If you’ve ever been in Spanish Fork around the 24th of July, you’ve likely seen or heard of the annual musical put on by the city and its community partners. As a dedicated patron and occasional performer in these productions, I can confidently say that these musicals are put on by true professional artists who love what they do. I’ve heard many people marvel at how Spanish Fork is able to churn out such talented performers. One crucial piece of the puzzle is Spanish Fork’s Youtheatre program.
Spanish Fork Youtheatre was founded in 1985 by Anna Murdock. What started as a tiny program with a handful of child performers has grown to become one of the most robust youth theatre programs in southern Utah County with casts of children numbering between 70 to 100 per production. Youtheatre treats the local community to at least three productions and is one of the founding parts of Spanish Fork City’s award winning youth arts festival that happens every summer. This program is truly a gift to the community and one of the reasons Spanish Fork and the surrounding communities have produced such stellar stage and musical performers.
Recently, however, Youtheatre is facing challenges that puts its long history and valuable contributions to local children in the community at risk. In recent years, scheduling rehearsals and performances with local venues has been a struggle.
Traditionally, the theatre program has partnered with Nebo School District, utilizing their buildings for rehearsals and performances. This mutually beneficial relationship has stood for years allowing young performers to learn and grow as artists. Now, the theatre program is fighting for a place to perform as local schools increase their own performing schedules, edging the city-run theatre out of the local venues they’ve relied on for decades.
Karma Christensen, who has run the program for years, came out of retirement to save the program she loved. She rallied parents and former performers, and started a petition to help provide her performers and community the theatre program she nurtured for years. She handled the situation with grace but firmness ensuring that the program she loves will remain. Christensen wrote in an impassioned message to current and former Spanish Fork Youtheathre participants and community members.
“I know that I have officially retired and am working as a mentor to those taking my place,” she wrote. “I am willing to keep fighting for your children’s opportunities and participate in a wonderful program. I hope with your help we can get the time we need to do both shows and move into the future with more certainty.”
The citizens of Spanish Fork are truly lucky to have such passionate and dedicated members of their community who are willing to dedicate their time and talents to protect the positive opportunities that Spanish Fork Youtheatre provides for the children and families in southern Utah county.
While the program has been saved for the moment, thanks to the dedicated efforts of Christensen and her team, it is not out of the woods yet.
As a former Spanish Fork Youtheatre kid who is now experiencing the joy of my own child stepping onto the stage, the peril this program is in breaks my heart. If you, like myself, would like to see this priceless program continue to thrive and build kids in our communities, please make your voice known. Spanish Fork Youtheatre has a legacy spanning more than three decades that has produced hundreds of talented artists over the years and is worth protecting.
