Performing Arts Conservatory Ready To Train Next Generation Actors

For the size of community we are, Cedar City is exceptional in the amount of live theatre productions and companies that call our town home.

Obviously, we have the Utah Shakespeare Festival that brings thousands of visitors here. For the last 21 years Simon Fest has entertained visitors and community members alike.

In addition to the professional presentations, we also have a strong community group with the Cedar Valley Community Theatre company plus strong theatre programs at Canyon View and Cedar high schools, along with an outstanding theatre department at Southern Utah University.

But with all these opportunities in the area, how do people, especially our younger people get training and instruction to be able to pursue a career in the theatre? Of course, some of that training is available for students taking drama classes at the schools, but how does one get started younger than that?

That has been a challenge at times, but a new group in our community may be able to fill the gap.

InterMountain Performing Arts Conservatory (IMPAC) is a specialized training facility for artists who want to excel in various disciplines of musical theatre, including acting, dance, and vocal music.

"Our mission is to provide the highest quality education in the performing arts through hands-on experience and instruction from accomplished artists in order to prepare our students for work on the professional stage."

Founders Brandon Burk and Tamera Merkley joined us on the radio to explain what they are hoping to achieve with IMPAC.

“We teach musical theatre, we teach acting, we teach singing, we teach dancing...primarily to kids eight to eighteen,” according to Burk. In addition to the instruction, IMPAC has also started a local theatre company that is adjacent to the instructional facility. That company is performing Into The Woods over the next three weekends.

In a unique way of teaching and training, the first two weekends of performances will be done by an adult company of actors, but during that time those adults will also be mentoring a youth cast. That youth cast will then present the performance of Into The Woods for the final weekend.

Merkley explained why the decided to start the operation in Cedar City. After working for a couple of years at Tuachan she said, “I came up here last year to work in the theatre community and realized that while down in St. George we have several options for kids to go and learn how to sing, act and dance, here in Cedar...we just saw a void that we wanted to fill.” Burk added, “there are all these opportunities to perform, but no opportunities to train.”

Regarding Into the Woods, Brandon said, “this is one of my favorite musicals. I've been wanting to do this for a very long time. It's a great cast size for what we are doing.”

Looking ahead, the group wants to continue teaching, mentoring with area youth, along with providing performance opportunities for youth and adults. Plans are already in progress for a Christmas production, an event they hope will turn in to an annual tradition.

Visit the IMPAC website to get more information about the facility and to purchase tickets for their production of Into the Woods.

You can hear our entire interview with Brandon and Tamera below.