Phoenix is a collective series of multiple contradictions, beginning with the lawn.  The city was designed on an idea of Americana, where the picket fence sensibility was transplanted here in the 1950s and has stayed for reasons that are perhaps lost by now.  The lawns are still here, however, and some of the greenest lawns in the world dot the suburbs, despite the geography of the desert.  At the same time, there are many who claim that it is still a desert in terms of sensibility and culture, but the demographics suggest otherwise.  It’s one of the largest cities in the U.S., with a diverse population whose sensibilities certainly find their way into the art scene.

There is an art scene here, too, and it is thriving.  Perhaps not economically, but then, what city can claim this these days, but in terms of ideas and creative people, there is a lot to see here.  The summers, of course, are incredibly hot, with unearthly temperatures that make pit bulls shudder, but the rest of the year, it is truly a paradise.  The deep beauty of the desert is apparent everywhere, and there are plenty of urban adventures as well.  For accommodations in Phoenix, luxury hotels are very popular, because the sensibility here is very high on hospitality, and the locals know how to have fun.  During your stay, if you happen to be lucky enough to be in town for a Stray Cat production, check it out.

It’s a hot ticket, and they do sell out pretty quickly, so plan ahead.  The company began in the new millennium, which seems somehow appropriate.  This is theatre for a new generation.  Some of the best elements of contemporary U.S. realism work their way in to a decidedly experimental aesthetic.  Some of the best local performers work with this company at one time or another, and local director Ron May has been getting some of the attention he deserves.  He isn’t the only director at Stray Cat, but he’s one of the most interesting in the country, and it’s terribly exciting to see his work evolve in a rather spectacular direction.