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Show Directfor "finds community ocors fcalerrted, dedicated m 'P r . ... - - , i 1 i . ... .. . . -" .:.v , (y , y. , 4 1 mm - ii.ni mn li , , i i i i' ," 3 ' x H , -, ' v 1 F : ! s . - .: - ; . ' A ' - : -.A j I V, y 0 ... . v i V v -1 1 y 4 1 by Kathy Gordy Nels Carlson sees a comunity and its people in a different way than others do. He sees secretaries, teachers, housewives, children and others in a community become characters their friends would never recognize, characters like Eliza Doolittle or Henry Higgins. Carlson, a professor of theatre arts at Utah State University Education Center, is directing his 20th play in the area, involving Vernal area actors and actresses in the musical production of "My Fair Lady." "They even have their Cockney accents ac-cents down," Carlson laughed. "It's an exceptional musical anyway, but I see a lot of talent and dedication and some exceptional people in this cast." The cast has been rehearsing evenings even-ings for the production in April. Carlson's day begins at 5 a.m. when he leaves his home in Lapoint for Alta-mont, Alta-mont, Duchesne, Roosevelt and Vernal where he teaches a theater history course to high school seniors and community com-munity members. "I teach an overview of theater and the arts," he explained. "I like to show how drama mirrors man in politics, religion, philosophy, in everything. I want my students to go out of these classes with a kind of a hunger if nothing else. I hope they either go on to other humanities courses or interests on their own." He also teaches classes in directing, stage make-up, acting and speech communications. com-munications. Carlson majored in theater and minored in literature, attending at-tending Dixie College and getting his Bachelor's Degree from Weber State. He has a Masters of Fine Arts degree from Utah State University. "I started directing here with educational educa-tional theater," Carlson said. "The student stu-dent takes a theater class, is cast and must be in the show," he explained. "Then after a couple of shows we went to community theater. It takes longer to rehearse and produce the play because people have other lives to lead and the 1 -v I . j . scheduling is difficult sometimes, but we work it out." "We try to use people that have some background, who want to extend their experience," he added, "and out of that has evolved some very good people with talent. Once they get involved, they come back. And more talent is always coming in." He cited for example the "My Fair Lady" lead, Charlene Ed-dington, Ed-dington, who is a newcomer to Vernal this year. "I love musicals," he said. "I enjoy the people in them, and I can teach technique more than character study." As . far as his own interests go, Carlson prefers playing character roles, especially in Shakespeare plays. "I'd like to have a repertory company this summer," Carlson said, "but we're lacking a facility," Carlson sees the next step as one of organizing to get a facility for culture and the arts. "I know the city is interested," he said. "And the potential is there. There are several little entities in the community but they need to come together to be seen. Personally, I have my eye on the tabernacle." Plays are now produced at the high schools in Roosevelt and Vernal. Summer plans without a repertory have included dinner theater performances perfor-mances at Bottle Hollow. "It's a fairly new concept here," he said, "and it went well. People are looking forward to more." Carlson directed two Neil Simon plays in the past, "Barefoot in the Park," and "Odd Couple." "I've had people tell me when I first started directing plays in this area, 'You'll never be able to do what you want to do.' Well, I have, and I'd put a lot of these shows against any college." Carlson's belief in his own abilities is reflected in his belief in others. "Anyone can act," he commented. "They just have to be willing to exploit themselves. I watch people who you'd think couldn't act themselves out of a paper sack. Then they do amazing things. That's gratifying." Cory Grua, portraying Mr. Henry Higgins, and Denise Angulo as Mrs. Pierce, listen as Nels Carlson walks through some lines with them, (top) Blocking the scenes, Carlson takes notice of any rough spots, (middle) Carlson gives suggestions to the cast on better positioning and better movements on stage, (bottom) |