Utah Shakespeare Festival's reach extends across the globe


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CEDAR CITY -- The 50th anniversary season of the Utah Shakespeare Festival officially opens Thursday. Although cast and crew hope your attention will focus on them in Cedar City this summer, the festival's influence reaches far beyond Utah.

For over half a century, many talented actors, directors, scenic designers and costumers have shared their talents with "Utah Shakes," as they like to call it. Even as we speak, they are making statements on Broadway and beyond.

Former Festival favorite Patrick Page is taking center stage on Broadway as "The Green Goblin" in "Spider Man."
Former Festival favorite Patrick Page is taking center stage on Broadway as "The Green Goblin" in "Spider Man."

Shakespeare's story of fairies, young love and potions opens the 50th anniversary season of the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Directed by founder Fred Adams, he hopes it will capture the imagination of audience members near and far.

This festival ranks nationally in the top 3 but its influence stretches far beyond Shakespeare or Cedar City.

A former Festival favorite, Patrick Page is now taking center stage on Broadway as "The Green Goblin" in the most expensive production ever produced there, "Spider Man."

This month, "Lend Me A Tenor, the Musical" opened in London's West End. More Festival favorites -- actor Peter Sham and director Brad Carroll -- wrote the lyrics and music and took it across the pond.

"It truly is a dream come true for what Fred and others did to take the words of Shakespeare, the importance of literature, and make it go global," said R. Scott Phillips, executive director of the Utah Shakespeare Festival.

As for the Festival's future in Cedar City, the long-planned Shakespeare Center is now closer to groundbreaking. Adams believes it will become a unique American gathering place in Southern Utah.

Email: cmikita@ksl.com

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