Tell us about yourself and your history with SLAC!

My history with SLAC began in 2010 when I was invited to do a reading of my play Charm in the New Play Sounding Series. I was new to Salt Lake and to be honest, I didn’t know where I was or what to expect. But the SLAC theatre community embraced me and my play, and we began a long working relationship over the next fifteen years, which included a pretty crazy play about my reaction to Utah’s dinosaur country, called Course 86B in the Catalogue, two political dramas, The Persian Quarter, inspired by the years I spent in Iran as a young woman, and Harbur Gate, about women in the military, which I researched with interviews at the VA Hospital in Salt Lake. Silent Dancer, is an experimental work about a young woman who dances in silent films, which combined dance and the spoken word, directed by Cynthia Fleming, with choreography by Christopher Rudd from Ballet West.

SLAC has been an artistic home for you for many years, what makes SLAC unique from other theatres you've worked with?

I am who I am as an artist because of the Salt Lake Acting Company. SLAC gave me a home and allowed me to become a playwright.

Why should people come to see The Robertassey? What makes it unique from other plays you've written?

My new play at SLAC, The Robertassey, almost didn’t make it. It was saved from drowning by Cynthia Fleming who called me last March and said she and Latoya Cameron had re-read the play (it had been in the New Play Sounding Series in 2019) and they saw something in it – but it was buried and confused. Yeah, I knew that... So in 2024 I began working on a play I hadn’t looked at since 2019. This exciting, magical thing happened because I knew just what to do. It was, in a sense, given to me in a new way. 

The Robertassey is a play that is both autobiography and imagination – it’s a play about reality which is completely made up. It’s emotionally true and entirely invented. It speaks with a voice I haven’t heard since I wrote CHARM all those years ago...

The Cast of The Robertassey - Photo by Laura Chapman

The Robertassey by Kathleen Cahill runs February 5th through March 2nd, 2025. You can purchase tickets and find more information about the show here.

Tell us about yourself and your relationship to SLAC!

Hi, I’m Penny, and I’ve been fortunate to work with SLAC for over a decade directing their Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) productions. It’s been a joy to collaborate with the incredible SLAC team to create magical, meaningful experiences for young audiences and their families. Beyond directing, I’m a professor of theatre at the University of Utah and the Artistic Director of the Youth Theatre program. I’m passionate about theatre education and love how SLAC celebrates the power of storytelling for all ages.

What is Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA)? What is the importance of this type of work and how have you, in your experience as an educator, seen it impact young artists?

TYA is theatre specifically created for children and young people, designed to captivate their imaginations while addressing themes that resonate with their experiences. Its importance lies in its ability to plant seeds of empathy, creativity, and curiosity. As an educator, I’ve seen firsthand how theatre helps young artists find their voices, build confidence, and understand the world around them. TYA is often a young person’s first encounter with live performance, making it a magical, formative experience that can inspire a lifelong love for the arts.

You've directed innumerable children's shows at SLAC, as well as Yoga Play, and will be directing The Robertassey in the spring. What are the differences, strengths, and weaknesses between directing TYA and non-TYA shows?

Directing TYA is a thrilling challenge because it’s not just for children—it’s truly theatre for all audiences. I approach these productions with the same care and respect as adult shows, knowing grownups will be in the audience too. My goal is to craft a performance that’s engaging and thought-provoking for everyone.

TYA shows are like full-length musicals condensed into 50-minutes, demanding incredible precision, creativity, and energy from the cast and crew. The biggest difference is the audience: children respond with a raw honesty and immediacy that challenges us to be authentic and dynamic. While adult productions can delve into abstract themes, TYA embraces the joy of pure storytelling, connecting emotions, and sparking curiosity. Ultimately, it reminds me why I love theatre—it’s about wonder, imagination, and community, leaving a lasting impact on every audience member.

After directing so many of the children's shows at SLAC, how do you keep it fresh every time? What can audiences expect from this show that makes it unique from past children's shows?

Each TYA production at SLAC is an opportunity to push creative boundaries and explore new ways to engage our youngest audiences. For Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, we’re doing something we’ve never done before: using a puppet as the main character throughout the entire show, manipulated Avenue Q-style, where both the puppet and the puppeteer are visible. While we’ve included puppets in past productions, they’ve always been supporting elements or brief moments. This time, The Pigeon takes center stage in a fresh, dynamic way that highlights both the artistry of puppetry and the charm of Mo Willems’ hilarious and heartfelt character.

Mo Willems once said, “Empathy is the key to all of this.” That spirit drives this production, as audiences see The Pigeon wrestle with big feelings of frustration and the desire to prove himself. This musical is a celebration of finding your “thing,” packed with humor, heart, and surprises for everyone in the audience.

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! runs through Dec. 30, 2024. You can purchase tickets and find more information about the show here.

For those who prefer a more “self-checkout” process to get tickets, you can subscribe for our 25/26 season online.  If you prefer to renew over the phone or in person, our team is still happy to assist you. Either way, don't hesitate to get in touch with us if you need assistance with your season subscription!

Please note: when subscribing online, you will have the option to note any ticket requests that you have at the end of the process. So, please choose the options that get you as close as possible to your preferred ticket set-up. Rest assured, we will review your additional requests and be in touch to customize your tickets. 

If you’re renewing your subscription, follow these steps:

If you have 24/25 season subscription, please follow the steps below. As a renewing season subscriber, seats that meet (or come very close) to your previous seating choices will be pre-selected for you as you renew. Throughout the process, you can choose to keep these pre-selected options or change to another option, if you’d like. Remember, you’ll be able to note any requests you have at the end of the process. 

1. Login to Your Account

   • You already have an account with us, but if you've never logged into our website you may need to reset your password.

   • Use the email address associated with your subscription (the one you received this email from and the one on your renewal notice) to login. 

2. Start the Subscription Purchase Process in Your Account

   • Go to My Account. Now that you’re logged in, you will see this in the top right corner of the web page. 
   • Select Fixed Subscriptions (this can be found at the far right of your account options or clicking this link) and then Buy Subscription. 

3. Confirm or Adjust Your Subscription Packages

   • Your current subscription series price will be pre-selected. If you’d like to move to a different day of the week, you may select this option now (i.e. you have a Wednesday, but want to attend on Fridays next season).
   • Enter the number of season subscriptions/packages you are renewing. If you’re not sure, this is noted on your renewal notice. You can adjust that now if you’d like more or less than last season. 
   • Click Next. 

4. Confirm or Adjust Your Subscription Series 

   • Your subscription series will already be pre-selected based on your current season subscription. If you’d like to change that, select a different option (i.e. You want to attend on the First Friday instead of the Fourth Friday).
   • If any of the individual dates don’t work for you, please note them in the Subscription Requests section at checkout. Our team will reach out to help you make those exchanges. 
   • Click Next.

5. Confirm or Adjust Your Regular Upstairs Theatre Season Seats

   • You’ll see pre-selected seats based on your current season subscription for the rest of the season in the Upstairs Theatre. If you’d like to choose different seats from what is available, do so now.
   • If you don’t see the seating options you’d like, you may request that in the Subscription Requests at checkout. 
   • Click Next. 

6. Confirm or Adjust Your SLAC’s Summer Show Seats

   • You’ll see pre-selected seats based on (or as close as possible) to your current SLAC’s Summer Show seats. If you’d like to choose different seats from what is available, do so now. 
   • If you don’t see the seating options you’d like, you may request that in the Subscription Requests at checkout (i.e. I want a floor table, but they aren’t available on this date).
   • Click Next. 

   Review Your Cart

   • Review your season subscription 
   • Click Checkout.

7. Add Subscription Requests and Check Out

   • Choose your ticket delivery preference and click Continue.
   • Additional Details is where you can select Accessibility Needs and enter any requests or adjustments you’d like made to your season under Subscription Requests.  Our team will do our best to fulfill your requests. You will receive an update when the request is complete. Click Continue. 
   • If you would like to you, you can add a Donation. Click Continue. Click Continue. 
   • Once again, review your Order Summary and click Continue.
   • Confirm your Billing Address. This is an important step to ensure your payment will be processed.  Click Continue.
   • Add your card details for Payment. Click Confirm Payment. 

You’re renewed for the season! If you have any Subscription Requests, our team will review them and send updated tickets once the request is complete. If you chose email delivery for your tickets, you will receive them in a few minutes. Will-call tickets will receive a confirmation email with your dates in a few minutes and tickets will be at the box office for each show. If you choose to have your tickets mailed, you will receive them by the end of August. 

Please stop by the box office the next time you’re at the theatre to pick up your t-shirt or tote bag. Thank you for being a season subscriber! 

If you’re a new subscriber, follow these steps:

If you do not currently have a 24/25 season subscription, please follow the steps below to sign up for a 25/26 season subscription. This includes brand-new subscribers and those returning after a couple of seasons away. Remember, you’ll be able to note any requests you have at the end of the process. 

1. Start the Subscription Purchase Process

   • Go to Subscriptions under our Buy Tickets Online page. From here, select the 25/26 Season Subscription.

2. Select Your Season Subscription Package

   • Choose which pricing/day of the week option you’d like to attend. Season subscribers can exchange their tickets as much as they’d like! So, you can move from one performance to another after signing up. Exchanges are free, but we do ask that you pay the price difference when moving from a lower-priced performance to a higher-priced performance.
   • Enter the number of season subscriptions/packages you would like. Each subscription includes one ticket to our four main season shows. 
   • Click Next. 

3. Select Your Subscription Series 

   • Choose your preferred performance day/time. Most of our productions run four weeks. Choose the option that best fits your schedule. 
   • If any of the individual dates don’t work for you, please note them in the Subscription Requests section at checkout. Our team will reach out to help you make those exchanges.
   • Click Next.

4. Choose Your Regular Upstairs Theatre Season Seats

   • Select the seats you’d like for the rest of the season. These will be your seats for all shows except SLAC’s Summer Show. 
   • If you don’t see the seating options you’d like, you may request that in the Subscription Requests at checkout. 
   • Click Next.

5. Choose Your SLAC’s Summer Show Seats

   • Select the seats you’d like for the rest of the season. These will be your seats for all shows except SLAC’s Summer Show. 
   • If you don’t see the seating options you’d like, you may request that in the Subscription Requests at checkout. 
   • Click Next.

6. Login to Your Account

   • You’ll be prompted to log in to (or create) your account. If you’ve purchased tickets with us before, you already have an account with us, but you may need to reset your password. 
   • If you have not purchased tickets with us before, create an account. 

7. Review Your Cart

   • Review your season subscription.

   • You’ll be prompted to log in to (or create) your account if you have not already done so.
   • Click Checkout.

8. Add Subscription Requests and Check Out

   • Choose your ticket delivery preference and click Continue 
   • Additional Details is where you can select Accessibility Needs and enter any requests or adjustments you’d like made to your season under Subscription Requests.  Our team will do our best to fulfill your requests. You will receive an update when the request is complete. Click Continue. 
   • If you would like to you, you can add a Donation. Click Continue. 
   • Once again, review your Order Summary and click Continue.
   • Confirm your Billing Address. This is an important step to ensure your payment will be processed.  Click Continue.
   • Add your card details for Payment. Click Confirm Payment. 

You’re subscribed for the season! If you have any Subscription Requests, our team will review those and send updated tickets once the request is complete. If you chose email delivery for your tickets, you will receive them in a few minutes. If you choose to have your tickets mailed, you will receive them by the end of August. 

Please stop by the Box Office the next time you’re at the theatre to pick up your t-shirt or tote bag. Thank you for being a season subscriber! 

Box Office Details

Our regular box office hours are Monday through Friday from 11am to 5pm. Extended hours available in the run of a show. 

If you need to contact us outside the hours below, please leave a voicemail or email. We will follow up as soon as possible

801-363-7522

Check out what Utah Theatre Bloggers Association has to say about Saturday's Voyeur 2018!

Follow this link to read Gephardt Daily's review of Saturday's Voyeur 2018!

Gephardt Daily | Daisy Blake | July 8, 2018

Click this link to read The Salt Lake Tribune's article on the history of Saturday's Voyeur!

The Salt Lake Tribune | Sean P. Means | June 28, 2018

Use this link read Utah Theatre Blogger Association's review of FUN HOME!

Utah Theatre Bloggers Association | Tara Nicole Haas | April 16, 2018

Click this link read Broadway World's review of FUN HOME!

Broadway World | Blair Howell | April 10, 2018

Follow this link to see what Front Row Reviewers has to say about FUN HOME!

Front Row Reviewers | Joel Applegate | April 9, 2018

Click this link to read this great review from Salt Lake Magazine!

Salt Lake Magazine | Jeremy Pugh  | April 9, 2018