, we have our shepherd’s pie which is very traditional to the Irish, a stew made of lamb we get imported traditionally from Australia, which has some of the highest quality of lamb in the world. Then it’s cooked into a savory stew with carrots, leeks, and peas and put into a shallow dish covered with mashed potatoes and baked. “That’s very traditionally Irish. We also have fish and chips which is traditional late-night drinking food all over Ireland and the UK, in general. No good night doesn’t end with a trip to the chipper as they call it.” The most authentic item, Brennan said, on the menu is the Irish breakfast or as they call it, Irish fry up. It’s usually enjoyed on a weekend or special occasion and consists of a plate of eggs cooked to order, Batchelor’s brand of Irish baked beans and rashers which is Ireland’s version of bacon (pork loin as opposed to pork belly, cured but not smoked, and more similar to Canadian bacon).
BY MELODY BIRKETT GetOut Contributor
Since opening in March 2003, Fibber Magees in Chandler has been the East Valley’s destination place for anyone in search of an authentic Irish pub and fare. “One of the reasons we feel we can claim to be authentic is we got some Irish ownership,” bragged owner and General Manager Matt Brennan, one of four managing partners. “Two of the original founding partners were born and raised in Ireland and one of those is still the remaining partner of the four of us,” he added. “One of our partners is an Irish-born citizen and carries an Irish passport. It lends us a certain amount of authenticity.” “When making decisions about how the pub operates and the kind of offerings we have, what we’re trying to accomplish with the business, we’re doing it with the idea of would this be authentic to a pub in Ireland,” explained Brennan. “If we’re going to make a decision to show sports, is this something you could see in an Irish pub in the countryside for all of Ireland? We think those kinds of things lend to the authenticity.” The food certainly adds to the authenticity. “Corned beef and cabbage have become synonymous with Irish so it’s not something eaten in Ireland or wasn’t historically,” said Brennan. “It was something the Irish immigrants started cooking when they first settled in America
Fibber Magees owner/General Manager Matt Brennan has built an authentic Irish menu and atmosphere at his Chandler restaurant. (Special to SanTan Sun News)
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