The jungle will come to life in the desert when the Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Ivins, Utah, presents the regional premiere of Tarzan—the Broadway musical based on the popular 1999 Disney film and beloved story by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Performances continue June 7—October 15, 2010.
(Ivins, UT) The Tuacahn Amphitheatre will be transformed into an African jungle when the Broadway musical adaptation of the Disney film Tarzan begins performances Monday, June 7, at 8:30 p.m. Based upon the classic story by Edgar Rice Burroughs, this live stage production boasts music by seven-time Grammy Award winner Phil Collins, including the Academy Award winning song “You’ll Be in My Heart.” Tarzan will be performed each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday night June 7—October 15 in the outdoor Tuacahn Amphitheatre. Tickets, priced from $22–$56, are available at the Tuacahn box office, by calling (435) 652-3300/(800) 746-9882 or online at tuacahn.org.
Leading the cast of 38 in the title role is James Royce Edwards. Edwards has starred on Broadway and on the national tours of Hairspray, Mamma Mia, Pippin, and All Shook Up. Off-Broadway, James has starred in Altar Boyz, Matthew Passion, and Wanda’s World.
At his side in the role of Jane will be Summer Broyhill, a veteran of Hairspray on Broadway as well as the national tours of Hairspray and I Love a Piano. About the opportunity to perform in Tarzan at Tuacahn, she says, “Even when you perform professionally, you still relish the moments when your jaw drops and you succumb completely to believing in a magical world with its own set of rules. I think this production really has the potential to be that kind of magical.”
Broadway veteran Evan D’Angeles (Miss Saigon, Pacific Overtures) plays the role of Tarzan’s sidekick, Terk. Additional cast members include Cessalee Stovall (Kala), Sam Zeller (Kerchak), Jerry Hoffman (Porter), and Todd Dubail (Clayton). DuBail has been seen across the country in the national tours of Joseph… (Pharaoh, with Patrick Cassidy and Jon Secada), Grease (Danny, with Frankie Avalon, Chubbie Checker and Fabian), Leader of the Pack, and Jesus Christ Superstar (with Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson).
Rounding out the cast are Talon Ackerman, Kile Allen, Eli Bauer, Giovanni Bonaventura, Erica Bryce, Jeremy Carpenter, Olin Davidson, Molly DePola, Craig Donnelly, Carolyn Hartvigsen, Zachary Hess, Tammie Rose Johnston, Payton Kemp, Tommy Martinez, Troy McGee, Nicholas McGough, Ryan Nickels, Kyli Rae, Robert Reep, Eddy Schumacher, Kierstyn Sharrow, Alexis Smith, Shellie Telford, Joey Tierno, Veronica Yeager, and Lindsey Young.
Tarzan’s pop-rock music, exotic costumes, and conflicted love story will come together under the capable direction of Tuacahn’s Artistic Director, Scott S. Anderson. Anderson also directed the Tuacahn premiere of Les Misérables in 2008 and has assembled an eclectic cast and crew to bring the show to life in its first production in the United States outside of New York.
“The greatest challenge in producing Tarzan is the flying,” says Anderson. “But some of the additions to our facility from our production of Peter Pan in 2006 helped accommodate the show’s technical needs. This, combined with the engineering talents of Flying by Foy, aerial choreography by Cees de Kok and Cathy Perquin, and stage choreography by Mic Thomson, has allowed us to overcome this difficulty in a thrilling way.”
Tuacahn’s producers have been working for two years to make this production a reality. “Having seen Tarzan on Broadway, I knew Tuacahn would be a great place for the show to make its regional premiere,” Anderson continues. “Originally the rights to present a local production of Tarzan were granted to another group of producers. Nevertheless, we continued to hope for our chance to bring it to life at Tuacahn. When Disney finally gave us the green light, we eagerly jumped at the chance!”
Tuacahn’s production of Tarzan is licensed through a special arrangement with Disney Theatrical Productions and Music Theater International in New York.
TARZAN
The Stage Musical
Based on the Disney Film
Music and Lyrics by Phil Collins Book by David Henry Hwang
based on the story “Tarzan of the Apes” by Edgar Rice Burroughs
and the Disney film “Tarzan”
Originally presented on Broadway by Disney Theatrical Productions
TARZAN ARTISTIC STAFF
Director—Scott S. Anderson
Choreographer—Mic Thompson
Aerial Choreography—Cees de Kok and Cathy Perquin
Tumbling Choreography—Adam AhQuin
Scenic Designer—Doug Ellis
Costume Designers—Nancy Hamblin, Wilma Mickler, Rory Scanlon
Lighting Designer—Joseph L. Eddy
Music Direction—Camille Villalpando Rolla
Sound Designer—David Swenson
Hair Designer—Matthew Reeves Oliver
Makeup Designer—Guy Smith
Production Stage Manager—Monica Dickhens
Associate Producer—Jeffrey Martin
Producers—Scott S. Anderson, Kevin M. Smith, Kevin E. Warnick
BROADWAY IN THE DESERT: TARZAN AND CATS
Tarzan is the first production in Tuacahn’s annual theatre season, presented in the outdoor Tuacahn Amphitheatre each June through October. The show will play in repertory with Cats through the middle of August. Crazy for You will then replace Cats and will be performed in repertory with Tarzan through October 16. Cats features the same cast of actors as Tarzan with the addition of Grammy Award winner Lisa H. Seegmiller, who will play the role of Grizabella. Seegmiller also received a Tony Award for her portrayal of Mimi in Baz Luhrmann’s Broadway production of La Bohéme in 2003.
Tuacahn’s 2010 season is sponsored by the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation; Utah Office of Tourism; Washington County CVB; Split Rock Development Group; Wells Fargo; Parr, Brown, Gee, & Loveless; Entrada; Boulevard Home Furnishings; Marriner Eccles Foundation; Deseret News; St. George Ford; SkyWest Airlines; Canyon Media Broadcasting; Kayenta; The Salt Lake Tribune; The Spectrum; Rocky Mountain Power; Brent & Bonnie Beesley Foundation; Crossroads Equipment; Executive Car Sales; Ivins City; Ruby’s Inn; Snow Canyon Motor Sports; Sun Country Chrysler; Utah Arts Council; Snow, Christensen & Martineau; Best Western Abbey Inn; Zions Bank; America First Credit Union; Painter’s Sun Country Mitsubishi; and State Bank of Southern Utah.
Tuacahn is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
