It looks like a church. In 1890, it was. Today its auditorium entertains 220 at a time with live theater. Run entirely by volunteers, the non-profit stage has set a bold life-expectancy record for community theater.

The founding of Heritage Community Theatre, Incorporated was a phenomenon of public demand, spawned by the sheer desire of the people, displayed at the celebration of the Golden Spike's 100th anniversary in 1969. Gox Elder County's centennial committee had sponsored an original play, "Gandy Dancers," for the occasion, and public response was sensational! Overwhelmed, Brigham City's mayor quickly tasked the play's authors with organizing a community theater group to fill the previously unnoted public want. Citizens gave generously in the door-to-door campaign that purchased the vacant church in '75 and gave the organization a permanent home.

How has it thrived so long? Public support of their art, for one thing, and ingenuity for producing it for another.

"This is their thirty-third season," states volunteer Pat Williams. She lets us in on the theater's connections with Box Elder High and other schools who trade props and costumes back and forth. "They're very ingenious," she says, at "cutting corners."

The Utah Arts Council grant them support, as well, but most of the funding comes from ticket revenue and private donations

"And all the profits," notes volunteer publicity manager Sheila Merrill, "go

into producing MORE."

Heritage Theatre

2505 S. Hwy 89, Perry (435) 723-8392

Jan 10- Feb 1st – "The Prisoner of Second Avenue," comedy, a stressed

Manhattan couple in the big city. Matinee the 18th.

Feb 28- March22 – "The King and I," a British woman wins the heart of the

King of Siam. Matinee March 8th.

Curtain 7:30PM. Adults $6, Seniors(62+) and Children(12-) $5; Monday night

special 6 tickets for $25.

www.streetmagazine.net