UTBA | UTBA reviewers sound off: EXCELLENCE IN 2011

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"During 2011, UTBA reviewed over 200 productions from Logan to Cedar City. Moreover, there were likely hundreds of other productions that didn't receive a UTBA review for a variety of reasons. Instead of trying to systematically evaluate all these productions, we invited our reviewers to reminisce about the year in Utah theatre and tell us what the productions that they thought represented artistic excellence in Utah theatre during 2011."

Highlights

  • "I really need to attend more shows at Salt Lake Acting Company, because I am always impressed when I do. This year, I was engulfed by Circle Mirror Transformation. For such a simple set and concept, I was impressed at how much the characters grew and changed. It was touching and funny; I look back on it as a fond memory." – Amber Peck, UTBA staff
  • "There are 3 equity productions that stand out to me this past year. First, SLAC's Persian Quarter delighted me like only a Kathleen Cahill script could. Matthew Ivan Bennett's Mesa Verde at Plan-B was beautifully directed, and Eric Samuelsen's Borderlands (also Plan-B) featured such relevant and local themes within simple and strong characters framed by excellent direction. In fact, that's what all three of these shows had in common: strong characters, timely themes, and beautiful direction and acting. We may not have many Equity Houses here in Utah, but the few we do make me proud to live in Utah." – Dave Mortensen, UTBA Founder

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THIS SEASON'S THEATRE STUDENT SERIES SCHEDULE:

God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton
Olivier Award and six-time Tony Award winning comedy centered around two sets of upper middle class parents having a cordial meeting in reaction to a schoolyard brawl between their sons. When rum replaces coffee and fragile egos crack, the conversation goes from civilized to savage. When parents parent you on parenting, the only thing left standing is the set.
Directed by John Caywood
Cast: Darrin Doman, Nell Gwynn, Zack Phifer, Christy Summerhays


(a man enters)
 by Elaine Jarvik & Kate Jarvik Birch
Semi-autobiographical and wildly-whimsical, (a man enters) is a an odyssey about love - and then what happens.
Directed by Alexandra Harbold
Cast: Joyce Cohen, Terence Goodman, Amanda Mahoney, Deena Marie Manzanares, Jesse Perry


Red
by John Logan
A Tony Award-winning play which ignites our passion and creativity as we enter Mark Rothko's head.  "I'm here to stop your heart.  I'm not here to paint pretty pictures." Rothko
Directed by Keven Myhre
Cast: Morgan Lund, Ted Powell


Course 86B in the Catalogue
 by Kathleen Cahill
A comedic riff on evolution set in a small community college in an arid state where extraordinary artifacts from the ancient past abound - some of them still living.
Directed by Tracy Callahan
Cast: Colleen Baum, Daniel Beecher, Elise Groves, Topher Rasmussen