Thursday, October 02, 2025

Invisible Theatre presents Mud & Fire (one performance only)

From: Invisible Theatre <betsy@invisibletheatre.com >
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2025 6:31 PM
Subject: Exciting Shows Ahead - Mud & Fire And More!

October 2025

Next on Stage

The Invisible Theatre begins its WOMEN'S VOICES

PLAY READING SERIES with

MUD AND FIRE: THE POTTERY PLAY

By LINDSAY JOELLE

OCTOBER 5TH, 2:00PM

(one performance only)

Directed by Betsy Kruse Craig

The Invisible Theatre is pleased to continue its WOMEN'S VOICES PLAY READING SERIES with a new play by Lindsay Joelle. MUD AND FIRE: THE POTTERY PLAY. Ray, a young apprentice, accepts a residency at Sam Ortega's studio in Tucson, AZ hoping to learn from a master potter. But her ambition and impulsive energy clash with the quiet life of privacy and discipline he's cultivated after the burnout of unwelcome fame. As Ray tries to coax Sam to teach her his life-hacks, the desert has other lessons for her about climate, borders, and what it means to be forged through fire. This timely play features Bryan Falcon, former Artistic Director of SCOUNDREL AND SCAMP, Molly McKasson, Hannah Turner, Myani Watson and Lucas Gonzales. Directed by Managing Artistic Director, Betsy Kruse Craig, assisted by Emily Fuchs.

Get Your Tickets for Mud & Fire

When I moved to Tucson three summers ago, I decided it was time to stick my hands in clay. I was a novice, but the ceramics rabbit hole I fell into was swift and deep; classes and studio hours at the Tucson Clay Co-Op soon turned into building a studio in my garage, obtaining a used kiln off Craigslist, showing work twice a year at the Tucson Museum of Art's Artisans Market, and receiving an Arizona Commission on the Arts Grant to mix my own glazes.

I joke that writing a play set in a pottery studio is convenient because whenever I throw mugs instead of writing pages, I can call it research. But truly, I began writing this play because I wanted to honor the intensely supportive community that is present in most small pottery studios where folks of all ages and backgrounds come together to create. I also wanted to write a play that represents the desert dwellers—those of us with an intimate daily relationship to wildlife and weather. To borrow the words of local KXCI radio personality Petey Mesquitey, "The desert is beautiful. Yeah, it is."

Writing a first draft is largely an exploration of the subconscious. Conversations that were happening in my kitchen unavoidably snuck into the mouths of my characters. How could I chronicle this past summer in Tucson without noting that the rains are late, or debating the new Amazon data center that threatens to drain our aquifer and our grid? How could the story not be impacted by the daily threat to our immigrant friends and neighbors? (As one character reflects, "There's a difference between protecting a country and traumatizing a community.") I'm grateful that Invisible Theater stepped up to support this new work from the ground floor to ensure this will be a Tucson play, developed in Tucson, with the input of Tucsonans. If you join us this weekend at IT to listen to superb local actors read this play and you stay to participate in the talkback after, you'll be the first audience in the world to hear this story, and your thoughts and questions will actively shape the next draft. I hope to see you there!

- Lindsay Joelle

Playwright

Opening

October 26th - November 9th, 2025

KEN LUDWIG'S

MORIARTY

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are on the case! A stolen letter leads them into a high-stakes mystery of spies, blackmail, and international intrigue. With world peace at risk, they team up with Irene Adler to outwit Professor Moriarty. Five actors play over 30 roles in this thrilling, laughter-filled adventure! Starring Josh Parra, David Johnston, Allison Akmajian, Lori Hunt, Steve Wood, and directed by Nancy Davis Booth.

Show Dates & Times

Get Your Ticket For Moriarty

Moriarty Music

From The Director

Nancy Davis Booth

As a classically trained musician, I reveled in the idea that I would be able to choose music for our production of MORIARTY. I always begin my journey as a director on the source material of the play and then envision music that embodies the essence of the main characters. And with the generous research materials about Sherlock Holmes and the glorious classical music of the 19th Century, I found just the right pairings. The writings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle reveal that Sherlock Holmes was a remarkable albeit eccentric violinist and even played the challenging music of Paganini on his Stradivarius violin. Our famous sleuth supported and often frequented the concert and opera halls of London listening to Mendelssoh, Puccini, Wagner and Schubert. It is these that enhance our play.