More details below (like, a lot more details)

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Event Overview: Join Grey Box Collective at Third Street Theater in Phoenix Center for the Arts on April 26th to celebrate all ten seasons! For A Decade in the Grey, we've got the premiere of our documentary film, an encore performance, and a new coloring book release.

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6:30p Doors Open 

6:45p Pre-show 

7:00p Encore Performance of Finger Painting [for grown-ups] 

Intermission 

8:00p Documentary Film Screening 

8:45p  Q&A with Performers, Filmmakers & Creatives of GBC 

Event concludes around 9:15pm

 

Encore Performance: Finger Painting [for grown-ups] (approx. 50 minutes)

As our daily reality becomes an onslaught of information and change that produces collective overwhelm, Finger Painting [for grown-ups] offers a space of dark humor for moving through these seemingly never-ending unprecedented times. This performance blends child-like wonder with the jadedness of adulthood — somewhere between cynical and whimsical.

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What Audiences Are Saying  “It was a true pleasure to witness Finger Painting [for grown-ups] tonight. It was engaging, thoughtful, thought-provoking, honest, personal, funny, relatable, beautifully performed, and wonderfully constructed.” 

 

“The way Finger Painting [for grown-ups] reflected the collective social anxiety I already feel, offered an antidote for fear and stress through joy and group play. I appreciated the interactive moments, care, and thoughtfulness of the performers and creative team. It was engaging and cathartic.” 

“Grey Box Collective offers a space to hold and reflect our very human experiences, together, with care and intention.”

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Show History: Finger Painting [for grown-ups] was originally written by Molly W. Schenck in 2009. In 2014, it was restaged and produced by Binary Theater Company, and the ensemble from that production inspired the formation of Grey Box Collective. The April 26th encore is drawn from the October 2025 iteration, devised without the previous script. It features creatives from the 2014 production alongside individuals who have contributed substantially to shaping Grey Box Collective over the past ten years.

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What to expect: Honestly - and we recognize this probably isn't super helpful - expect the unexpected. As with any Grey Box show, it's about the journey, not the destination. Be as present as possible and enjoy the semi-organized, chaotic ride. If you're seated on stage, you'll likely be asked to hold things (budgets are tight, so we appreciate the extra hands) and read things aloud with others (you can always say no or just pretend). No matter where you sit, performers will talk to you. Don't be alarmed; they're just highly caffeinated extroverts seeking human connection. We also recommend warming up your singing voice and brushing up on your Pokémon knowledge to fully engage with the show.

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We also understand that burnout is real, being a human is hard, and this show can be a lot. If you just want to sit and hang out the whole time, that's cool too.

To summarize: expect an unusual performance, moments you won't fully understand, and getting a little lost … along with play, joy, laughter, maybe some tears, at the absurdity of "normal" life.

 

Documentary Film: A Decade in the Grey (approx. 40 minutes)

A Decade in the Grey chronicles ten years of Grey Box Collective's bold, multidisciplinary artistry, highlighting their Trauma-Informed Creative Practices and the transformative power of creating during messy, ambiguous, uncertain, and overwhelming times.

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The film follows GBC's unique approach to navigating complex, often uncomfortable topics through art. At its heart are the voices of founder Molly W. Schenck and a diverse group of collaborators, whose stories intertwine to reveal the evolution of the company's work and impact. Beginning with Grey Box's founding against the backdrop of Arizona's evolving arts scene, the film traces the growth of their devising process through key performances and projects weaving archival footage, behind-the-scenes rehearsal glimpses, and interviews with creatives. As it progresses, the documentary examines the challenges and triumphs of sustaining a small, grassroots organization while prioritizing wellness, inclusivity, and innovation. The film crescendos with the creation of a new iteration of Finger Painting [for grown-ups]  a fitting metaphor for Grey Box's ethos: messy, vibrant, and deeply human.

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A Decade in the Grey is an inspiring testament to the power of creating difficult art during difficult times.

 

Q&A with Performers, Filmmakers & Creatives of GBC

Following the performance and film premiere, the creatives behind these projects will open the floor for questions and dialogue about the creative process, the themes of the evening, and anything else related to the events of the night.

 

Audience Surveys

As always, we'll ask for your feedback through surveys. Demographic information and audience experience data help us apply for and receive grants and better understand how to serve our community. We highly value what you share, and it's part of why our grant funding has grown in recent years.

 

Show Content

The content of our shows is intended for audiences 18 and up. Finger Painting [for grown-ups] includes strong language and candid discussions around the harmful impacts of capitalism, including deaths of despair and mental health. That said, we don't check IDs at the door. We recognize that the effects of harmful systems impact all humans living under them and we trust you to make the right call for yourself and anyone you bring along.

 

Parking & Transit

Parking is available at the Margaret T. Hance Park lot off 3rd Street, across from the I-10 entrance. Additional parking is available on Moreland & 3rd Street.

Phoenix Center for the Arts is also accessible by public transit, approximately 0.5 miles from several Light Rail and Bus stops.

• Light Rail: #10010 McDowell/Central Ave | #10011 Roosevelt/Central Ave

• Bus Routes: 0, 10, 17

 

Sliding Scale Ticketing Details

As always, tickets are available on a sliding scale ($20–$60). Below is a complete breakdown of the ticket levels.

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• General Admission with coloring book $40-$60

  • Student, Educator, and Working Artist rate: $30

• On-Stage Seating with coloring book $40-$60

  • Student, Educator, and Working Artist rate: $30

• General Admissions $30-$50

  • Student, Educator, and Working Artist rate: $20

• On-stage seating $30-$50

  • Student, Educator, and Working Artist rate: $20

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The prices above are note final, a small fee will be added at check out. We use a sliding scale model for our tickets and encourage our audiences to reflect on their circumstances and lived experience to determine the best price point. If you are new to this model or would like to learn more please check out this blog about how this is a tool for economic justice (blog link) and use this sliding scale fee guidance PDF (link) when selecting your ticket price. Thank you for taking the time to engage in this reflective practice. If the cost is a barrier for you accessing this event, please contact us directly. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

 

About Grey Box Collective

GBC is a multidisciplinary arts organization that produces projects acting as artistic vehicles for social transformation and embodied activism … or, put simply, we make weird art about tough stuff. We create bold, experimental work that confronts difficult topics, working at the intersection of arts and non-arts disciplines to push the boundaries of creative expression and explore complex social issues. Our work serves as a catalyst for embodied activism, deep conversations, and community connection, using art as a vehicle for transformation. Through our actions, reflections, and art-making, we actively challenge and reshape the status quo within our organization, our bodies, and our communities. We believe this work is essential to building a more just and liberated society.

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Grey Box also serves as a resource for artists, educators, creatives, and leaders seeking ethical and sustainable approaches to creativity. Through trainings, workshops, and consultations, we offer guidance on making difficult art during difficult times, fostering resilience, embodied leadership, and creativity literacy.

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GBC was founded in 2016 by Molly W. Schenck. In our ten years, we have produced: 30+ new works, 12 experimental films, 4 coloring books, a 60-hour professional development curriculum, 68 workshops and community events, 70+ podcast episodes, and 1 documentary film.

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For more, sign up for our newsletter, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, Substack, and YouTube. For behind-the-scenes content, check out our podcast Any Other Anythings.

 

Thank you to Phoenix Arts & Culture and Arizona Commission on the Arts for supporting Grey Box over the years, and to the team at Phoenix Center for the Arts for supporting this event!​​​