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32-579: The Tuacahn Center for the Arts is an arts organization located at the mouth of the Padre Canyon , adjacent to Snow Canyon State Park , in Ivins, Utah . The 42,000-square-foot (3,900 m) facility was completed in 1995 and includes a 1,920-seat outdoor amphitheater , a 328 seat indoor theater, a black box theater , a dance studio, a costume shop, a scene shop , and the campus of Tuacahn High School for
64-406: A cabin at the base of the cliffs. He described the canyon, saying There before me lay a scene of indescribable beauty: wild, primitive, unspoiled, largely unknown, waiting to be enjoyed, waiting to inspire folks In 1993, local playwright Douglass Stewart raised funds to convert the natural amphitheater at the base of the cliffs to what would eventually become Tuacahn Amphitheatre and Center for
96-435: A concrete pass-under tunnel to get from stage left to stage right out of view of the audience. The rear of the stage is open to expose the desertscape and red rock cliffs behind the stage which contains lighting, sound, pyrotechnical, and water effects installations. The area behind the stage is a mixture of natural stone and naturally colored concrete. This concrete riverbed was installed during initial construction to facilitate
128-578: A decade. In 2006, MTI selected Tuacahn as one of eight regional theaters in the United States to present the first post-Broadway semi-professional productions of Les Misérables . In June 2009, Tuacahn was awarded rights to present the post-Broadway regional-theater premiere of Disney 's Tarzan . Due to this success, Disney awarded them the rights for the post-Broadway regional premiere of The Little Mermaid . The 2014 season, which included The Little Mermaid , The Wizard of Oz , and Joseph and
160-584: A double bill of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers , both of which were wildly successful with visitors from all United States and 25 other nations. In 2002, productions of Annie Get Your Gun and Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat broke all previous box office records. This occurred again in 2003 when The Wizard of Oz broke all box office records at Tuacahn. In 2005, under
192-499: A dramatic retelling of the founding of southern Utah through the eyes of Jacob Hamblin , an early pioneer called by Brigham Young to settle the city of Santa Clara and to make peace with the Native Americans in the region. The production used the natural canyon setting to great effect, dramatically lighting the red rock cliffs and incorporating special elements like pyrotechnics, live animals, and special effects including
224-664: A fine of $ 20,000 and agreed to special measures to ensure tortoises would be protected during construction and after the center opened. This included special "tortoise-proof fences" and passages underneath the road where wildlife could pass under. Tuacahn opened in April 1995 with a dedication by Gordon B. Hinckley and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir . The venue initially presented the musical Utah! (book by Robert Paxton, lyrics by Doug Stewart, music by Kurt Bestor and Sam Cardon , and production design by Seven Nielsen)
256-580: A flash flood that came across the stage toward the audience. Amidst the spectacle, the production's book included subjects sensitive to the Mormon population, including depictions of polygamy, the Mountain Meadows Massacre , and Jesus Christ's appearance to Native Americans, as recorded in the Book of Mormon . Audience discomfort with these issues and lukewarm reviews prompted the rewriting of
288-476: A massive 55,000 gallon flood of water that comes from the back of the canyon and across the stage toward the audience. Though conceptualized and custom-built for the "Utah!" production, this special effect and other water effects have been featured in numerous productions at Tuacahn. The Hafen Theater is a 328-seat indoor proscenium arch theatrical facility. It is part of the Tuacahn High School for
320-426: A space to tell the stories of Utah's ancient inhabitants and pioneer settlers. The two, using a plot of 80 acres (320,000 m) previously owned by Orval Hafen , set to build this dream. Seven Nielsen designed the amphitheater complex which included a 45,000-gallon water holding pond, a river spillway, and a drainage system for the flash-flood sequence in the inaugural run of the musical production of Utah! . During
352-729: A three sided canyon and scenic sentinels carved from the red Navajo Sandstone . Padre Canyon is part of the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve , a 62,000 acre protected area that contains three distinct ecosystems: the Mojave Desert , the Colorado Plateau and the Great Basin . Geological features of the canyon include Padre Rock, the Padre Arch, pillared rock formations and sand dunes. Padre Canyon
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#1732791603322384-715: Is bordered and protected by Snow Canyon State Park , the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area (managed by the Bureau of Land Management), and the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. The canyon is adjacent to the Red Mountain Wilderness. The Tuacahn Center for the Arts is located in the mouth of the canyon. Padre Canyon is accessible by car from Tuacahn Drive, with parking available at a pull-over just south of
416-597: Is generally hot during the day and warm at night, with an average daily high of 101 °F (38 °C) and low of 74 °F (23 °C) recorded for the nearby town of Ivins in the month July. In fall and winter months it is generally temperate during the day and cold at night, with an average daily high of 52 °F (11 °C) and low of 32 °F (0 °C) in Ivins in December. The area sees regular light precipitation of around 0.7 inches (1.8 cm) each month with
448-414: Is in southwest Utah, roughly 50 miles west of Zion National Park with a valley elevation of 3,100 feet above sea level. Padre Canyon is a three sided canyon oriented north to south. To the east is steep sloping hillside that gradually merges upward into vertical Kayenta and Navajo Sandstone cliffs at 4,000 feet elevation. The east side of the canyon descends southward to 3,500 feet and abruptly terminates in
480-565: Is not recommended for those without some backcountry experience. Red Mountain Route - 10.8 miles (17.4 km). Strenuous. Primitive route is remote and faint in places, great panoramic views, extreme caution is recommended. Toe Trail – 2.8 miles (4.5 km). Easy trail. Follows Ivins flood control dike. Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat Too Many Requests If you report this error to
512-705: Is within Washington County, which lies on the Hurricane Fault. The fault bisects the county, and is visible at the Hurricane Cliffs, which run south to the Grand Canyon . The fault has exposed colorful layers of rocks dating back to the age of the dinosaurs and older. Most of the scenic red rock is known as Navajo Sandstone . Navajo sandstone was created from layers of cemented sand that blew into Utah nearly 200 million years ago. In
544-524: The Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat , was its most successful season to date hosting over 260,000 patrons. Tuacahn announced its 2015 season would include "Disney's Beauty And The Beast", "Disney's When You Wish", and "Sister Act". "Disney's When You Wish" was a world premier. Tuacahn's school facility was originally conceived as a private school where students would receive private lessons and participate in group classes. The school
576-478: The Arts . Padre Canyon has views of Snow Canyon State Park backcountry. During the springtime this area shows desert wildflowers of desert baileya, banana and soap tree yucca , brittle brush, creosote bush , indigo bush , purple sage , range ratany , palmers penstemon , hedgehog and prickly pear . Wash areas host tamarisk. Wildlife includes the Gila monster , peregrine falcon and desert tortoise . In 1990,
608-538: The Arts . The Tuacahn Center for the Arts contributes to the arts by producing two or three performances on its amphitheater stage and offers a spring and fall concert series for the region. They also produce the annual "Christmas in the Canyon" featuring a live-action recreation of the nativity called the "Festival of Lights." Tuacahn was founded in 1995 by playwright Douglas C. Stewart . Partnering with philanthropist and businessman, Hyrum W. Smith , he planned to create
640-643: The North Black Rocks lava field. The north end of the canyon is a saddle with a trail peak elevation of 3,740 feet in altitude. The west side of the canyon is Red Mountain at 4,500 feet in altitude. To the south of the canyon is the low lying basin of the Mohave Desert with vistas of the Utah Range, the first in a long series of ranges of the Basin and Range Physiographic province. The area
672-505: The Performing Arts facility, though semi-professionally staged productions have been featured in this theater in the past. The black box theater and dance studio are used primarily as working spaces for school classes, rehearsals, and special events. They are not commonly used for theatrical presentations. Padre Canyon Padre Canyon is adjacent to Snow Canyon State Park and Red Mountain in Ivins, Utah , and features
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#1732791603322704-486: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Mojave Desert tortoise as a "threatened" species. Small fences to keep the ground dwelling creatures from accidentally wandering onto roads border the roadway into the canyon. Other notable wildlife include the giant desert hairy scorpion , coyote , Mojave sidewinder , red-spotted toad , Utah banded gecko, and the side-blotched lizard , among many others. Padre Canyon
736-498: The Utah Shakespeare Festival. Over 30% of graduates from Tuacahn High continue to complete 4 year college degrees. Tuacahn has two venues most frequently used for theatrical productions. The Tuacahn Amphitheater is a 2500-seat open-air amphitheater. It consists of three sections of seating (Left, Right, Center) with 32 rows A (front) - FF (rear). All seats have backs and arms, but are not cushioned. Entrance to
768-419: The amphitheater is from the rear, requiring all patrons to descend the stairs toward their seats. Patrons with limited mobility are encouraged to sit near the top (rear) of the amphitheater. There is extra leg room on row O which is sometimes used during the productions when actors walk through the audience. Wheelchair accessible seating is available on the back row (FF) only. The stage has a concrete subfloor with
800-598: The construction of the center, two Mojave desert tortoises (an endangered species) were found dead along the road which led from the main highway to the construction site. This halted construction while an investigation by the Fish and Wildlife Service commenced. On August 18, 1994, an agreement was reached between the Heritage Arts Foundation and the US Fish and Wildlife Service in which the foundation paid
832-465: The direction of the new artistic director Scott Anderson, Tuacahn commemorated their tenth season by presenting Beauty and the Beast and a third production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat . These two shows once again beat all previous ticket sales. The successful production of "Disney's Beauty and the Beast" began a relationship between Tuacahn and Disney Theatricals that has lasted over
864-510: The exception of May and June when precipitation reduces to around 0.2 inches (0.51 cm). The area around Padre and Snow Canyons has had human activity since the 5th century BC . From AD 200 to 1250, Ancestral Puebloans inhabited the nearby region, utilizing the canyon for hunting and gathering. Southern Paiute used the canyon from AD 1200 to the mid-19th century. Orval Hafen purchased 80 acres in Padre Canyon in 1957, and built
896-524: The main gate for the Tuacahn Center for the Arts. The Padre Canyon hiking trail can be accessed using a small trail east of the canyon wash, or from a small connector at the northeast portion of the Tuacahn facility. No bathrooms, picnic areas or campgrounds are available. There is no trailer parking. Padre Canyon, like much of the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, has a dry and arid climate. In summer it
928-485: The past million years, eruptions of several cinder cones and lava flows scattered the ground with black basaltic rocks. Padre Canyon Trail – 4.7 miles (7.6 km). Medium to hard, maneuvering through slots, off ledges, and through holes on your knees, and may involve some wading, especially in the winter and spring. Highlights include slickrock hiking, arched alcoves, the Doll House and an undisturbed ecosystem. It
960-515: The show every season. Minor changes were made between the premiere in 1995 and the 1996 production. A major rewrite was undertaken for the 1997 production by Reed McColm, but major characters remained and Jacob Hamblin was still central to the story. In 1998, the book and lyrics were completely rewritten by Tim Slover and Marvin Payne, creating a fictional storyline that emphasized the peacemaking efforts between pioneers and native peoples. The production
992-417: Was not initially successful, due in part to the remoteness of the location of the school. In 1999, Tuacahn decided to re-open the school as a Utah Charter High School. Tuacahn High School for the Performing Arts , a high school that combines a college preparatory curriculum and an arts focus in music, dance, theater, or visual art. Over the years it has been awarded with many accolades including first place at
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1024-523: Was remounted one final time for an abbreviated fall season in 2002, with Stallion Cornell providing yet another new book based on the 1996 version of the show. "Utah!" has not been produced since the 2002 season. In 1999, with diminishing interest in "Utah!" and lackluster ticket sales from the 1998 season, the Tuacahn's board of directors changed the theater's programming to a season of more popular, family-friendly Broadway musicals presented in rotating repertory. The first season of this new format consisted of
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