A little while back I wrote a post that expressed the desire to get to know the Utah audience a bit better. A call was sent out, asking you to let us know a little bit about you, what shows you’ve been seeing, and what changes you would like to see in the Utah theatre scene.
The audience for Grassroots Shakespeare Company’s audience for Comedy of Errors on August 31, 2012.
We didn’t get as many responses as we had hoped. Whether because people didn’t want to share information or weren’t interested, I’m not really sure. However, I did want to take the opportunity to spotlight those audience members who did respond. I personally found the feedback interesting. And while I might not have gotten an overall picture of the whole community, the snapshot still reveals some intriguing info.
If you’re interested in sending in your own responses, its not too late. Go here and fill out the form. Let’s see what else we can learn about our Utah audience.
So let me introduce you to a few of our audience members:
Name: Tenille R.
Age: 26
Location: West Jordan
Average shows per year: We get to see about a show every other year. We don’t get to go that often because between buying the tix and buying a babysitter for our 1 year old it’s a big job and a bigger expense than our dates usually are. I LOVE when we go, though…
With whom do you attend?: My husband
What is one of your favorite shows you’ve seen in Utah?: My fav is currently tied between A Tale of Two Cities at the Hale Center Theatre (moving, thought provoking, beautiful) and an amazing little production at BYU called The Faithful Friend that involved crazy face masks and the audience getting full participation with the actors and actresses. I think my side is still sore from laughing so hard and enjoying myself so much!
What are some of your favorite things about Utah theatre?: I don’t know much about theatre in/outside of Utah, so I don’t know what my favorite things/least favorite things are. But I do love feeling like I get to participate in the production. A nice theatre in the round like Hale Center does that beautifully. Or crazy actors pulling me in.
What would you like to see changed?: We would probably go to more theatre if it were less expensive, but I do understand the cost that goes into a production and the fact that the theatre around here is actually really fairly priced. It’s just a little tricky on a tight budget. Meaning I should make it more of a priority.
Name: Dan R.
Age: 31
Location: Provo
Average shows per year: 2-3 shows/year
With whom do you attend?: Date/friend
What is one of your favorite shows you’ve seen in Utah?: Utah Shakespeare in the Park’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
What are some of your favorite things about Utah theatre?: How affordable attending the theater is
What would you like to see changed?: Not sure what I’d change
Name: Joshua L.
Age: 29
Location: Salt Lake City
Average shows per year: 2 to 3 times a week
With whom do you attend?: myself, friends
What is one of your favorite shows you’ve seen in Utah?: Many of the things at Utah Shakes…most recently Titus Andronicus…
What are some of your favorite things about Utah theatre?: So much of it I guess. Seems to be more enthusiasm here than in other places.
What would you like to see changed?: Too much emphasis on musical theatre. Not enough critical thinking from audiences it seems. Not enough appreciation for the exploration of other ideas and concepts besides the accepted cultural norms.
Name: Cindy M.
Average shows per year: 2 to 3 times a month
With whom do you attend?: Husband and son
What is one of your favorite shows you’ve seen in Utah?: Broadway touring – Wicked, Community theater – The Empress Theater’s Annie Get Your Gun or Spitfire Grill.
What are some of your favorite things about Utah theatre?: THE VARIETY. You can’t go a mile (OK slight exaggeration but only slight) without hitting some school or community theater! You can see new stuff or old favorites without having to travel far. And most of it is quite affordable.
What would you like to see changed?: I’m still too new to the local theater scene to really say for sure.
Name: Zachary A.
Age: 26
Location: Woods Cross
Average shows per year: Once a month
With whom do you attend?: My wife
What is one of your favorite shows you’ve seen in Utah?: Next to Normal at Pioneer Theater Company
What are some of your favorite things about Utah theatre?: The sense of community building a show
What would you like to see changed?: I’d like to see more diversity in the season planning. We need more new shows being produced. Also we need to be willing to stray from the just doing the Rodgers and Hammerstein (and that time in Musical theater) into new choices.
Name: Scott
Age: 34
Location: Salt Lake Area
Average shows per year: Once a month
With whom do you attend?: myself or friends
What is one of your favorite shows you’ve seen in Utah?: Jekyll & Hyde at the Hale Center Theater in Orem. Light in the Piazza at Pioneer Theater Company.
What are some of your favorite things about Utah theatre?: Lots of it. Many opportunities
What would you like to see changed?: More community support and funding for the arts
Name: Rhonda
Age: 30
Location: Utah Valley/Orem
Average shows per year: Once a month
With whom do you attend?: Self, friends, spouse
What is one of your favorite shows you’ve seen in Utah?: Little Shop of Horrors @ Scera Theater
What are some of your favorite things about Utah theatre?: The camraderie between the cast – it seems like there is a lot less backbiting here.
What would you like to see changed?: Not having the same show done within weeks by multiple places – more variety.
What do you think of these responses? Do you agree with any of these people’s opinions about Shakespeare, musicals, or the variety of productions in this state? Do you have opinions that these respondents didn’t mention?
