/ Modified nov 28, 2024 2:21 a.m.

Spotlight Community Theater's production of "Cinderella".

Also on Arizona Spotlight: A tale of true love that started in Tucson in 1943 that continues today; and historian David Leighton shares the history of the Reid Park Zoo..

cinderella spotlight theater hero From left to right, Spotlight Community Theatre 1st year player Talia, founder & director Chris Abeyta, founder Christopher Abeyta, and 3rd year player Lucy in AZPM's studio to discuss their upcoming performances in "Cinderella". "Cinderella" will be showing at Spotlight Community Theater December 5th through December 8th.
AZPM

Arizona Spotlight

November 28, 2024

NPR
(Download MP3)

Featured on the November 28th, 2024 edition of ARIZONA SPOTLIGHT with host Mark McLemore:

  • Meet the father and son founders of Spotlight Community Theater. It’s a place where curious student-age children can learn about all aspects of the performing arts, with no experience required. Spotlight Community Theater is holding performances of “Cinderella” in December to raise money for charity. Also participating in the interview are Lucy and Talia, two of the musical production’s young stars.
cinderella spotlight theater cast unsized VIEW LARGER Kids from the cast of "Cinderella" from Spotlight Community Theater. "Cinderella" plays December 5th through the 8th at the theater.
courtesy of Spotlight Community Theater
cinderella poster spotlight theater unsized VIEW LARGER "Cinderella" will be playing at Spotlight Community Theater from December 5th to the 8th. Fifty percent of the proceeds from the play go to benefit Masterpiece International that helps Ugandan youth.
courtesy of Spotlight Community Theater
  • A tale of true love that began in Tucson in 1943 continues today. Hear about Christine and Ward, who had only two months to get to know each other before Ward was sent to Europe to fight in World War II. Today, at age 98, Christine is still honoring his memory with a fresh rose and a love note every month. Reporter Henry Brean, who wrote about this enduring connection for the Arizona Daily Star, shares the story behind the story.

Christine Grady Gorder 2024 Christine Grady Gorder holding the photo of her WWII sweetheart U.S Army Staff Sergeant Ward Sackal who was killed in combat in Europe. The 98 year old has visited has visited his grave in France 11 times.
Courtesy of Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star

Christine Grady 1942 VIEW LARGER Christine Grady at age 17 in 1942.
Courtesy of Arizona Daily Star
Ward Sackal 1942 VIEW LARGER U.S Army Staff Sergeant Ward Sackall in 1942. Sackal and Christine Grady Gorder(then Christine Grady) became sweethearts just months before he would deploy to Europe and sadly be killed in combat.
Courtesy of the Arizona Daily Star
  • Last summer, The Journal of Arizona History published a book containing a photo essay about the complete history of the Reid Park Zoo from 1965 to 1978. It is the result of more than 3 years of research by local historian, author, and newspaper columnist David Leighton. Leighton will share some of the fascinating history he learned along the way.

Baby Ostritches and Zookeepers 1977 Reid Park Zoo Zookeepers Marc Bruns and Shanda Johnston in 1977, handling four baby ostriches named Sam, Pipin, Bilbo and Frog.
Courtesy of Arizona Daily Star

Prairie Dog Town 1966 Reid Park Zoo A sign pointing to Tucson's Prairie Dog Town in 1966, it was the first exhibit of the future zoo.
Curtesy of Reid Park Zoo

Rhinos 1986 Reid Park Zoo Rhinos Zibulo and Yebonga wallow in the mud at the zoo in 1986.
Courtesy of Joanna Gradillas

camel reid park hero The sign on the enclosure announces the birth of the third dromedary calf born at the zoo on on April 25th, 1973.
courtesy of Arizona Daily Star

Lioness 1968 Reid Park Zoo VIEW LARGER A lioness cleans her paw at the Randolph Park Zoo in 1968.
Courtesy of Arizona Daily Star
the journal of history unsized VIEW LARGER "The Journal of History", volume 65, number 2, Summer 2024. The journal contains a photo essay about the complete history of the Reid Park Zoo from 1965 to 1978.

Web page by Sophia Hammer.

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