In 2019 Utah Governor, Gary R. Herbert declared September 27 as Tuacahn Day in honor of Hyrum and Gail Smith and their generous contributions to Tuacahn Center for the Arts as well as the significant success and economic impact Tuacahn has had on Washington County.
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.
The idea of this incredible outdoor Amphitheatre began with Doug Stewart in 1991. Stewart was a renowned playwright and a St. George resident. From the beginning, Tuacahn Amphitheatre focused on both entertainment and performing, as well as theatrical education. “The stunning beauty and perfect surroundings stopped me in my tracks,” said Stewart “I was brought to tears when I first stood there, and after taking it in for some time – envisioning an amphitheater and a stage with an awesome backdrop of 1,500-foot red rock cliffs and hearing the sounds of music echoing from the canyon walls, I flew back to town to see who the land belonged to.” Four years later, when Stewart walked into the Amphitheatre and heard the Mormon Tabernacle choir warming up for the dedication of the theater, it was like reliving the experience from years before. Through Doug’s vision, the awe-inspiring theater was completed in 1995.
The name “Tuacahn” was inspired by the Mayan word “Teotihuacan” meaning “city of the gods” and was designated to represent the “canyon of the gods.” Built in the shadow of spectacular, red-rock cliffs, the Tuacahn Amphitheatre and Center for the Arts was created to awaken the nobility of the human soul and transmit light and hope to people everywhere through the arts and education.
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 60 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.”
Thanks to the past and future generosity of Tuacahn’s sponsors and patrons, the creative potential for future seasons knows no bounds. With the last 28 seasons serving as a guide, Tuacahn is excited at the prospect of taking regional theater to even greater heights in the next 28 years and beyond.
Want to know more about Tuacahn’s history? Purchase the 25th Anniversary book available in the Gift Gallery.