December is full of annual traditions, and at UTBA our favorite is our yearly blog post about the excellence we saw on the Utah stage during the year. In 2014 UTBA reviewed 200 productions, which means we had plenty of great shows to choose from. Here are the plays that at the end of the year we remember most fondly.
Excellent Professional (Equity) Productions
Quinn Mattfeld (left) as Robert, Sara J. Griffin as Gloria, and Maryann Towne as Berthe in the Utah Shakespeare Festival’s 2014 production of Boeing Boeing. (Photo by Karl Hugh. Copyright Utah Shakespeare Festival 2014.)
- There were so many excellent professional productions in Utah this year, it’s hard to make just a short list. My favorites include Salt Lake Acting Company’s 4,000 miles, the national tour of Bring It On, Into the Woods and Sense and Sensibility at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, and Pioneer Theatre Company’s productions of A Few Good Men and One Man, Two Guvnors. —Johnny Hebda, UTBA reviewer
- The Utah Shakespeare Festival’s production of Boeing Boeing was a delightfully rollicking farce. Within ten minutes the laughs start and are held for the remainder of the flight. It also spared no details in background music, lighting, or set and prop design. I loved the actors in the show, but it’s possible I’ll always remember how a certain spherical chair was so integral to the blocking and comedy of the show. —Zach Archuleta, UTBA reviewer
Chris Brown as Abby Brewster and Melany Wilkins as Martha Brewster in Arsenic and Old Lace at Hale Centre Theatre in West Valley.
Excellent Semi-Professional Productions
- Arsenic and Old Lace at Hale Centre Theatre in West Valley was a laugh riot! A well-rounded comedic cast provided non stop laughs and giggles to my entire family. I simply adore this show and am glad it’s produced frequently in Utah, as it is such a theatre gem. —Peter Harrison, UTBA guest blogger
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The Hale Center Theatre in West Valley continues to stand out in this category—not just because of the high production quality, but because they now pair that with the desire to create shows that have rarely have a Utah production. This year Mary Poppins took flight at the Hale. Having seen this on Broadway and the touring show, it is amazing how well this theatre can replicate that quality of set, choreography, singing, and acting. Catch Me If You Can likewise brought a musical from Broadway to Salt Lake County for the first time. It is great to have so many people be able to enjoy these new shows for such little comparative cost and with the high expectations we now expect at the West Valley Hale. —Zach Archuleta, UTBA reviewer
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Malia Nixon as Little Girl and Erica Nicole Walter as Ti Moune in Once on This Island at the Grand Theatre.
The best show I saw for the first few months of 2014 was Once on This Island at the Grand Theatre. This colorful, fun show was the perfect antidote to the dreariness of prolonged Utah late winter. The colors, the superb lighting (by Jeff Sturgis), and the island-inspired score were exactly what I needed. My other favorite semi-professional production was Beau Jest at the Hale Center Theater Orem. The intimate setting, the lovable characters (especially Jenny Latimer‘s Sarah and Blake Barlow‘s Bob), and the genuine sense of culture and family that director Laurie Harrop-Purser infused into the show made it one of the most enjoyable productions I saw this year. —Russell Warne, UTBA managing editor
Utah Valley University’s Blood Wedding.
Excellent College/University Productions
- I love to see theatre that pushes its limits and causes a strong reaction in its viewer. Two university productions that successfully accomplished this in 2014 were the University of Utah’s In the Next Room, or The Vibrator Play, and Utah Valley University’s Blood Wedding. Much like the title implies, In the Next Room… is meant for mature audiences, something perhaps rarely produced in Utah’s conservative communities. Because of the high quality seen in In The Next Room… and other productions at the University of Utah, the department seems to be successful in gaining substantial audiences, proving that there can and should be more variety in Utah theatre. The University of Utah’s Theatre Department is helping achieve this important step. Utah Valley University’s Blood Wedding was most intriguing due to the beautiful and inventive direction by Lisa Hall Hagan. The mixture of genres and styles within the piece created layers of emotion and depth, and the subtle elements of theatre of cruelty worked to create a visceral experience within the viewer. Walking through a small hallway with dead roses hanging from the ceiling before entering into the dirt filled room (stage) is one such example. Also, because of the dramaturg’s work, my senses were effectively alert and aroused before the production even started, making my connection with the piece that much stronger as it developed. The play employed many surprising and unique elements, putting it into a league of its own. —Tara Nicole Haas, UTBA guest blogger
Left to right: Seth Mergist as Adam, Brooklyn Poulter as Cheryl, Kathryn Little as Miss Viola Swamp, and Mikayla Bounous as Allison in SCERA’s Miss Nelson Is Missing!. Photo by Mark A. Philbrick.
Excellent Amateur Productions
- Spring Awakening was a raw and honest show chock full of incredible local talent left me breathless from the first song. Every character had a depth and sincerity so often lost in a community production. I applaud Midvale Main Street Theatre for embracing such diverse theatre productions and for producing these shows that Utah theatre goers aren’t generally exposed to. —Peter Harrison, UTBA guest blogger
- I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Miss Nelson Is Missing! at the SCERA. The sets, costumes, and lights all came together to create a fun piece of art on the stage. The fact that it also held my four-month-old’s attention is proof of the designers’ and actors’ ability to connect with people of all ages. Another great amateur show this year was Herriman Arts Council’s Shrek. I had never seen a Herriman show before, and they surprised me with their technical feats and live orchestra. It’s great to see volunteers coming together to produce good art. —Katie Warne, UTBA guest blogger
Taylor Smith as Jamie and Sara Kae Childs as Cathy in Salt Lake Shakespeare’s The Last Five Years. Photo by Spencer Sandstrom.
Excellent Productions of Musicals
- Salt Lake Shakespeare’s The Last Five Years at the Babock Theatre on the University of Utah campus, still remains one of my most favorite productions from 2014. The small cast took on the incredibly beautiful, but often very challenging, score by Jason Robert Brown with seeming ease and strength. Solid vocals and a well designed set design made for incredible production I still relish in the memory of seeing. —Peter Harrison, UTBA guest blogger
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Pickleville Playhouse’s Beauty and the Beast.
Pickleville Playhouse is now a perennial favorite of mine. Their standout this year was Beauty and the Beast, which I consider one of the best a smaller theater could ever hope to put on. The direction truly set this one apart from several that I have seen in the past. The creative staff acknowledged their limitations and then capitalized on them as well, making for a truly magical experience. —Zach Archuleta, UTBA reviewer
Claire Wilson as Lavinia, Eric Geels as Demetrius, and AJ Taysom as Chiron in Grassroots Shakespeare Company’s Titus Andronicus.
Excellent Productions of Shakespeare
- Grassroots Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus was among the best plays I saw this year. I’m consistently stunned by their actors’ aptitude for milking all the intensity out of Shakespeare’s dialogue without missing a single opportunity for comedy. This play was absolutely terrifying, but I laughed just intermittently enough so as not to wet my pants. —Julia Shumway, UTBA reviewer
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Jonathan Smoots (left) as Lucio and Zack Powell as Claudio in the Utah Shakespeare Festival’s 2014 production of Measure for Measure. (Photo by Karl Hugh. Copyright Utah Shakespeare Festival 2014.)
Having seen a dozen Shakespeare productions, I can attest to the large number of enjoyable Shakespeare productions in the state this year. Utah Valley University’s Taming of the Shrew was a constant delight, and I loved the grittiness of the Echo Theatre’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Grassroots Shakespeare Company’s Titus Andronicus. But the best production in 2014 was for Measure for Measure at the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Any doubts or worries I had about this “problem play” evaporated within half an hour, mostly due to Laura Gordon‘s superb directing. This production gave me new insights into the play and showed me its treasured place in the Shakespeare canon. —Russell Warne, UTBA managing editor
Brittany Stahly as Emily Webb in Brigham Young University’s Our Town.
Excellent Directing and Choreography
- Stephanie Breinholt‘s imaginative concept for Our Town at Brigham Young University brought a new feel to Thornton Wilder’s old play. Her decision to blend technology and live performance without sacrificing the emotion and message of the story resulted in a very memorable show. —Katie Warne, UTBA guest blogger
- This year’s Saturday’s Voyeur took advantage of some timely events in Utah’s political and religious culture, adapting the play throughout the summer as events continued to unravel. With frequent updates to the script, Cynthia Fleming directed and choreographed a fast-paced show that was tightly executed enough that each punch line hit home even as the performers hit the high notes and stepped in time. —Julia Shumway, UTBA reviewer
Amy Ware as Polyxena and Sandy Shotwell as Hecuba in Westminster College’s Hecuba.
Excellent Acting Performances
- Easily my favorite newcomer this year was Addison Radle. He has a gift for finding the humor in a script and going as far as it takes to drive a joke home. I am thrilled every time I get to see him on stage, such as in Galileo and As You Like It. Similarly, Jessica Myer‘s performances always feel so genuine that I find myself sympathizing with her characters, even when I know I’m supposed to dislike them. She has a gift for finding the human qualities in even the least likely characters. —Julia Shumway, UTBA reviewer
- Without question, the single best acting performance I saw on the Utah stage this year was Sandy Shotwell as Hecuba at Westminster College. Her ability to show so many variations of human emotion and the desperate aftermath of war made the entire production of Hecuba riveting. Earlier in the year Westminster College also produced The Three Sisters. Elizabeth John (as Olga), Amy Ware (as Irina), and Hannah Minshew (as Masha) were masters of their characters’ complex psychology. Their performances individually were fabulous, but together they could have been comfortable on a professional company’s stage. The fact that the supporting cast of The Three Sisters was able to meet the standard set by the John, Ware, and Minshew is a credit to Westminster College. —Russell Warne, UTBA managing editor
Karli Hall as Elizabeth Bennett and Ted Bushman as Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride and Prejudice at Brigham Young University.
Excellent New Plays
- Melissa Leilani Larson‘s adaptation of Pride and Prejudice performed at BYU is one that I hope may see an extended life in Utah and the rest of the country. This show I believe captured the essence of Jane Austen and touts a strong script ideal for both professional and community theaters. Yes, there as many beloved film versions and spoofs already, but this well paced script should help any audience be transported in the visceral way only theatre can. —Zach Archuleta, UTBA reviewer
- Who thought two economists standing on a chapel roof could be anything more than scholarly joke? Eric Samuelsen. The 2013-14 “Season of Eric” at Plan-B concluded earlier this year. Audiences were treated to a breadth of drama from this local playright: all world premieres, all timely pieces. Samuelsen’s Clearing Bombs at Plan-B Theatre brought economics to the theatre, and I think it surprised a lot of us how much we enjoyed it. Though maybe we shouldn’t have been all that surprised. —Dave Mortensen, UTBA founding editor
Photo from the national touring production of War Horse.
Excellent Technical Design
- The touring production of War Horse was one of the most memorable and spectacular theatrical events I have ever seen. It is a truly unique experience that I could talk for ages about. The biggest difficulty will be trying to see it again. The puppet horses were so lifelike and created fascinating characters. Here’s hoping they figure out a way for it to happen without a professional tour or on Broadway. —Zach Archuleta, UTBA reviewer
- Davey Morrison Dillard directed a beautiful production of Bertolt Brecht‘s Galileo in a small stone-walled room attached to the Provo Castle Amphitheater. A raised, circular stage doubled as a chalk board where Galileo (played by Barrett Ogden) fervently drew astronomical figures. A chorus of cast members provided exposition as well as interludes via song, choreography, and audience interaction. Morrison made subtle changes in lighting to set the tone for each scene. And the neutral black shirts and pants the actors wore beneath changing costume pieces helped the production to feel like more of an exploration of the conflict between scientific discovery and dogma than simply a historical exposition. —Julia Shumway, UTBA reviewer
Other Excellence in Utah Theatre in 2014
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The Producers at the Ziegfeld Theater.
I love Utah’s thriving “independent theater movement.” These smaller companies bring edgy, new, and rarely seen work to intimate venues in the state. I’m thankful for the work of Wasatch Theatre Company, the Hive Theatre Company, Silver Summit Theatre Company, the Ziegfeld Theatre, and Good Company Theatre and all they do to diversify the theatre offerings on the Utah stage. —Johnny Hebda, UTBA reviewer
- This movement the past couple years in Utah for smaller theatre companies to jointly produce a show excites me. Utah Repertory Theater and Silver Summit Theatre Company are one example of that with their production of August: Osage County. I expected that premiere to have been handled by one of the equity houses, but this joint effort resulted in what has been heralded as one of the strongest shows of the season. —Dave Mortensen, UTBA founding editor
