Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater ready to debut in Pleasant Grove with musical story of hope for future
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- The outside of The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater in Pleasant Grove is shown Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025.
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- Cast members of “Ragtime: The Musical” rehearse at The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater in an undated photo. Pictured, from left center, are Yahosh Bonner as Coalhouse Walker Jr., Porter Sparks McCormick as Little Boy and Amy Shreeve Keeler as Mother.
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- Banners advertising current and upcoming productions are displayed facing Pleasant Grove Boulevard outside of the Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2024.
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- Yahosh Bonner as Coalhouse Walker Jr. and Brittany Andam as Sarah Brown are shown in an undated photo during a rehearsal of “Ragtime: The Musical” at The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater.
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- The outside of The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater in Pleasant Grove is shown Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2024.
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- “Ragtime” cast member Morgan Fenner as Evelyn Nesbit is shown in an undated photo during a rehearsal at The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater.
The final weekend of 2024 marked the end of an era as the final curtain closed at the Hale Center Theater in Orem.
Last Saturday, cast members gave their all in a farewell production as the theater presented an adaptation of “A Christmas Carol,” closing a chapter of more than 30 years in the Orem location.
But according to the well-known saying, the show must go on.
The stage is now set for a new era of arts, entertainment and storytelling in Utah County as the new Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater at doTerra in Pleasant Grove opens its doors to the public this weekend.
Nicknamed “The Ruth” as a way of honoring one of the theater’s namesakes, the 77,000-square-foot venue features two theaters for larger and smaller audiences, as a way to maintain the intimate setting that patrons have become accustomed to.
A triumphant opening
The Ruth’s new chapter in Pleasant Grove opens with a production of “Ragtime: The Musical.”
“Ragtime” is a musical adaptation of the 1975 novel of the same name written by E.L. Doctorow, featuring music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and a book by Terrence McNally.
The production tells the story of three American families from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities as they maneuver cultural upheavals during the 20th century.
The theatrical production aims to offer a glimpse at the struggles for equality and justice during a time of significant change, according to a description on the theater’s social media page.
Director Jenny Barlow says the musical aligns perfectly with the opening of the new theater in representing a bold step forward.
“Just as The Ruth embodies hope, innovation, and community, so too does Ragtime, a story that invites us to reflect on where we’ve been and dream about where we’re headed,” Barlow wrote in her director’s notes.
Audiences will take note of the production’s diverse cast and story that provokes thought, compassion and unity.
Barlow says the heart and soul of the show is the music.
“We made deliberate choices to ensure the music feels as alive as the characters themselves,” said Barlow, who aside from directing “Ragtime” also is the associate artistic director for the theater.
Space and opportunity
Having a larger theater provides more space to accommodate larger casts.
Barlow said “Ragtime” is a show the theater always wanted to do but would have been hard to pull off at the Orem location, as they typically cast multiple actors for each role.
“Our production has 31 (cast members) which is very, very large,” she told the Daily Herald. “We just felt in the old space that it was too small for the magnitude of the number of people in the cast.”
Though the space is bigger, one thing that artistic leads at The Ruth have been clear on is not losing the intimacy and magical storytelling patrons grew to adore in Orem.
“You know, there’s something about the old space that invoked, for me as a director and choreographer, a lot of creativity, because it posts a lot of restrictions,” Barlow noted. “And with those obstacles and restrictions, you have to outsmart them. And with that kind of restrictive space, you are weirdly able to create a lot of magic.”
Barlow added that cast members and production crews have been getting acclimated to the new theater over the past month as rehearsals unfolded.
With the donations from doTerra, Greg and Julie Cook and the Cook Center for Human Connection, Pleasant Grove and other stakeholders, a lot of work has gone into making the move to the new city possible.
Barlow says Pleasant Grove leaders and elected officials have welcomed them with open arms.
“It’s hard to leave a city that you’ve been in for 35 years,” she said. “But we’re grateful for the invitation, and we’re grateful for the immense amount of support that we’ve received to make it happen.”
And it’s just the beginning of a busy 2025 season. Nine shows are scheduled from now through the end of the year.
Ragtime opens Saturday in The Ruth’s 670-seat Smith Grand Theater and runs until Feb. 22. “Cinderella” will take the stage on Valentine’s Day in the 300-seat Lindsay Legacy Theater.
As a new era in the Utah arts community begins, Barlow hopes people in Utah County and beyond embrace the new space and continue supporting the robust base of talent the state has to offer.
“We hope you will walk away being inspired and changed by the art that you see, that we can really affect you and give something to you that will stay with you for a long time and improve the way that you navigate the world,” she said.
