Shakespeare Theater on track

CEDAR CITY — The Cedar City Council is moving forward with its pledge to spend $2 million to help build a theater at Southern Utah University to serve as the new home of the Utah Shakespeare Festival.

City Attorney Paul Bittmenn says council members acting as the Redevelopment Agency modified an earlier agreement on Wednesday to place $1.5 million in escrow by the end of this month. The rest of the money will be paid after the actual construction is expected to begin this fall.

It's part of a $30 million blueprint for the SUU Arts Complex that also will include an artistic production studio and the Southern Utah Museum of Arts. The 900-seat theater is expected to cost $13 million, production facility $8.8 million and museum $8.2 million.