Group works to revive St. George Musical Theater

By Kevin Jenkins
kevin@thespectrum.com
March 25, 2012
The St. George Spectrum

ST. GEORGE - Performers from the shuttered St. George Musical Theater
enjoyed a brief revival Saturday afternoon as part of a petition effort
and pledge drive that aims to turn lights on the stage once again.

"We're just trying to get the community to want it and to raise some
awareness," SGMT board President Dan Olsen said. "We don't want to take
donations, because if it doesn't happen - we've got to be realistic -
if it doesn't happen, we don't want to have to send back checks."

Board member Bruce Bennett said organizers obtained about 300 signatures
on a petition of support through their Facebook page from people who
wanted to see the theater revived and hoped to obtain at least 700 more
at Saturday's open house at the building they hope to purchase on the
corner of 400 East and 150 North in St. George.

SGMT's final performance was in 2009, after suffering a series of
setbacks and being bounced from one location to another.

The board came short of its goal Saturday, bringing in slightly more
than 350 signatures, but Bennett said getting the remaining 350
signatures would be "doable." More importantly, he said, the event
brought in more pledges for donations than the board had expected.

"That's the goal, right?" he said. "We got 30 pledges. There's one
in here for $5,000, from what I've been told."

The building, once home to construction building materials company
Sunroc, has about 24,000 square feet of space and Olsen said the
board's plans include a project that would add a second floor and up
to 10,000 additional square feet.

But Jennings Property Management, the building's owner, began offering
the facility to potential tenants last month after the SGMT board was
unable to come up with $450,000 needed to remodel it into a theater.
The Eccles Foundation has pledged $200,000 if the board can raise a
matching amount, so until a final decision is made, the pledge-raising
show goes on.

"This is a perfect venue for it," St. George resident Don Leavitt said
as he waited for his wife, Janet, to sing "Beauty and the Beast" from
the Walt Disney production.

"We've talked to several people, but we haven't found a user that's
more attractive to us at this point than (the theater)," Jennings
Property Management President Gilbert Jennings said earlier this month.

St. George resident Yesi Arrey said she learned about the signature
drive while next door at the Flood Street Theaters and brought her
children along while she put her name on the petition.

Her oldest daughter performs with the Dixie Arts Conservatory but got
her inspiration from the SGMT, Arrey said.

"When they had the musical theater before, I remember taking my
daughter for the first time, and I think that's where she developed
her love for the theater," Arrey said.

"The big thing is that they're using local talent, and they're
developing local talent," St. George resident Wayne Eckman said.
"I've been to just about every performance, but I'll see them again."

Those who wish to pledge their support can do so through the theater
group's website at www.sgmusicaltheater.com.