Gilbert's Hale theater announces new season, including 'Phantom'
- Season-ticket holders have increased to 3%2C500
- Hale looking at more evening shows familes can enjoy
- Other indie operators joining the neighborhood
Gilbert's Hale Centre Theatre, which continues to grow with the downtown area, has announced another season of mostly musicals, including "Phantom."
The 12th season for the homegrown town theater presents such perennial favorites as "My Fair Lady," "The Sound of Music" and "The Wizard of Oz." "
"We had a good year; we had a lot of new people who found out about Hale theater and our season-ticket holders doubled last year, which is always a positive thing," owner David Dietlein said.
The development of the Downtown Heritage District as a destination for visitors has worked to the theater's advantage. Numerous independent restaurants have opened near the independent venue.
"We have the unique vintage operators in this part of town. People can't believe everything happening here; they are discovering it," he said. "I've noticed that double the amount of people come into the area, night-time. It's exciting to see the changes come around."
Dietlein dubs his theater "the most fair deal in town."
Season-ticket holders, now numbering 3,500, pay $18 per show, he said.
"We will always have our mission to be the best value in town for the quality of the show and the price they pay," he said.
Hale has scrapped its children's programming and is focusing on presenting more evening shows that the entire family can enjoy. There are seven main stage evening shows and three special engagements on Monday nights.
"The fact that we're doing 10 shows this coming year is a pretty big feat," said Dietlein, who says he puts in 80-hour weeks.
Dietlein, whose family background is in theater, created Hale theater in 2002 after he came to Arizona from California. Family members run theaters in California and Utah, but it's not a chain.
Together with wife Corrin and with help from Corrin's children from a previous marriage, the theater was built up over the years. Its location, in front of the town's iconic water tower, proved to be fortuitous.
From the beginning, Hale operated year-round and did not rely on municipal funding.
The town is building a parking garage for 400 cars half a block north of the theater. When it's ready, theater patrons could avail of it free-of-charge.
The theater also does not rely on Arizona's winter visitors to stay afloat.
"I know a lot of business have based their theaters on that; they are very dependent on that. I didn't want to be dependent on that trade. I wanted a year-round business," he said. "I wanted to be in the neighborhood where people lived year-round."
Dietlein's gamble seems to have paid off. "We're able to pay our bills. Because a lot of theaters can't, to say that is a big deal," he said.
New season at Hale
What: Hale Centre Theatre announced its upcoming season.
When: New season opens Aug. 28.
Where: 50 W. Page Ave., Gilbert.
Admission: Tickets range from $16 to $26.
Show lineup
2014
Aug. 28-Oct. 11: "Phantom." Musical.
Sept. 15-Nov. 18: "Arsenic and Old Lace." Comedy.
Oct. 16-Nov. 29: "The Sound of Music." Musical.
Dec. 4-24: "A Christmas Carol." Holiday musical.
2015
Dec. 31-Feb. 14: "Lend Me a Tenor." Comedy.
Jan. 19-April 21: "Forever Plaid." Musical.
Feb. 19- April 4: "My Fair Lady." Musical.
April 9-May 16: "The Man Who Came to Dinner." Comedy.
May 21-July 3: "The Wizard of Oz." Musical.
July 9-Aug. 22: "Tarzan." Musical.
Details: 480-497-1181 or haletheatrearizona.com.