Singing in the Old Barn
Utah State University students who are looking for entertainment on a Friday or Saturday night may consider going to a movie. Why not try something different by attending a live, theatrical performance at a historical theater just 20 minutes from Logan? The Old Barn Theatre in Collinston would be the place to go offering the same entertainment for the same price at $7 a ticket.
Marvin Hull, board member of The Old Barn Theatre and current director of the next upcoming musical, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” said there is something about the immediacy of live theater people just don’t get in movies.
“It’s one thing to go sit in a darkened theater and watch something that’s been produced a long time ago, been directed by someone you don’t know, in some faraway place,” Hull said. “But it’s another thing to come and be part of it. There’s nothing that can compare to seeing a live breathing human being who’s giving their everything, every talent and fiber of their being to try to take you away to an experience that you’ve never had before.”
The history of The Old Barn Community Theatre can be reason enough to visit. Hull said The Old Barn Theatre was originally a livery stable for one of the last operating stage stops of the Pony Express. A family that had worked at what is now Hale Center Theatre in West Valley moved north, wanted to open a theater and established what they named the StageStop Theatre in the barn. He said due to problems and financial issues, they couldn’t make a run with it and the theater closed.
Then, in 1998, Hull said a group from the community who had performed at the StageStop Theatre got together to form what is now The Old Barn Theatre. The theater is an all-volunteer organization where no one gets paid including the performers. The funding for productions are created by donations with a couple fundraisers per year as well as ticket sells.
The theater hosts five shows a year with four-week runs to each show. The theater just finished its 10th season and is in the beginning of its 11th.
A unique factor of the theater is it is a “theater-in-the-round,” meaning there are seats on all four sides of the stage. Hull said this provides a unique opportunity where everyone can feel a part of the show.
“People really get the impression that they’re part of the whole thing,” Hull said.
Natalie Johnson, freshman majoring in law and constitutional studies, is in the cast of “Joseph” and said performing at the Old Barn is more of a hobby than anything else.
“It helps me to be able to express myself. I’m less inhibited when I’m on stage and it’s a good outlet,” she said.
Trudy Glenn, Young Ward resident, has been attending Old Barn Theatre shows for more than five years, enjoys seeing the performances and thinks students should experience it.
“I would say get your butts over there and enjoy the good part of life,” Glenn said.
Despite the problems with the economy and tight budgets, Hull said it gives people an outlet when they take the time and money to go see a show.
“When you see the kind of effort and energy and talent that we can put on a little stage like this in an old barn, people come to realize that they can get away from that, even for a short period of time,” Hull said. “And come and be taken away to a different place, a different time and forget those things.”
Students can decide if spending the $7 is worth it or if seeing a performance is something they would enjoy but Hull testifies of the liveliness of the theater.
“This place is alive,” Hull said. “Every corner is alive. This old barn just sings. The energy is palpable. You can feel it, you can taste it. Right here, we’re alive, well and kicking.”
The Old Barn’s next show is “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” It will be performed March 6 – March 28. Plays run Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays at 7:30 p.m. with matinees March 14 and March 21 at 2:30 p.m.
The Old Barn Community Theatre is located at 3605 Bigler Road in Collinston. Tickets, show dates and times and other information can be found online at www.oldbarn.org.
–mackenzie.love@aggiemail.usu.edu