Tuacahn is a natural outdoor amphitheatre just 10 minutes from St. George, Utah, formed of red rock and vertical sandstone cliffs. "I was awestruck," wrote Orval Hafen, upon first seeing the area that is now home to the Tuacahn Center for the Arts. He and his wife, Ruth, bought an 80-acre parcel in the box canyon and built a cabin there, at the turn of the 20th century. He stated, "There before me lay a scene of indescribable beauty: wild, primitive, unspoiled, largely unknown, waiting to be enjoyed, waiting to inspire folks."
Orval Hafen's vision came one step closer to reality in 1993 when Doug Stewart, noted playwright and St. George resident, stumbled upon the spot as he was searching for a location for an outdoor amphitheatre in the St. George area. "The stunning beauty and perfect surroundings stopped me in my tracks," Stewart recalled. "I was brought to tears when I first stood there, and after taking it in for some time - envisioning an amphitheatre and stage with the awesome backdrop of 1500 foot red rock cliffs, and hearing the sounds of music echoing from the canyon walls - I literally flew back to town and straight to the county recorder's office to see who the land belonged to."
Through his efforts, a non-profit organization was established to raise funds for the construction of the Tuacahn Amphitheatre and Center for the Arts. Built on the 80-acre parcel at the base of Padre Canyon, adjacent to famous Snow Canyon, the 42,000 square foot facility cost $23 million. The Center includes a 330-seat indoor theater, dance studio, black box theater, recital hall, costume and scene shop, studios and classrooms, and gift shop, all of which were built to complement the jewel of Tuacahn - the 1920-seat outdoor theatre, which opened in 1995. It is called the Broadway of the Desert, because every summer several musicals are performed on its stage. This year's venue includes Cinderella, My Fair Lady, and 42nd Street. Also appearing in 2007 will be Donny Osmond, the Beach Boys, and the Odyssey Dance Theater.
Tuacahn High School for the Performing Arts, founded in 1999, is a charter school funded by the state of Utah. Five Academies make up the curricula: Music, Dance, Drama, Musical Theatre, and Theater Tech. Other educational opportunities include the Summer Theater Institute, which will present the Little Shop of Horrors this summer, dance classes, and the Children's Theatre Workshop, a two-session camp for children 6-14 years.
Named for the Mayan word meaning "Canyon of the Gods," the spectacular setting can be visualized here in their virtual tour. Other good links are: http://www.utah.com/arts/tuacahn.htm, http://www.olwm.com/tuacahn/tuacahntheater.html, and the Chamber site, http://www.stgeorgechamber.com/Culture%20&%20Arts.htm. See you there!
Ellen Plante, Realtor, CRS, GRI
http://www.aboutstgeorgeutah.com/
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