Montezuma and the Petticoats Debut’s in Kanab
A musical comedy that both celebrates and pokes fun at Southern Utah rural life.
So what is it like producing a brand-new musical comedy?
As writer and producer, Jeff Stott learned more and more about Kanab’s history, and two events caught his attention; the election of the nation’s first all-women town council in 1911 and prospector Freddie Crystal’s recruitment of the whole town to help him search for Montezuma’s hidden treasure supposedly buried near Kanab.
“I mean, you can’t make this stuff up. To think that Kanab, a small, rural, conservative, religious western town in the middle of nowhere, would be the first to have an all-women town council—it’s fascinating. And then to hear about a time where a complete stranger convinces the town to help him search for gold hidden by an ancient Aztec king? Wow, just wow.” Stott couldn’t help but think that these events, together, would create an intriguing and beautiful story that would entertain both visitors and residents of Southern Utah. “So I got to work writing the story and accompanying music. It took two years, with the help of dozens of people who reviewed and edited each draft. We made it western. And we made it funny.”
Because Montezuma and the Petticoats is original and debuting for the first time, there are several challenges. First, marketing can be difficult since the title will not have name recognition, and there are no fans from previous performances. “But I think the benefits easily outweigh the challenges—we aren’t required to stick to the script legally, meaning we have all the freedom of the world to adapt and improve it according to each actor’s input and strengths. Also, I think attendees will find it exciting and refreshing to attend a live performance of something that’s never been done before; it’s thrilling, really.”
Director Tammie Van Dyke has embraced the challenge. “We’re talking about songs that have never been sung in front of a crowd. Jokes that have never been audience-tested. A story that hasn’t been told.” But like Stott, Van Dyke sees the newness of this production as a risk with a huge payoff. “Of course, it’s intimidating doing something that’s never been done before. But we have actors with years of experience who are embracing their characters and having so much fun in the process. Combining that with a fully committed and talented technical and stage team gives me all the confidence in the world that this production will be one for the books.”
At its heart, Montezuma and the Petticoats is about treasure-seeking, falling in love, and accepting oneself—weaknesses and all. Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of our sponsors, including our presenting sponsor, Kanab Realty. Performances are on August 5, 6, 7, and 9 at the KHS Auditorium. Tickets are available at www.kanabmusical.com or at the door.
Viewpoints and perspectives expressed throughout The Independent are those of the individual contributors. They do not necessarily reflect those held by the staff of The Independent or our advertising sponsors. Your comments, rebuttals, and contributions are welcome in accordance with our Terms of Service. Please be respectful and abide by our Community Rules. If you have privacy concerns you can view our Privacy Policy here. Thank you!
Click here to submit an article, guest opinion piece, or a Letter to the Editor
