Ralph G. Rodgers Jr., 59, former managing director of the Promised Valley Playhouse and president and general manager of the LDS Church's Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii from 1983 until 1988, died Thursday at Lakeview Hospital of complications following surgery.Long associated with theater along the Wasatch Front - from teaching drama at Granite High School to operating the Pages Lane Theatre in Centerville - thousands of patrons knew Rodgers from his performances as Scrooge in a variety of "A Christmas Carol" musical adaptations, Tevye in "Fiddler on the Roof" and Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner of Titipu in "The Mikado."
Two years ago, following surgery on his feet, Rodgers was determined not to let being confined for several months to a wheelchair keep him from performing. His performances as a wheelchair-bound Ebenezer Scrooge gave Charles Dickens' beloved old skinflint an extra cantankerous edge.
For many years he was involved in annual summer productions of "Promised Valley" at that pioneer show's namesake theater in downtown Salt Lake City, not only directing it but appearing in the comedic role of Fennelly Parson.
Rodgers served a mission for the LDS Church in Samona in 1956-59 and later spent much time in the islands as a regional representative for the church and, during the early 1970s, as president of the Samoan Mission for three years.
Rodgers, who produced and directed dozens of stage shows, also helped write the scripts and lyrics for a number of shows, including "Mama's Boarding House," a sequel to the popular "Papa Married a Mormon," and four epic-scale LDS Church productions - "Moroni," "III Nephi," "Joseph" and "Behold the Lamb of God."
One of his most recent writing efforts was "Joseph and Mary: A Love Story."
As president/managing director of the Polynesian Cultural Center, he wrote and produced the center's spectacular evening production, "This is Polynesia!" and also produced a video presentation entitled "Portrait of Polynesia." During this time he was also invited by the government of the People's Republic of China to be an adviser on tourism for China - a request that came 18 months following a visit to the PCC by Chinese Premiere Zhao Ziyang.
Most recently, in addition to opening and managing the Pages Lane Theatre, the Rodgers family operated schools for the performing arts in Salt Lake City and Centerville.
Rodgers and his wife, Joan, are the parents of five children.
Funeral services are pending.