Lyric Theatre Provides Professional Opportunities for Students, Wide Array of Shows for Patrons

LOGAN, Utah — It began in 1967 with a goal in mind: get theater students at Utah State University opportunities for professional experience. This was the aim of Vosco Call, founder of the Lyric Repertory Company. Fifty-six years later, the Lyric Rep continues to provide professional opportunities for USU students and a wide variety of shows for the viewing audience.

“His goal was to create a professional theater that would help bridge the gap between educational theater and professional theater,” said Richie Call, Vosco’s grandson and artistic director for the Lyric Rep Company. “All of the positions that we hire at the Lyric, whether it’s actors, technicians, designers — are helping students get their launch into their careers.”

Each summer, the Lyric Rep puts on productions that combine casts of professional actors and designers with cohorts from USU’s Caine College of the Arts. This allows students the opportunity to network with professional actors, learn what the real world is like, apply their craft, and have a professional job to put on their resumes.

“The way that they have partnered with Utah State, it has been a great way to take the skills that I am learning in my classes and apply it in real life, while I am also watching other professionals working,” said Mia Gatherum, a junior in the BFA acting emphasis. “The Lyric is great because they understand that we are still students and that we are still learning, but they always try to put us in the best roles that will allow us to grow and gain more experience and get a little bit outside of the box as actors.”

Many students who have participated in the program feel that it gives them as close to the real taste of the professional world, all with the ability to try new things, make some mistakes and learn in a safe environment.

“The Lyric is the perfect gap,” said Ryan Adams, a junior in the BFA acting emphasis. “Being able to work at the Lyric with professional actors from all over the world has been a great way to learn how the professional world works and what is expected of you, all while having some of the grace to make mistakes and learn what you can and can’t do.”

Not only do students get to work with professionals in a professional production, but they also have opportunities to gain additional skills they will need in their post-graduation careers.

“Along with having these great opportunities of working with professional actors and directors I wouldn’t be able to otherwise, I am also learning the skill of being an understudy,” Gatherum said. “I am so grateful to have that experience because I know that is a skill I am going to need after I graduate college and go out into the world. It is something that you can’t trade for anything else.”

Call, who is the interim department head and an associate professor in USU’s Department of Theatre, loves the collaboration that USU has with the Lyric Rep. He has seen students take this opportunity and jump into professional careers in Broadway and other professional companies. He encouraged patrons to come see the next generation of talented performers before they become household names.

“It is cool to come see the students where they are now and five years from now be able to say that the person in this Broadway show, I saw them when they were a student at Utah State,” Call said.

With its 2023 summer season now over, USU students now look forward to the fall season for USU Theatre Productions. The shows feature USU acting students as well as the talents of USU student costume and set designers. The season starts on Sept. 25 with the presentation of We Are Pussy Riot, or Everything is PR, presented in the Black Box Theatre. The fall season will also include two USU shows at the Caine Lyric Theatre, Waiting for Lefty in October, and It’s a Wonderful Life in December. With a variety of themes and shows, there is something for everyone.

“You can get a lot of different things from each of these shows,” Adams said. “The upcoming season is very diverse. I am so happy with the selection of shows they have this year.”

Tickets to USU Theatre productions are free for all USU students, with a valid student ID. Tickets are also available for purchase for the general public.

“Live entertainment is something people spend a lot of time and money to go do, and we have it right here on our campus, free for all our students,” Call said. “Come take advantage of it and enjoy the show.”

For more information on the Lyric Rep, visit https://www.usu.edu/lyricrep. For tickets to upcoming USU Theatre shows, visit cca.usu.edu/theatre.