Arizona Broadway Theatre: The NW Valley’s Jewel in the Desert
By Marilyn Eisenberg, MFA
Photography by Scott Sampli
On New Year’s Eve, Arizona Broadway Theatre’s executive producer, Kiel Klaphake, was celebrating the theater’s second anniversary in the $5 million, 32,000-square-foot facility. Kiel and his father, ABT’s CEO Ronald Klaphake, took some time to reminisce about the evolution of their dream since the January 3, 2006 grand opening.
“When people think of theaters, they often assume they are locally funded or nonprofit,” Ron says. But ABT is privately owned and operates on earned revenue. Rather than compete with other philanthropic endeavors, the Klaphakes devised a business plan, presented it to a bank to secure funding, and quickly built ABT to serve the demand for theater in the Northwest Valley. Recently, the Klaphakes created a nonprofit affiliate supporting their Academy for Young Performers, which offers after-school programs and spring and summer classes to children Valley-wide. This dynamic father-and-son team has significantly raised the bar for exceptional theater and elegant dining in Arizona.
Before launching the 2005 premiere musical, Anything Goes, twenty-five cast members served as ABT’s first “audience” and took a flashlight tour of the construction site at 77th Avenue and Paradise Lane. When the date of completion was moved back, Anything Goes was staged in a tent at the Peoria Sports Complex. Concerned about the rented audio-visual equipment, lights, and generator, the Klaphakes parked a motor home onsite and served as security until ABT’s doors were installed.
“We built shaded canopies for dressing areas and rolled costume racks from the ballpark’s concessions to the tent,” Ron says. Today, ABT houses an impressive kitchen, expansive dressing rooms, and professional costume, prop, and set departments.
ABT now employs 160 people, including actors and musicians, has over 200 volunteers, and supports internships and artist-in-residency programs. The company produces seven musicals annually, offering eight shows each week, including weekend matinees. Last year, ABT received 24 Arizoni Theatre Excellence Award nominations, an unprecedented amount in “Zoni” history. Three ABT productions were nominated for Best Musical. But there is more to the shows than the musicals themselves—there’s gourmet food.
“In 2005, ABT catered food from offsite,” said Kiel. “Now, we prepare gourmet cuisine themed by each show and served in a relaxed dining environment.”
Kiel is gratified by the public acceptance of ABT. He leases the theater, its catering services, and professional touring ensemble Bits & Pieces to the public for numerous events. ABT has participated in Toys for Tots campaigns, Community of Joy’s annual auction, Peoria Police Department’s casino night, Dr. Geary Bush’s private art exhibition, and the Miss Teen World US pageant. This year, Pepsi will rent the auditorium for a private party, and the Phoenix Music Awards will host a function there as well. Wedding rehearsal dinners, meetings, corporate retreats, and piano recitals are held in ABT’s private banquet room and spacious lobby.
ABT brings East Coast big-city theatrics to its shows while staying true to the family base and the Valley of the Sun. It utilizes high-tech sound and lighting systems, rigging, trapdoors, and fly systems typically found only in New York-based theatres. Its current production of Fiddler on the Roof (running through March 2) showcases a revolving stage and stars Jimmy Ferraro, direct from the Broadway revival.
Thanks to the Klaphakes and their supporters, Arizonans can now experience quality shows people travel to Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle or yes, New York, to see.
Coming Soon
After Fiddler, ABT is offering Jekyll & Hyde (March 7–April 20), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (April 25 – June 8), The Music Man (June 13–August 3) and Nunsense (August –September 21). For more information, visit azbroadwaytheatre.com or call ABT’s Box Office at (623) 776-8400.