Tuacahn is Crazy for You in 2010

According to Tuacahn Center for the Arts: "Winner of the 1992 Tony Award for Best Musical, Crazy For You tells the story of Bobby Child, a well-to-do 1930’s playboy, whose dream in life is to dance. Heir of a New York banking family, Bobby is sent by his mother to Deadrock, Nevada, on an errand to foreclose on the town’s Gaiety Theatre. Once he arrives, however, he manages to fall in love with Polly, the daughter of the theatre’s owner, and becomes involved in a plan to rescue the doomed venue by producing a spectacular show to pay off the building’s mortgage. Will he save the day by rescuing the doomed theatre? And will this city slicker win the heart of the girl he loves?

Experience the magic of this timeless story when Tuacahn’s desert setting is transformed into a decaying Nevada village with the dream of keeping its beloved theatre alive. Memorable Gershwin tunes include "I Can't Be Bothered Now," "Bidin' My Time," "I Got Rhythm," "Naughty Baby," "They Can't Take That Away from Me," "But Not for Me," "Nice Work if You Can Get It," "Embraceable You," and "Someone to Watch Over Me." Crazy for You is a high-energy comedy featuring plot twists, mistaken identity, fabulous dance numbers, and classic Gershwin music. This award-winning musical homage to one of the greatest songwriting teams of the twentieth century will delight the entire family.

Tarzan Comes to Tuacahn in 2010

According to Tuacahn Center for the Performing Arts, the jungle will come to life in the desert when Tuacahn Amphitheatre presents the regional premiere of Tarzan—the Broadway musical based on the popular 1999 Disney film and beloved story by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

This classic tale begins when an early 1900 shipwreck leaves an infant orphaned on the West African shore. The helpless baby is taken under the protection of a gorilla tribe and becomes part of their family. When he eventually encounters his first human--Jane Porter, a curious young explorer--both of their worlds transform forever.

Tarzan features the songs from Disney’s film as well as nine new songs written specifically for the Broadway production. The show’s Grammy® Award-winning musical score, written by singer/songwriter Phil Collins, propels the energy and imagination of this literary favorite, making this a "must see" at the Tuacahn Amphitheatre in 2010.

You'll want to come back to southern Utah after the Utah Rotary District Conference, May 13-15, 2010 to see "Tarzan" at Tuacahn Center for the Arts.

Tuacahn Announces 2010 Summer Shows

"I was awestruck," wrote Orval Hafen, upon first seeing the area now home to the Tuacahn Center for the Arts. He and his wife, Ruth, bought an eighty-acre parcel in the box canyon and built a cabin below the pristine red rocks. Describing the scene at the turn of the 20th century, he stated: "There before me lay a scene of indescribable beauty: wild, primitive, unspoiled, largely unknown, waiting to be enjoyed, waiting to inspire folks." Within these "towering red sandstone cliffs," he desired that "others [might one day] share this beauty and drink of the inspiration that is here."

Orval Hafen’s vision came one step closer to reality in 1993 when Doug Stewart, noted playwright and St. George resident, stumbled upon the spot as he was searching for a location for an outdoor amphitheatre in the St. George area. "The stunning beauty and perfect surroundings stopped me in my tracks," Stewart recalled. "I was brought to tears when I first stood there, and after taking it in for some time – envisioning an amphitheatre and a stage with an awesome backdrop of 1,500 foot red rock cliffs, and hearing the sounds of music echoing from the canyon walls – I literally flew back to town and straight to the county recorder’s office to see who the land belonged to."

From that magical moment in the canyon, Tuacahn Center for the Arts became a reality as a 42,000 square foot facility featuring a 330-seat indoor theater, dance studio, black-box theater, a recital hall, costume and scene shops, studios and classrooms, a gift shop, and a 1920-seat outdoor amphitheatre - the home of "Broadway in the Desert." In its 2010 summer theater season, Tuacahn will perform "Tarzan," "Cats" and "Crazy for You" from June 4 - October 15.

The summer shows will not be playing when Rotarians are here for the 2010 Utah Rotary District Conference, but stay tuned for information about one Tuacahn show you'll want to see while you're here May 13-15, 2010. It's one you won't want to miss!!!

Rotary in Southern Utah: St. George

There is no doubt, St. George Rotary Club has added to the quality of life in the state's most southwestern community, the world and Utah’s District 5420 in many positive ways during its 78-year history. Chartered by Rotary International in 1931 (when the Cedar City Rotary Club voted to share its territory), Club #1079 is one of the oldest and most respected clubs in Utah. From its membership, five District Governors have been selected including PDG Eldon McArthur (1987-88), PDG Douglas Quayle (1989-90), Sterling Spafford (1996-97), Jim Coleman (2000-01) and currently Utah District Governor Gilbert Trujillo (2009-10).

With a strong spirit of "service above self," the members of St. George Rotary Club have initiated numerous projects in the nearly eight decades of their existence to "build goodwill and better friendships."

Over the years, SGR has been involved in several International Service projects, including collecting 500 pair of eyeglasses for the visually impaired in the Philippines; purchasing almost 200 wheelchairs for men, women and children with disabilities living in third world countries; collecting and shipping boxes of shoes to Mexico; purchasing a school bus for young men in Thailand with an RI matching grant; and, sending Allen Hilton and Jim Coleman into the world as GSE team leaders. The most recent international project involves collecting money for the purchase and installation of hundreds of stoves to save lives in Guatemala, where women and children die at an alarming rate due to smoke inhalation and burns.

SGR has also built informational kiosks at trail heads throughout the St. George community; funded Safety Town for pre-schoolers and the Sterling Scholar program for accomplished high school students; supported YouthLINC; nourished capable, patriotic leadership in dozens of teens through participation in Boys and Girls State; developed a successful annual 4-Way Test Essay Contest; and in six years, has distributed 10,700 dictionaries to 3rd grade students in Washington County schools. SGR was an active participant in the creation of the Encampment Mall where club members rolled out more than seven acres of sod to create a popular gathering place for students at Dixie State College; and, with the City of St. George in the creation of the Rotary SK8 Park.

Unquestionably, the most ambitious project undertaken by SGR is the Dixie Rotary Bowl, now in its 24th year as the "premiere post-season junior college bowl game in America." Since its inception, more than $1 million dollars have been raised to benefit participating schools from all over the United States meeting head-to-head on the gridiron.

Through it all, SGR has a strong history of support for EREY; Paul Harris Fellows number 134 and in the past five years the club has received three simplified grants and four matching grants from RI.

In 2009-10, Ken Sizemore is serving as the 79th president of the 81-member St. George Rotary Club. Meetings are held each Monday at noon at the St. George Holiday Inn where members enjoy fellowship and finding new ways to make the community and the world a better place.

The Best of Shakespeare Offered in Southern Utah

Shakespeare rocks . . . and so do Charles Dickens, Jane Austen and Alfred Hitchcock, all featured in the 2010 season of the Utah Shakespearean Festival, on the campus of Southern Utah University in Cedar City.

The 2010 Summer Season will feature six shows rotating in two theaters from June 28 to August 28:

"Macbeth," haunted by witches prophecies and spurred by his wife’s ambitions and his own taste for power, dares to twist and tempt fate in one of the world’s first psychological thrillers.

"The Merchant of Venice" is a thought-provoking masterpiece of love and humor, racism and greed which explores issues of justice and mercy, the complexity of humanity and the nature of forgiveness and love.

"Much Ado About Nothing" is a vibrant and comic celebration of life and romance involving lovers for which you will cheer when these lively couples finally learn the realities of life, love and themselves - through lessons learned from an assortment of villains, clowns, and eccentric characters.

"Pride and Prejudice" involves a plot by desperate parents to find eligible suitors for their five beautiful daughters. Fully capturing the spirit of the classic book by Jane Austen, this adaptation is delightful, romantic, and fun for the entire family.

Alfred Hitchcock’s "The 39 Steps" blends the "master of mystery" with Monty Python. A hilarious mystery spoof involving murder, betrayal, and espionage, this is one of the funniest plays to ever hit Broadway. See if you can figure out whodunit as this cast of four transforms into over 150 farcical characters!

"Great Expectations" is a world premiere musical based on one of history’s most popular novels involving the adventures of young Pip and his struggles and triumphs to find his place in the world. Charles Dickens’ timeless prose is interwoven with soaring and rich music.

During the fall season (September 16 - October 16 ) the Emmy-award winning theater group will present three additional shows including "The Adventures of Pericles" a rich tale of a young man’s search for thrills, riches and love while the gods seem to be against him as his loves die and his friends deceive him. In the end . . . well, you’ll have to find out for yourself.

In "Greater Tuna" you’ll meet the on-air personalities of OKKK Radio as they bring you the daily happenings in Tuna, Texas, complete with UFOs, Smut Snatchers, and Puppy Pushers, and where laughter fills every thirty-second sound bite.

And, USF’s final offering in 2010 is "The Diary of Anne Frank," the Pulitzer Prize-winning play which testifies - not to the brutality of war and hatred - but to the unshakeable spirit of a young girl and to the hopes and loves of a family and a people trying to hold to their faith.

Sorry . . . you won’t be able to enjoy any Shakespeare during the Utah Rotary District Conference on May 13-15, 2010! Guess you’ll just have to come back!

And the Winners Are . . .

Rotarians Ronald Jensen from the Murray Club and Dwayne Woolley from the West Jordan Club will be the guests of Utah District Governor Gil Trujillo and Rotary’s First Lady Pat Trujillo at their home in St. George on a weekend of their choosing.

As the first to pre-register for the Utah District Conference on May 13-15, 2010 in - where else? - St. George, Jensen and Woolley and their spouses will enjoy a leisurely few days with their feet up, soaking in the swimming pool - or touring the area with Gil behind the wheel seeing all the beautiful sites already listed on http://www.utahrotaryconference.blogspot.com./ It is likely, the Trujillo's guests will also enjoy some of Gil’s famous international cuisine. Congratulations to these two "plan ahead" Rotarians!

Meet the New Governor and His Lady

After three years of moving up the ranks of leadership in Rotary’s Utah District 5420, Gilbert Trujillo of the Bloomington suburb of St. George, has been inducted into the state’s top spot as 94th District Governor overseeing the activities of Utah’s 44 clubs and more than 2000 members.

As the fifth district governor selected from among the nearly 90-members of St. George Rotary Club, Trujillo will direct Utah Rotary District 5420 to meet the goals of Rotary International as he encourages all Utah Rotarians to more fully engage in service in their club, community, state and in the world. He also hopes to coordinate an international project involving all 44 clubs working together for greater impact; develop a workable plan for the active recruitment of young men and women leaders into Rotary clubs around the state; continue in support of RI’s global partnership goal to eradicate polio in the world; and, encourage Rotarians throughout the Beehive State to dig deep into their pockets to fund water projects to bring clean drinking water to many of more than 2.6 billion people in 3rd world countries who currently live without this precious commodity.

Trujillo also wants to promote micro-credit programs in impoverished populations worldwide enabling people to make a living with an investment of as little as $30; and to continue supporting literacy programs in the state and worldwide.

“The problems associated with illiteracy affect those in developing counties as well as wealthy nations with universal education,” notes Trujillo. “Literacy is a stepping stone out of poverty and can help people provide an income to improve their lives and the lives of their children.”

The Utah District Governor’s Rotary career began in 1989 as a charter member of the Delta Rotary Club where he served as president (1990-91) and hosted Rotary youth exchange students from the Philippines, Brazil and France.

After retirement from General Telephone and Telegraph (now Verizon Wireless) in 1992, Trujillo and his wife Patricia relocated to St. George where he was recruited for membership in the St. George Rotary Club, also coming up the ranks of leadership, including service as president. He also served as team leader for a Group Study Exchange to Argentina, a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for people in the early years of their professional careers.

In recent years as Rotary has grown statewide, the 72-year-old Bloomington resident was selected to serve as an Assistant District Governor which gave him experience and the courage to throw his hat in the ring for his new role as District Governor.

As District Governor, he has the option of having his home club host the annual Utah Rotary District Conference which is expected to bring approximately 500 Rotarians and spouses to the area for three days in May, 2010.

Trujillo is a native of Taos, New Mexico. In addition to his legendary Rotary mindset of “service above self,” Trujillo enjoys cooking international cuisine. Gil and his wife Pat are parents to seven, grandparents to 19 and also have 3 great-grandchildren. The bilingual former Marine’s 30-year career with GTE took him and his family to live in faraway places around the world, including Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Spain and Greece. Currently, he is the owner/manager of Rent-A-Video in downtown St. George.