Acting up | Local theater St George

When it comes to local theater St George has a lot to offer. Some venues come to mind immediately, while others may be a surprise. From professional to amateur, if you’re a fan of local theater St George area has you covered.

Tuacahn Center for the Arts

1100 Tuacahn Drive,

Ivins, Utah

 Arguably the most well-known of the local theater St George venues is Tuacahn. Since 1995 Tuacahn Center for the Arts has been bringing professional local theater St George to the stage. And it’s not just any stage. The Tuacahn outdoor amphitheater is impressive by national and even international standards.

Nestled into an existing natural red rock amphitheater, the stage, seating, technical components and more all converge to create a local theater St George experience unlike any other.

The theater was originally established to produce “Utah!” — a musical historic look at the settling of the area in which the theater is located. After running “Utah!” for several years, it became clear another show was needed to keep generating the necessary income for this local theater St George. Thus, the idea for Broadway in the Desert was born.

Since that time, Tuacahn has produced a wide range of musicals. The venue’s proudest moments seem to be when they are able to be the first to produce a new show. Or the regional premiere of a show. Such has been the case with several Disney productions. “Tarzan,” “When You Wish,” “Aladdin” and more. Plus, this local theater St George has been home to many other stellar productions.

A few of those include:

* “Mary Poppins”

* “Newsies”

* “Aida”

* “Nunsense”
* “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”

* “Cats”

* “Les Miserables”

* “Peter Pan”

* “Little Shop of Horrors”

and others.

This year, Tuacahn’s season includes three outdoor shows. “Prince of Egypt,” Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” and “Matilda the Musical.” Also, earlier this season, the theater featured “Million Dollar Quartet” in the indoor Hafen Theater.

Tuacahn
The plaza outside the Tuacahn amphitheater

When this local theater St George is not upping the ante for technical elements and overall theatrical flare, they offer a concert series. Throughout the spring and fall. Concert performers over the years have included everyone from Jay Leno and Bill Cosby to The Piano Guys, Colbie Caillat, Kenny Loggins and more.

Concert performers, as well as theater audiences are always in awe of the majestic red rock surroundings at this local theater St George. If you haven’t been to Tuacahn, it’s high time to give it a try.

Brigham’s Playhouse

Cotton Town Village, 300 W. Telegraph

Washington City, Utah

Part of the local theater St George scene since 2013, Brigham’s Playhouse combines the world of amateur and professional theater into one. Their main goal, according to their web site, include “providing audiences with excellent, affordable, Broadway-caliber, wholesome and edifying theatre.” This local theater St George also seeks to provide a work environment for theater professionals that is based on high moral and ethical values.

Currently, Brigham’s Playhouse is showing the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, “South Pacific.” It’s a war story. And a love story. Based on principles of overcoming discrimination. Plus loads of delightful music. What’s not to love?

South Pacific opens Aug. 23 at Brigham’s Playhouse

Earlier this year, the theater produced “Bye Bye Birdie,” along with “Our Town,” “The Big Five-Oh” and “Daddy Long Legs.” Still to come just in time for the Halloween season is Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Nile.” 

In addition to offering local theater St George, Brigham’s Playhouse also presents a Theatre Academy. This is a collection of classes for children ages 3 to adult. You can sign up to attend one or several classes each week. Offerings include teen singing, senior singing, youth acting troupe, adult directing, youth show choir and more.

 

 

St. George Musical Theater

212 N. Main Street

St. George, Utah

Billing itself as “Southern Utah’s finest theater-in-the-round,” the experience at St. George Musical Theater is different from the other local theater St George venues. Rather than sitting in the audience looking toward a stage at the front of the room — known as proscenium seating — St. George Musical Theater has a stage in the middle of the room, with audiences sitting on all four sides. The action plays in every direction. Giving a whole new perspective on each theatrical production.

St. George Musical Theater has been around on and off in the local theater St George scene since the early 2000s. At its peak, SGMT was putting on eight shows a year, with roughly 50,000 patrons passing through every year.

After losing its downtown venue and struggling with lack of funding, St. George Musical Theater finally found its way back to its roots to perform in the St. George Opera House where it once performed 15 years ago.

Now, they’re thrilled to be back, offering a unique community theater experience to anyone who is willing to enjoy it.

On the schedule

This year, St. George Musical Theater is performing “Hello Dolly”, soon to be followed by “The Marvelous Wonderettes” and “Beauty and the Beast.” On the schedule so far for 2019 is “The King and I”, “Charley’s Aunt” and “The Pajama Game.”

Along with an impressive resume of past productions, St. George Musical Theater likes to remind viewers of the kind of talent that has passed through its program over the years. For a local theater St George, there have been several actors and actresses who have gone on to make their theater dreams come true. DeLaney Westfall, for example. She started in SGMT’s production of “Annie.” Now, she’s been part of national touring companies, off-Broadway New York stints and many others.

Shayla Osborn Beck also kicked off her love of theater on the St. George Musical Theater stage. Now she’s added the national Broadway tour of “Wicked” to her credits, performing as Elphaba and Nessarose in this highly popular show.

And don’t forget Rhett Gutter. He worked with SGMT while living in St. George and is now known for singing in Carnegie Hall, dancing at the Chalet Opera House in Paris and more.

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