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Show xil , 4ic n y- t 0 : A - , ; - "kts'S'i' - JJ'z 0 "" ', """V 1 I ' ,r - f f The cast of the "Cowboy Jubilee" gets involved with the audience at the evening performance at Old Bryce Town, newly opened across the road from Ruby's Inn. The BRYCE "Old Bryce Town" is the newest attraction in the county, opened only recently across from Ruby's Inn at Bryce. The fictional town has been constructed after the style of the old west, and features some new activities activi-ties and has spruced up some of the . older Ruby's Inn attractions. The complex includes the helicopter heli-copter rides, horseback rides and covered wagon ride and chuckwagon dinner rides, all formerly successful ' ventures. It also features several new wrinkles, including a photography photog-raphy shop where visitors can dress in old fashioned outfits for special poses done in sepia tones, a "jail" for more photo fun, a bustling information in-formation center that disperses information in-formation about attractions all over ' Garfield County, an almost-finished soft-drink saloon, and a nearly completed mill with waterwheel where real gold-panning will take place. There will also be a "petting" ' zoo with lambs, goats and other animals for children of all ages. Already a real cowboy with a trained horse who recites his own - down-home variety of original poetry po-etry adds to the country flavor. Local Lo-cal ranchers have found his humor , particularly appealing. Each evening at 8, except Sundays, Sun-days, the "Cowboy Jubilee" gets underway, with "branding" of cattle, a rodeo show and an audience participation old-fashioned melodrama melo-drama based on the lives of Ruby's Inn founders Minnie and Reuben ' "Ruby" Syrctt. A covered wagon shuttle drawn i by Clydesdales to the evening's ' performance operates throughout ; Ruby's Inn campgrounds, the inn . itself, and Old Bryce Town, return- ing everyone after the show. Special low rates are available to " area residents simply by asking the ' ticket seller. "We're eager to have . the local folks see what we're doing," do-ing," says one of the concessionaires, concession-aires, Jean Seiler. "We want Garfield County residents to know that we are doing our best to pro- , mote activities all over the county and that we are providing quality t entertainment of which we and they can be proud." The entertainers come largely ' from Brigham Young University where they were recruited earlier in the year, practicing for several weeks before arriving at Bryce where they rolled up their sleeves to help complete facilities delayed by rain. Everyone pitches in to make ' everything a success, doing double, and even triple, duty. Familiar with dramatic presentations presenta-tions elsewhere, at Jackson Hole, Yellowstone, and Sundance, and concessionaries wanted a combination com-bination of melodrama, theater and rodeo. They did research with the Utah Travel Council and sought to come up with an idea that would benefit the entire area and preserve the flavor of Bryce Canyon. Brigham Young University students provide a professional performance portraying life of Minnie and Ruby Syrett in the old days of Bryce Canyon development. New Tourist Facility Opens Near Bryce Canyon Entrance They enlisted the help of BYU graduate, Canadian Reed McColm, a writer with such credits as Hill Street Blues and public television presentations. He began work on the script in the spring of this year. BYU theater professor Rory Scanlon directed the work. BYU students auditioned for the parts and were signed on for the melodrama not only for their acting, singing and dancing talents but also for ;' their ability to relate to the visitors to the area. Among them, they ' speak German, Franch and Spanish, and sign for the deaf. They contracted for the melodrama melo-drama and for daily work at Old Bryce Town. Throughout the day, they not only help with the completion com-pletion of construction but also, in costume, are walking advertise ments tor tne activities ai uic ujwh and the evening's performance. The concessionaires have volunteered volun-teered to help with the tri-city July 24 celebration of the three Bryce Valley communities of Tropic, Cannonville and Henrieville. Friday evening's festivities for the three towns will take place at Old Bryce Town, with special prices and proceeds from the joint production of the Cowboy Jubilee and Little Britches Rodeo to be shared. They will also take part in Saturday's Sat-urday's activities in Tropic and have future plans for Rim Run participation and other local events. "We've tried to purchase locally wherever we can, and utilized local labor. We're here to be an active part of Garfield County," said Seiler," Seil-er," and sponsored by Ruby's Inn." |