SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre to Present SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS, 8/1-16

The SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre is taking the concept of "June brides" and moving the romance to August as the classic musical "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" takes the stage August 1-16.

Under the direction of Jerry Elison, 50 actors will advance the story of lonesome brothers seeking wives, and who are so determined, they will even create an avalanche to keep their would-be fiancés near them. It's a rousing dance show with sing-able songs and plenty of dancing and energy.

"Seven Brides" will play Aug. 1-16 at 8 p.m. on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. General admission tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children (age 3-11), students (w/ID) and seniors (65 and older). Reserved area seating ranges from $14 to $16 for adults, and $12 to $14 tickets for children, students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased at www.scera.org, by calling (801) 225-ARTS, in person at the SCERA Center for the Arts (745 S. State St., Orem) weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 6 pm, or at the Shell gate 90 minutes prior to each performance. The SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre is located at 699 South State, Orem, in the middle of SCERA Park.

"I love this show," Elison says. "And I love some of the changes to the production. It opens with a big production in the town square, for example, which is something new, and it sets the stage for the story that follows."

He gives much of the credit for the feel of the show to choreographer Penny Colvin. "She has done a magnificent job. This is really a dancing show, and she turned our cast into some enthusiastic cloggers. I've worked with Penny on three shows. She is great, and I particularly like the famous challenge dance later in the show."

In the story, Adam, the oldest brother of the Pontipee family has found a bride. His brothers also need wives, but the other girls in the town already have suitors. Desperate times do call for desperate measures and the rowdy brothers devise a plan to kidnap the girls and change their minds.

Bringing the magic of "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" to stage are Kelly Cook as Milly; MacKenzie Archibald as Dorcas; Alyssa Orme as Ruth; Natalie Nordin as Martha; Natalie Lyman as Liza; Monique Shurtz as Alice; and Gwen Elision as Alice. The brothers are Mark Buffington as Adam; Brodee Ripple as Benjamin; Andrew Walsh as Caleb; Devin Davis as Daniel; Bryson Alley as Ephraim; Adam Schraedel as Frank; and Tanner Wood as Gideon.

Assisting Elison are Martha Glissmeyer as music director, Kelsey Seaver as costume designer, Nat Reed as set designer, Seth Mergist, light design, and Julie Nevin, stage manager.

Elison applauds a set that is large enough and still versatile enough for the large SCERA stage. "We see a whole town on one side, completed with barbershop, general store and restaurant, but it glides around and becomes a mountain house."

"'Seven Brides'" is the perfect show for the Shell," says SCERA President & CEO Adam J. Robertson. "The beautiful backdrop of the stars, the night sky and the beautiful Wasatch Mountains perfectly mirrors the fictional setting of the show."

Photo by Mark A. Philbrick

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