• Organization

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    St. George Musical Theater

    Mark Ogden, founder of St. George Musical Theater, often said writing and producing a play was like having a baby. Once he conceived of an idea, it would grow and grow until he had to put it on paper and write music to accompany the dialogue. Finally, when the baby emerged on stage, it was a joy to behold as the newest member of his family.

    St. George Musical Theater was another of his babies. Conceived in the mid 1980's, this tiny nursery of players rehearsed, presented, reviewed, and revised Mark's dramatic work.

    In 1988, Mark's directing abilities won him the privilege of directing It's My Life by Carol Lynn Pearson. Sponsored by Southwest Mental Health, he and the show traveled to many Southern Utah schools and kept the dream of St. George Musical Theater alive.

    Tragedy struck in 1992 when Mark Ogden was diagnosed with AIDS. He fought a long, difficult battle with the disease, but passed away two years later in 1994 leaving St. George Musical Theater an orphan.

    Dawna Kenworthys vision for theater in Southern Utah matched and even exceeded Mark's, so she decided to adopt Mark's baby. As his talented and energetic protege, Dawna adopted musical theater and nourished it with vision, determination, and creativity. Joined by her husband and close friend Kristine Carter, Dawna gathered resources, surrounded herself with talented artists, and produced quality family entertainment.

    Shows were held in local elementary schools and small venues like the basement of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum and the courtroom upstairs in the Old Courthouse, and even in RV parks, but soon the fledgling company ventured into bigger arenas like high school auditoriums, the Browning Theater and Cox Auditorium on the Dixie State College campus, Tuacahn's indoor theater, and the St. George Opera House.

    Through local government support, the Opera House became home for St. George Musical Theater, and Dawna's dream of theater in-the-round became reality. The intimate nature of theater in-the-round offered a new dimension of theater which appealed to the veteran and novice patron.

    That appeal moved St. George Musical Theater from a struggling company which offered from one to three musicals a year, depending on the personal time and energy of Dawna, Don, and Kristine, to a full service company offering a entire theater season. Today hundreds of faithful season ticket holders now anchor the musical theater's financial resources. Many patrons contribute generously for theater to thrive and grow and fulfill Mark Ogden's lifelong dream.

    Southern Utah's explosive growth has brought a variety of artisans and craftsmen to complement St. George Musical Theater's artists in residence and bolster emphasis on the arts.

    Perhaps the greatest change to Mark Ogden's baby and an indication of its emergence into the adult scene, is the new theater building on 100 West. Through the generosity of city officials, theater patrons, and the untiring efforts of Don and Dawna Kenworthy, St. George Musical Theater has its own stage, rehearsal rooms, storage space, and workshop classrooms.

    • Contact Info

      St. George Musical Theater

      200 North 1000 East
      Saint George, 84770

      Phone: (435)628-8755

      Website

    • Locations

      Southern Utah

    • Member Reviews

      • Event Name: Honk!
        "So Much Fun!!!"
        Comment posted by: LilMom from Saint George, Utah, Aug 19, 2008

        I am actually one of the performers in this show. If the audience has as much fun watching as we do performing, it is definitely worth seeing. Plus, I have heard many positive comments from people as... Expand

        All reviews/comments and complete event details

        I am actually one of the performers in this show. If the audience has as much fun watching as we do performing, it is definitely worth seeing. Plus, I have heard many positive comments from people as they leave after the show. It has a great message, and fun for adults and children! Collapse

        All reviews/comments and complete event details

    • Past Events
      09/18/08-
      10/11/08       		 The Secret Garden
      Cox Performing Arts Center - Dixie State College
      07/25/08-
      08/23/08       		 Honk!
      The Ellen Eccles Theatre
      06/05/08-
      07/12/08       		 High School Musical
      The Ellen Eccles Theatre
      05/01/08-
      05/10/08       		 The Fantasticks
      The Ellen Eccles Theatre
      04/19/08  The Georgie Awards
      Cox Performing Arts Center - Dixie State College
      03/06/08-
      03/15/08       		 A Grand Night for Singing
      The Ellen Eccles Theatre