The Arizona Rose was founded in 1986 in Tucson, Arizona by the late Terry Howell and his wife Cynthia Howell. Their initial mission was to establish a community based Theater company that would exist without funding from public sources. They committed to a philosophy of only producing musical properties that were in some way positive. With a lack of funds for royalties and a true shortage of "doable" or released contemporary musicals, the Howells turned to creating their own properties. They had spent more than twenty-two years together working in the Theater, film, TV, & recording industries with experience in most aspects of production, so this was not an unreasonable decision.

Twenty-one years later the ROSE, as many Tucsonans refer to her, is alive and well. The fundamental mission of the company has not wavered but it has expanded to include educational concepts and community (local, regional & national) support with music and performance. Two prominent national organizations have used the ROSE's original music in the past few years for themes. The ROSE does have quite a number of original properties in various stages of development that have been placed before Tucson audiences. The
company has provided a stage and training to many young people now in the industry on both coasts. The ROSE generally mounts four mainstage musical productions each year, each with an average cast of 18 to 30 performers and a crew of 20 to 30.

The Rose continues to "Grow in the Desert"