Our Story


By Lisa Larson

Sitting with a view of the majestic present-day Tuacahn Amphitheatre, it’s hard to imagine its primitive beginning. Yet just as this natural amphitheater was shaped by centuries of scorching heat and desert rain, so too has the history and future of Tuacahn Center for the Arts been molded by winds of change and the shaping power of dreams.

Built on the shoulders of Orval Hafen (the original owner of Padre Canyon) as well as the unparalleled drive and ambition of Doug Stewart and Hyrum W. Smith, a seemingly impossible dream blossomed into the reality that exists today. Tuacahn owes its success to the hard work and sacrifice of an ensemble cast who each played an integral role in the history of this magnificent place.

It was 1995 when Tuacahn’s debut performance of Utah! danced its way out of the red rocks and into the hearts of the people of southern Utah. After four years telling the complex story of the area’s ancient inhabitants and pioneer settlers, it became increasingly clear Tuacahn needed to shift its strategy.

“We’re proud of what we accomplished with Utah!,” says Kevin Smith, Tuacahn CEO. “But after several years of one show it was clear that people wanted to see something new.”

The answer came in 1999 in the form of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat
and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Tuacahn found itself in the enviable position of huge crowds and sold out houses, and Broadway in the Canyon was born.

Since that time, Tuacahn has produced more than 70 Broadway shows, taking full advantage of the theater’s outdoor space and making talent, directorial and technical strides year after year.

Among the many pivotal moments in Tuacahn’s history, hiring Scott Anderson as the artistic director in 2005 proved to be critical. Anderson’s enthusiasm and ability to cast a wider audition net — including more contracts with Actors Equity League of Regional Theaters — and pushing outside the box in terms of what people thought Tuacahn could produce, yielded some very prosperous results.

Tuacahn’s 2008 success as one of the first regional theaters to be granted the professional rights to produce Les Miserables put Tuacahn on the map in a whole new way. The show’s success made it possible to forge several key relationships, including one with Disney Theatrical that led to even more opportunities.

In 2010 Tuacahn became the first licensed regional theater outside of Broadway to produce Disney’s Tarzan. Subsequent licensing agreements with Disney to produce The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, When You Wish and more continued to increase Tuacahn’s reputation as a regional theatrical force.

“We took a bit of a risk to elevate our production quality,” Anderson says. “We really put our reputation on the line and invested more than we ever had, and it paid off.”

Over the years, Tuacahn dabbled with the occasional indoor production, but it wasn’t until 2017 that such offerings became a more regular part of the season. Holiday productions including Fairytale Christmas, Elf the Musical, A Christmas Story the Musical and more, not only added to the festive spirit at Tuacahn’s Christmas in the Canyon, they also served as a way to expose audiences to the level of professional productions available in the more intimate Indoor Hafen Theatre.

By 2018, the Tuacahn season expanded even further to feature a full-scale professional production in the Hafen Theatre each summer, starting with the wildly popular Million Dollar Quartet, and later including Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and more.

In 2022, Tuacahn hit an important new milestone by exceeding the goal to sell 20,000 season packages, a clear indication of patron loyalty. The number of season package holders continues to increase, and with that base of support, the quality of each production continues to soar.

With growing production quality and growing crowds year after year, in 2024 it was time for the Outdoor Amphitheatre itself to grow with the addition of 450 seats in the former grassy area on the left and right sides of the venue. Additionally, after the wildly positive feedback Tuacahn received from the patrons enjoying the 200 padded premium seats added in 2023, the Outdoor Amphitheatre now features 725 padded seats on rows A to O.

“This is the first major expansion to the theater since its original construction,” Smith says. “With the additional seats we’ve added more parking, another Amphitheatre entrance and more storage as well.”

Also as of 2024, the Tuacahn Café’s outdoor dining area features a beautiful awning, thanks to the generosity of the Stephen and Marcia Wade family. The awning, as well as a screen separating the dining area from the theater, allows even more patrons to enjoy delicious food and unparalleled ambiance prior to each production.

Saturday Market

Celebrating the arts in another way, Tuacahn’s Saturday Market features a wide range of local artists, crafts, food and entertainment, mingled with the natural beauty of Tuacahn’s unique setting.

“It’s all part of an overall commitment to the community, and the arts are a big part of that community,” Smith says.

Tuacahn’s Saturday Market happens each Saturday year-round, weather permitting.

Looking ahead

Building on a foundation of hard work and fortitude, the future for Tuacahn is brighter than ever. As a nonprofit organization, Tuacahn continues to be grateful for generous donations that allow Tuacahn to curate and showcase the kind of talent and creativity patrons have come to expect from this jewel in the desert — an experience that is unsurpassed.

Want to know more about Tuacahn’s history? Purchase the 25th Anniversary book in the Gift Gallery.