L-R: Utah Shakespeare Festival founder Fred Adams, Gov. Gary Herbert. The two and others toured The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts on the campus of Southern Utah University. Cedar City, Utah, June 9, 2016 | Photo by Kaleigh Bronson, St. George News / Cedar City News
CEDAR CITY – With anticipation and excitement surrounding its July opening, Gov. Gary Herbert toured The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts Thursday along Utah Shakespeare Festival founder Fred Adams and a number of others.
The Beverley will provide a new art hub near downtown Cedar City – a fine arts mecca – on the campus of Southern Utah University. It will serve as the overall stage for the Utah Shakespeare Festival and includes a number of venues, some new some longstanding.
Among the venues are The Southern Utah Museum of Art, the new outdoor Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre, the Eileen and Allen Anes Studio Theatre, the outdoor Greenshow stage and festival administration buildings.
Utah System of Higher Education Board of Regents member Nina Barnes, of Cedar City, and members of the Shakespeare Festival administration and representatives of Southern Utah University joined the governor on his tour of the arts center campus.
“Years and years of hard work have been put into this project,” Barnes said as the tour began from the steps of the Randall L. Jones Theatre, “and we are all so proud to share it with you.”
Adams expressed appreciation to the governor for his continued support of the Shakespeare Festival and arts in Utah.
“We’re so glad and grateful that you are here,” he said to Herbert.
The governor’s tour was led by Tiger Funk, executive director of facilities management and planning, and Ben Johnson, director of construction services. The guides explained the layout, standards, unique design, international standards, plans and processes behind each of the center’s projects.
“While you have said that this has been a 50-year project, it will last for so much longer,” Herbert said as he visited the foyer of the new Southern Utah Museum of Art.
After the tour, Herbert described the projects he had visited as spectacular. He said he was very impressed with not only the structures themselves but also the generous financial contributions from individuals and businesses in Southern Utah.
First peek
Leading up to the grand opening, a “First Peek” event will be held June 25 from 5:30-8 p.m. at the newly constructed Southern Utah Museum of Art in The Beverley. The Friends of SUMA have selected 37 pieces of art which will be both featured and for sale at the event. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are $50. Space is limited.
The opening celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts, encompassing both the Southern Utah Museum of Art and and the Utah Shakespeare Festival’s two new theaters and facilities, will be held July 7 at 10 a.m.
The community is invited to attend the opening weekend celebration from July 7–9. The festivities will include music, artist demonstrations, dancing, family activities and tours of the center.
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Site plan for The Beverley Sorenson Center for the Arts, scheduled to open in July 2016 on the campus of Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah | Image courtesy of The Beverley and SUU, St. George News / Cedar City News
Gov. Herbert greets Utah Shakespeare Festival founder Fred Adams as he tours The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts on the campus of Southern Utah University in anticipation of opening celebration planned for July, Cedar City, Utah, June 9, 2016 | Photo by Kaleigh Bronson, St. George News / Cedar City News
Gov. Herbert tours The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts on the campus of Southern Utah University in anticipation of opening celebration planned for July, Cedar City, Utah, June 9, 2016 | Photo by Kaleigh Bronson, St. George News / Cedar City News
Executive Director for Facilities Management Tiger Funk (left) with Gov. Herbert (center) on tour of The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts on the campus of Southern Utah University. The Beverley is scheduled of a July opening. Cedar City, Utah, June 9, 2016 | Photo by Kaleigh Bronson, St. George News / Cedar City News
L-R clockwise: Utah System of Higher Education Board of Regents member Nina Barnes, Executive Director for Facilities Management Tiger Funk, Utah Shakespeare Festival founder Fred Adams and Gov. Gary Herbert on a tour of The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts on the campus of Southern Utah University. The Beverley is scheduled to open in July. Cedar City, Utah, June 9, 2016 | Photo by Kaleigh Bronson, St. George News / Cedar City News
L-R front row: Utah System of Higher Education Board of Regents member Nina Barnes, Gov. Gary Herbert, Executive Director for Facilities Management Tiger Funk and Utah Shakespeare Festival founder Fred Adams on a tour of The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts on the campus of Southern Utah University. The Beverley is scheduled to open in July. Cedar City, Utah, June 9, 2016 | Photo by Kaleigh Bronson, St. George News / Cedar City News
State legislators Evan Vickers and John Westwood join Gov. Gary Herbert in a tour of The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts on the campus of Southern Utah University. The Beverley is scheduled to open in July. Cedar City, Utah, June 9, 2016 | Photo by Kaleigh Bronson, St. George News / Cedar City News
Gov. Herbert tours The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts on the campus of Southern Utah University in anticipation of opening celebration planned for July, Cedar City, Utah, June 9, 2016 | Photo by Kaleigh Bronson, St. George News / Cedar City News
Gov. Herbert (right) with Utah Shakespeare Festival founder Fred Adams (left) touring The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts on the campus of Southern Utah University in anticipation of opening celebration planned for July, Cedar City, Utah, June 9, 2016 | Photo by Kaleigh Bronson, St. George News / Cedar City News
L-R: Utah Shakespeare Festival founder Fred Adams, Gov. Gary Herbert, Executive Director for Facilities Management Tiger Funk on a tour of The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts. The Beverley, located on the campus of Southern Utah University, is slated for a ribbon-cutting opening celebration in July. Cedar City, Utah, June 9, 2016 | Photo by Kaleigh Bronson, St. George News / Cedar City News
L-R front row: Utah System of Higher Education Board of Regents member Nina Barnes, Gov. Gary Herbert, Utah Shakespeare Festival founder Fred Adams and Executive Director for Facilities Management Tiger Funk on a tour of The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts on the campus of Southern Utah University. The Beverley is scheduled to open in July. Cedar City, Utah, June 9, 2016 | Photo by Kaleigh Bronson, St. George News / Cedar City News
Gov. Herbert watched a rehearsal in the new Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre that replaces the Adams Shakespearean Theatre as part of The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts on the campus of Southern Utah University. Cedar City, Utah, June 9, 2016 | Photo by Kaleigh Bronson, St. George News / Cedar City News
The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts on the campus of Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah, June 9, 2016 | Photo by Kaleigh Bronson, St. George News / Cedar City News
Gov. Herbert on the balcony of the new Englestad Theatre at The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts on the campus of Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah, June 9, 2016 | Photo by Kaleigh Bronson, St. George News / Cedar City News
Gov. Herbert tours The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts on the campus of Southern Utah University in anticipation of opening celebration planned for July, Cedar City, Utah, June 9, 2016 | Photo by Kaleigh Bronson, St. George News / Cedar City News
Gov. Herbert tours The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts on the campus of Southern Utah University in anticipation of opening celebration planned for July, Cedar City, Utah, June 9, 2016 | Photo by Kaleigh Bronson, St. George News / Cedar City News
Gov. Herbert watched a rehearsal in the new Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre that replaces the Adams Memorial Theatre as part of The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts on the campus of Southern Utah University. Cedar City, Utah, June 9, 2016 | Photo by Kaleigh Bronson, St. George News / Cedar City News
L-R: Utah Shakespeare Festival founder Fred Adams, Gov. Gary Herbert. The two and others toured The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts on the campus of Southern Utah University. Cedar City, Utah, June 9, 2016 | Photo by Kaleigh Bronson, St. George News / Cedar City News
L-R: Gov. Gary Herbert, Southern Utah University Executive Director for Facilities Management Tiger Funk and Utah Shakespeare Festival founder Fred Adams tour The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts, slated to open in July. Cedar City, Utah, June 9, 2016 | Photo by Kaleigh Bronson, St. George News / Cedar City News
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kaleigh is reporter and student at Southern Utah University. Her experience includes covering events, politics, business and community programs. She loves living and working in Cedar City and enjoys reading, traveling and thinking outside the box.
too bad he didn’t trip on a banana peel