Don Bluth Front Row Theatre

If you have a chance to see a show at Don Bluth Front Row Theatre, do it. I have seen 3 or 4 shows here and I have enjoyed each one.
On 1÷15÷16 I saw «The Producers» and I have not laughed so much in a long time. It was well put together and the actors were wonderful.
It is a small, intimate theatre tucked in the very back of a Strip mall. Kind of hard to find but well worth it.

Excellent production for such a small theatre. Every seat is a good one! I don’t know how they manage to keep this place in business with their affordable ticket prices, several costume changes, and fairly large casts… but I’m glad they do!

Very cute small intimate theater for live shows on a small scale. This is very tucked away in the very back corner near the 2^nd Wind equipment place with a small sign above. Strip mall shopping center which seems to be the way of things here in AZ.
Big on laughs and great acting, definitely worth a visit for live plays

What a charming find in Scottsdale! It’s called «Front Row» because there are only two rows around on three sides of the stage and there is a total of about 60 seats, so everyone has a «front row» view. Don Bluth himself (yes, he is the famous animator of «An American Tail» and others and founded this theatre,) and he was so pleasant and it was honor to share this small space with him. The show was the hilarious comedy «Boeing Boeing,» about a businessman who lives near Orly Field in Paris and has three fiances, all of them flight attendants from three different national airlines. They each think they are the only fiancé and he spends a lot of time balancing air travel charts to make sure they don’t find out about each other. Toss in a disgruntled maid who is fed up with covering for him, a visiting American friend from Minnesota, and the airlines upgrading to bigger, faster planes, and you have a mess that does get resolved by the end of the play, but not without a lot of hilarity and physical humor along the way. The production moved quickly and I never once looked at my watch! Tickets were only $ 20 and this was a quality production. They also do big musicals in this small space, and coming up are «South Pacific» and «Mary Poppins!» Don’t miss this gem!

This is one of the most fun, personal, intimate settings for a local play. I’m never disappointed with their performance. They have a lot of great talent and a great person leading them.

I have been to two shows here and love this small theatre house. It is in a very unassuming complex but inside they create the most magical stories with a very talented cast. I don’t know why more people haven’t reviewed this place. I have seen wonderful life and Oz here and had a wonderful time at both. The sets and costumes are great while the actors weave interesting stories with their excellent acting skills. This is not Gammage but it is so entertaining and a really fun way to spend a night if you are looking for something new to do or want to take a family/​friend out for a night they won’t forget. This is by all means a well staged production that is affordable. A hidden gem in the valley.

This theater group is a Class Act. I’ve experienced theater all over the U.S. and lived in London as well. But I am so impressed with this intimate theater and how everything works so smoothly in this setting. Such professional acting and you feel like you are part of the play as you are a few feet from the actors. For me as a frequent theater-goer.this is a dream and the most enjoyable experience anyone can have.

Standing ovation to you, Mr. Don Bluth. We thoroughly enjoyed an evening at your amazing well ran theatre with talented actors and comfy seating. Loved the frozen York patties at intermission. Welcoming touch that gave you an «at home» feeling.
Looking forward to attending more of your well thought our play list for the season.

Thanks to Goldstar my wife and I were treated to wonderful evening in a fabulous little theatre where we enjoyed «Annie Get Your Gun.» The Don Bluth Front Row Theatre located at 8670 Shea in Scottsdale is a treasure where you sit on cushioned chairs with plenty of leg room (I’m 6’4″). During intermission this fellow walked around with a tray of mints offering them to any and all. As it turned out, that man was Don Bluth, theatre owner and long time animation director who’s worked on many of the most important features Hollywood has offered up. He’s worked at Disney Studios and collaborated with Steven Spielberg among others.
Don’t miss the artwork he has on display in the lobby. All in all the play was great, Mr. Bluth was a delight and we could not have spent a more enjoyable evening.
Peter and Diana Scott
Scottsdale

Attended The Odd Couple last night, my first experience at Don Bluth’s Front Row Theater. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the production. It was well casted, well executed, and one of the best amateur productions we have seen. A wonderful atmosphere and bargain as well; all the seats are good. We look forward to returning soon.

Attended Guys and Dolls last night, my first experience at Don Bluth Front Row Theater. I thoroughly enjoyed the production. It was well casted, well executed and one of the best amateur productions I’ve seen. A great bargain as well, all the seats are good.

Visiting the Phoenix area my wife and I were thrilled to see tonight’s production of «Guys & Dolls». The theater itself is a little treasure: intimate and comfortable. The musical was amazingly good with a strong cast both in its singing and acting abilities. Highly recommended.

For $ 10, I saw the such a well-​put-​together play! The costumes were beautiful, the actors/​actresses were so professional, and the facility was amazing! Every seat is an up close seat and the view of all the actors/​actresses was great! The director, from what I hear use to work for Walt Disney and was the main illustrator of «The Land Before Time» and other works of Walt Disney. The production felt like a mini-​version of what a show would be like at Disneyland. The actors/​actresses were all so amazing, every facial expression and word no matter what age they were. I am going to invite my mom next time as these shows are great for all ages and the tickets are very affordable and a deal considering the high quality show you see!
Don Bluth, please do «Sound of Music» again! I really want to see it!

It’s always exciting to be able to support the local arts, particularly when it is associated with a big name such as Don Bluth. Mr. Bluth is known for directing animated films such as The Secret of NIMH, Anastasia and The Land Before Time. The Don Bluth Front Row Theatre is a little gem located in the corner of a strip mall at Shea and 101.
My husband I and bought our $ 1I (regular price $ 23) tickets from Goldstar of Oliver!, the first show in the theater’s new space. The clapboard signs led us to an nondescript theater space with a very eager and welcoming staff to hand us our programs and show us to our seats. The single theater was in a black-​box sized, theater-​in-​the-​round.
While we waited for curtain we noticed the fine tuning of the theater with snips of loose threads and spot-​cleaning of upholstery, supervised by Mr. Bluth, and what I assumed to be, the very friendly theater manager.
The intimate theater seats about 100 people (with a few in folding chairs… I hope those were comp. tickets) and the performance we saw was set on a ¾ thrust stage against what looked like a drop-​cloth backdrop.
Unfortunately, prior to the show we could hear what cast or crew behind the curtains– breaking the illusion of the forth wall. The seating however was clean and comfortable.
As this is not a review of the show (which was quite delightful!) I will limit this mainly to the theater company.
For better or worse, due to the limited space, the audience is incorporated into the show. Being just inches away, the cast has to be aware of audience members’ outstretched legs but it was a unique eexperience to be so close to the character.
Most impressive were the high-​quality costuming and lighting. The costumes were some of the most detailed and well-​made that I’ve in local theater. The lighting was professional as well. While the actors had to work at projecting, it was nice to have performers that didn’t need to me miked.
Overall, the experience was well worth it. There is something very special about being a part of an expanding theater company. I look forward to many more performances and watching this company grow.