SALT LAKE CITY —Pioneer Theatre Company open the doors of a new guest house today in order to welcome actors, directors and designers from throughout the country.
On the corner of 1300 East and 200 South, PTC has apartments on the second, third and fourth floors. Meldrum House, named for its primary donors, will become a home away from home for those who travel here to share their talents.
Over the course of a year, 120 cast members, directors and designers come from New York, Los Angeles and cities in between, adding their talents to PTC productions every season.
Comfortable, even inviting, the new housing will make six weeks of rehearsals and performances a relaxing place to stay while they're in town.
"Housing for guest artists is the bane of every theater producer's existence, " said Chris Lino, PTC managing director. "Here, they will all be in the same place, all a five-minute walk from the theater and a five-minute walk from restaurants, dry cleaners, pharmacies, everything they could want while they're here."
The company used to rent apartments near the University of Utah for guests, and about 10 years ago, managers began thinking about something permanent. A year and a half ago, development partner Cowboy Partners acquired the property, renovating 20 units, which Lino calls the finest artist housing in the country.
"Every apartment has its own thermostat, water heater, Wi-Fi, wall-mounted flat-screen TV and custom-designed furniture," he said.
Builders preserved the historic architecture because Meldrum House, constructed in 1907, was the first women's dormitory west of the Mississippi. Cowboy Partners managed the upgrade to 21st century housing with positive community response.
From the city to the neighborhood to the surrounding businesses, everyone has just been so enthusiastic and onboard, right from the outset, said Dan Lofgren, president and CEO of Cowboy Partners. "It's a historic building; it seemed like the right thing to do, to preserve the character of the building and at the same time enhance the character of the neighborhood."
The renovation cost $2.6 million, all privately donated. The single largest donation came from Cathie and Peter Meldrum, season ticket holders for 25 years. "We love the theater, and we love seeing the Broadway-quality shows that Pioneer puts on," said Peter Meldrum, president and CEO of Myriad Genetics and former chairman of the theater's board of trustees." It's been fabulous to see how it's changed from a pretty rundown property to the very beautiful rooms that we have at Meldrum House today. The artist housing, we felt, was a very important part of maintaining and preserving the quality of the theater we enjoy so much."
Word got out about the quality housing, and so did Lino's email address, prompting requests from students. "They were almost like graduate school applications. I'm a student in the music school, I work very hard, it would be so convenient for me …"
The cast members for the production "Next to Normal" are the first guests here. The University of Utah will also use this housing from time to time for visiting professors.
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