OREM — After nearly five years of reviewing live theatre in Utah, UTBA is partnering with Utah Valley University to celebrate the 1000th UTBA review with two exciting events this month.
Blood Wedding event
After the opening performance of UVU’s Blood Wedding on September 25, UTBA will hold a reception to thank readers for their support of the web site. The reception will include food, mingling, and ticket giveaways.
Free reception after the September 25 performance. Show runs September 25 to October 11.
Blood Wedding is the classic Spanish tragedy written by Federico García Lorca. The play tells the story of a rural family torn apart by passion and revenge. The UVU production is directed by Lisa Hall Hagen, who has received acclaimed from UTBA reviewers for her productions of The Taming of the Shrew and Eurydice. The play starts at 7:30 PM and plays at the Noorda Regional Theatre on the campus of Utah Valley University. Tickets are available here. You can RSVP on Facebook.
People who attend the opening performance of Blood Wedding will be able to enter drawings for two free tickets to plays produced by the following Utah theatre companies:
- The Romeo and Juliet Project at Utah Valley University (November 6-22)
- Titus Andronicus, produced by Grassroots Shakespeare Company (October 17-November 1)
- Much Ado About Zombies at the Covey Center for the Arts (October 24-November 1)
- [title of show] produced by Utah Repertory Theater Company (November 7-22)
- Any Brigham Young University fall production: The Fisherman and His Wife (September 26-October 11), See How They Run (November 7-22), or Our Town (November 21-December 11)
- Any production at the Hale Center Theater Orem (through September 2015)
- Any production at the SCERA Center for the Arts (through April 2015)
Update: Audience members who buy their ticket in person at the Noorda Theatre box office can get a $2 discount off the full ticket price (normally $12) by saying that they are a UTBA reader.
Panel on theatre criticism
On Monday, September 22 at 2 PM in the Noorda Regional Theatre, John Newman of the Utah Valley University theatre department will be moderating a panel on theatre criticism in Utah. Panel participants are:
- Karen Azenberg, artistic director of Pioneer Theatre Company
- Jerry Rapier, artistic director of Plan-B Theatre Company
- Barbara Bannon, theatre critic for the Salt Lake Tribune and member of the American Theatre Critics Association
- Russell Warne, managing editor for UTBA and member of the American Theatre Critics Association
- Lisa Hall Hagen, UVU theatre faculty member and director of Blood Wedding.
Attendees at the panel will hear fascinating insights about the Utah theatre scene, theatre criticism in the Beehive State (and beyond), and an exciting announcement from Jerry Rapier about a new initiative sponsored by Plan-B Theater Company. Admission to the panel is free and does not require a ticket. You can RSVP on Facebook.
Blood Wedding publicity photo.
