Carolyn Pain

Carolyn Paine
Carolyn Pain

To me, Carolyn Pain is so many things. The blowsy, sexy Maxine in “The Night of the Iguana,” the tear-up-the stage wife in the musical, “I Do, I Do …”

As an actress, there is nothing she can’t achieve.

But, more than anything, she is the kindest, most compassionate woman I met during my years as a Phoenix theater critic. If a member of the stage community lost a loved one, if they came down with a bad cold, if they were hurting emotionally over a breakup – she was there, with her eyes radiating concern, her arms around the shoulder, her heartfelt assurance that the world was not ending.

It is no stretch to say she is the mother of the Phoenix theater community.

Every year, she tosses an annual Christmas party at her home. The guest list is a Who’s Who of then and now. If you are privileged to be there, you know you’re someone in local theater.

We haven’t seen much of Carolyn lately. We miss her. We miss her husband, Fred. He is as much a part of Carolyn’s persona as her perpetual smile. Hopefully she will return to the stage soon. No profession can stand the loss of its heart.

Carolyn Pain's 2013 Christmas party attracted Caroline Wagner, Craig Bohmler, Mike Lawler and D. Scott Withers.
Carolyn Pain’s 2013 Christmas party attracted Caroline Wagner, Craig Bohmler, Mike Lawler and D. Scott Withers.

PHOTOGRAPHS, REVIEWS & THE KITCHEN SINK

Steven Mastroieni and Carolyn Paine in Tennessee Williams' "The Night of the Iguana," at Phoenix Little Theatre. (Photo courtesy of Steven Mastroieni)
Steven Mastroieni and Carolyn Pain in Tennessee Williams’ “The Night of the Iguana,” at Phoenix Little Theatre. (Photo courtesy of Steven Mastroieni)
Roy Padilla, Carolyn Paine and Bill Strauss in "The Night of the Iguana" at Phoenix Little Theatre.
Roy Padilla, Carolyn Pain and Bill Strauss in “The Night of the Iguana” at Phoenix Little Theatre.

*****

1977-78. “Anything Goes.” French Quarter Dinner Theatre, Scottsdale. Director: Ray Cavaleri. Cast: Noel Irick, Anne Peck, Anne Healey, Carolyn Pain, Margie Ghigo, Craig Loucks, Eric Gillette, Barry Garber.

*****

"Damn Yankees" was produced at Phoenix Little Theatre sometime in the 1970s or '80s. Clipping from the collection of Jan Sandwich.
“Damn Yankees” was produced at Phoenix Little Theatre in 1984. Clipping from the collection of Jan Sandwich.