The Utah Shakespeare Festival started with a passion for theater and the vision of one man.
Fred C. Adams, a BYU alumni, said his dream of a Shakespeare festival began in 1961 as a way to keep Cedar City on the map. It was also a plan to keep him employed during the summer when he wasn’t teaching at what is now SUU, formerly CSU. At that time, I-15 was not yet a reality and Adams said the initial plan was to run the interstate along the Utah-Nevada border, completely bypassing Cedar City and St. George.
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That first season the festival played to an audience of just over 3,000. Fifty years later, Adams’ dream has grown to an annual budget that exceeds $6 million and an audience of more than 150,000.
Among several awards throughout its history, the festival was honored in 2000 with a prestigious Tony Award for outstanding regional theater.
“We were not aware of it,” Adams said. “You don’t apply for it, of course.”
It was a three year journey from initial nomination to receiving the award. After the festival was nominated to the Tony Award Committee in 1997, the committee sent a team of director/producers to observe the festival in 1998.
“We had no idea they were coming,” Adams said. “We never even knew they were here. They went back and unanimously nominated us for a Tony.”
In 1999 the committee sent two more representatives who saw all six plays and gave the final stamp of approval. The theater was then informed it would receive the award.
“[The Tony] in a glass, secured case in the lobby, where the audiences can admire it and remember,” Adams said.
Those involved with the festival are quick to credit Adams for its success.
“Because of this one man, we have world-class theater in the state of Utah,” said Kymberly Mellen a BYU graduate who plays the role of Titania in this season’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
Speaking of her role as Titania, Mellen passionately shared her respect for director Adams and his desire to make this production one the entire family will enjoy.
“Midsummer is a direct reflection of Fred Adams’ love of hope and magic,” Mellen said.
The play has been staged with families in mind, incorporating special lighting, fog and the casting of children. A bonus for Mellen is having her two daughters join her on stage.
“I love ‘Dream,'” Adams said. “It’s my favorite of the Shakespeare plays.”
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was also a favorite among audiences surveyed, which is why it was chosen for this anniversary season. In addition, audiences requested “Richard III” and “Romeo and Juliet.”
Recently appointed artistic director, David Ivers is directing this season’s offering of “Romeo and Juliet.”
According to Nikki Allen, media and public relations manager for Utah Shakespeare Festival, Ivers worked to give the play a bit of an edgy feel that Allen believes might appeal to a broader audience.
Ivers said the actors have contemporary haircuts and there is only one wig in the show, and Ivers made an attempt to limit the use of layering in the costumes.
“[The result is] a very lean … fresh look out there on the Adams’ stage,” Ivers said.
Though the production has taken on a different and somewhat controversial telling of the play under his direction, Ivers explains that oddly, he feels he has been true to the original intent of the author.
“I think the biggest thing for me has been really examining the text for what Shakespeare tells us he wrote,” Ivers said. “The tragedy in the play is left in the parent’s lap.”
Ivers said directing the tragedy took on new meaning for him now that he is the father of a 2-year-old son.
“My reading of the play is much more clearly into focus through the lens of the parents … and what we teach our children about hatred,” Ivers said.
Ivers said Romeo and Juliet end up getting what they desire. Through death they are together forever. It is the parents who must awaken the next morning to the consequences of their hatred.
“It’s ultimately a tragedy,” Ivers said. “It’s not necessarily a love story.”
Rounding out the six plays this season are “Noises Off,” a comedy that is another audience request, as well as “The Music Man” and, in honor of the 100th anniversary of playwright Tennessee Williams, “The Glass Menagerie” will play.
In addition to Adams and Mellen, several other notable BYU alum and faculty are associated with the festival.
“My costume designer, Janet Swenson, has developed a whole team of BYU faculty and staff,” Adams said. “Dr. Charles Metten is here in charge of our new play series.”
In commemoration of the Festival’s 50th anniversary, Adams said he is pleased BYU television is filiming “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” for an international showing.
“We have very strong Brigham Young ties,” Adams said. “We’re practically linked at the hip.”
Several exhibits are running in conjunction with the Festival’s 50th anniversary celebration. Most notably, the festival has on loan a first print version of William Shakespeare’s play copied in 1623. The Folio, along with 2 additional Quarto manuscripts, are on loan from the Folger Library in Washington D.C., which is part of the Smithsonian Institute.
Nikki Allen said the artifact, valued at more than $30 million, had its own first class ticket, accompanied by an escort from the Smithsonian.
“We’re very excited to have it on display,” Allen said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the priceless work of William Shakespeare.”
When asked how the Festival of today compares with his expectation, Adams said it has more room to grow.
“We haven’t reached our desired goal, but I don’t know that you ever do with a good dream,” he said.
The next phase of the dream includes building a new state-of-the-art theater enclosed in a glass shell with a retractable roof. The land is purchased and the architectural work is complete and paid for.
To ensure the goal is met, Adams is again focused on fund raising. As of January, he turned over the administrative reins of the theater to R. Scott Phillips as executive director along with artistic directors David Ivers and Brian Vaughn.
“We have just over $5 million to raise,” Adams said. “We are looking for the individual who would like to have this world-class theater memorialized for them.”
The Utah Shakespeare Festival runs through Sept. 3. For ticket prices and information visit bard.org. Based on availability, students may purchase unsold tickets for half price with a valid student ID 30 minutes before showtime. For those who prefer not to take the risk and desire to purchase tickets ahead of time, the festival offers Broadway quality entertainment at half the ticket price of Broadway.
