USU Eastern Theatre enters final year with ‘Ride the Cyclone’ tour

In the off-Broadway musical “Ride the Cyclone,” six central characters grapple with the themes of death, acceptance and the inevitability of moving on. Now, as the theater program at Utah State University Eastern enters its final year of existence, its students — who recently closed their production of the same show — begin their own journeys of discovering what lies beyond.​     ​ 

Located in Price, USU Eastern’s theater arts program is a two-year degree that focuses on all aspects of theater making, including acting, stage management, costume construction and scenic design. In addition to classes, the program allows students to work on several full-length productions every year, with their most recent being “Ride the Cyclone,” a musical by playwrights Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell.​     ​​​      

The production ran from November 6-15, 2025 in Price before embarking on a tour across Utah and Idaho in January. It marked the beginning of the program’s final year — a decision made following recent budget cuts — but according to associate professor of theater production and design Brent Innes, it is going out with a bang.​     ​ 

“We wanted to give our students an experience you’re not going to get anywhere else,” Innes, who directed the production, said. 

Unlike a regular theater production, which typically only runs in one theater space for a limited amount of time, the cast of USU’s “Ride the Cyclone” navigated the challenge of performing in several different areas, often changing staging and choreography to fit their new surroundings.  

Actors also served as crew members on each tour stop, aiding in the setup and takedown required for the transportation of show equipment. The tour stopped in Cedar City and Pocatello, Idaho before its final performance at Logan High School. Innes described the production as a “one-of-a-kind, unreal experience.”​     ​ 

Dan Becerra, one of the student performers in the musical, claimed one of the most special aspects of the production was its poignant subject matter. 

“It’s a story about grief and living your life to the fullest extent that you can,” Becerra said. Originally created in 2009, “Ride the Cyclone” follows a group of students who are killed in a roller coaster accident at a local amusement park. From beyond the grave, they participate in a contest that guarantees one of them the chance to live again, forcing the group to confront the perception of their own mortality. According to Becerra and Innes, it left a lasting impression on both the cast and audience. 

“Our audience has really resonated with it, especially our younger groups,” Innes said.  

The production’s Cedar City tour stop was part of the annual Utah Theatre Association conference, which brings together high school theater students from across the state. These students got the opportunity to see the show and personally interact with the cast over the conference’s weekend-long run. Many in attendance are planning their own future in college theater and, according to Becerra, were inspired by USU Eastern’s example. 

“We would have all those kids come up to us and be like, ‘I’ve never seen the show before, but this show means so much to me now because of what it stands for,’” Becerra said. “‘It’s making me want to continue doing theater. It’s making me believe that I have a chance at doing this for my future.’” 

When USU Eastern’s theater students aren’t performing, they’re kept busy with a rigorous schedule of theater classes, generals and production assignments, which consist of creating costumes, sets and props for future shows. Due to their smaller class sizes, every student is involved in every production, so a typical student will usually be in class from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and in rehearsals from 6-9 p.m. every day, according to Innes. It’s a hefty workload, but according to Becerra, it’s all worth it.​     ​​     ​ 

“We’re trying to make our families proud, you know, going to school, getting a degree, while also doing what we love at the same time,” Becerra said. “You go home and you lay in bed and you’re like, ‘Wow, I’m so tired’ … but it’s also the most rewarding part because yeah, you’re tired and you’re doing a lot, but it’s nice to feel that accomplishment.”​     ​ 

Amid the tension and uncertainty of recent budgeting decisions, much of which affect college arts programs, members of USU Eastern Theatre continue to assert the importance of theater in modern society. 

“Theater in general imitates, on a very intimate level, the human experience. We present this human experience in a very safe package to say, ‘Hey, this is life. We’re sharing this experience with you,’” Innes said. “It ties us together for that two hours, or whatever the length of the show is. We forget about the world outside the building, and we enjoy that moment together.” 

It’s a sentiment Becerra agrees with. 

“Theater can mean something different for everyone,” he said. “You can go into something and see yourself in it, or see a moment in your life in it, and it can change how you react to things.” 

With the elimination of the Eastern theater program, the presence of live theater on the Price campus will be completely absent for the first time in several decades. For students and community members alike, it’s a harrowing experience, but Innes hopes this is only a brief intermission for the theater arts in Price. 

“The ghost light is theater’s symbol of hope,” Innes said. A ghost light, which is a small, portable light fixture found in nearly every theater, is traditionally left on when every other light is turned off for the night so it isn’t pitch dark when the actors return. Once we turn the lights off in April, we put the ghost light on and hope for the best.” 

Before the curtain closes in April, USU Eastern will perform “The SpongeBob Musical.” More information can be found at @usueastern_theatre on Instagram.