PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "How Do They Do It?" A Busy Week at Tuacahn's Mary Poppins, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Starlight Express | Playbill

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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "How Do They Do It?" A Busy Week at Tuacahn's Mary Poppins, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Starlight Express

Before every performance of <i>Starlight Express</i>, we have "all skate" which is a chance for us to warm up our skating and check out the track before our show. You can see the crew finishing up the "bowl" in the background.

PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "How Do They Do It?" A Busy Week at Tuacahn's Mary Poppins, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Starlight Express

Michael McGurk is spending a hectic summer at Tuacahn, an outdoor amphitheater ensconced in the red sandstone cliffs of Utah's Padre Canyon, where a hardworking cast and crew are presenting an ambitious triple-bill of Mary Poppins, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Starlight Express. McGurk shares exclusive photos from a week at the scenic desert theatre.
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Before every performance of <i>Starlight Express</i>, we have "all skate" which is a chance for us to warm up our skating and check out the track before our show. You can see the crew finishing up the "bowl" in the background.
<b>Mary Poppins</b><br><br>I begin my day in a good way-with coffee and steam!
Followed up by a delicious breakfast at a St. George favorite- The Egg and I
Driving to work in beautiful Southern Utah never gets old
Also being presented this year at Tuacahn is Disney's <i>Mulan</i>
Always sign in to work before half hour!
The call board is always filled with info for maintaining 3 shows in Rep. This includes understudy rehearsals, put-in rehearsals, and sometimes cast parties!
Friendly reminders at work
Haylie and Mia the dresser and wig duo in the Greenroom
Sister and Brother Claire and Grant Westcott. Claire is understudying Jane while Grant plays Michael Banks
Gail Bennett (Mary Poppins) might play a nanny onstage but in real life she is a mom.
Michael and Jane Banks played by Grant Westcott and Lauren Allen.
Swing Clinton Sherwood busy in 'swing land'
Eric Badique doesn't take a bad picture
James Berkley usually has a camera in hand but not this time!
Nice Tie Jesse Swimm- with Clinton Sherwood and Daniel May
Super swing Kayla Smith
Robertson Ay (Michael McGurk) gets a scolding from Mary Poppins (Gail Bennett)
Robertson Ay is forgiven
Heidi Anderson and I in the wings getting ready to bake a cake
Kate Scott and C. Mingo Long strike a pose in the wings with a friend
Puppy Love!
Mr. Banks (David Engel) in the Greenroom
Jesse Swimm getting ready to step in time
Dusk descends on the desert. Did I mention the desert comes alive at night?
The back of the Banks' house- and the Southern Utah desert
Yes, that's a horse! Getting ready to march across stage!
Also getting ready to make an entrance is this antique car. Tuacahn really knows how to pull out all the stops!
Today is Lauren Allen's birthday!
Stage Manager Chad Anderson at Intermission for <i>Poppins</i>
Mary Poppins played by Mindy Smoot Robbins. Mindy along with Gail share the role and the hearts of Tuacahn audiences.
Gail Bennett proves that Mary Poppins does rest from time to time- at Intermission!
The Lighting department at Tuacahn creating magic
Nicole Powell plays the Bird Women in <i>Poppins</i>. Wait until you see her pics from <i>Millie</i>!
Eymard Cabling is 'SuperCali'
'Practically Perfect!'
Understudy Claire Westcott always ready to go on
Jennifer Evans as Mrs. Banks
'Being Mrs. Banks' Jennifer Evans serves Lauren's birthday cake
Grant Westcott gets a pre show haircut
Miss Andrews (Janna Cardia) loves to mess with Robertson Ay
Clay Stefanki and Clinton Sherwood getting ready to 'Step in Time'
Gail Bennett's daughter Lydia
'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious'
Mary Poppins (Gail Bennett) strikes a pose
Often after a long week it's common for the cast to treat themselves to In'N Out. I go along only to socialize
<b>Starlight Express</b><br><br>That's my brother Brian and I goofing around in the outdoors lobby. He's here visiting from my hometown of Pittsburgh
Jennifer Evans is serving more cake!
Before every performance of <i>Starlight Express</i>, we have "all skate" which is a chance for us to warm up our skating and check out the track before our show. You can see the crew finishing up the "bowl" in the background.
David Engel is warming up his skating, and his jazz hands as well
Gail Bennett strikes up a pose as Dinah
After skate school I begin the process of becoming Turnov, the Russian engine
Lots of powder is needed because I sweat A LOT in the desert heat
Once the makeup is on Turnov is fired up!
Turnov is ready to race
Swing Clay Stefanki as Turnov later in the week. I was being 'swung out' to watch the show.
Dan Gutierrez getting makeup applied pre show as he becomes the Red Caboose
Pearl, Dinah, Buffy and Duvet here played by Delaney Westfall, Gail Bennett, Kate Scott, and Erica Bryce
David Engel resting comfortably in the Greenroom
Dinah and Greaseball, played by Gail Bennett and Todd Dubail are ready for the races
The Pit Singers for <i>Starlight Express</i>: Heidi Anderson, Jennifer Evans, Janna Cardia, Nicole Powell, David Engel and Jesse Swimm. Nearly every actor at Tuacahn participates in all 3 shows in some form
Jennifer Evans loves singing those high notes in 'AC/DC'
Eymard Cabling, Kayla Smith and Jim Berkley geting ready to do 'Rolling Stock'
Joel Rene and John Preator before 'Rolling Stock' as well
Jim Berkley is the Marshall for the German engine Ruhrgold
Swing Clay Stefanki on for Dustin
John Preator plays FlatTop
Roller Skating can occasionally be scary. Here C. Mingo Long and I lace up our skates before another 'All Skate'
'That Rusty Little engine' played by Steven Goldsmith
Rusty is ready for the races as well. So is Steven Goldsmith!
Electra gets electrified! Dustin Dubreuil plays Electra and is also our skate coach. He literally took some of us from our first time standing on skates to performance-ready in about 6 weeks.
Dinah warns, 'Don't wake up Heidi Anderson!'
Buffy and Dinah, played by Kate Scott and Gail Bennett
Yeah Yeah Yeah it's the Hip Hoppers! Otherwise known as Ben Tucker, Clinton Sherwood and Eymard Cabling
Swing Clay Stefanki on as Dustin. He had a busy swing week!
The engines are the best! Turnov, Ruhrgold and Nintendo played by myself, James Blashaw and Eric Badique
Thumbs up Todd Dubail as Greaseball
My Mom and brother Brian visited me from Pittsburgh this week. They loved seeing me do a show on skates!
C. Mingo Long as Poppa
Dan Gutierrez, Kate Scott and Clay Stefanki at the meet and greet after the show with fans
Delaney Westfall as Pearl
Eric Badique really doesn't take a bad picture!
At the Meet and Greet we're all full of smiles. And sweat!
I love this cast! It's been a really wonderful and supportive group learning to roller skate for <i>Starlight Express</i>. We've certainly come a long way since we started in April.
Talese Hunt as Wrench
Turnov the Russian engine does smiles at times.
<b>Millie</b><br><br>This is the week <i>Millie</i> was opening. And we're at the end of tech rehearsals. As well as rehearsing in the heat!
Annie Frehner keeping us cool
Kate Scott striking a cool pose in the heat
Jennifer Evans is ready for rehearsal. And the sun.
But even on a hot day the skies can turn cloudy in the desert
With 3 shows being done in Rep, the wig department has worked very hard this season
<i>Millie</i> required an overnight tech rehearsal until 6:30 am. This is what I required to get through it.
Me and Steven Goldsmith staying cool during tech
Mia busy working on wigs
Kenny Estrada from crew and Jesse Swimm
Matt from hair and makeup and Deborah from wardrobe putting the finishing touches on <i>Millie</i>
Heidi Anderson- Mrs. Meers cover- keeping hydrated. 'It's the desert, y'all!' says Heidi
Assistant Stage Manager Holley Housewright
Friendly reminders of where we're at
I have a feeling that Clay, Clinton and Steven are wondering if rehearsals are over yet.
Michael McGurk
Jesse your pants look great!
The swings for <i>Millie</i>- Troy McGee and Erica Bryce
John Preator as Jimmy
Antique cars are used in <i>Millie</i> as well
It fits in well with the set
Here we go! It's opening night!
Jayme Wappel get's the finishing touches on before we open
Eric Badique put the IPAD down, it's opening night!
Opening night as seen from Stage Left
John Preator hopping in a cab on his way to opening night!
Janna Cardia as Elbows Flannery
Talese Hunt and Kate Scott
Joyce Nolen as Mrs. Meers
Daniel May as Ching Ho
David Engel and Kylee Young
Laura E. Taylor as Millie Dillmount
Jayme Wappel and Jesse Swimm
Nicole Powell as Muzzy Van Hossmere. She gets the best dresses!
Jennifer Evans with her dresser Haylie
At Tuacahn we get fireworks every night!
Millie and Jimmy- Laura E. Taylor and John Preator- celebrate at the opening night cast party
Camera's on you this time, James Berkley
Clinton Sherwood and Jayme Wappel looking good at the party
Daniel May, Joyce Nolen and Eymard Cabling
Delaney Westfall resting comfortably on top of a piano at the opening night party.
Fellow Pittsburgher Sarah Zielinski and I
Eymard Cabling looking (and eating) sweet
I love you C. Mingo Long!
Jennifer Evans and Joyce Nolen looking fabulous
Joel Rene and Nicole Powell celebrating at the party
John Preator, Clay Stefanki, Michael McGurk and Jesse Swimm finally out of rehearsals 3 months and 3 shows later!
Laura E. Taylor and Jennifer Evans
The men of <i>Millie</i> with our director Jeffry Denman
The women of <i>Millie</i> and Jeffry Denman
'This is 1922!'
Performing in the desert brings numerous challenges, including a very large windstorm the blew our set over! This happened after the <i>Millie</i> opening and no one was on it at the time.
Only 3 hours after the windstorm blew the set over, our amazing crew picked it up, dusted it off and made it performance ready for a sold out crowd that night. The show must go on!
The cast takes a walk on the set before performing on it that night
It's pretty incredible if you think about it!
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