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CEDAR CITY — This 54th season of the Utah Shakespeare Festival brings particular focus on its world-famous Adams Shakespearen Theatre, where audiences will sit for the last time.
Audiences this season are and will be part of history at the festival. The Utah Shakespeare Festival will, at the end of the summer, close the Adams Memorial Shakespearen Theatre.
For festival founder Fred Adams, there is both excitement for the new theatre and a return to his past, as he directs one of the three productions in the open-air theatre.
Along with the compelling performances and clever staging in this season's "The Taming of the Shrew" comes a note of nostalgia for both audiences and cast.
Adams is part of a very special triumvirate, joining creative forces to make the season and the old theatre even more memorable.
Adams directed this same production in 1962, the first season.
"We took a deep breath and we did the play," said Adams. "And we hoped that people would come and people came!"
For his final act in the Adams Theatre, Adams asked Brian Vaughn and Melinda Pfundstein to play the lead roles of Petruchio and Kate. The two met at the festival, married, and now Brian is co-artistic director and Melinda is a festival favorite onstage.
Adams says he was overjoyed that they wanted to do this with him and for him.
"He's never played the role, he's never been in a 'Taming of the Shrew,'" said Adams.
Adams, they say, still gives it his all.
Related:
Shakespearean Festival begins 2015 season
The Utah Shakespeare Festival opened for the season with six plays in repertoire. (Photo: Alan Neves/KSL-TV)"He has more energy that anyone else in the room,” said Brian Vaughn. “That's the other side of it that's both inspiring and full of awe and wonder at how he does it."
The essence of what happens on stage in this beloved theatre, they all believe, will go with them to the new place.
"There are things we all love about this space and get really nostalgic about," said Melinda Pfundstein. “There are also things that are going to do that to us, across the street."
Across the street, construction moves forward on the new state-of-the-art theatre which will open in 2016. But right now, the focus is on the historic stage.
"It feels good to still be a part of it," Pfundstein said. "It's exciting to be a part of this team, this time, in this space."
Actor Sam Wanamaker raised the money for the new Globe, but before that he visited the Utah Shakespeare Festival for ideas.
And in 1981, the BBC and Royal Shakespeare Company traveled to Cedar City to film because it was the best.
It was a remarkable moment for Jeremy Irons, then a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
"You come to Utah and there's your language, there's Shakespeare. It's wonderful, it's like coming home," Irons said.
It feels good to still be a part of it. It's exciting to be a part of this team, this time, in this space.
–Melinda Pfundstein, lead actress
Scott Phillips, the festival’s executive director, believes memories will wash over audiences this summer, as they watch the last comedy produced in the Adams Theatre.
"Everybody's going to have a connection to it," Phillips said. "And if they have never seen this show, I think it's the perfect thing to cap off a visitation to that glorious edifice."
Other plays this summer:
“ King Lear”
“ Henry IV Part 2”
“ Amadeus”
“ South Pacific”
“ Charley’s Aunt”
Fall Productions:
“ Charley’s Aunt”
“ Dracula”
“ The Two Gentleman of Verona”
For dates, times and ticket prices, here is a link to the festival website:
Contributing: Alan Neves
