News From the Festival
Projections Designer Brings Stunning and Magical Special Effects to Dracula
Tyler Pierce (left) as Dracula and Jamie Ann Romero as Lucy in Dracula, 2015. Photo by Karl Hugh.
Take two 8,000-lumen projectors, stack them on top of each other, hook them to a powerful computer, and point them at a rear-projection screen. What do you get? In the case of the Utah Shakespeare Festival’s production of Dracula, you get bloody moons, shipwrecks, roiling oceans, and howling wolves.
Of course, it takes a lot more than fancy technology to provide the stunning and magical visual effects evident in the Festival’s production of this iconic horror story. It takes a talented designer to bring it all to life. In the case of the Festival, it takes Kristin Ellert, projections designer extraordinaire.
Ellert comes to the Festival from the Midwest where she works as a freelance scenic and projections designer. She has also worked at the Oregon Shakespare Festival, Park Square Theatre, First Stage, Hope Summer Repertory Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Hartford Stage, and others.
“At heart, projections design is still design,” says Ellert. All the aesthetic sensibility, the understanding of color and space that is evident in scenery, costume, lighting, and sound design is also part of projections design. Ellert starts with the director’s vision and understanding of the play, then adds to that the input of the other designers—then goes to work finding and creating moving images that are cast on the rear of a large screen at the back of the set and are visible to the audience.
For instance, the roiling waves and scudding clouds in one scene of the play started as stock video Ellert purchased. She then “changed it, cut things, added in stuff, adjusted colors, to make it my own,” ultimately providing just the effect and mood the play demands.
She uses software such as Photoshop and After Effects to create the projections then feeds them into the computer where they are controlled during the show by the light board operator using sophisticated control software.
The result is magic.
Rear projections are becoming more and more popular in recent years. “It is growing in the theatre,” said Ellert. “Everybody wants to do it, but the cost of the technology is extremely high, so smaller theatres are finding it hard to do. I am thrilled the Festival was willing to invest what it takes to achieve these projections.”
Ellert’s magical (and sometimes frightening) projections are visible in the Festival’s production of Dracula through October 31, Halloween. Also playing at the Festival are Shakespeare’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona and the hilarious farce Charley’s Aunt. For more information and tickets visit www.bard.org or call 1-800-PLAYTIX.
“Let the Dog Be the Dog”: Comedy, Forgiveness, and a Loveable Mutt
Chris Mixon as Launce and Jake as Crab in The Two Gentlemen of Verona, 2015. Photo by Karl Hugh.
What does an actor do when, in the middle of a comic scene in front of a full house, the dog who appears with him on stage begins to wander toward the wings? “You let the dog be the dog,” says Utah Shakespeare Festival actor Chris Mixon, “trusting that his training kicks in, and he stays where he should.”
Mixon, who is appearing as the comic servant Launce in The Two Gentlemen of Verona, faces dilemmas like this nearly every performance with his canine costar, Crab. He admits sometimes he has to be quick on his feet, but the dog’s training and the time the two have spent together pays off, and the show continues.
Crab is played by Jake, who is trained by Nick Massey. “Nick is really good at bonding him to another person, and has taught me how to communicate with Jake,” says Mixon.
However, as much as audiences love Launce and his canine friend, The Two Gentlemen of Verona is not all about a loveable dog or its comic “owner.” Instead the romantic comedy tells the story of two sets of adolescent lovers who are at times inconstant, impulsive, emotional, self-involved, and ultimately forgiving.
The play is about change and being imperfect, says Mixon. “The Two Gentlemen of Verona challenges our notion of happy endings. The people are flawed, and we have to forgive them in the end.”
This inconstancy is much more evident in the two young men in the play, than in their female loves. According to Mixon, men care about themselves, their own ambition, which “I think allows for inconstancy without forethought.” Women, especially Shakespeare’s women, care about the world around them and in the broader picture. “Shakespeare brings a woman on the stage when he wants to bring the world on the stage.”
In the end, the four lovers do transform. As director Robynn Rodriquez says, “four young people take the first stumbling steps toward becoming gentlemen—and gentlewomen.”
Yet, in between all these machinations between the four young lovers, comes the comedy of Launce and Crab, offering a bit of humor but also a grounded pragmatism, perhaps a counter-balance to the four adolescents, an admission that the world is complex and varied, and a sure sign of a master playwright at work.
Tickets are now on sale for The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Charley’s Aunt, and Dracula, currently being performed Tuesday through Saturday until October 31. For more information and tickets visit www.bard.org or call 1-800-PLAYTIX.
Charley’s Aunt – Still Funny after All These Years?
By Ryan D. Paul
Betsy Mugavero (left) as Kitty Verdun, Michael Doherty as Lord Rancourt Babberley, and Kelly Rogers as Amy Spettigue in Charley’s Aunt, 2015. Photo by Karl Hugh.
Here’s a joke for you. A young New Yorker was introduced to a Boston girl, and before they were acquainted thirty minutes, she got so spoony that she had called him an asterolepis, a Silurian placoid, and cartilaginous vertebrate. He returned to New York by the evening train. Hilarious, right? I am not sure I got it either. This came from an 1890s joke book and is evidence that some things just don’t hold up well with the passage of time. Language and cultural context are often grounded in a specific era. How then does Charley’s Aunt, a comic farce written in 1892 and produced this season by the Utah Shakespeare Festival, hold up? Should it be in the comics section or the obituaries? I spoke with the play’s director, David Ivers to find out.
“This is a great, joyous comedy,” said Ivers. “Often people refer to it (I have myself) as an ‘old chestnut.’ Charley’s Aunt stands the test of time, and looking critically at the play, I find it’s brilliantly constructed. Charley’s Aunt is full of character driven action, full of optimism. I’ve acted in the play twice, so I know it requires rigor, detail, and specificity to make it appear easy, loose, and chaotic. As I have rediscovered the play, this time with a director’s eye, I have found myself laughing out loud again; refreshed and invigorated by what it all has to say.”
Ivers argues that while some find Charley’s Aunt to be a typical piece of comedic theatre, the message of the play goes much deeper. “Anyone can and should find love in any circumstance, and sometimes, we will go to great lengths at the expense of a great many to shape our destinies. Once in a while, a small window of opportunity presents itself—are you going to jump through it with reckless abandon or shut it out? At its core, Charley’s Aunt allows us all an opportunity to vicariously answer that question for ourselves. Through this comedic vehicle, the audience is asked the question: How far are we willing to go for love?”
Speaking about his vision for Charley’s Aunt, Ivers added, “This incredible situation the characters find themselves in results in comedy because the obstacle is so large. We can almost see the wheels inside their heads cranking away. ‘How are we going to pull this off?’”
Someone once said that jokes are like frogs, once you dissect them; they are no good any more. That’s something you will not have to worry about in this season’s production of Charley’s Aunt. This play is funny because comedy, true comedy, transcends generations. The relatable characters in this play remind us of the strange and often comic things we do for love. Those human stories, the ones that really make us laugh to our core, the ones that are told over campfires and bridal toasts, they resonate through this play. To answer my own question, yes, like my Great Aunt Alice, Charley’s Aunt is still funny after all these years.
State Bank of Southern Utah Donates to Festival
View fullsize
State Bank of Southern Utah (SBSU) officials present a check for $50,000 to the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Pictured are (left to right) Tyler Brown, SBSU director of marketing; Fred C. Adams, Festival founder; Eric Schmutz, SBSU president and chief executive officer; R. Scott Phillips, Festival executive director; Linda Wilson, member of the SBSU board of directors; and Kirk Jones, SBSU director of operations and board member.
Cedar City, UT – Citing their desire to give back to the community that has supported them for over 50 years, State Bank of Southern Utah (SBSU) officials recently presented a check for $50,000 to the Utah Shakespeare Festival. The bank’s donation will assist with the approximately $750,000 still needed to complete landscaping and fund equipment for the $38 million complex, located on the campus of Southern Utah University.
“The Festival is a huge asset and will continue to benefit our community for years to come,” explained Tyler Brown, SBSU director of marketing. “We hope this gift will not only help the building of the new center, but challenge other community minded businesses that are able to give.”
Presenting the SBSU donation to the Festival were Brown; Eric Schmutz, president and chief executive officer; Kirk Jones, director of operations; and Linda Wilson, member of the board of directors.
The new center, which is currently under construction, includes two new theatres for the Festival and will be ready for the opening of the 2016 Festival season in July.
Play On Podcast | Ep. 52: Jesse Berger, Dracula
Jesse Berger, director of this season’s Dracula, sits down with us to discuss his introduction into the arts, his approach to this classic tale and the symbolism throughout.
Students Receive Honors at 39th Annual Shakespeare Competition
Cedar City, UT – This weekend the 39th annual Shakespeare Competition, hosted by the Utah Shakespeare Festival and Southern Utah University, gave out dozens of awards and scholarships to drama, dance and music students. The competition is the largest scholastic Shakespeare competition in the country, and this was a record-breaking year with over 3,200 students from 110 schools in six states.
From October 1 through 3 students competed before numerous adjudicators on the Festival’s stages and at several other venues on the SUU campus. Judges consisted of arts professionals with strong literary and performance backgrounds. The judges came to Cedar City from across the country, including New York and Los Angeles, and not only judged the competition, but provided critiques of performances and gave feedback to the young artists. Judges also offered numerous workshops on topics such as stage combat, improvisation, movement, modern dance techniques, and choral performance.
“There really is nothing like the Shakespeare Competition,” said Michael Bahr, education director for the Festival. “For thirty-nine years the competition has provided young people an outlet to share their passion and excitement for the arts, while also cultivating the future generation of arts professionals.”
Providing wonderful opportunities, the competition recognizes and educates students in four areas: acting, dance/choreography, music, and technical theatre. At the conclusion of the competition selected students received trophies and scholarships to study with professionals at Southern Utah University and the Utah Shakespeare Festival.
As part of the total experience, students were able to attend the Festival’s fall productions of Dracula, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and Charley’s Aunt, as well as an SUU production of Hamlet.
The competition was divided into six divisions: Buckingham (for schools with enrollment of 2,001 or more), Oxford (enrollment of 1,701 to 2,000), Cambridge (enrollment of 801 to 1,700), Westminster (enrollment of 800 or fewer), Stratford (junior high and middle schools of any size) and Essex (schools or groups which are not members of state high school associations).
Acting Competition
For the acting portion of the competition, students were able to compete in monlogues, duo/trio scenes, and ensembles. Monologue competitors presented for the judges a two- to four-minute monologue from a Shakespeare play or sonnet. In the duo/trio scenes competition, two or three actors presented a three- to five-minute scene from a Shakespeare play or sonnet. In the ensemble competition, a group of students from a school presented a six- to ten-minute Shakespearean scene.
In addition, first, second, and third place overall sweepstake prizes were awarded to the school in each division with the most total points from all categories.
Also, several scholarships were presented in the acting competition:
The first place winners in the duo/trio scene and monologue categories are awarded scholarships to either Southern Utah University or the Utah Shakespeare Festival summer classes, depending on the grade of the student:
Ray Jones Award: Given to seniors, this award is a $1000 scholarship to Southern Utah University.
Barbara Barrett Award: Given to juniors and under, this award is a $500 scholarship tothe Festival’s summer acting intensive Actor Training, or a tuition scholarship to Shakespeare for Junior Actors.
Larry Lott Acting Award: In conjunction with the ensemble competition, judges annually recognize the best actor in an ensemble scene in each division. The recipient of this award received a trophy for his or her accomplishments and, if a senior, a $1,000 scholarship to SUU.
Acting Winners
BUCKINGHAM DIVISION
Sweepstakes First Place: Lone Peak High School; Highland, Utah
**Sweepstakes Second Place (tie):**American Fork High School; American Fork, Utah; and Pleasant Grove High School; Pleasant Grove, Utah
Ensemble First Place (tie): Hillcrest High School; Midvale, Utah; and Lone Peak High School; Highland, Utah
Ensemble Third Place: Pleasant Grove High School; Pleasant Grove, Utah
Ray Jones/Barbara Barrett Award and Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Mikah Olsen and Faith Johnson; Hillcrest High School; Midvale, Utah
Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: TJ Holdman and Rilee Crump; Lone Peak High School; Highland, Utah
Duo/Trio Scenes Third Place: Riley Smith and Skye Karlinsky; American Fork High School; American Fork, Utah
Ray Jones/ Barbara Barrett Award and Monologue First Place: Miriam Edwards; Lone Peak High School; Highland, Utah
Monologue Second Place: Yana Anderson; Orem High School; Orem, Utah
Monologue Third Place: Nicole Peterson; Pleasant Grove High School; Pleasant Grove, Utah
Larry Lott Acting Award: Nic Thomas; Lone Peak High School; Alpine, Utah
OXFORD DIVISION
Sweepstakes First Place: Corner Canyon High School; Draper, Utah
Sweepstakes Second Place (tie): Provo High School; Provo, Utah; and Timpanogos High School; Orem, Utah
Ensemble First Place: Provo High School; Provo, Utah
**Ensemble Second Place:**Corner Canyon High School; Draper, Utah
**Ensemble Third Place:**Highland High School; Salt Lake City, Utah
Ray Jones/Barbara Barrett Award and Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Kylan Goodwin and Bryce Jack; Alta High School; Sandy, Utah
Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Liam Isaak, Isaac Chock, and Chante Bronson; Provo High School; Provo, Utah
Duo/Trio Scenes Third Place: Jesica Shelton and William Jenkinson; Timpanogos High School; Orem, Utah
Ray Jones/ Barbara Barrett Award and Monologue First Place: Abby Maxwell; Corner Canyon High School; Draper, Utah
Monologue Second Place: Harrison Lind; Highland High School; Salt Lake City, Utah
Monologue Third Place: Isabela Giordano; Highland High School; Salt Lake City, Utah
Larry Lott Acting Award: Isabela Giordano; Highland High School; Salt Lake City, Utah
CAMBRIDGE DIVISION
Sweepstakes First Place: Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts; Salt Lake City, Utah
Sweepstakes Second Place: Box Elder High School; Box Elder, Utah
Sweepstakes Third Place (tie): Cedar High School; Cedar City, Utah; and Spanish Fork High School; Spanish Fork; Utah
Ensemble First Place: Spanish Fork High School; Spanish Fork, Utah
Ensemble Second Place: Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts; Salt Lake City, Utah
Ensemble Third Place: Cedar High School; Cedar City, Utah
Ray Jones/Barbara Barrett Award and Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Micki Marteniz, Hanna Romney, and Wiley Adams; Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts; Salt Lake City, Utah
Duo/Trio Second Place: Nathan Reeder, Hannah Wood, Katelynn Perkins; Box Elder High School; Box Elder, Utah
Duo/Trio Third Place: Alden Croft, Lauren Prince, Christian Earl; Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts; Salt Lake City, Utah
Ray Jones/Barbara Barrett Award and Monologue First Place: Abagail Mower; Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts; Salt Lake City, Utah
Monologue Second Place: Tracy Gubler; Spanish Fork High School; Spanish Fork, Utah
Monologue Third Place: Kaitlyn Thacker; Spanish Fork High School; Spanish Fork, Utah
Larry Lott Acting Award: Tani Lee; Spanish Fork High School; Spanish Fork, Utah
WESTMINSTER DIVISION
Sweepstakes First Place: American Leadership Academy; Spanish Fork, Utah
Sweepstakes Second Place: Liahona Senior Preparatory Academy; Pleasant Grove, Utah
Sweepstakes Third Place: DaVinci Senior Preparatory Academy; Ogden, Utah
Ensemble First Place: Liahona Senior Preparatory Academy; Pleasant Grove, Utah
Ensemble Second Place: American International School of Utah; Murray, Utah
Ensemble Third Place: Rockwell Charter High School; Eagle Mountain, Utah
Ray Jones/ Barbara Barrett Award and Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Thomas Petrucka and Courtney Heirtzler; American Leadership Academy; Spanish Fork, Utah
D****uo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Lincoln Stone, Zachary Hanks, and Bowen Davis; Liahona Senior Preparatory Academy; Pleasant Grove, Utah
Duo/Trio Scenes Third Place: Ilizabith Summerhalder, Joshua Takuafu, and Katia Dengin; American Leadership Academy; Spanish Fork, Utah
Ray Jones/ Barbara Barrett Award and Monologue First Place: Susannah Castleton; Liahona Senior Preparatory Academy; Pleasant Grove, Utah
Monologue Second Place: Hannah Ford; Pioneer High School for the Performing Arts; American Fork, Utah
Monologue Third Place: Tevica Schneider; DaVinci Senior Preparatory Academy; Pleasant Grove, Utah
Larry Lott Acting Award: Jimmy Henderson; American Leadership Academy; Spanish Fork, Utah
STRATFORD DIVISION
Sweepstakes First Place: Liahona Junior Preparatory Academy; Lehi, Utah
Sweepstakes Second Place: DaVinci Junior Preparatory Academy; Ogden, Utah
Sweepstakes Third Place: Hurricane Middle School; Hurricane, Utah
Ensemble First Place: Liahona Junior Preparatory Academy; Lehi, Utah
Ensemble Second Place: Willowcreek Middle School; Lehi, Utah
Ensemble Third Place: Hurricane Middle School; Hurricane, Utah
Ray Jones/ Barbara Barrett Award and Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Jacob Robinson, Sydney Van Vilet, and Jessica Lewis; DaVinci Junior Preparatory Academy; Ogden, Utah
Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Joelle Ray, Lexi Charistensen, and Nathan Cannon; Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy; Lindon, Utah
Duo/Trio Scenes Third Place: Christopher Harper and Seth DeWolff; Hurricane Middle School; Hurricane, Utah
Ray Jones/ Barbara Barrett Award and Monologue First Place: Anthony Madsen; Liahona Junior Preparatory Academy; Lehi, Utah
Monologue Second Place: Avery Rindlisbacher; Liahona Junior Preparatory Academy; Lehi, Utah
Monologue Third Place: Darci Ramirez; American Fork Junior High School; American Fork, Utah
Larry Lott Acting Award: Allie Killpack; Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy; Lindon, Utah
ESSEX DIVISION
Sweepstakes First Place: First Stage Theatre Academy; Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Sweepstakes Second Place: Utah Center for the Performing Arts; American Fork, Utah
Sweepstakes Third Place: Logan Youth Shakespeare; Logan, Utah
Ensemble First Place: First Stage Theatre Academy; Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Ensemble Second Place: Youth Theatre–University of Utah; Salt Lake City, Utah
Ensemble Third Place: Utah Center of Performing Arts; American Fork, Utah
Ray Jones/ Barbara Barrett Award and Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Taylor Kass and Henry Lynch; First Stage Theatre Academy; Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Jarren Worthen and Daniel Anderson; Logan Youth Shakespeare; Logan, Utah
Duo/Trio Scenes Third Place: Danielle Kinner, Joshua Kinner, Millie Warren, Victoria Hunter, Katrina Young, and Mason Miller; Jean Massieu School of the Deaf; Salt Lake City, Utah
Ray Jones/ Barbara Barrett Award and Monologue First Place: Alison Pogorelc; First Stage Theatre Academy; Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Monologue Second Place: Laura Randall; Utah Center for the Performing Arts; American Fork, Utah
Monologue Third Place: Elisabeth Spencer; Logan Youth Shakespeare; Logan, Utah
Larry Lott Acting Award: Alison Pogorelc; First Stage Theatre Academy; Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dance/Choreography Competition
For the dance portion, students were able to compete in duo/trio or ensemble groups. In the duo/trio competition, two or three dancers presented a three- to six-minute interpretation of a Shakespeare play or sonnet. In the ensemble competition, a group of dancers from a school interpreted a three- to four-minute Shakespeare play or sonnet.
Dance/Choreography Winners
The Dance Scholarships to Southern Utah University were awarded to Huy Q. Tran, Hunter High School, West Valley City, Utah; Morgan Hales, Riverton High School, Riverton, Utah; Samantha Simonich, Riverton High School, Riverton, Utah; Caitlyn Greer, Timpanogos High School, Orem, Utah; and Marco Vaccaro, Pine View High School, St. George, Utah.
BUCKINGHAM DIVISION
Ensemble First Place: Westlake High School; Saratoga Springs, Utah
Ensemble Second Place: Tuacahn High School for the Performing Arts; Ivins, Utah
Ensemble Third Place: Pleasant Grove High School; Pleasant Grove, Utah
Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Michael Spens and Casee Salazar; Westlake High School; Saratoga Springs, Utah
Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Katie Ann Powell, Alex Palmer, and Nick Fife; Hillcrest High School; Midvale, Utah
Duo/Trio Scenes Third Place: Andy Truong, Huy Q. Tran, and Monica Hunt; Hunter High School; West Valley City, Utah
OXFORD DIVISION
Ensemble First Place: Provo High School; Provo, Utah
Ensemble Second Place: Corner Canyon High School; Draper, Utah
Ensemble Third Place: Timpanogos High School; Orem, Utah
Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Taylor Liljenquist, Makenzie Henry, and Monet Frank; Corner Canyon High School; Draper, Utah
Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Autumn Kallunki, Shaunie Jakeman, and Magaly DeAvila; Provo High School; Provo, Utah
Duo/Trio Scenes Third Place: Lucy Gutierrez and Veronica Caballero; Timpanogos High School; Orem, Utah
CAMBRIDGE DIVISION
Ensemble First Place: Pine View High School; St. George, Utah
Ensemble Second Place: Box Elder High School; Box Elder, Utah
Ensemble Third Place: Salt Lake School for the Peforming Arts; Salt Lake City, Utah
Duo/Trio First Place: Marco Perez-Vaccaro and Sarah Hancock; Pine View High School; St. George, Utah
Duo/Trio Second Place: Coltin Snyder, Katherin Dennis, and Emma Hansen; Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts; Salt Lake City, Utah
Duo/Trio Third Place: Brandon Stone, Talise Mosley, and Shawn Barnhurst; Canyon View High School; Cedar City, Utah
WESTMINSTER DIVISION
Ensemble First Place: American International School of Utah; Murray, Utah
Ensemble Second Place: Pioneer High School for the Performing Arts; American Fork, Utah
Ensemble Third Place: Western Christian High School; Upland, California
Duo/Trio First Place: KJ Mills and Tag Brockbank; Pioneer High School for the Performing Arts; American Fork, Utah
Duo/Trio Second Place: Brooklynne Ratliff and Sam Bixby; Western Christian High School; Upland, California
Duo/Trio Third Place: Abbie Simpson and Bianca Cherenfant; American International School of Utah; Murray, Utah
STRATFORD DIVISION
Ensemble First Place: Desert Hills Middle School; St. George, Utah
Ensemble Second Place: Timberline Middle School; Alpine, Utah
Ensemble Third Place: Vista Heights Middle School; Saratoga Springs, Utah
Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Jacob Robinson, Sydney Van Vilet, and Jessica Lewis; DaVinci Junior Preparatory Academy; Ogden, Utah
Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Joelle Ray, Lexi Charistensen, and Nathan Cannon; Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy; Lindon, Utah
Duo/Trio Scenes Third Place: Christopher Harper and Seth DeWolff; Hurricane Middle School; Hurricane, Utah
ESSEX DIVISION
Ensemble First Place: Youth Theatre–University of Utah; Salt Lake City, Utah
Music Competition
The music competition encouraged students to explore and develop a relationship with the music of the Renaissance (music prior to 1650). Students were encouraged to utilize creative combinations of instruments, however no instrumentation was required. For the music competition, students were able to compete in Madrigals and Minstrels. Madrigals (a minimum of five people) presented six- to ten-minutes of Renaissance music. Minstrels (one to four people) presented three- to seven-minutes of Renaissance music.
Music Winners
MADRIGAL COMPETITION
First Place: American International School of Utah; Murray, Utah
MINSTREL COMPETITION
First Place: Skyline High School; Salt Lake City, Utah
Technical Theatre Competition
The final competition was in the technical theatre area for students who work behind the scenes creating sound, lighting, props, scenery, and costumes. In the portfolio area, students were given the chance to have their technical and/or design portfolios evaluated by professionals in technical theatre. The best portfolio per division was honored, and the best overall portfolio was awarded a $1,000 scholarship to SUU. In addition, technical theatre students were able to compete in Tech Olympics, with a $50 gift certificate from General Theatrical Supply awarded to overall team winners in each division, based on timing, execution, and accuracy.
Tech Olympics Winners
FASTEST OVERALL TMES
Rigging First Place: Jordan Dube; Shadow Ridge High School; Las Vegas, Nevada
Props First Place: Hannah Warden; Riverton High School; Riverton, Utah
Lighting First Place: Hunter Nance; Clearfield High School; Clearfield, Utah
Audio First Place: Nick Henderson; Skyline High School; Salt Lake City, Utah
Costumes First Place: Lindsey Powell; Granger High School; West Valley City, Utah
Set Construction First Place: Shay Draney; Granger High School; West Valley City, Utah
Stage Management First Place: Staci Allen; Granger High School; West Valley City, Utah
Hair and Makeup First Place: Briana Lefler; Granger High School; West Valley City, Utah
BUCKINGHAM DIVISION
Rigging First Place: Jordan Dube; Shadow Ridge High School, Las Vegas, Nevada
Props First Place: Hannah Warden; Riverton High School; Riverton, Utah
Lighting First Place: Daryll McKane; Riverton High School; Riverton, Utah
Audio First Place: Jonathan Hodson; Pleasant Grove High School; Pleasant Grove High School
Costumes First Place: Lindsey Powell; Granger High School; West Valley City, Utah
Set Construction First Place: Shay Draney; Granger High School; West Valley City, Utah
Stage Management First Place: Staci Allen; Granger High School; West Valley City, Utah
Hair and Makeup First Place: Briana Lefler; Granger High School; West Valley City, Utah
OXFORD DIVISION
Rigging First Place: Willian Jenkinson; Timpanogos High School; Orem, Utah
Props First Place: William Jenkinson; Timpanogos High School; Orem, Utah
Lighting First Place: Hunter Nance; Clearfield High School; Clearfield, Utah
Audio First Place: Hunter Nance; Clearfield High School; Clearfield, Utah
Costumes First Place: Maile Fischer; Timpanogos High School; Orem, Utah
Set Construction First Place: Hunter Nance; Clearfield High School; Clearfield, Utah
Stage Management First Place: Jesus Alonso; Provo High School; Provo, Utah
Hair and Makeup First Place: Maile Fischer; Timpanogos High School; Orem, Utah
WESTMINSTER DIVISION
Rigging First Place: Rhys Kaiser; American Leadership Academy; Spanish Fork, Utah
Props First Place: Weston Martinez; Western Christian High School; Upton, California
Lighting First Place: Nikko Guardado; White Pine High School; Ely, Nevada
Audio First Place: Rhys Kaiser; American Leadership Academy; Spanish Fork, Utah
Costumes First Place: Ilizibith Summerhalder; American Leadership Academy; Spanish Fork, Utah
Set Construction First Place: Caleb Chapman; American Leadership Academy; Spanish Fork, Utah
Stage Management First Place: Taylor Knight; American Leadership Academy; Spanish Fork, Utah
Hair and Makeup First Place: Sabrina Hudson; American Leadership Academy; Spanish Fork, Utah
CAMBRIDGE DIVISION
Rigging First Place: Elijah Cameron; Cedar High School; Cedar City, Utah
Props First Place: Madison Walker; Hurricane High School; Hurricane, Utah
Lighting First Place: Benjamin Conn; Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts; Salt Lake City, Utah
Audio First Place: Nick Henderson; Skyline High School; Salt Lake City, Utah
Costumes First Place: Bryce Barnhill; Cedar High School; Cedar City, Utah
Set Construction First Place: Sterling Raveling; Saguaro High School; Scottsdale, Arizona
Stage Management First Place: Emily McDonald; Spanish Fork High School; Spanish Fork, Utah
Hair and Makeup First Place: Aubrie McConnell; Spanish Fork High School; Spanish Fork, Utah
STRATFORD DIVISION
Rigging First Place: Sarah Estes; Salem Junior High School; Salem, Utah
Props First Place: Kenzi Murray; Salem Junior High School;Salem, Utah
Lighting First Place: Ethan Moser; Salem Junior High School; Salem, Utah
Audio First Place: Dallin Concoby; Salem Junior High School; Salem, Utah
Costumes First Place: Rachel Concoby; Salem Junior High School; Salem, Utah
Set Construction First Place: Wyatt Wilcock; Salem Junior High School; Salem, Utah
Stage Management First Place: Macy Nielson; Salem Junior High School; Salem, Utah
Hair and Makeup First Place: Ariel Hall; Salem Junior High School; Salem, Utah
Portfolio Winners
**Overall Winner:**Katelyn Isaacson; Venture High School; Marriott-Slaterville, Utah
**Buckingham Division First Place:**Alexandria Pearrow; American Fork High School; American Fork, Utah
Oxford Division First Place: Drew Kindig; Corner Canyon High School; Draper, Utah
Westminster Division First Place: Katelyn Isaacson; Venture High School; Marriott-Slaterville, Utah
Cambridge Division First Place: Emily McDonald; Spanish Fork High School; Spanish Fork, Utah
Overall Winners
The Golden Screw Gun First Place Award: American Leadership Academy; Spanish Fork, Utah
The Silver Spotlight Second Place Award: Granger High School; West Valley City, Utah
The Bronze Boot Third Place Award: Riverton High School; Riverton, Utah
Play On Podcast | Ep. 51: Robynn Rodriguez, The Two Gentlemen of Verona
Enjoy another great episode with the brilliant Robynn Rodriguez, director of this season’s, The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Learn more about Robynn’s introduction into the world of theatre, her experience as both an actress and a director and her journey here at the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Robynn sets this romantic comedy in the 1920s, during the “era of change” where these young lovers make choices in their adolescence and have to face the consequences.
Company Spotlight: Nancy Melich and Michael Scott Harris
Nancy Melich, Literary Seminar
Have you ever worked at the Festival before?
This is my 12th season as Literary Seminar Director
Where’s your home base?
Salt Lake City, Utah
What’s your education/training background?
University of Utah, B.S. Journalism,
Reporter/theater critic, The Salt Lake Tribune
National Critics Institute, O’Neill TheatreCentre, Connecticut
What brought you to your field and what keeps you doing your craft?
As a features reporter for The Salt Lake Tribune, following graduation from the U of U, I had wanted to be an environmental reporter but no such position existed at that time so I was offered the features job and gladly accepted it. Also the love and respect for the art form of theater.
How will you spend your time off while here?
What time off? The festival is all encompassing, and happily so during the four months I am there.
I will try to find time to hike the red rocks, dine with friends, and always, always studying Shakespeare’s plays and other theater related works.
What does the Festival Experience mean to you?
A joyful challenge.
If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?
The ability to bring everyonein the world, especially children, to The Utah Shakespeare Festival. To see the plays and then have them come to the morning seminars and express their opinions.
If you had a time machine, where would you like to visit?
London to see Will Shakespeare, the actor, on stage and then take him to a pub and talk until the wee hours of the morning. Also, a day or two with Elizabeth I would be an invitation I would not refuse.
Michael Scott Harris, Actor
Have you ever worked at the Festival before?
First time at the Festival.
Where’s your home base?
I’m currently based out of L.A.
What’s your education/training background?
Bachelor of Music(Music Education)-University of Arizona
Master of Music(Voice)-University of Nevada, Las Vegas
What brought you to your field and what keeps you doing your craft?
I’ve always loved music and it has been a part of my life since I was very young. I remember in junior high singing in the school musical and saying to myself, “this is what I want to do with my life”. I love story telling. I love how in telling a story well we, as artists, reveal the light of goodness that is in all of us. That we are not alone. That you, me, him, and her are all connected by those emotions and shared experiences. I believe this to be a noble calling and I’m honored and humbled to be allowed any opportunity to play any part in crafting a story.
How will you spend your time off while here?
I rode my motorcycle from L.A. and I’m very excited to explore this glorious county on my Triumph motorcycle. Of course, the hiking as well. So much to see!
What does the Festival Experience mean to you?
This is my first “Festival Experience”. I’ll have to let you know…
If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?
We were discussing this during our table work for Amadeus and I said I would like my power to be that of Mozart’s (stick with me here). He could look at a piece of music, a full symphonic score, and “hear” what is sounded like in his head. He could hear a piece of music and “see” it written out in his head. There are stories of him hearing an entire choral symphonic work, running home and transcribing the whole thing out perfectly. I don’t know if that is a superhero but man, oh man, that sounds pretty exciting to me!
If you had a time machine, where would you like to visit?
I don’t know if I have a specific time that I would visit. But I would love to go back and see some of the performances of the great artists. Caruso at the old Met, Farinelli, Mozart premiering Le Nozze di Figaro in Vienna. So many…
Spectacle, Humor, and Romance Continue This Fall at the Festival
Cedar City, UT — The world’s most famous vampire, a cigar-smoking man in a dress, and one of theatre’s most loveable mutts can all be found this fall at the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Five of the Festival’s six summer shows will be closing the first week of September; but Charley’s Aunt will continue its summer run, along with two additional offerings, Dracula and The Two Gentlemen of Verona, through October 31.
Jamie Ann Romero (left) as Lucy and Tyler Pierce as Dracula
“The fall season is all about entertainment,” said David Ivers, co-artistic director. “The three plays are full of spectacle, humor, and romance—in addition to gothic horror just in time for Halloween.”
For instance, Dracula, which plays September 25 to October 31 (Halloween), will include spectacle and new technology in the Randall L. Jones Theatre. “Theatrical wizardry will be on display,” said Brian Vaughn, co-artistic director. “We will have projections, tricks, slight of hand, and magic.”
Dracula is, of course, the world’s most famous story of the undead. Originally a novel by Bram Stoker, it has been re-imagined for movies, the stage, and television (most recently Twilight and True Blood). The stage version the Festival is producing was written by Steven Dietz, the same playwright who penned Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure, which was so popular last year at the Festival.
“We’ve been wanting to produce Dracula for a long time,” said Vaughn. “It is packed with theatricality, seduction, mystery, and blood.”
Brendan Marshall Rashid (left) as Jack Chesney, Michael Doherty as Lord Fancourt Babberley, and Tasso Feldman as Charley Wykeham
Dracula is directed by Jesse Berger, a Southern Utah University alumnus and now founding artistic director of Red Bull Theater in New York City and a sought-after director across the country. The mysterious Count Dracula will be played by Tyler Pierce who is currently stunning Festival audiences as Edgar in King Lear.
While Dracula may be full of foreboding and dark seduction, Charley’s Aunt is a light, hilarious romantic comedy. The farce, written by Brandon Thomas and directed by David Ivers, has been a hit since it opened in June and will continue to entertain through October 31. Carol Cling, reviewing for the Las Vegas Review-Journal called the Festival production “a welcome comedic romp” and “a most beguiling trip.” Barbara M. Bannon of the Salt Lake Tribune added “fresh,” “funny,” and “inspiring.”
Charley’s Aunt is a farcical masquerade spotlighting two college chums who go to great lengths to woo a pair of charming young ladies, including persuading their wacky friend to pose as their matronly chaperone.
Chris Mixon as Launce and Jake as Crab
“It is a romantic comedy with a twist,” said Ivers. “It is a story of young lovers trying to control their surroundings and circumstances, when everything seems to be working hilariously against them.”
Shakespeare fills out the final spot in the fall lineup with a dizzying romantic adventure, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, playing September 24 to October 30. “The play is the story of two adolescent youths and the adolescent girls who love them,” said director Robynn Rodriguez in her notes to her artistic team. “The unattractive behavior, the moodiness, the lack of impulse control, and the volatility of emotions . . . are typical of people in the throes of adolescent purgatory.”
Rodriguez has chosen to set the play in Italy just after the end of World War I. “The world is evolving in profound ways,” she said. “What a thrilling time it is to be young, bright, privileged, and ambitious. Our production takes place during this period of great change, as four young people take the first stumbling steps toward becoming gentlemen—and gentlewomen.”
“People are going to love it,” said Ivers. “It is at heart a comedy, but also explores questions all teenagers face as they go through the first throes of love and the beginnings of growing up.”
And, of course, there is the dog: Crab, the rarely obedient but always hilarious companion to Launce who is being played this year by Chris Mixon, who has appeared at the Festival many times in the past in such diverse plays as The Foreigner and ‘Art’.
“The fall season is a great time to be at the Festival,” concluded Vaughn. “The plays are more intimate, the mountains around us are more beautiful, and the evenings are fantastically cool and inviting. We hope you’ll join us for these three outstanding plays.”
Tickets are now on sale for the three fall plays, as well as for the plays currently being performed Monday through Saturday: The Taming of the Shrew, Henry IV Part Two, King Lear, South Pacific, Charley’s Aunt, and Amadeus. For more information and tickets visit www.bard.org or call 1-800-PLAYTIX.
A Romantic Adventure
Utah Shakespeare Festival Blog – The Two Gentleman of Verona
John Maltese (Valentine) and Jamie Ann Romero (Silvia)
The Festival’s Fall Season kicks off with The Two Gentleman of Verona. Chock-full of confused men and cunning maidens, this dizzying romantic adventure will delight anyone who has ever been in love (or would like to be). New company members arrived in late August and rehearsals are underway.
John Maltese, who plays Valentine (one of the two gentlemen) and Jamie Ann Romero, who plays Silvia (his love interest) are both new to the Festival. We sat under the trees during a crisp autumn morning and talked about their thoughts on the play and the Festival.
Tell us about the play and this production:
John: It’s set in 1920 – modern era. It’s really fun – we get permission to make it accessible. I think the themes in the play are already accessible. You have themes of friendship and love. You have two guys who are falling in love with women for the first time and dealing with all of the confusing aspects and complications of that. These young people are leaving home for the first time. They’re dealing with disappointment – actually deep, trust-breaking disappointment. And they’re growing up.
Jamie: These four lovers are newly navigating this thing called love and trying to figure out how to work their way through it: how to woo, how to fall in love and how to stay in love. Silvia is only interested in one guy. One of the wonderful things about her is that she’s fiercely loyal. Not just with Valentine but also with her gender. Once Proteus starts to woo her, she will have none of it because she wants to protect this woman Julia whom she’s never met. I think that is wonderful
John: The neat thing about the show is we get to see Valentine take a pretty big journey. He’s about to leave his home town in Verona, have adventures, learn about courtly life and meet new people The very next time you see him he’s madly in love. He’s a character of extremes. There are moments when he’s extremely vulnerable and maybe lacks confidence and other times when he’s very bold. Once he makes up his mind, he’s committed. But life happens to him.
How would you answer someone who says “I’ve seen this play before – no need to go again”?
John: I think having Robynn Rodriguez as a director is a perfectly good reason. One thing she’s focused on in rehearsal is this is not going to be a shallow, throw away comedy. There’s going to be a lot of depth and truth and humanity in it. I think it’s going to be relatable, going to have a lot of peaks and valleys. It’s going to be a big journey that you see. She’s really pressed us to have human moments and to play real people. It’s going to be three dimensional.
What are your thoughts about being here for the first time?
Jamie: I love it! I’ve always wanted to work here and now I am!
John: I’m really happy to be here because at so many of the other theatres where I work, the actors have been at the Festival. Everyone around the country knows Brian and David. It’s great to be here and be in the spaces and work with the people you’ve heard so much about.
You can learn more about the play and this production at http://www.bard.org/plays/2015/the-two-gentlemen-of-verona. The Two Gentlemen of Verona opens in preview on September 24 and runs through October 30. You can purchase tickets online at www.bard.org or by calling 800-PLAYTIX.
#2gents #utahshake