SALT LAKE CITY,– Hale Centre Theatre has seen exceptional growth and audience support after being housed for one year in the fully-completed Mountain America Performing Arts Centre in Sandy, Utah. The Hale celebrated the first anniversary of its opening on Nov. 16, 2018 with a special customer appreciation night for theater patrons attending its productions, which included a special address to the audience by the co-founders, a video highlight reel, and the announcement of drinks on the house!
More details from Hale (hct.org):
“Our two new theaters are filling to capacity on a regular basis and we have added over 70 additional performances in this first full year,” added Mark Dietlein, HCT co-founder, CEO and executive producer. “By the end of this year, our regional, non-equity professional theater company will have staged 800 performances over 10 productions. As a result, HCT will have grown from 280,000 to 540,000 patrons in just over one year, making it one of the highest attended theatres in the nation. Season ticket sales have also jumped from 23,000 in 2017 to 29,000 in 2018.”
“The public’s support has been breathtaking!” said Sally Dietlein, HCT co-founder, vice president and executive producer. “We would not be here today if not for the community’s love and demand for well-produced, innovative, family-oriented theater. We are incredibly grateful to our patrons, sponsors, elected officials, HCT board, amazing staff and performers for helping make our first year in Sandy a positive experience that has exceeded our expectations.”
This growth has made Hale Centre Theatre the largest theater employer in the state, with 62 full-time and 150 regular part-time employees and 500 paid actors, compared to 40 full time and 75 part-time employees and 300 paid actors in 2017.
Not only has HCT contributed to the economy through wages, but it also has benefited the local economy to the tune of an estimated $14,256,000 million by the end of the year, based on industry survey data that says every theater patron generates $24.60 in gas, hotel, restaurant and retail sales. *
The Mountain America Performing Arts Centre is home to two stages: a 901-seat Young Living Centre Stage and a 467-seat Sorenson Legacy Jewel Box Stage. Eight of 10 productions have been performed thus far for the 2018 season including the Hunchback of Notre Dame, Music Man, Newsies and Tuck Everlasting. Wait Until Dark and The Scarlet Pimpernel are currently playing.
The world-class performance facility houses state-of-the-art stage automation solutions created by TAIT, an international live event entertainment technology company, providing storytelling opportunities like nothing else in the world. And, the innovative spirit continues to thrive at Hale Centre Theatre as more theatre-enhancing technology continues to be added including a giant 42-foot by 32-foot LED backdrop screen recently installed in the Sorenson Legacy Jewel Box Stage debuting during the 2018 production of A Christmas Carol in December. Hale’s exciting 2019 season of entertainment includes Matilda, Cinderella, An American in Paris and more favorites.
