One of Utah County’s “favorite things” has returned to Sundance Mountain Resort.
One of Utah County’s “favorite things” has returned to Sundance Mountain Resort.
The curtains have raised once again on Utah Valley University’s Department of Theatrical Arts’ collaboration with Sundance Summer Theatre. The classic musical “The Sound of Music” premieres Thursday, July 20, and closes August 12, on the Eccles Stage Outdoor Amphitheater at Sundance.
“The Sound of Music” marks a historic 15th collaboration between UVU and Sundance. Cast, crew, costuming, set pieces, prop construction and management, stage management, and so much more are accomplished through the help of UVU students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
UVU’s longstanding partnership with the famed mountain resort results in valuable, engaged learning experiences for students perfecting their crafts at UVU.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for UVU students to take what they're learning in the classroom and put it to practical use on a stage in front of an audience,” said Choreographer and UVU Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre Jennifer Delac. “It's an opportunity for them to not only explore their craft but get feedback from a live audience in this beautiful setting from the community.”
Tanner Sumens worked as the show’s assistant choreographer and male swing. He is also a UVU BFA musical theatre student. He remarked that his time on the show has been a tremendous boon to his future career.
“Working on ‘The Sound of Music’ has been a great enhancement to my education because it’s given me a lot of professional skills that have translated directly from the classroom,” he said. “I’ve gone from being in the classroom learning how to put together shows and how to choreograph and how to build these stories to actually applying my choreography and [developing] it for ‘Sound of Music’ and get it through the stage and enhance my learning as I’m going.”
“This experience, to me, is particularly very special considering that UVU gives such opportunity to perform at Sundance in this beautiful venue,” Makenna Ashby, female ensemble and UVU BFA musical theatre student, added. “I love the movie theater department. It has just been such a safe space to grow up in and become one with myself and learn who I am as an individual. One thing that they are very helpful with is they focus on you and you only when you are in need and when they know that you have potential, and they will work with you to get that potential. The professors all believe in you so much, and it just makes you believe in yourself as well.”
Julie Heaton, the show’s director and music director, expressed her appreciation for so many UVU students showing up well beside the professionals featured in the production.
“This has been a really cool experience because we got to call a lot of UVU students back,” she said. “[The students] really show well side by side, the other professionals that auditioned and that has just carried through even in the casting in the rehearsal rooms, all the way in performance.”
Mari Turner, programming manager and producer at Sundance, expressed her excitement for “The Sound of Music” to make its way on stage at Sundance.
“The stunning backdrop of Mount Timpanogos against the Sundance stage is the perfect setting for this musical,” she said. “’The Sound of Music’ is our most requested show title, and we are thrilled this year marks its return to Sundance.”
“The Sound of Music” runs from July 20 – August 12. Tickets can be found here.
