"If you’ve never been to Tuacahn in Southern Utah, come! It’s truly a venue like no other," says Anderson. "I’ve been lucky enough to get to play on this stage five different seasons and I’ve loved each one. Outdoor theatre in a hot desert can be tricky. Water is your best friend, and did I mention… water is your best friend?"
"But even with the challenges, what is created here is just so magical that it’s a thrill to be part of. This season I am back playing Ursula in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, a role I played here in 2011 for the Regional Premiere, and playing in repertory with Mermaid this year is The Wizard of Oz and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
"Many of the performers appear in all three productions that rotate each night. This year I am just a part of Mermaid and Joseph. While these photos don’t do justice to all the work that the cast, crew and creatives do out here, it will hopefully give you a little taste of what it’s like during a week at Tuacahn."
This morning a group of us from all three shows were supposed to perform at a local Swiss Days celebration with a parade and then singing at the event. Unfortunately there was a huge downpour. So, instead a few of us decided to get our brunch on at Ka'ili's, a yummy local polynesian restaurant. Mmmmm.
Heidi Anderson
Great little restaurant in Santa Clara which is a small town right near Ivins, where Tuacahn is located.
Heidi Anderson
After our delicious brunch, Trevor and Kari decided to introduce my daughters and I to the "Waffle Love" truck which was conveniently parked across the street.
Heidi Anderson
Biscoff, strawberries and fresh whipped cream. Whaaaaaaaat??
Heidi Anderson
Off to the theatre. This is the view on the back lot where the huge scenery is stored each night. Just gorgeous.
Heidi Anderson
Time to sign in! You never know what you'll find on the call board.
Heidi Anderson
Here's our awesome wig and makeup crew, Kenzie, Mia, Izchel and Matt working to make us all fabulous!
Heidi Anderson
Yay! I got booed!
Heidi Anderson
Time to get purple. No airbrushing, just good old Mehron purple and white mixed together and smeared all over face, shoulders, arms and hands. It seems to hold up better with an 80x30 ft. water curtain that sometimes likes to douse you on stage when a big gust of wind comes around.
Heidi Anderson
Um, could these brows get any higher? Let me see.
Heidi Anderson
Ready to go steal a voice, get revenge, capture some souls, fly, die, and make some children cry. It's a living.
Heidi Anderson
Beautiful Mersisters! Charlotte O'Dowd, Kristen Lamoreaux, Annie Lewis Ramsey, Julia Carter, Joanna Johnson and Daysha Pedersen. Not only do they skate on heelies, and fly in the air, for the majority of the show they magically float on "air wheels" which are like mini Segways hidden beneath their skirts. They are pretty amazing and talented women.
Heidi Anderson
Shari Jordan, our incredible Dance and Swing Captain decided to have a wonderful "Swing Appreciation Day"!
Heidi Anderson
These swings do the impossible. I'm always in awe.
Heidi Anderson
Todd Nielsen and his puppet gull at intermission reading some deep intellectual material.
Heidi Anderson
Scuttle (Matt Densky) is molting. Just a little. Don't judge.
Heidi Anderson
I call this one "Poopsie in a towel". Michael Milkanin (Flotsam) getting ready for some cake!
Heidi Anderson
The amazing AJ Sullivan, our PSM and SM for Mermaid hard at work.
Heidi Anderson
Kimberly McCann, ASM and SM for Oz busy typing up our schedule so we know what show we're doing tomorrow. It can get confusing.
Heidi Anderson
Randal Keith looking regal as King Triton.
Heidi Anderson
Her nickname is "Jursula". She is my lower half on stage. I drive her with my toes on my right foot. She can be temperamental at times but, most of the time we get along just "swimmingly". I used her in 2011 as well so we are old friends. She's pretty sweet. Favorite costume piece ever.
Heidi Anderson
Some of our awesome run crew! These guys work hard. Our sets are made of steel and can be difficult to get around. Great job, guys.
Heidi Anderson
Wonderstudy Trevor Dion Nicholas going on as Chef Louis tonight. He also plays the Cowardly Lion in Oz and Judah in Joseph. I like his tiny puppet legs they use in a black light segment of Les Poisson. But...something doesn't look right. Hmmmm.
Heidi Anderson
More awesome prop and run crew!
Heidi Anderson
Poopsies! Michael Milkanin as Flotsam and Matthew J. Vargo as Jetsam. They are delicious.
Heidi Anderson
Chase Nichter, part of our sound crew team, making sure mics are prepped.
Heidi Anderson
People always wonder how we get around with no "backstage". Well, here it is. The Tuacahn Tunnel. It takes us under this enormous stage to the other side. It's also where the trap doors are operated.
Heidi Anderson
In the tunnel you can see chalk graffiti of all kinds from past cast members and crew. Back in 2011 with the first production of Mermaid, our PSM AJ Sullivan started painting these fantastic murals of the playbill/logo art for us all to sign.
Heidi Anderson
It's time to fly and die. My incredible dresser, as well as our fantastic wig and makeup master, Matt Oliver, is getting my "fly legs" and harness ready for me to get into.
Heidi Anderson
"She's got le-egs!" Wrapping them up and getting them into my arms so I can go up the trap with them is quite the process.
Heidi Anderson
Britney ready to send me up.
Heidi Anderson
After my demise, where I get sucked back down in the trap, the wonderful Holley Housewright, ASM and SM for Joseph is there to greet me and help me get back up and on the "Jursula" for curtain call.
Heidi Anderson
Scuttle and Dougie Robbins giving me some 'tude in the tunnel.
Heidi Anderson
Annie and Daysha watching Mark Reis give me "buttitude" in the tunnel.
Heidi Anderson
Kari Yancy (Kariel) and I after a long "meet and greet" up on the Plaza where she gets to fulfill every young child's dream of meeting Ariel, and I get to fulfill a few of the children's nightmares as I try to convince them I'm really nice. It's a win win situation for everyone. Ha ha ha. Kari also plays our wonderful Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz as well.
Heidi Anderson
Next night, The Wizard of Oz. I am not performing in this show, but I did get the cool t-shirt and went quite often. A great production.
Heidi Anderson
Baking cookies for the cast and orchestra on Joseph night!
Heidi Anderson
Izchel helping James get ready to be Joseph.
Heidi Anderson
Todd DuBail working the "Pharoah" hair.
Heidi Anderson
The Boys.
Heidi Anderson
Mark C. Reis is Simeon. He also plays the rubber legged Scarecrow in Oz.
Heidi Anderson
Bart Williams is relaxing before he goes on as Jacob.
Heidi Anderson
Some of the girls getting "wived" up.
Heidi Anderson
What? A Picture?
Heidi Anderson
Act surprised. Yeah, that worked.
Heidi Anderson
Zack Crocker and Molly Davenport warming up with the really cool giant pyramid in the background. The pyramid has projections that appear on it throughout the production that help tell the story. Characters also appear on different levels and it opens up and they appear from inside.
Heidi Anderson
Calypso babes.
Heidi Anderson
Some of the kids from our "Kids Choir" getting ready to enter.
Heidi Anderson
Walk like an Egyptian.
Heidi Anderson
Monitor in the green room showing the stage from the sound booth above.
Heidi Anderson
Zack and Trevor show how hard they've been workin' out.
Heidi Anderson
Time to go sing in the pit with my fellow pit singers for Joseph, Mary Gutzi who plays the Wicked Witch in Oz and Lawrence Cummings who is Sebastian in Mermaid. It's nice and cool in the pit so Lawrence came prepared.
Heidi Anderson
Me getting ready to go go go Joseph!
Heidi Anderson
Melissa Yanchak is our fabulous MD and Conductor leading the orchestra.
Heidi Anderson
I tried to get them to let me be on stage during "Go Go Joseph." But it was a no no go go.
Heidi Anderson
The Go Go Joseph Hippie Bus! Yes, of course a real bus comes on stage. This is Tuacahn.
Heidi Anderson
Buds.
Heidi Anderson
See...this is what happens after Joseph when I'm not looking. Oh, Todd DuBail.
Heidi Anderson
Back to Mermaid and a daytime put in. As Kari Yancy, who was the original understudy took over the role of Ariel in the fall, we needed a new wonderstudy and Michelle Pruiett answered the call, which is a little Deja Woooo for some of us as Michelle was our Ariel in 2011 here at Tuacahn. Welcome back, Michelle!
Heidi Anderson
James was Prince Eric in 2011 as well. Awww. Together again.
Heidi Anderson
There are a lot of actors with kids this year which is really fun. Here are two brilliant little entrepreneurs, Bodhi and Jordan setting up their Lemonade and Cookie stand right where the actors needed it backstage during the put in. Location. Location. Location. The Lemonade with mint was a real hit.
Heidi Anderson
Thirsty actors rehearsing in the desert sun lining up for their lemonade. Good business.
Heidi Anderson
Sometimes this happens. It's magic.
Heidi Anderson
Mermaid night again. Grimsby, Bart Williams, who also plays the Wizard in Oz, is ready to go.
Heidi Anderson
Sebastian, Lawrence Cummings, lookin' cute.
Heidi Anderson
Todd DuBail as the cutest sea horse. You're welcome.
Heidi Anderson
After Mermaid that night, we went to an amazing home for a cast party that had a private bowling alley, treehouse room, puppet theatre, lego room and much more.
Heidi Anderson
Joe Komara the bowling shoe barker. "Get'cher shoes!"
Heidi Anderson
Can you find Trevor?
Heidi Anderson
Sometimes we find some good RnR on our days off. Just 30 minutes away from the red rock and sand is green and peaceful Pine Valley, along with all of the other amazing State and National Parks close by. If you like the outdoors, you'd love Southern Utah.
Heidi Anderson
Nice way to end a week!
Heidi Anderson
Visit tuacahn.org.
