This Titanic Didn't Sink

by Crystal Coons
Aug 27, 2003

Being still relatively new to the Phoenix area, I wasn't really aware of the many things to do in the city on a Friday night other than the usual dinner and a movie. When a colleague of ours let us know about some theater tickets he had obtained, we were more than willing to try out something new.

The tickets were for the Valley Youth Theater's performance of "Titanic", the Musical. When we found out it was a youth theater, we were a little skeptical at the performance level, mainly because we had never been to such a production. We put our doubts aside and headed out to the Herberger Theater in downtown Phoenix that Friday night. We got in line at the will-call window, and once we had our tickets, we quickly found our seats. We were impressed by our fourth row seats, and began to leaf through the program booklet.

The lights dimmed and the performers took the stage. An hour and a half later, at intermission, I had been totally encapsulated in the performance. My mouth had been opened in awe of the amazing sets, astounding acting and unbelievable voices of the teenagers that graced the stage.

The second act passed all too fast, as they continued with the story of the Titanic's iceberg meeting, and the sinking of the ship. By the end of the performance, my eyes were welled up with tears, and I was on my feet applauding the actors that were barely younger than I was, and some of which could have been my peers. I left the theater shocked and impressed over what I had just witnessed.

The Valley Youth Theater is something to be seen. Their rendition of Titanic is something I will never forget. With that said, I will be back for their next performance.