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SGMT History
Mark Ogden, founder of St. George Musical Theater, often said writing and producing a play was like having a baby. Once he conceived of an idea, it would grow and grow until he had to put it on paper and write music to accompany the dialogue. Finally, when the baby emerged on stage, it was a joy to behold as the newest member of his family.
St. George Musical Theater was another of his babies. Conceived in the mid 1980’s, this tiny nursery of players rehearsed, presented, reviewed, and revised Mark’s dramatic work.
In 1988, Mark’s directing abilities won him the privilege of directing It’s My Life by Carol Lynn Pearson. Sponsored by Southwest Mental Health, he and the show traveled to many Southern Utah schools and kept the dream of St. George Musical Theater alive.
Tragedy struck in 1992 when Mark Ogden was diagnosed with AIDS. He fought a long, difficult battle with the disease, but passed away two years later in 1994 leaving St. George Musical Theater an orphan.
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Dawna Kenworthy’s vision for theater in Southern Utah matched and even exceeded Mark’s, so she decided to adopt Mark’s baby. As his talented and energetic protege, Dawna adopted musical theater and nourished it with vision, determination, and creativity. Joined by her husband and close friend Kristine Carter, Dawna gathered resources, surrounded herself with talented artists, and produced quality family entertainment.
Shows were held in local elementary schools and small venues like the basement of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum and the courtroom upstairs in the Old Courthouse, and even in RV parks, but soon the fledgling company ventured into bigger arenas like high school auditoriums, the Browning Theater and Cox Auditorium on the Dixie State College campus, Tuacahn’s indoor theater, and the St. George Opera House.
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Through local government support, the Opera House became home for St. George Musical Theater, and Dawna’s dream of theater in-the-round became reality. The intimate nature of theater in-the-round offered a new dimension of theater which appealed to the veteran and novice patron.
That appeal moved St. George Musical Theater from a struggling company which offered from one to three musicals a year, depending on the personal time and energy of
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Dawna, Don, and Kristine, to a full service company offering a entire theater season. Today hundreds of faithful season ticket holders now anchor the musical theater’s financial resources. Many patrons contribute generously for theater to thrive and grow and fulfill Mark Ogden’s lifelong dream.
Southern Utah’s explosive growth has brought a variety of artisans and craftsmen to complement St. George Musical Theater’s artists in residence and bolster emphasis on the arts.
Perhaps the greatest change to Mark Ogden’s baby and an indication of its emergence into the adult scene, is the new theater building on 100 West. Through the generosity of city officials, theater patrons, and the untiring efforts of Don and Dawna Kenworthy, St. George Musical Theater has its own stage, rehearsal rooms, storage space, and workshop classrooms.
Mark’s baby used to beg for actors to fill the stage and handle technical needs, and now auditions prove that the best and most talented performers vie for an opportunity to work with Dawna Kenworthy and her talented associates.
Has St. George Musical Theater reached its goal of offering low cost family-centered quality entertainment? Emphatically, Dawna, the board of directors, artistic committees, office staff, ushers, workshop teachers, choreographers, publicists, set designers and builders, costumers, make-up artists, musicians, actors, and actresses answer “Yes, but…”
The future of Mark’s baby is bright, held in the capable hands of dedicated and talented employees and volunteers whose sole goal is constant improvement and growth of St. George Musical Theater. Certainly Mark’s baby, now an adolescent, is well on its way to becoming a well-rounded, caring, contributing adult for the enjoyment of local and international audiences. Thanks, Mark.
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1998-99 SEASON
Just Lucky I Guess
Arsenic and Old Lace
Christmas Carol
Nunsense
Sound of Music
"Just lucky I guess" was one of Mark's finest creations and the season premier in 1998.
He was surely watching and pacing from above.
Sound of Music was SGMT's first musical-in-the-round.
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1999 -2000 SEASON
Oklahoma
Blithe Spirit
The Best Christmas Pagent Ever
I Do, I Do!
Annie
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2000 - 2001 SEASON
The Wizard of Oz
Nuptials
It's a Wonderful Life
The Ark
I Do, I Do!
Camelot
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2001 - 2002 SEASON
Snoopy
The Man Who Came to Dinner
Nuncrackers
So This is Dixie
Our Town
Guys & Dolls
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2002 - 2003 SEASON
Once Upon A Mattress
Curious Savage
Miracle on 34th Street
Forever Plaid
The Foreigner
My Fair Lady
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2003-2004 SEASON
Fiddler on the Roof
Cheaper By The Dozen
Scrooge, The Musical
Whatsoever, The Story of Abraham
Charley's Aunt
Hello Dolly
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2004 SUMMER SEASON
The Ark
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Whatsoever, The Story of Abraham
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2004-2005 SEASON
Annie
Hasty Heart
Amahl and the Night Visitors
South Pacific
Mousetrap
Scarlet Pimpernel
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2005 SUMMER SEASON
Sound of Music
Bye Bye Birdie
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2005-2006 SEASON
Oliver
Little Shop of Horrors
Spitfire Grill
Steel Magnolias
Forever Plaid
Damn Yankees
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2006 SUMMER SEASON
Seussical, The Musical
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
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2006-2007 SEASON
Ten Little Indians
Music Man
Beauty and the Beast
Beau Jest
The Taffetas
Oklahoma
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2006-2007 SUMMER & FALL SEASON
Joesph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
The Scarlet Pimpernel
The Foreigner
Taffetas Christmas
Plaid Tidings
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2008 SEASON
Man of LaMancha
A Grand Night for Singing
The Fantasticks
High School Musical
Honk!
The Secret Garden
Nunsense!
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2009 SHOWS
Singing In The Rain
The Royale Feast at Camelot Faire
Annie Get Your Gun
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