Our Mission
We produce theatre and theatre education in Tucson that entertains, educates, and enlightens children, adults, and families.

Live Theatre Workshop
3322 E Fort Lowell Rd
• Tucson, AZ 85716
Reservations: (520) 327-4242
• livetheatreworkshop@gmail.com

BUY TICKETS ONLINE!

LTW's Children's Theatre
2022-2023 SEASON

 

DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS: THE MUSICAL

by Michael Martinez

October 29 - November 13, 2022

The Day of the Dead comes to life in a new bilingual children’s musical. When Juana stumbles into the world of the dead in search of her beloved pet turtle, she comes face to face with Mictecacihuatl, her hilarious sidekick Grito, and some of her grumpiest ancestros. Juana learns to face her greatest fears and that not everything is always what it seems to be. The whole audience is invited to help Juana on her journey between the world of the dead and the world of the living.

SHOW DATES AND TIMES
Saturday 5pm: Oct. 29, Nov. 5, 12
Sunday 1pm: Oct. 30, Nov. 6, 13

Seating: Children’s Theatre

ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE: A CHRISTMAS SING-A-LONG

by Richard Gremel

December 2 - 18, 2022

The Cheer Squad is preparing for the Christmas Extravaganza to raise Christmas Cheer, but after most of them get sick from drinking bad eggnog, it’s up to a band of misfit reindeer and elves to save the day. But the Broadway producer reviewing the Christmas Extravaganza is secretly the head of the coal industry, and would like nothing more than to have every child get coal in their stockings. Come join in the fun, sing along to your favorite Christmas tunes, and enjoy a visit from the big guy himself.

SHOW DATES AND TIMES
Friday 7pm: Dec. 2, 9, 16
Saturday 7pm: Dec. 3, 10, 17
Sunday 3pm: Dec. 4, 11, 18

Seating: Children’s Theatre

NO OTHER NEMESIS

by Catherine Oda

January 28 - February 12, 2023

Space Lady (Karate Expert, Alien, Hero) and Doctor V (Totally Real Doctor, Air Guitar Enthusiast, Villain) are sworn enemies, and yet, they find themselves the only constant in each other’s lives. It seems as if they live in a simple episodic monster-of-the-week series. That is, however, until the Masquerader, a new ruthless villain, tries to destroy the city that Space Lady and Doctor V have been fighting over! The sacred bond between hero and villain will be stressed as things start to get real. What will happen? Who will win? Find out, in a battle of Good and Evil versus Slightly More Evil!

SHOW DATES AND TIMES
Saturday 5pm: Jan. 28, Feb. 4, 11 Sunday 1pm: Jan. 29, Feb. 5, 12

Seating: Children’s Theatre

TOOTH FAIRIES IN TRAINING

by Richard Gremel

April 15 - 30, 2023

It is the first day of tooth fairy training for Bridget Bicuspid and Marty Molar. But things aren’t going as well as they wanted. As hard as they try, they just don’t have what it takes to become official tooth fairies. When Calvin McCavity threatens to end the Fairy Flight Force once and for all, it is up to Bridget and Marty to save the day before it’s “tooth” late.

SHOW DATES AND TIMES
Saturday 5pm: April 15, 22, 29
Sunday 1pm: April 16, 23, 30

Seating: Children’s Theatre

YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS OF TUCSON

June 3 & 4, 2023

LTW’s 4th annual Young Playwrights of Tucson Competition encourages students from all over our community to write and submit their short stories for a chance to be workshopped in the summer. Each top young playwright is teamed up with one of LTW’s seasoned playwrights/directors to help get their plays from the scripts to the stage. Local talented students audition, perform, and run the tech for all of the shows. This is a great way to see Tucson youth blow you away with how much talent they have. With the help of LTW’s Children’s Theatre leaders, these students take the stage and give a voice to the stories they want everyone to hear.

SHOW DATES AND TIMES
Saturday, June 3 at 2pm & Sunday, June 4 at 11am

Seating: Children’s Theatre

PUFFS (ONE ACT FOR WIZARDS)

by Matt Cox

July 14 - 30, 2023

The New York Times proclaims Puffs “A fast-paced romp through the ‘Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic.’” This clever and inventive play “never goes more than a minute without a laugh” (Nerdist) giving you a new look at a familiar adventure from the perspective of three potential heroes just trying to make it through a magic school that proves to be very dangerous for children. Alongside them are the Puffs, a group of well-meaning, loyal outsiders with a thing for badgers “who are so lovable and relatable, you’ll leave the theater wishing they were in the stories all along” (Hollywood Life).
Best for wizards ages 11 and up

SHOW DATES AND TIMES
Friday 7pm: July 14, 21, 28
Saturday 7pm: July 15, 22, 29
Sunday 3pm: July 16, 23, 30

Seating: Children’s Theatre

About LTW's Children's Theatre Series

Our Children's Theatre program deepens our connection to kids and families by offering interactive musical theatre performances at Live Theatre Workshop and in more than 15 schools across the city. These performances have become a tradition for Tucson families. Kids are introduced to and learn to love theatre through this program, and many continue on to take LTW classes and even advance to become performers in these shows themselves.

 

Children's Theatre Writers

Click on pictures to read biographies of some of the writers of LTW Family Series plays.

 

Stephen Frankenfield has been writing for LTW’s Family Series for more than six years. His 20+ plays had their debut in Tucson; favorites include “The Rootin’ Tootin’ Tale of Little Red Riding Boots” and “The Great Zantini and the Magic Thief”. He has five published plays with Heuer Publishing and Pioneer Drama Services, which have been performed across the United States, China, Canada, and South Africa. Stephen is the Assistant Director of Children’s Programming at Live Theatre Workshop, where many of his plays have been performed. He also has acted and director for LTW for more 15 years. He is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York City, where he studied for theatre and film. Steph has two amazing boys who also frequently perform on the LTW stage.
Stephen Frankenfield
Richard Gremel has been writing for the LTW Family Series for more than 12 years. He has written 30+ plays that have been performed in the Tucson area. His favorites include “Robin Hood and His Merry Men,” Not Your Average Zombie Apocalypse,” “The Mysterious Murder at Manchester Manor,” and “RAPunzel: A Hip-Hop Musical.” Richard also performs and directs many of the shows on the LTW Family Series stage. He has nine published plays with Heuer and Brooklyn Publishing that have been produced in schools and theatre companies all over the United States, Canada, India, Australia, England, and Hong Kong. Richard is the acting and technical theatre teacher at Empire High School in Tucson, where his students have performed several of his original full-length productions
Richard Gremel
Kris Kissel is the theatre teacher at Sabino High School, where he also sponsors the Sabino Improv Club, serves as the Fine Arts Department Chair, is the AIA Theatre South Region Director, and is a member of the Arizona Thespians State Board. He is the author of four published plays, three of which premiered at Live Theatre Workshop. He holds a BFA in Theatre Education from the University of Arizona and a master’s degree in Theatrical Production & Design from Southern Oregon University. He has lived in Tucson for most of his life, and calls the city home with his wife and two boys. He loves working with Live Theatre Workshop, where he has taught, written, directed and acted.
Kris Kissel
Tyler West recently moved to New York City from Tucson. He does some work as a physical comedian and actor. His one-man solo physical comedy show "The Wait" has won several awards across the nation and internationally. Live Theatre Workshop will always have a special place in his heart, and it's his pleasure to continue writing and being a part of the Family Series.
Tyler West
Gretchen Wirges has been acting, directing and writing for Tucson stages for nearly 10 years. As a playwright, her works have been featured in local festivals and theaters, including the Old Pueblo Playwrights New Play Festival. Gretchen is also an accomplished improv teacher and performer. She spent four years on stage with Not Burnt Out Just Unscrewed and now performs around the country with her long-form improv duo Ex-Boyfriend. She is the President of the Tucson Fringe Festival Board and writes for the feminist-oriented theater review site Taming of the Review.
Gretchen Wirges
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