Cons: - was not given a contract until few days before rehearsals (and was already omw to Utah) and it was different than my offer. The contracted track was significantly more work than the initial offer (more coverage, not efficient tracking). I ended up incredibly overwhelmed by the mental load and juggling the 3 shows. - The rehearsal period for the 3rd show while doing the other two shows at night felt like it should be illegal... AEA really needs to renegotiate for higher pay during this period as it is STRENUOUS. - Management definitely plays favorites which can feel isolating. - Nonunion actors are put to WORK often moving set pieces on and offstage, dancing HARD on that concrete stage in not-great shoes etc. and yet are paid about half of the union salary. It made me feel guilty as a union actor and I wish it wasn't quite so disparate. This definitely contributes to resentment among the cast. - Loooong contract, plenty of time for drama in the echo chamber of a company - Lots of replacements + put-ins. Swings and dance captains can expect to be in rehearsal for pretty much the 7 months - Big spectacle comes with big risk. 1-2 people (at least) will experience serious injury at some point during the season. Neutrals: - It's hot, but it's a dry heat. I found it much more bearable than a humid Muny or east-coast theme park performance. It cools down a lot more at night, although the sunniest months (July/Aug) it can still be 110 in the shade 😜 - Looooong contract - Tech starts late and goes to about 2am each night (they have to wait for the canyon to get dark enough to light). Great if you're a night owl, not so much if you love mornings - Tech is long - i think each show got about a week to 1.5 weeks? Hard because tech is always tedious, but glad that they take their time to make sure it is safe and looks good - There are many variables that make working at Tuacahn rarely boring: doing 3 different shows, new people, cool technical effects, fireworks, wildlife onstage (sometimes purposeful, sometimes a rogue raccoon or tarantula) weather conditions, children, big casts, understudies and swings going on, endless drama and gossip. Pros: - GORGEOUS setting. The actual canyon the theatre is in is stunning, and then the national parks are absolutely beautiful. So many diverse terrains to explore. If you like hiking, say yes to this contract. You will be in heaven - Lovely rehearsal facilities. - Housing is wonderful. Brand new complex where everyone has their own ensuite bathroom. AEA can expect to live alone or with one roommate (often with an extra bedroom). Non-union can expect to share an apartment with 2-3 other actors, private rooms and bathrooms, shared kitchen/laundry. Nice gym, pool, hot tub, AND 2 beautiful dance studios at the housing that are available to use when not being used for Utah COPA classes. - The people are very nice. St. George and Ivins have a lot of mormon residents, who I found to be generally friendly and warm people. - Once you're open, it's only 6 shows a week (no matinees) with Sundays off. - Looooong contract ;) - The shows themselves can be really cool. - Decent comp package and ability to get "rush tickets" same day.

I worked there two seasons in a row as nonunion. Pros: BEAUTIFUL venue and rehearsal spaces, solid housing just steps away from the theatre, working on new musicals, amazing technical theatre, creating meaningful connections that have gotten my foot in the door to other projects. A lot of care taken during tech weeks. Cons: The most mentally challenging and physically demanding contracts I’ve ever done, and the exploitation of workers for such a prestigious theatre is astounding. You dont get paid any extra for being an understudy or swing, and that’s for all three shows. You get a small bump when you go on but are not paid additionally for learning the roles, which is extensive if you’re learning multiple understudy or swing roles for different shows at once. The repertory schedule is intense and you’re in rehearsals all day from March through September with barely any actual rest time, on top of rehearsals for put ins for understudies/and or replacements for people who drop. There’s at least a few people who drop every year and it’s up to the dance captains to teach them the entire show, and they are not paid any more for the extra hours that it takes either. So many safety concerns with that theatre with the sets, weather, and with some of the Foy. For example I had to learn a completely new aerial skill (was not disclosed to me in my contract, I learned this on the first day of rehearsal, therefore illegal) and was not paid extra for it, and was 30 feet above the stage with only a long wire attached to the Lyra hoop to secure me as a last safety measure. Extremely frightening for someone who is not a professional aerialist, especially in slightly windy conditions. And this is just an example of the pressures the theatre puts on nonunion performers. Nonunion do the majority of the work and get paid 1/3 less, whilst killing their bodies on a concrete stage. At least a couple people per year end up with broken feet/ankles/stress fractures due to improper shoe wear that is so cheap and their refusal to supply dancers with LaDucas/supportive shoes. The weather can get insane especially in the mid summer where it reaches up to 110F even at night. People pass out side on and off stage. With the lights and heavy costumes, it adds more heat. How is this sustainable, especially with no air conditioning on or off stage? We rely on an ice bucket with a cooling towel…. Bullying and cliques occur within the company every year and many union actors treat nonunion as second class for some reason, when nonunion make up a good deal of the company and are so talented! Never encountered this sort of attitude at any other theatre I worked for where everyone views each others as equals. You have to live and work with your coworkers 24/7 and there’s no separation between work and off time… in the middle of the desert with only a couple bars to perhaps socialize but rarely are businesses open past 10 when shows are still happening. Few female equity contracts. Blows my mind how obvious it’s been recently that they exploit women but will give plenty of equity contracts to men. Make it make sense. And management plays into the favoritism of men especially with little loyalty to women with getting rehired and such. All in all I’m grateful for my time here because I learned how to swing and many other awesome skills, but you have to stand your ground to protect your safety and communicate.

This theatre is so beautiful. The production team was great, and the conditions for the actors were really good. Great place to work a contract.