Massive Set and Costume Spectacle
More Than 800 Period Costume Pieces Coupled with Inventive Staging Drive Broadway’s Adventure Musical
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (Aug. 3, 2009) — Hale Centre Theatre (HCT), Utah’s premier family theatre, will present the Broadway’s French Revolution adventure, “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” Aug. 11 through Sept. 26, 2009.
As one of HCT’s biggest shows of the season, the technical elements are not to be overlooked. Design includes a life-sized working carousel that rises from the stage floor and a guillotine that tricks the audience eye during beheadings. Diverse scenes, including a ship, prison, ballroom, tavern and guillotine square, required HCT to design a two-level acting platform to which a series of bridges are connected.
From 18th Century panniers to tricorns, “The Scarlet Pimpernel” is the largest costume undertaking by HCT. More than 800 pieces, 357 of them designed and handmade by HCT costumers over the past year and half, will adorn the 25-member cast, who play multiple parts from British aristocrats to French revolution mobsters. Lace, ribbon and fabrics were brought in from Los Angeles and New York to preserve the authenticity of the clothing for the period. Female cast members have been wearing practice corsets and panniers the men have donned high-heeled shoes to get accustomed to the costumes they will wear in the show.
“In addition to our original costumes and staging, Hale Centre Theatre’s version of ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’ also has unique script elements only seen on our stage,” said Mark Dietlein, HCT executive producer. “We collaborated with the composer to rework a few things from our first showing in 2002. Audiences love it and it draws patrons from all around the country.”
Set during the first French Revolution in the late 1700s, a band of British aristocrats, led by the Scarlet Pimpernel, scheme to save the French aristocracy from the guillotine. To preserve their anonymity, the “bounders” must play the parts of fools in British and French society and safeguard their secret identities from all – including the Pimpernel’s new wife, Marguerite. The show includes clever escapes, daring fights, comical scenes and romantic exchanges.
“The Scarlet Pimpernel” is based on the story by Baroness Orczy, with music by Frank Wildhorn (“The Civil War,” “Jekyll and Hyde”) and books and lyrics by Nan Knighton. With three separate runs on Broadway from 1997 to 2000, “The Scarlet Pimpernel” had a total of 744 performances before its national U.S. tour from 2000-2001. The show had three Tony Award nominations for Best Musical and Best Book, two Drama Desk nominations and four Outer Critics Circle nominations including Best New Musical. It has been performed around the world. Hale Centre Theatre performed the audience favorite in 2004 and 2002.
HCT’s “The Scarlet Pimpernel” is directed by Bruce Bredeson and stars Kevin Goertzen as Justin Bills as Percy (The Scarlet Pimpernel). The show also stars Jenny Latimer and Megan Heaps as Marguerite; and Craig Bowen and Brian Clark as Chauvelin. The music director is Anne Puzey; choreographer is Marilyn May Montgomery; head costume designer is Suzanne Carling; technical director, prop master and set designer is Kacey Udy; lighting designer is Spencer Brown; and the sound designer is Dan Morgan.
Due to the already incredible demand, several additional 4 p.m. weekday matinées have been added to the regular performance schedule, which is Monday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with matinées each Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Ticket prices are Monday through Thursday evenings and matinées, adult $22, child (5-11 years) $15; Friday and Saturday evening shows, adult $26, child (5-11 years) $16. Tickets may be purchased online at www.halecentretheatre.org, via telephone at (801) 984-9000 or at the Hale Centre Theatre box office, 3333 South Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City, Utah.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Back to top »
