Accessibility Statement Skip Navigation
  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing
  • Login
  • GDPR
  • Create a Free Account
Return to PRWeb homepage
  • News
  • Resources
  • Contact
When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All News Releases
      • Multimedia Gallery

      • All Multimedia
      • All Photos
      • All Videos
  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation

      • Aerospace, Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads and Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking and Road Transportation
      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalization
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls and Research
      • Trade Show News
      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil and Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • Carriers and Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines and Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics and Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture and Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewelry
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels and Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • Advocacy Group Opinion
      • Animal Welfare
      • Congressional & Presidential Campaigns
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Domestic Policy
      • Economic News, Trends, Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • FDA Approval
      • Federal and State Legislation
      • Federal Executive Branch & Agency
      • Foreign Policy & International Affairs
      • Homeland Security
      • Labor & Union
      • Legal Issues
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Patent Law
      • Public Safety
      • Trade Policy
      • U.S. State Policy
      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • View All People & Culture

  • Hamburger menu
  • Cision PRWeb provides efficient communication tools to continuously engage with target audiences across multiple online channels
  • Create a Free Account
    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Us


      11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday

  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • News in Focus
    • Browse All News
    • Multimedia Gallery
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR

Will Utah Embrace Its Newest Theater Company—Utah Repertory Theater Company?
  • USA - English


News provided by

Utah Repertory Theater Company

Sep 29, 2013, 03:00 ET

Share this article

Share toX

Share this article

Share toX

Salt Lake City, Utah (PRWEB) September 29, 2013 -- “I founded Utah Repertory Theater Company as a way to bring high-quality, though seldom-produced, plays and musicals to the state. There is so much talent in Utah, but much of this talent is forced to leave the state to find work,” said Johnny Hebda, the company’s founder and member of the company’s executive board. “Also, I was tired of seeing the same 15 to 20 shows recycled throughout the state year after year. There are many amazing shows with important messages that need to be shared in the state. Theater has always had the power to shape people’s thinking and open people’s eyes to others’ lives and struggles.”

During its first season, the company has produced shows at several different theater venues and employed some of Utah’s most talented performers and artists, from Spanish Fork to Ogden.

Utah Repertory Theater Company, commonly referred to as Utah Rep, took on a very ambitious season, debuting with the musical SIDE SHOW. The company has since presented Utah audiences with five full-length productions, four of which have been Utah premieres. The season has included I LOVE YOU BECAUSE, WHAT THE BELLHOP SAW, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s CAROUSEL, and currently in production, Jonathan Larson’s RENT. The following show will be the state premiere of Frank Wildhorn’s BONNIE & CLYDE.

Each production has received critical acclaim from local reviewers and bloggers. Patrons have given standing ovations and left in tears as they have been moved by the productions. One patron said after CAROUSEL, “I left the theater wanting to be a better person, it made me go home and tell my husband and kids that I love them!” And another patron sent a message after seeing SIDE SHOW that “I have never been moved so much by a production. As someone who has always felt different or didn’t fit in, this show really spoke to me and gave me hope. Thank you for bringing [SIDE SHOW] to Provo.”

Despite its successes, the company has struggled to gain sponsorship and strong attendance.

“It can be discouraging, when you feel that you have put your heart and soul, blood and tears to do everything in your power to make the shows successful, and we don’t receive the full support we need,” said Hebda. “Ticket sales have averaged 25 to 30 percent of the house, which is not covering our operations. I just don’t want our dream to die as we have so much positive momentum. We simply need more patrons and businesses to support our mission.”

Utah Rep has launched an Indiegogo campaign with a goal to raise $10,000. Benefits to contributors include season tickets, flex passes, and tickets to the complete Utah Rep 2014 season. The fundraising event, with all proceeds tax-deductible, can be viewed at http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/utah-rep-s-2014-season-kick-off.

Hebda also announced a resident theater for Utah Rep, in partnership with the Utah Arts Alliance. This non-profit, downtown Salt Lake City arts group has begun to refurbish an adjacent theater known as The Cube specifically for Utah Rep productions.

“Establishing a resident theater location at the Utah Arts Alliance’s The Cube will give Utah Rep an artistic home and increase our visibility as a member of the Utah theater community,” Hebda said.

However, Utah Rep’s quest for funding to remain financially solvent remains.

“If patrons knew some of the obstacles Utah Rep is up against, they would rally to our aid,” said Kymberly Mellen, Utah Rep’s Executive Producer: Artistic Adviser/Casting. “We have been hugely successful in producing shows with increasing production and artistic values. Something that makes our company very different is the focus to pay actors and artists now and increase wages in the future. Other local companies produce good shows but, by never paying actors, expect the actors to subsidize the shows.”

“There is no other theater company like Utah Rep and that’s why Utah so desperately needs it,” said JC Carter, Utah Rep Executive Producer: Business Manager. “Many companies that want to do ‘different’ theater jump way out of the box and produce theater that could only appeal to a very small niche market. Others take risks on certain shows, but often fall quickly back into old, tried-and-true productions. Utah Rep takes a different tactic. The company produces shows that people know, but nobody has dared to do them. Utah needs Utah Rep to wake it up and bring new ideas to the forefront.”

For more information on Utah Rep, visit the company webpage: http://utahrep.org/.

The credentials of the company’s board members are here: http://utahrep.org/information/board/

Source: Broadway World names Utah Rep “the most exciting up-and-coming theater company in the state” http://www.broadwayworld.com/salt-lake-city/article/Summer-Stages-BWWs-Top-Summer-Theatre-Picks-Salt-Lake-City-20130614.

Reviews of Previous Utah Rep Productions

RENT:

RENT is “fantastic” with “stand out performers who got my attention for great acting and fantastic voices.” “It is one of the few shows that I want to go see again before it closes.”—Backstage Utah
http://backstageutah.com/be-sure-to-pay-the-rent-at-the-project/

“The success of [the director's] vision was beyond anything I could have ever expected from a production of RENT in a small, new theater company in Utah, and I left with the honest opinion that the production I just saw would have made Jonathan Larson and the original production team proud.” “As for the cast, each deserves to be praised...”—Utah Theatre Bloggers
http://utahtheatrebloggers.com/16840/rent-offers-something-new-for-old-fans-and-newcomers

CAROUSEL:

Utah Rep’s production is “exemplary” through “poignant acting, emotional choreography, and wonderful voices.”—Utah Theatre Bloggers Association
http://utahtheatrebloggers.com/16487/utah-reps-carousel-hits-highs-and-lows-of-life

“Carousel has very strong vocal talent, dancing that can sell its own tickets, and acting that caused a patron that I overheard say, ‘I don’t know why I’m crying, I never cry.’ Director Johnny Hebda amassed an amazing group of talent for this production.”—Front Row Reviewers
http://frontrowreviewersutah.com/?p=1482

WHAT THE BELLHOP SAW:

“I cannot tell you how impressed I was with this troupe rarely missing a beat of the frantic comedy pacing.”—Larissa Explains It All For You
“Well done one and all, including the show’s director, Chase Ramsey. Directing a farce is akin to herding cats, and Mr. Ramsey managed to deliver a very smooth show.”—Backstage Utah
http://backstageutah.com/silly-shenanigans-are-what-the-bellhop-saw-at-the-murray-theater/

I LOVE YOU BECAUSE:

“The opportunity to see a group of attractive, talented young people who obviously love the genre [of musical theater] is wonderfully satisfying.”—Salt Lake City Weekly
http://utahrep.org/city-weekly-utah-repertory-theater-company-i-love-you-because/

“The wonderful talent and enthusiasm onstage created an infectiously upbeat atmosphere from the first entrance to the final bow.”—Backstage Utah
http://backstageutah.com/i-love-utah-repertory-theater-company-because/

SIDE SHOW:

“SIDE SHOW at the Echo Theatre in Provo is an engaging, poignant, and thought-provoking theatrical experience. The production is a fine debut for the newly christened Utah Repertory Theater Company.”—Broadway World
http://www.broadwayworld.com/salt-lake-city/article/BWW-Reviews-Utah-Repertory-Theater-Companys-SIDE-SHOW-is-Engaging-and-Poignant-20130123

“You should make whatever arrangements you need to get to Provo and see this amazing production before it ends.”—Backstage Utah
http://backstageutah.com/come-look-at-the-freaks-in-side-show/

Johnny Hebda, Utah Repertory Theater Company, http://www.UtahRep.org, +1 (801) 358-9673, [email protected]

Modal title

www.UtahRep.org
www.UtahRep.org
RENT
RENT
Carousel
Carousel
What the Bellhop Saw
What the Bellhop Saw
I LOVE YOU BECAUSE
I LOVE YOU BECAUSE
SIDE SHOW
SIDE SHOW
www.UtahRep.org RENT Carousel What the Bellhop Saw I LOVE YOU BECAUSE SIDE SHOW

Contact PRWeb

  • 11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday
  • Contact Us

About PRWeb

  • About PRWeb
  • Partners
  • Partnership Programs
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Resources

Why PRWeb

  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing

Accounts

  • Create a Free Account
  • Log in
  • Contact Us

Do not sell or share my personal information:

  • Submit via [email protected] 
  • Call Privacy toll-free: 877-297-8921

Contact Cision

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Center
  • ProfNet
Cision Distribution Helpline
888-776-0942
  • Legal
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2025 Cision US Inc.