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Show A Year of Change Utah Musical Theatre " i " 1 nim i.niiiiML.rrt - 8 1 !l Do! I Do! and Music Man were two of the productions put on by the Utah Musical Theatre in its annual summer season. Gypsy was also a part of their repertoire. 1111 "T t ' 1 ft " - " ' ' ' 1-t ' . - - L ' " " S , . , s ,. 44. ?iivW- 1 v-J Tf I ' ' r,.,T.v,,-.,My. ...1 ,f... 1 l -.SJItCifc.Mn. . .... ..V. ... ... , -fe:., - .J Flashes of white waved violently as state and local dignitaries found their seats last summer in what had been called the "world's largest microwave oven" just below the stairs of the Val A. Browning Center. This "cooking" gala affair, sponsored by Mountain Bell, marked the opening of the Utah Musical Theatre (UMT) which began, appropriately enough, with The Music Man on Thursday, July 3, 1986. The evening was sweltering at 90 degrees, so Kim Ward's warm welcome was no pun (he's head of the arts and humanities board). As Master of Ceremonies, Dick Brown said, "It's a real pleasure to be at the roast tonight." "They're blowing their own horns so true!" said Phillip George (Harold Hill, the Music Man), as the dignitaries attempted to play an instrument they'd never tried before. Former actress Marjorie Hilton, who is now on the WSC Theatre Board, was there turning scarlet as she blew her horn. She said the Utah Musical Theatre was continuing its sixth year as a much loved summer event and said that each year there is more and more community interest, as well as nonlocal.She compared the UMT with Southern Utah's renown Shakespearian Festival and predicted that within the near future, the Utah Musical Theatre will be just as big. Among other dignitaries, who seemed as though they were trying to revive the big band era, were Fred Ball of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, former Utah governor Herbert Maw, former congressman Gunn McKay, former TV anchorwoman Julie Lavine Adams, assorted business leaders and others. Much sound was discharged from the group's borrowed instruments; yet since they were "off" simultaneously and melody-wise, George introduced Professor Harold Hill's "think system" as a guideline. He explained that playing an instrument is much like political campaigning. "To be able to play doesn't mean you have to know how you just have to think you do." There was a light roar of chuckles. Students from local high school bands were then instructed to scatter throughout the group of invited guests to give each one a musical crash course. In a short time, the dignitaries were trying to play "76 Trombones" along with the high school bands. From that early July event throughout the last mid-August performance, the Utah Musical Theatre presented three well-known Broadway musicals to audiences in the Ogden area. Many of the actors and actresses were New York professionals; others were local students. The beginning stage production The Music Man was held during the first part of July with the musical fable Gypsy following in the last weeks. Gypsy, one of the best-loved Broadway musical arrangments ever, is a true story of the ultimate stage mother Mama Rose and her two daughters June, who went on to become June Havor; and Louise, better known as show business legend Gypsy Rose Lee. In the UMT production, stage mother Rose (played by Broadway actress Susan McMahon), was stormy and unconquerable. She believed it was only okay to stay home if a person didn't know he was alive. The two sisters (both Broadway actresses Wendy Baila as Louise and Kay Giles as June), were driven by their determined "Mama Rose" to reach stardom; and in their own ways, they eventually did. Just as Gypsy and The Music Man proved favorable in the opinions of many UMT viewers, the musical stage duo Do! I Do! acted out in the same fashion. In 1966, this musical premiered for the first time with Mary Martin and Robert Preston. The show, depicting only two characters in the entire cast, deals with the common joys and irritations of married life. From sweet honeymoon bliss to crunchy rocky road discouragement, the UMT production of Do! I Do! followed half of century with Michael (Phillip George) and Agnes (Wendy Baila), both actors from New York. These two individuals, who played lead roles in all three UMT productions gave the Signpost an exclusive interview one afternoon after their first performance. They spoke with admiration about their impressions of Ogden. "Seth Reines (well-know freelance director based in Chicago and vice president of Arts Management Group Inc.) doesn't go to just any city to direct theater productions," said George, with Baila nodding emphatically. "There's something uniquely special about this area that has attracted him," she added. "Personally, I find the mountains here absolutely breathtaking. I've never seen anything like them before and I just have to keep staring at them!" "It's very peaceful here. Life moves at a much slower pace than it does in New York," said George, a native Texan. "Ogden is a place where one could settle down for a good life." According to George and Baila, it seems Ogden offers a piece of heaven to anyone who lives or visits here. They suspected that perhaps some of the local people unknowingly take it for granted. "The community here favors the Utah Musical Theatre very much, and the support it receives gets better every year," said George. "What Ogden may not be aware of is the fact that (UMT) will be bringing in top stars to act in the shows if support increases. It's a very professional organization." In its seventh year this summer, UMT will show four productions Ogdenites can look forward to (and tourists can plan for): Joseph and th Amazing Technicolor Drameoat debuts July 9. Of this musical, critics say "a Bible story has never been so much fun." Hello Dolly is the bold and brassy Broadway musical about America's favorite matchmaker. The Pirates of Penzance musical celebrates the rollicking old days of pirates and young damsels in distress. Two by Two a powerful, warm and witty retelling of Noah's efforts to convince his family there will be a flood. If this coming season proves as successful as last, Hilton's prediction may well be in process. UMT hopes the public will take advantage of its presence and become part of this live professional theatre this year and always. Tanja Schaffer 12C SignOff Tuesday, June 2, 1987 |