Sometimes the next best thing to experiencing something magical is the chance to look back and relive the memories.
As 2022 winds down, we’re already gearing up for a fantastic 2023 Tuacahn season. But first, we’d like to take a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come; the high points and the hiccups that made 2022 a Broadway season to remember.
From the unprecedented success of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to the regional premiere of Wonderland; from the rocking retrospective of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story to the practically perfect Mary Poppins, there are a lot of places our collective minds can wander. But the overwhelming support of David Archuleta in his role as Joseph seems like the perfect place to begin.
“I was totally questioning my decision, but I’m so glad I was wrong,” ~ David Archuleta
After seeing David Archuleta dazzling audiences in his multi-colored coat, it might be hard to believe he ever had any apprehension about standing in this particular spotlight.
But he did.
Second thoughts, and even third thoughts, about whether he’d made the right decision in accepting the offer to make his theatrical debut on the Tuacahn stage, gave Archuleta plenty of reasons to lose sleep in the weeks leading up to the rehearsal process. But after a few days with the cast and crew at Tuacahn, his apprehension and the possibility of regrets vanished.
“I was totally questioning my decision, but I’m so glad I was wrong,” Archuleta said in an interview following his Tuacahn Broadway season. “It was an amazing experience and a fantastic group of people to work with who made me feel welcome and walked me through it all.”
Despite years of experience as a concert performer, Archuleta quickly found live theater to be its own beast entirely, one that he thoroughly enjoyed watching his colleagues tame.
“The rehearsals were really fun because it was a whole new world,” Archuleta said. “I felt like I was stepping into it with new eyes. Watching how quickly everyone learned their parts and how it would all come together was really exciting.”
Although Archuleta said he knew people were excited to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, he had no idea just how excited until he stepped on stage.
“I didn’t think they would be as energized by the show as they were,” he said. “I didn’t realize the extent Tuacahn went with the production of everything. They brought it to a whole other level which only allowed me to enjoy the role of Joseph even more and boost my energy too.”
Though he’s not planning to move away from his first love of singing and songwriting, Archuleta said he is definitely open to taking on another theater role in the future if the right opportunity came along.
“I want to see it again and again.” ~Tuacahn Patron
“I would love to consider other roles. It’s a lot of fun telling a story with a group of passionate and talented performers,” he said.
Equally passionate at the end of the season are the people who became part of the magic of Tuacahn as audience members. Regardless of which musical they saw, people were raving about their experiences.
One patron exiting Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story said, “The show was amazing from start to finish. I was blown away by the talent of the performers.”
Another theatergoer found Wonderland to be “addicting” adding that “I want to see it again and again.”
In spite of battling the continued fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic — including an unprecedented number of cancellations due to COVID infections among the cast and crew — Tuacahn’s box office reported record-high numbers.
“So far, 2021 was our highest grossing season ever, and 2022 is keeping pace with that, even with all the COVID cancellations,” said Stephanie Finck, marketing manager at Tuacahn. “It was a tough, but successful season. We’re really looking forward to 2023 and hoping it will be smooth sailing.”
Keep watching for more details on the upcoming Tuacahn Broadway and concert seasons. And don’t miss your chance to see Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer in the Indoor Hafen Theatre this holiday season. For details log onto www.tuacahn.org or call 435-652-3300.