Kindergartners and first graders will thrill to the sights and sounds of Horton Hatches the Egg through much of Spring, 2026. The volunteers who will delight them have been assembled to don the costumes and play the parts needed to enchant the kids in this adaptation of the Dr. Seuss classic.
For nearly two decades, Sun Lakes Community Theatre (SLCT) members have provided this free and educational performance to thousands of children in the CUSD schools, and with budgets as tight as they are, schools welcome them with open arms. For most kids, it is their first experience of live theatre, something that SLCT hopes will encourage them to seek out in future years.
Appearing this year will be the following SLCT members: Sharon Admonson, Roxanne Banta, Illya Belanger, Barbie Bergerson, Jo Birlin, Sandy Bocynesky, Ann Buckheister, Lew Crawford, Dennis Dannahl, Cindi Decker, Roger Edmonds, Diane Jaber, Jim Janowski, Michelle Panard, Susan Schlessinger, Sue Stills, Kathy Tomasewski, Pam Wortman, and Mimi Zoeller. The director is Mike Martin, with assistance from Sandy Bocynesky who is turning over the reins after multiple years of directing the shows.
Children’s Theatre is part of the community outreach that Sun Lakes Community Theatre offers annually, three times a week for two full months. “Helping young minds see the written word come to life is an important part of educating our youth,” says SLCT President Kate King-Turner. “We hope they will go on to explore all the opportunities and enrichments that theatre arts can bring.”
SLCT is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that brings affordable live theatre arts to the local community. For more information on Children’s Theatre and other activities, visit www.slctinfo.com.
Jim Janowski, Jo Birlin, and Lew Crawford
Hurry! Hurry! Step Right Up!
Sally Jo Holberg
Join the talent line-up for the 3rd Annual 2026 Variety Show. If you can dance, sing, act, play an instrument, do comedy, or any other wild routine, please join us on stage. Performers may include any Sun Lakes resident and their friends/family.
The show is located in the beautifully remodeled Arizona Room of Sun Lakes Country Club. The dates of the show are March 7 and 8, 2026 (dress rehearsal March 6). Auditions will be in January.
Audiences love it, and it sells out quickly. For more information, please contact me at sally.holberg@yahoo.com or 480-349-6690.
‘Drinking Habits’ a Hilarious Hit
Audiences were laughing so loudly at times, the actors had to hold in place so their next lines could be heard. The script is cute and funny, but these actors had to have made director Sandy Bocynesky very proud as they brought it to life.
Newcomer Sue Stills was the perfect Sister Philamena, calm and devout to her toes. Her cohort in wine-crime, Sister Augusta, was superbly played by veteran actress Joyce Recupido. The two of them hatched plot after plot to keep the wine flowing and the convent open, unwittingly complicating everyone else’s self-serving plots in this series of mistaken identities and shenanigans. Mother Superior, played very convincingly by Susan Schlesinger, had her hands full with extra nuns, visiting priests, and a rekindled love affair. She handled it all with aplomb.
Sue Stills (left) and Joyce Recupido (right) plot together.
Some of the best scenes were with reporters Ginger Henry as Sally and Jim Janowski as Paul. Both actors have faces for the stage—expressive and comical. Sally’s attempt at posing as Sister Mary Mary, along with her ineptness at anything related to religious customs, from crossing herself to knowing who “He” is, absolutely had the audience roaring. And Paul was a sight to behold as the imposter of a priest and a nun and then the Cardinal. That guy is a riot, and his stuttering was extremely accurate.
Father Chenille was played by none other than former real-life pastor Lew Crawford, and he was so convincing that this reviewer would have sworn she could receive Communion from him. The perfect scene partner, Sally Holberg as Sister Mary Catherine, shone brightly as the guilt-ridden novice who falls in love again with her childhood crush. And that childhood crush, George the groundskeeper, aka Father George, was well-played by Mark Wenz. His enthusiasm contributed to the wild energy that the entire cast displayed throughout the two-act play.
Kudos go to the backstage crew as well for building a great set (five doors!), keeping up with props that had to be available from both sides of off-stage, and great lighting and sound. And the costuming (though obviously not very colorful) was terrific. Everyone looked their part, or, uh, parts, as the case may be.
Great job by all involved. If you missed it, you missed a really entertaining show. If you saw it, I’m sure you agree.