ST. GEORGE — It’s a project that has been years — even decades — in the making, and after turning a ceremonial shovel full of dirt during the groundbreaking ceremony on July 18, the construction of the new St. George Musical Theater complex is officially underway.
With Westland Construction equipment serving as a backdrop, the early morning sun became the stage lights for the outdoor space at the groundbreaking event, located on the spot that will eventually be home to a beautiful 375-seat indoor theater-in-the-round, complete with a lobby, dressings rooms, rehearsal space and more.
“This has been a dream for a long time, and we are thrilled to finally be making it a reality,” said Bruce Bennett, president of St. George Musical Theater.
Civic leaders and members of the St. George Musical Theater board took turns with the ceremonial shovels at the groundbreaking event on July 18. | Photo Credit: Lisa Larson.
During the groundbreaking event, Joe Smith, principal architect with Method Studio, expressed the desire to create a space that is not just a building, but rather something that is a “living, breathing part of our community experience.”
“This building is meant to be a beacon of artistic expression,” Smith said.
Several other speakers commented on the very real need for the arts in a community, and the myriad benefits that come from having a space to share all the emotions and creativity that are synonymous with live theater.
“People are natural storytellers,” said Gil Almquist, Washington County Commissioner. “People are going to laugh and cry and feel all the other emotions right here on this very site.”
Referencing the move from St. George Musical Theater’s current space at the St. George Opera House near the top of Main Street to its new location at 900 South Main, Almquist added, “And the theater is still on Main Street, which is where theaters belong.”
There was a clear emphasis on the fact that this is a community effort to bring this facility to fruition; and while there was much to celebrate in being at the beginning of the building process, Bennett reminded those gathered at the groundbreaking that there is still a long way to go.
“We’re about halfway there,” Bennett said.
The project is in partnership with St. George City, Washington County and the state of Utah, but could not be completed without donations from community members.
“The generosity of the local community has been simply astounding,” Bennett said. “We have had donations ranging from an anonymous patron who sold their private airplane and donated the proceeds to this project, along with many of our patrons who are on fixed incomes who have generously donated amounts that I know are a huge sacrifice to them.”
No official completion date was mentioned, but officials anticipate sometime in early 2026 St. George Musical Theater will mount its first production in the new space.
“We just can’t wait to have (ribbon cutting) scissors instead of shovels at the next event,” said Neal Marchant, SGMT board member and treasurer.
