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Show Z The SaitLake Tribune ARTS Ds. Sunday, January16, 2000 Whetheras PoetMillay or a Nun Holding Sway, Crowell Is a Class Act BY CELIA R: BAKER THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Anyone who has spent any time attending live theater in the Salt Lake City area probably knows the work of character actor Margaret Crowell. When a script re quires an indomitable Englishwoman, directors know just whom to call. And though she’s British by birth, Crowell is versa. Though shesadied theater in there with the Norwich Repertory Company and the Birmingham Repertory Company, Crowell finds BYCELIA R. BAKER THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE that living in the United States gives her greater opportunities to perform, though she keeps her ties to her homeland. “I came here because I mar- The Grand Theatre had great success when it presented that holy terror of a comedy, “Nunsense.” Nowthe Grand is bringing ried an American,” says Crowell. tile enough to play other types of “My husband [Ellwood Crowell] characters, too. Crowell has been at regular was in England as a pilot. He's a cowboyfrom Idaho.” She makes annual trips back to performer at Pioneer Theatre Company for eight seasons, and performed at Theater 138, Salt Lake Acting Company and the Grand Theatre MakingIt a Habit Of Having Fun With ‘Nunsense II.’ one second,” Great Britain, and performed The Second Coming,” to the stage. Looks like the Dan series is getting to be a habit. Grand Theatre artistic direc- Englandto teach and perform. Her one-woman show about the Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, “They Called Her Vincent,” is featured each year at a theater tor Ken Plain says, “The first year, for the first time, she will perform that showin Utah,as part perior in the Grand Theatre's production of “Nunsense II: The of the Utah Fine Arts Tour. Crowell says “They Called Her frothy fun piece that doesn’t say much of anything, butit’s very Second Coming,” whichopens this week, and a return performance Vincent” came “from a germ of an entertaining.” The plot of “Nunsense II” picks up six weeks after “Nun- Grand Theatre, along with many other local and regional theaters in this country and GreatBritain. Her upcoming roles this theater season include a stint as the singing-and-dancing Mother Su- as Widow Watson for Pioneer Theatre Company’s reprise of “Big River,” coming this spring. Over the years she has performed manycolorful roles, putting the proper British starch into time we did ‘Nunsense,’ it was a big hit — wesolda lot oftickets. I thought this would be something conference in London. And this people would wantto see. It's a idea” that entered her mind when sense” leaves off and continues the adventures ofthe five Little she saw lines of Millay’s poetry incorporated into the AIDS quilts displayed at St. Mark's Cathedral several years ago. Sisters of Hobokenas they return to the stage to present another variety show. This one’s a thank-you concert for all those whodonated cash for the burials of the scores of sisters acciden- Mycandle burns at both ends;It cannotlast the night; roles like Mrs. Medlock of “The But ah, my foes, and oh, my Secret Garden,” Juliet’s Nurse in “Romeo andJuliet,” and Miss Pross friends —It gives a lovelylight of “A Tale of Two Cities” — and putting the customers into the meat-grinder in a rave-getting turn as Mrs. Lovett fn “Sweeney Todd”at PTC An all-consuming enthusiasm for theater has been with Crowell since her childhood. Asa girl in Norwich, England, she was chosen by the eminent composer Benjamin Britten to be in thechildren’s choir for a performance he was conducting of his “Ceremony of Carols.” The experience of singing before an audience made Crowell an instant convert to the world of the stage. “My lifelong interest in the theater has never waned — notfor The verses struck Crowell as touching and appropriate, and motivated her to study more about Millay’slife and works. The show weaves many of Millay’s poems into a narrativethattells the story ofherlife. “She was a rebel, and a sophis- ticated and liberated woman,” says Crowell of Millay (wholived from 1892 to 1950). “She wrote many letters, and they are very witty and entertaining. I loved using her very own wordsin telling the story ofher life.” Besides performing in plays, Crowell finds time to be a sort of ambassador for theater arts. As r the show's sequel, “Nunsense I: ‘Al Hartmann/The Salt Lake Tribune Margaret Crowell, a Utah theater veteran, will perform in “Nunsense Il: The Second Coming,” “Big River,” and take her solo show of poet Edna St. VincentMillay on the road. part of the Artist in Education program for the Utah Arts Council, she journeys to various areas of the state for two-week theater residencies in Utah schools. And at RowlandHall-St. Mark’s School, she teaches a reader’s-theater class to a groupoffifth-graders whomshedescribes as “very motivated and interested.” Aspart of the Utah Fine Arts Tour, Crowell’s one-woman show joins a host of other offerings madeavailablefor presentationin Utah’s rural communities, and also at colleges and universities. Presenters who select “They Called Her Vincent” have the option of having Crowell present master classes for drama students. They also can engage her services for workshops (for schools or community classes) in which participants can learn to script and perform stories using reader’s-theater techniques. Teri Cowen,left, and Margaret Crowell. @ Come Again “Nunsense II: The Second will play at The Grand Theatre (1575 S. State St.) Monday-Saturday nights at 7:30 until Feb. 5. Saturday matinees are Jan. 22 and 29 and Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $6 to $16 with student and seniorcitizen discounts mean-spirited,” she sare tally poisoned by the convent “Phere’s no ugly stuff — J don’ the original version. All goes well until the sisters learn that a group of scheming Franciscans is claiming Sister Mary Amnesia (and herlottery muchto deal with in our lives, and’ cook,Sister Julia Child of God, in like blasphemy. We all have 50, winnings) as their own. Mild irreverence and wild chaos follow as the sisters run through their repertoire. Good thing Mother Superior is on hand to keep the catastrophe-prone variety show ontrack. Sometimes it’ eo Om ies big laugh.” The production aike stars Teri Cowen as Sister Hubert, and Jayceen Craven as Sister Leo. Director Toni Byrd doesn’t want to give anytihng away, but* song titles like “We're the Nuns ta: Veteran Salt Lake actor Marg- aret Crowell will take the role of Mother Superior. Though she’s serious aboutheracting, Crowell enjoys the inherent levity of “Nunsense II.” “It’s there’s so much human angst., silly, but not. Come to When You Go,” “What Would Elvis Do?” and “The Padre.’ Polka” strengthen her assertiotr that “it’s not Shakes} It’s, just a fun show. That’s what! we're geared to doing — “making people laugh, and bringing a little, Catholicism to the valley.” Performing Arts Tour Takes Music, Theater and Dance to Rural Utah Communities: of entertainment that has cometo the far southeastern cornerof the state through the tour. The Utah Opera Company, Missoula Children’s Theatre and BY CELIA R. BAKER THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Forresidents of Utah’s far-flung rural communi- Utah ShakespeareanFestival are among the groups that have performed in thelittle town under the auspices ofthept program. Jacksays, “This month we're bringing in Shanahy [an ensemblespecializing in Celtic music], and later this season we'll have the Utah Shakespearean Festi- ties, opportunities to attend top-drawer live performances of music, dance andtheater are hard to come by. Fortunately, the Utah Arts Council provides a program that brings quality cultural experiences to every cornerofthe state, through funding from the state Legislature andthe National Endowmentfor the Arts. Artists on the Utah Performing Arts Tour perform in rural communities and schools. Even strug- val touring company’s “Taming ofthe Shrew’ and the BYU Ballroom Dancers. “Tt really isn’t feasible to do this without the help of the Utah Performing arts Tour,” says Jack. “They’ve got the ability to negotiate a good price gling rural arts organizations can find affordable with the artists, and they're willing to subsidize some programson the tour, because a portion of the cost — sometimes as muchas half — is subsidized by the Utah Organizations with larger budgets (such as universities) can bring in nationally known performers like the Aspen Ballet Company or the Alvin Ailey Dance Troupe. Because of the subsidy, even isolated of that. Without their support, we just wouldn’t have this kindof quality programming coming here.” Laurel Cannon Alder, who administers the program for the Utah Arts Council, says, “Our philosophyis thatit's important to reach the entire community, and to give more to the community than just the little townscan afford attractive cultural offerings. performance.” Derryl Jack, president of Blue Mountain Entertainmentin Monticello, is impressed with the variety also available for outreach activities such as Arts Council. As a result, each performeror grouponthetour is interactive workshops, school residencies or nursing-homeperformances. Eachyear a panelofartists and presenters selects performers for the tour in the categories of classical music, dance, nonclassical music and theater. Outof-state performers accountfor 30 percentofthe roster. Alder says the program helps theartists as well as the communities. “The more well-established artists don’t neces- sarily need the tour, but the communities need the artists. For artists who are just startingout, this can be a way to gain more credibility and to get their names out. The program enables groups like universities to bring in the larger performers — and the small organizations really need this in order to be ableto offer anything in their communities.” “ Next Season's Tour: Therosterfor the next season (American Indian dance), Waukegan, Ill.; Col-’” cannon (Celtic music), Denver; John McVey (folks: inger), Atlanta; Phillips, Grier & Flinner (acoustic ii- strumentalists), Nashville, Tenn.; Sabella (multicul:." tural musical trio), Sandpoint, Idaho; San Jose Taiko’! (Japanese drums), San Francisco; The Standar (male a cappella vocal quartet), Butte, Mont.; Th McManus Comedies (humorist), Spokane, Was! and Missoula Children’s Theatre, Missoula, Mont. Utah performers on the tour are: Abramyan String, Quartet; Garry Aganesyants (bass-baritone); Arcata String Quartet; BYU Singers; Cottonwood Ensemble, (guitar and mandolin); Lightwood Duo (guitar andi, clarinet); Michael Lucarelli (guitarist), Children’s; Dance Theatre; Odyssey Dance Utah; Repertory Dance Theatre; Maggie Beers and Julie Mark (folk: duo); Fiddlesticks (Celtic and folk music); Groupe; (July 2000 through June 2001) of the Utah Performing Alborada (Latinofolk music); Pan Jam (steel drums), Arts Tour has recently been announced. Those performers selected from outof state are: Peabody Trio (chamber ensemble), Oakland, Calif.; Aspen Ballet Company, Aspen, Colo.; Peter Davison (dancer and juggler), Boulder, Colo.; Echoes of Earth and Sky Upcoming Events Q’d Up (jazz); Rio Bravo (Mexican and Latin music duo); Jon Schmidt(piano); Synthesis (jazz); Margaret Crowell (one-woman theatrical show); Ona Sipority: (stories about womenof the West); Utah Opera Com" pany; and Utah Shakespearean Festival. SALT LAKE’S FINEST MEN’S CLOTHING STORE Pee &anioe ( IN vi SAVE TO Tuesday, January 25 Crosby, Stills, Abravanel Hall, p . February 8 with Jo Dee Messina ..... Pace Freestyle Motorcross .. . February 11 & 12 throug eevee March 35 oan “Must be 18yearsor oldertoenter, Nopurchase necessary ag SALE Harlem Globetrotters . February 7 The Judds | aTe eas It's a show 2,000 years in the making! Join China's most elite troupe of acrobats, musicians and contortionists as they return for one night to Abravanel Hall. Thrill to the colorful costumes and amazing feats of this ancient oriental art! The Utah Symphony will not perform on this program, i |
