Deseret News | Egyptian Theatre cuts back staff, stage offerings

Reader comments
Egyptian Theatre cuts back staff, stage offerings

Ace | 11:02 p.m. March 28, 2009

Reality is, Equity contracts make little sense for most theaters in Utah. There is plenty of non-Equity talent, so you don't need to be an Equity stage to get the best actors, singers, and dancers. All Equity affiliation gets you is more rules to follow, a greater financial burden, and limitations on your operation. Kudos to the Egyptian for sending the union packing. I think it's a wise financial move that will ultimately pay artistic dividends too.

free at last | 11:49 p.m. March 28, 2009

Utah here's your tourism BITING THE DUST. You nearly killed Sundance, (and if they're smart they'll broom it to New Mexico or die next year.)
Making yourself the Hate state was your own doing, live with it.

Anonymous | 11:52 p.m. March 28, 2009

Ending Union contracts is SO Utah.
It's gonna die when professional class shows won't appear, and without Equity none of the National touring companies will come with in 500 miles of Utah.

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 12:13 a.m. March 29, 2009

I can nearly guarantee that first comment is by a local non-equity actor.

While there are definitely good, non professional actors in Utah, actors need to be rewarded for their professionalism and be paid.

And not in cookies and a potluck.

Otherwise theatres will simply exploit those who are willing to work but can't make a living.

So there is a place for community theatre. But there is also a place for professional theatre.

TheaterLover | 1:22 a.m. March 29, 2009

@Anonymous | 11:52 p.m.
Oh, PULLLEEEZE!! Save your drama for the stage. There are still AEA theaters in Utah, including Tuacahn, PMT, and the Utah Shakespearean Festival. And even if there weren't, that doesn't mean that Broadway touring companies wouldn't appear here because the Egyptian stopped paying scale. It's obvious that a) you don't know what you're talking about, and that b) you're the same troll who was multi-posting on this story a couple of days ago.

And should I re-address "free at last | 11:49 p.m." for my next comment...nah, why bother, you're one and the same: as I told you when this article appeared before...Sundance did just fine this year, and the Hollywood types did NOT stay away, contrary to predictions (some attended the Obama inaugural instead of the Sundance Opening, and then showed up, but you wouldn't begrudge them that detour, would you?).

And now you're trotting out the tired, old "Hate State" thing, in spite of the fact that 30 states, not just Utah, have marriage amendments passed by voters. Seems like YOU are the one spouting "hate".

Anonymous | 2:39 p.m. March 29, 2009

*Doing my best Mickey Rooney voice*
"Hey Judy, let's put on a Show in your Dad's barn!"

It's not all bad news, now the Egyptian has room on it's schedule for Chris Buttars' barking seal act, and Gayle Ruzicka's pole dance.

Ace | 6:41 p.m. March 29, 2009

To Anon @ 12:13 - I'm not a non-Equity actor. I'm a former producer in the theatre and entertainment industry in Utah (NOT community theatre). In my experience, all I get hiring Equity actors is a sense of entitlement, a bigger ego, and inflexibility.

Professionalism is more an issue of integrity than it is union membership. I've had non-union actors that were very professional, because they understood the meaning of commitment and hard work. I've also had union actors that were extremely unprofessional because they believed the world revolved around them and their Equity card. Of course, I've had unprofessional amateurs, and also outstanding union actors.

I stand by my original post.

Anonymous | 9:48 p.m. March 29, 2009

@Ace
You didn't challenge the fact NO significant National touring company will perform in a non union house.
The ski resorts and Sundance aren't bringing in the audience who expect a world class productions, and it trickles down to other venues, and likely other up scale restaurants, clubs. The locals who come ski for a day or two, don't go to a theater on their stay, and don't frequent the best restaurants either. It becomes a spiriling circle where lower standard places survive, and the quality evaporates.

Ace | 10:29 a.m. March 30, 2009

When was the last time a significant national touring company performed in the Egyptian in Park City? Have you been there before? It's not a very impressive facility.

Michael's Girl | 2:42 p.m. March 30, 2009

Hale Centre Theatre is doing a regional premiere of Ken Ludwig's "Treasure Island" this season as well as the regional premiere of "Curtains" just of Broadway in June! Do we really NEED the touring companies? Maybe we're doing ok in our hokie little "hate state". If you haven't seen a show at Hale, I say check it out. "Phantom" was as impressive as any show I've seen on Broadway, and yes, my friends, I am a seasoned theater goer. I've never been impressed with Egyptian. And maybe we ought to think about catering to the audience that LIVES here, novel and naive idea, I know.

Anonymous | 6:16 p.m. March 30, 2009

Utah is DE-EVOLVING into one big West Jordan...and it deserves it.

To Michael's Girl | 7:02 p.m. March 30, 2009

To answer your question "YES". Utah absolutely needs the touring companies. HCT doesn't hold a candle to these productiona and gets way too caught up in their stage than anything else.

If you are holding Hale up as the best theater Utah needs, you aren't the 'seasoned theater goer' you calaim to be. You may have seen a lot of shows but you obviously don't have a very discerning eye.

I live here also and feel fine with many of the shows that come through. So I don't know what that last line means or is referring to.

I think the Egyptian had to have two or three Equity players in each show so I don't know if the overall quality will suffer since Utah does have many, many very talented non-equity actors.

Good luck to all involved.

L | 7:53 p.m. March 30, 2009

Hct does use their stage a lot. But, if you have a million-dollar stage, you use it. I am impressed very much with The Shakespearean Festival & The Utah Festival Opera productions as well. My last line simply meant that if theaters in the area can't sell seats, they need to consider a local audience, not the people flocking into our state to be "taught" by art. As Debra Monk's character says in Curtains, "It's a business". My best to all involved as well. And thanks for assuming I don't have a discerning eye. Disagreeing with one doesn't make someone unintelligent. ;)

Anonymous | 1:09 a.m. March 31, 2009

I have to agree with the previous poster that HCT is not an example of fine theatre. There are some good productions, for sure, esp for the price.

But they are just slightly better than regular community theatre.

Fancy stage, safe productions (that, yes, do appeal to their audience -one who doesn't want to be majorly challenged) but certainly not moving, exciting, thought provoking theatre.

And the attention to detail, in some shows, can be downright laughable. But at $15 a ticket, I won't complain too loudly. I don't think I expect as much from them as I do the big tours.

Anonymous | 1:03 p.m. April 2, 2009

I think the subject has gotten a little off-track. Basically the Egyptian is trying to survive. They are doing what they need to survive.

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.