Pioneer Theatre Company facts for kids
| Formation | 1962 |
|---|---|
| Type | Theatre group |
| Purpose | Drama, musical, comedy |
| Location |
|
|
Artistic director(s)
|
Karen Azenberg |
| Website | pioneertheatre.org |
The Pioneer Theatre Company (PTC) is a professional theatre group in Utah. It is the only fully professional theatre in Salt Lake City. This means they work with actors, directors, and designers who are part of special unions, like the Actors' Equity Association.
PTC started in 1962. They perform at the Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre on the University of Utah campus. As a non-profit group, they put on seven plays each year, from September to May. These shows include classic plays, fun musicals, serious dramas, and comedies. The company creates its own costumes and scenery right there. Sometimes, actors and directors from other states come to work with them. In 2007, PTC was the first regional theatre in the country to perform the famous musical Les Misérables. They had 82 sold-out shows, which was a record for them!
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How Pioneer Theatre Company Works
Even though PTC performs at the University of Utah, it runs on its own. The university does not give it money directly. PTC is a non-profit organization. This means they use any money they make to put on more shows, not to make a profit for owners. About 35% of their money comes from people who donate, sponsors, and government help.
The company is currently led by Diane Parisi, who is the acting managing director, and Karen Azenberg, who is the artistic director. They work under a special agreement with the Actors' Equity Association for professional actors.
About Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre
The Pioneer Theatre Company performs at the Roy W. and Elizabeth E. Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre. This theatre is on the west side of the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City, Utah. The theatre is named after Roy W. Simmons, who went to the University of Utah. He was also a top leader at Zions Bancorp for many years.
The main stage inside the theatre is called the Lees Main Stage. It can seat 932 people. It's a type of stage called a proscenium theatre, which means the audience watches the show through a large arch, like looking into a picture frame.
There's also an art gallery called the Loge Art Gallery on the second floor. It's open to everyone. Local artists show their paintings, photos, and sculptures there. The art often matches the theme of the plays being performed that season.
Amazing Shows and Premieres
The PTC made history by being the first regional theatre to get the rights to perform Les Misérables. While most PTC shows run for about 19 performances, Les Mis was so popular it was extended many times. It ended up with 82 sold-out shows in 2007, which is still the company's record!
PTC has also put on the very first performances of new versions of musicals like Paint Your Wagon and The Producers. They were also the first in Utah to show plays like An American Daughter, Arcadia, Doubt, Fences, Proof, and The Vertical Hour.
The company has produced many popular musicals, including Chicago, Into the Woods, Cabaret, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, and Ragtime. They also perform classic plays and stories like Othello, Pride and Prejudice, The Three Musketeers, A Tale of Two Cities, and The Grapes of Wrath. The very first play PTC performed in 1962 was Hamlet.
In late 2022, Pioneer Theatre Company put on the first-ever performance of a new musical called Shucked. This was a big deal because it was the first time a theatre company in Utah had hosted a "tryout" for a Broadway musical before it went to New York City.
Pioneer Theatre Company's History
Building the Pioneer Memorial Theatre started with money from the Utah State Legislature, Kennecott Copper, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and private donations. It was finished in 1962. The building has three levels and two stages. The Main Stage holds 932 people, and a smaller stage called the Babcock Theatre in the basement holds 350. The building also has classrooms, rehearsal rooms, and dressing rooms. These spaces are also used by the University of Utah's Theatre Department.
The Pioneer Memorial Theatre was officially opened in October 1962. It was called the "State Theatre of Utah." Dr. C. Lowell Lees became the first Artistic Director.
After Dr. Lees left in 1964, Keith M. Engar took over. He helped create a special contract with Actors' Equity Association for university theatres. This was the first official agreement between professional actors' unions and a university theatre.
In 1984, Charles Morey became the Artistic Director. He helped PTC become a fully professional theatre. In 1986, PTC moved to a new contract with Actors' Equity, which allowed them to work with more professional actors. Charles Morey was the longest-serving artistic director of a major American regional theatre when he stepped down in 2012. Karen Azenberg then became the Artistic Director.
In 2010, PTC bought and fixed up a house near the university. This house, now called the Meldrum House, provides a place for visiting actors, directors, and designers to stay. The first cast stayed there in 2011.
In 2019, Chris Lino, the managing director, retired after 28 years. Diane L. Parisi became the Acting Managing Director in 2021.
