Theatre Upstairs is our Non-Profit element of AZAA supporting local artists & students with a platform to spotlight & grow in their art. We aim to bring affordable & free entertainment to our community continuing to foster the connections created out of sharing live art. We support these programs through donations.
Live Theater
Friday Oct 30th at AZAA
💡 What is a Friday Night Reading?
A new play comes into being through an extensive process. After many, many rewrites, playwrights are ready to have their scripts read by actors. That’s where Friday Night Readings come in.
Actors are offered roles and prepare to read through a script (no memorization and minimal blocking). We have one rehearsal before our read and then an hour rehearsal in the space before we open the doors to the public. Our playwright joins us over Zoom (as they are often located across the US).
🕖 Time: 7pm Start
🎭 Show: Short Plays, Including: Morning Moms, Hangmen, Continental Divide, Just Add Water
✍️ Playwright: Kyle Mumford
This collection of short plays are a perfect Friday Night Delight- with everything from playground-side scandal to loneliness finding company to stage shenanigans. Free snacks are always provided.
Join us In Person at AZAA or on YouTube!
📍2345 E Thomas Rd
Kyle Mumford: Diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome and Dyslexia at a young age, Kyle found a creative outlet through plays and movies.This led him to attend the School of Visual Arts, where his thesis film, HIS NAKED MIND, won Kyle the award for Best Director at SVA. Kyle has worked in editorial and locations departments for film & TV, and later became an assistant for writer/director Tom Gormican. His short films have screened at Palm Springs ShortFest, Florida FilmFest, and many others. His screenplays have placed seven times at Austin Film Festival and twice as a 2nd rounder in the Sundance Labs. In 2021, Kyle was accepted into the Actors Studio Playwright and Directors Unit. His plays, SHRIMP PUDDING, HANGMEN, CONTINENTAL DIVIDE, LOVE STORM GALACTICA, all premiered at the Chain Theatre One-Act Fest in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. His play, THE VICTIMS, was Screencraft’s 2025 StagePlay winner. Recently, his vertical series, KYLE HAS TOURETTE’S, premiered at the ALZA Film Festival and is available to watch on Instagram, TikTok, & YouTube. IG: @kylecmumford / www.kylemumford.com
Theatre Upstairs
Theatre Upstairs has been founded as a separate non-profit 501c3 company to produce cutting edge, original and rarely produced theater. Theatre Upstairs is an opportunity to create exciting opportunities for locally trained actors/artists, student alumni & our current student base to explore, grow and highlight their artistic voices.
Enjoy our virtual events on demand @ youtube.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION (D&I/DEI)
Arizona Actors Academy with the support of Theatre Upstairs aspire to stay up to date on the conversations and intentions of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. We know that representation matters and aim to be an inclusive space for every kind of artist as well as foster diverse leaders in our art form.