38 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | MAY 2 020 Catie Richman CONTRIBUTING WRITER catie@frontdoorsmedia.com Debra K. Stevens is spending much of her time on Zoom these days, focused on teaching classes through the Online Academy. “I am teaching a class based on ‘The Giver’ by Lois Lowry. The students are deconstructing the story and creating new works of art based on the events of the book,” she said. Next up will be this same class, but focusing on “Charlotte’s Web,” a story Stevens knows a few things about. “‘Charlotte’s Web’ remains one of the most beautiful stories in juvenile literature,” she said. “I have had the opportunity to play Charlotte five times now for Childsplay. I fall more in love with her each time.” One of the elements Stevens loves about Charlotte’s costume is the corset. “I always love wearing a corset on stage, and I love the color palette of this costume. The wig is particularly fabulous,” she said. ASU alum Ricky Araiza started his professional career as an ensemble member of Childsplay in 2004. He has gone on to work with the company for more than a dozen years as an actor and teaching artist and has since received his master’s in Theatre for Youth and Communities. Today, he is “acting” in a different role, serving as Childsplay’s office manager and gala assistant. “This gives me a unique opportunity to work in theater from a different perspective. Having my own theater company, Teatro Bravo, I have the wonderful opportunity to learn from one of the leading theater companies in the Valley and collaborate with my ensemble in a different way,” he said. Some of his favorite costumes were from the play “Chato’s Kitchen,” where comfort was key. “The show required physical comedy and quick changes, which can be tricky, but to be able to do it in such comfortable clothing that reflected, authentically, members of my community was a treat. Plus, I looked suave,” he said. DEBRA K. STEVENS Childsplay associate artist RICKY ARAIZA Childsplay office manager and artistic director for Teatro Bravo To learn more, go to childsplayaz.org . For information about the Online Drama Academy, visit childsplayaz.org/online-classes . For online activities and performances for families and educators, go to childsplayaz.org/imagine-online . STYLE UNLOCKED CONTINUED Her costume in “Charlotte’s Web” helped Debra K. Stevens weave a web of delight. Ricky Araiza ( third from left ) portrayed Novio Boy in the 2019 production of “Chato’s Kitchen.”

MAY 2 020 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA 39 “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” When she said them decades ago, anthropologist Margaret Mead could never have guessed how many applications those simple words would go on to have. And they fit perfectly into the history of the Phoenix Center for the Arts. Established in 1975, the Center is housed in the former First Southern Baptist Church on 3rd and Moreland Streets in downtown Phoenix. The 90-year-old building is a grand one in the Classical Revival style, complete with Greek columns and round arches. But what goes on inside is truly monumental. A 2ND ACT { helping is healing } Judy Pearson | Contributing Writer Thoughtful, committed citizens changing the world TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE SOMETHING