Utah production of his Broadway musical 'surreal,' Sting says


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SALT LAKE CITY — At the regional premiere of the Broadway musical "The Last Ship" Thursday evening, Pioneer Theatre Company had the pleasure of hosting the musical's creator: Sting.

The world-renowned singer/songwriter took center stage and congratulated the cast, the director and the crew on what he called a beautiful production.

“It’s very emotional for me,” Sting said. “This is the story of my community, my town; and to see it transplanted into the middle of Utah, it’s surreal!”

Having the artist come to Utah was a very big deal. Karen Azenberg, the musical's director, who is also the artistic director for Pioneer Theatre Company, met with his manager in New York City in June to set it all up. She said the woman pulled out a calendar then told her "he’ll be there.”

Everyone in attendance Thursday seemed pleased he kept that commitment. When Sting came into the theater, they all stood and applauded.

"This show is his baby, and I want him to be happy. I want him to be proud. I want him to be excited," Azenberg said.

Sting wrote the music and lyrics for "The Last Ship" and was nominated for a Tony award in 2015. The songs are based on his childhood memories of a small shipbuilding town in northern England. In the musical, a young man returns after years at sea.

Bryant Martin, Karen Azenberg, Sting and Ruthie Stephens backstage of Pioneer Theatre Company's cast of "The Last Ship." (Photo credit: BW Productions, Courtesy Pioneer Theatre Company)
Bryant Martin, Karen Azenberg, Sting and Ruthie Stephens backstage of Pioneer Theatre Company's cast of "The Last Ship." (Photo credit: BW Productions, Courtesy Pioneer Theatre Company)

After the show, Sting took time to meet with the cast and crew backstage. "He had a nice, personal thing to say to every member of the cast, which was just beautiful," Azenberg said.

And every communication she had with him was the same.

“My dealings with him have been very regular, generous, you know?" Azenberg said. "I write an email, he answers it. It isn’t, like, wait a week. It goes beyond that. You sit around and have Diet Cokes and you talk about stuff."

This musical is also a story about the pride shipbuilders feel in their work. Azenberg said she loved it on Broadway but wanted to give it the Pioneer Theatre Company treatment.

"Sting was especially impressed with the set. He was absolutely blown away by that," she said. "I've learned if you don't take a risk and go with your heart, you don't have success."

That risk definitely paid off.

Performances of "The Last Ship" continue at Pioneer Memorial Theatre through Saturday, Oct. 1. The company is letting audiences know that there is some strong language in the show. For ticket information, visit www.pioneertheatre.org.

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UtahEntertainment
Carole Mikita

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