After helming eight award-winning seasons, the Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre’s co-founder and Producing Artistic Director Bryan Rafael Falcón will step aside next month to welcome new leaders, School of Theatre, Film & Television alumni Annika Maher (BFA Theatre Design & Technical Production, ‘20) and Zac Austin (BFA Acting, ‘20).
Austin and Maher have been integral to the success of the theater over the last four seasons, serving in various capacities as artists, producers and managers overseeing everything from box office to technical design. Both bring a shared passion for live performance that encourages community, with deep roots in the Tucson arts scene and a commitment to building upon the creative foundation established during Falcón’s tenure.
Since co-founding the Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre in 2016, Bryan Falcón and co-founder Elizabeth Falcón have established a dynamic cultural hub in Tucson, known for producing bold new programming like this year’s MacFestival and the popular 24-7 Play Festival, presenting stories that speak to the region, like Alebrijes (starring TFTV student Ollin Acosta), and serving as an artistic home for world-class physical theatre artists such as Wolfe Bowart (The WoBo Show, One Twig at a Time and the TFTV productions VAUD and Sinkers). The theater also has become known for innovative co-productions with other theatres in the region such as Borderlands Theatre, providing professional and internship opportunities for theater students at the University of Arizona, and for fostering collaborations with other arts institutions. The theater is the recipient of multiple Broadway World Awards, including Favorite Local Theatre.
“We are honored to step into this role and continue the incredible work that Bryan and Elizabeth have initiated,” said Maher and Austin. “The Scoundrel & Scamp has always been a place where artists, audiences, and collaborators come together to create something meaningful. We look forward to growing that vision, deepening our community ties, and amplifying new voices.”
“Our time at the University of Arizona provided us with a thorough education in theatre and the tools to feel confident moving into these leadership positions,” Maher added. “We’re especially grateful for the mentorship we received from staff and professors during our four years at TFTV.”
Maher and Austin plan to continue the programming that the community loves, such as The WoBo Show, Red Herring’s Tucson Puppet Cabaret, and the Radio Hour, as well as expand opportunities for local artists, explore new programming such as the Arizona premiere of Finegan Kruckemeyer’s Where Words Once Were (to be directed by Austin), and a new circus dinner theater experience with Theatre de Cuisine by Wolfe Bowart. Their program will continue to be a draw for audiences of all ages and reflect Tucson’s community through works that challenge, entertain, and inspire.
Located at The Historic Y building in the West University district of Tucson, the Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre performance spaces include a 100-seat proscenium theater and a 40-seat black box space. More information about the theater and its upcoming season is available at www.scoundrelandscamp.org.