Welcome to the 2024 Seasonal Company
The Utah Shakespeare Festival welcomed this summer’s seasonal company on Monday, May 6, with an opening meeting and a day full of first rehearsals, costume measurements, tours of the facilities and workspaces, and more for those working to put the 2024 season together.
While there have been some seasonal staff in Cedar City who started the build process earlier this year, the majority of the performing company, production artists, stage managers, and company management staff began on or around May 6. Additionally, the lead design teams, including directors, designers (scenic, costume, lighting, sound, and projection), choreographers, dramaturgs, music director, fight/intimacy directors, voice and text coaches, props, and hair and makeup artists began their work last fall, though most didn’t arrive on site until last week.
Executive Managing Director Michael Bahr and Artistic Director John DiAntonio enthusiastically welcomed all those in attendance at the opening meeting in the Randall L. Jones Theatre.
“You are in an extraordinary place,” said DiAntonio. “You’re at 6,000 feet elevation, in a rural mountain town––where it can snow at any instant [referencing the late spring snow storm the day before]––surrounded by national parks, some of the best artists in the nation, and a community that is thrilled to have you. I hope you fill your cup this season.”
That evening the Guild of the Utah Shakespeare Festival hosted a welcome dinner in the courtyard of the beloved retired Adams Memorial Theatre for all those artists spending their summer in Cedar City. Also in attendance were year-round staff, families and friends, and special guests.
Over 300 seasonal staff come to town, many of whom return year after year, calling the Festival their artistic home. They come from all over the country, including New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Denver, among many other places. Later, closer to the shows’ openings, more staff will arrive, including house management/ushers, ticket office staff, and concessions personnel. In addition, volunteers from the local community fill out the ranks of people it requires to put on a successful season.
The casts and crews have approximately six weeks to rehearse and build five shows for the Engelstad and Randall Theatres, as well as three different Greenshows, with preview audiences arriving on June 17. The second wave of performing company members, lead design staff, and production artists arrive mid-June to prepare two more shows, these for the Anes Studio Theatre. These productions welcome audiences on July 12.
“It’s simply incredible the amount of work and artistry that goes into making sure the season is ready to welcome our guests––the audiences,” says Bahr. “Our 63rd season promises to be one celebrating history makers and extraordinary characters. Don’t miss it!”
Tickets are available by calling 800-PLAYTIX or visiting bard.org. The season runs through October 5.
