Sandy is being played by an Airedale named Bogger in Tuacahn's production of "Annie."
"He's a great dog, he'd been abused and the trainer took him in and he's great," said Scott Anderson, artistic director. But things weren't all peaches and dog bones.
"He looked great. He was shaggy and had the perfect coloring," Anderson said. "But when we took him in to get him groomed, we said, 'It's for a show' and the groomers thought he was a show dog. So they fluffed him up and dyed his fur — he looked great," Anderson laughed, "he just didn't look a thing like Sandy."
After getting Bogger back in "costume," the dog and the 20 orphans took the stage in the 1977 Broadway musical hit.
"We have more orphans than the script calls for," Anderson said, "but there is so much talent."
Anderson, who directed "Annie," saw kids from "all over the place" and finally settled on a 12-year-old from Chicago for the title role. "Gracie's (Etzkorn) parents brought her out. She's played Annie on tour. She's doing a great job."
Gracie will wear the red wig until August, when Ellie Smith takes over — she's busy right now working in "The Secret Garden" for the Utah Shakespearean Festival.
Throw in a 6-foot-5 Daddy Warbucks, great 1930s choreography and "this is the perfect year to bring 'Annie' to life."
"One of the things that's a challenge running repertory," Anderson said, "is you've got to find people who can do all three shows."
"Annie" is just the beginning. The outdoor theater nestled against a stunning and massive red rock wall near Snow Canyon State Park is also opening "Footloose," and later this summer, Elton John's "Aida."
"We had a large turnout for auditions," Anderson said. "We had over 1,400 people between L.A., Utah and New York. We've got Broadway veterans, regional talent and local amateur talent."
Speaking of local talent, Thayne Jasperson, a returning cast member (Mungojerrie in 2006 "Cats") and a finalist on Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" last summer, will be putting on his dancing shoes as Ren in "Footloose" — a stage adaptation based on the popular '80s film.
"He just brought the house down in preview," Anderson said. "He's great. And we're happy to have Derryl (Yeager) back, who keeps winning 'Best of State.' "
Yeager, founder and artistic director of Odyssey Dance Theatre, is a frequent contributor to Tuacahn and directed and choreographed "Footloose."
With top-notch talent in place, Tuacahn opens its summer of music, with the two shows running opposite nights, all summer long, "and when 'Aida' starts in August, we'll rotate three through the fall."
Tuacahn won't be using the flash-flood element just yet, "but in 'Aida' there's a little something called the Nile River," Anderson joked. "But in 'Footloose' we have tractors, pyrotechnics, animals and a fun fantasy sequence."
"That's the thing about Tuacahn," he said, "It's outdoor, which is fun. You'll see a musical out here differently than you would anywhere else."
Anderson's method must be working. "We were the largest-grossing regional production of 'Les Miz' last year," he said. "According to MTI, it was us, the Lincolnshire Theatre in Chicago and PTC's production — we were all within dollars of each other. Which speaks volumes for theater in this state."
With that success and Anderson's self-proclaimed "lobbying efforts," Tuacahn just put another feather in its cap. "In 2010 we'll be the first regional company to do a production of Disney's 'Tarzan.' It's never been done outside of Broadway," Anderson said, "and we're so excited."
But for now, the focus is on a city boy in a redneck town who just wants to dance, and a little orphan with one of the best-groomed mutts in town.
If you go ...
What: "Annie," "Footloose"
Where: Tuacahn, Ivins, Utah
When: June 8-Oct. 17 (in repertory)
How much: $20-$49
Phone: 435-625-3300
Web: www.tuacahn.org
E-mail: ehansen@desnews.com