Original production highlights Arizona’s history

MARC BUCKHOUT ~ MANAGING EDITOR~ 1/25/2012

In the pioneer spirit of the Grand Canyon State’s forefathers Desert Foothills Theater is putting together an original performance, “In the Devil’s Frying Pan”, which will debut at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 2 at Stagecoach Village in Cave Creek.
The performance, celebrating Arizona’s centennial anniversary, Feb. 14, tells the story of those that settled the land we now call Arizona.
In developing a story line Lori Vander Maten, a long-time north Phoenix resident said she spent about a year and a half doing research to come up with a story.
“To try and tell the story of Arizona was an interesting idea to me,” she said. “I’ve always been attracted to things a little bit different. I think we’ve come up with a different genre of theater. You have comedic moments. You have tragic moments. We have original music, original songs as well as dance and poetry.”
In trying to put together  approximately 20 short oral histories, sometimes seemingly unrelated vignettes about Arizona’s history, Vander Maten felt like she needed a central character to frame the play around. Vander Maten eventually decided Sharlot Hall, one of the state’s earliest historians, who played a role in Arizona’s bid for statehood, would fill the roll.
“I guess you can call her a narrator, but that seems as though she’s a distant observer,” Vander Maten said. “I call her the spine of the story.”
The story starts on Feb. 10, 1912 as Vander Maten works feverishly to write up the Arizona story, a first person account, to support Arizona’s bid for statehood.
In crafting the story Hall incorporates the tales she has heard over the years.
The task of weaving these personal histories together was given to director Mark Clemente.
“I just think it does a really great job of exploring the why of what made people come to Arizona whether it was for religious freedom, better health, fortune,” he said. “I’ve always been interested in history and to be able to tell the story of the transition of going from a territory to a state is exciting.”
Designated a Centennial Legacy Project, the show includes a cast of 40 playing 100 characters.
 “You think of Indians. You think of people carrying around guns and there not being really any rules or them just making up rules. I think the adventure of living in the Wild West is what intrigues folks,” Clemente said.
While she has lived in Arizona most of her life Vander Maten said doing the research for the play was quite educational.
Along with entertaining and educating Vander Maten said she is hoping the audience gets more out of the show.
 “I really think you can elevate history with art,” she said. “I think we can learn so much about who we are today by understanding the people that made our history. As I started writing, my question was why would anybody have come here. As I read the stories and learned who the people were, what they dealt with and how they dealt with it I really grew to be proud to be an Arizonan. One of the cast members said she can barely get through the last song of the show without crying.”
Shows are Feb. 2 – 5, 10-12 and 17-19. The Sunday shows are 2 p.m. matinees, while the rest of the performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Stagecoach Village is located at 7100 N. Cave Creek Road in Cave Creek.
Tickets for youth range from $15 - 20 while adult tickets are $22 – 30.
For information on the show or to order tickets go to desertfoothillstheater.com, call 480-488-1981 or email tickets@desertfoothillstheater.com.