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Show Growth of West traced in USU historical pageant "The West: America's Odyssey," an historical pageant produced as part of the Festival of the American West at Utah State University, is one of the few indoor pageants staged each summer inthe United States. Stage and scenery are erected on the USU Spectrum's basketball floor, turning the arena into a gigantic production area on which to play out the settling of the West. Indoor production perhaps allows effects which would not otherwise be possible. According to program notes, the pageant tells the "epic story of the iron-willed people whose collective faith in their country helped shape a dramatic destiny." The two-hour presentation features fea-tures taped narration by actor James Stewart, slides and film shown on a huge, rear-projection screen providing provi-ding an ever-changing backdrop for songs, dances, comedy and drama by a cast of about 200 as well as a live performance by guest host Robert Peterson. Burch Mann's American Folk Ballet will contribute dance interludes to help focus attention on the pageant's Western theme. This year new characters will be incorporated into the pageant's prologue in which a large map of the western United States covers the floor of the stage. Costumed historical characters move across the map following the routes they took in settling the West. New audio and visual effects will be added to the production, and a ' new finale will close the show with a crowd pleasing, patriotic number. "The West: America's Odyssey" is directed for his tenth year by Sid Perkes. who is also the costume designer. Perkes, a noted set designer, directs for Utah State Theatre and Logan's community theater, the Valley Players. He is a faculty member in the USU Department of Theatre. Musical direction will be provided by F. Eugene Tueller, who is head of the music department at Logan Senior High School and founder and director of the Townsingers and the Chauntaire Performing Choir. The pageant, now in its twelfth season, will be performed at the USU Spectrum July 27, 28, 30, 31, and August 1-4 at 8 p.m. Admission will be $5 for adults, $3 for children under 12. Tickets are available at all ZCMI stores, Datatix outlets, and the USU ticket office. |