IVINS, Utah (Aug. 24, 2026) — After 31 years, many people in Utah and the surrounding areas are familiar with the beauty and the majesty of Tuacahn Center for the Arts. Tucked in the red rocks of Southern Utah, actors and patrons from across the nation, and even the world, flock to this 2,500-seat Outdoor Amphitheatre each season to witness Broadway quality productions on a stage with a scope matched only by the talent it presents.
However, even with its growing reputation, there are plenty of people around the country who have not yet heard of this desert jewel, but a recent article in the New York Times may change some of that.
This summer, reporter Michael Paulson and photographer Roger Kisby traveled from their usual spot on the East coast to witness the magic happening in the shadow of these uniquely colored mountains, and to experience the depth of talent and the range of emotions in this season’s Tuacahn production of the wildly popular, Les Misérables.
The main focus of the article and accompanying video in the New York Times was not necessarily highlighting the grandeur of this regional theater — though it certainly did that. Rather, the emphasis was on the financial benefits theaters like Tuacahn hope to see by producing Les Misérables. And now that the article has been released, the potential impact this kind of exposure could have on Tuacahn is creating quite a stir.
“The exposure is great,” said Scott Anderson, artistic director for Tuacahn. “The New York Times is the mecca of the theater world in the United States. For them to even be interested in coming to Tuacahn is flattering.”
Not only was Paulson interested, the resulting article offered a very positive impression of his experience here. His research included witnessing the production of Les Mis as well as many conversations with people involved in all facets of the industry at Tuacahn.
“I thought it was really well done,” Anderson said. “Michael is very precise in how he asked questions, but very friendly. He was never intrusive, and he was very thorough in following up on his facts as he tried to get an idea of how producing Les Mis had impacted our theater.”
Anderson said Tuacahn has been featured in other wonderful articles in the past from other organizations, but having this piece in the New York Times really showed the reach and impact this publication has worldwide.
“The article came out and the next thing I know, I’m getting congratulations from people who live all over the world,” Anderson said. “Having such a respected entity writing about your theater… it really gives you some great capital in the industry.”
The article, with the headline “Can You Hear the Theaters Ka-Ching? A Battered Industry Turns to ‘Les Miz’”, and the accompanying video was published Aug. 18 on www.nytimes.com
Don’t miss your chance to see the show everyone is talking about — including the New York Times. Go online to www.tuacahn.org for information and tickets to Les Misérables, Disney & Pixar’s Finding Nemo: A Family Musical and Grease, running in repertory through Oct. 24. Or call the box office at 435-652-3300.
