The buzzer-beaters and rebounds at the Einar Neilsen Fieldhouse are over. The days of curtain calls and cues are here at the new Meldrum Theatre in the Fieldhouse. The theatre, which opened on March 29, 2024, features new technology and a stage setup perfect for connecting with audiences.
“The Heart of Robin Hood” was the most recent show at Meldrum Theatre, highlighting various University of Utah theatre students. The theatre brings together the community through the arts.
Unveiling the Details of Meldrum Theatre
The Meldrum Theatre, named after donors Pete and Cathie Meldrum, houses an array of new attributes that help the audience immerse themselves in the story.
Alexandra Harbold, the director of “The Heart of Robin Hood,” expressed how the new theatre benefited the show; a main standout for her was the thrust stage, which houses audience members on three sides of the stage. Harbold loves the intimacy the thrust stage adds to the performance and praised designer Gage Williams for his efforts in making the story remain continuous by taking full advantage of what the stage has to offer.
Along with the innovative thrust stage, the theatre houses a catwalk above the stage and seating and up-to-date lighting and sound systems. These features can truly enhance a story.
“[Meldrum Theatre] has such potential for us as a department,” Harbold said. The possibilities for the space seem endless, and Harbold is excited to see it thrive.
“The Heart of Robin Hood”
The U of U Department of Theatre recently celebrated the opening of “The Heart of Robin Hood,” a whimsical story with action and adventure.
“It is not Shakespeare, but it has much of the same DNA,” Harbold said.
Through its storylines and production, touches of Shakespeare were evident, all while the cast and crew made the play their own.
Working with such a talented group of people was meaningful to Harbold. She constantly found herself in awe of the students. This included the hidden talents she was unaware of during casting, such as dance and weaponry skills. The cast members could open up and have a great time with each other, adding to the fun they had seen in the show. One of Harbold’s favorite parts of the show was its humor, which she compared to the humor of the Scooby Doo cartoon series.
The show, which ran from Sept. 27 to Oct. 6, was captivating from beginning to end.
A Shared Space for the Community
The arts are one of the best ways to connect a community. Harbold has especially seen this with school alumni within the theatre department. Despite different graduation timelines, alumni have found their way to each other through their shared interests. From there, they have gone on to work together and create fantastic work. Harbold has also seen a handful of alumni become directors and playwrights. The success of alumni is crucial and Harbold said she is happy to see it unfold in front of her eyes.
The arts, particularly theatre, mean a lot to Harbold, she said.
One of her favorite ways to describe art is through a quote by American theatre director Anne Bogart: “The art experience and the theatre experience, gyms for the soul, generate heat and exercise the imagination, empathy, creative thinking, patience and tolerance. A gym for the soul is a place where personal investment is required, and the return is real.”
