Hope Box’s ‘Tarzan’ benefits Farmington boy with cancer
He (Daylen Bills) Tarzan, she (Lizzie White) Jane.
Kinley Austad
Skyler Smith and Jackie Ward
“Tarzan” is swinging into Kaysville’s Hope Box Theatre Aug. 7 through 22 to benefit a local boy struggling with cancer.
The theater, which opened its doors with “9 to 5” in May, will donate a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales and 100 percent of the donations from the show to 10-year-old Landon Packer, of Farmington.
“I love that it’s supporting a good cause because I get to do something I really love and I know it’s helping someone I love. … Knowing that it’s making a change for someone else is really powerful,” said Lizzie White, 17 and of Bountiful, who plays Jane in one of the show’s two casts.
One of the show’s Tarzans, Daylen Bills, didn’t know about the theater’s mission to help cancer patients when he auditioned for the show. He said once he found out, he thought, “Oh man, what am I getting involved in here?”
“Through doing something I enjoy I can breathe life into someone else in a way,” Bills, 23 and of Salt Lake City, said. “I think that’s really special.”
Based on the 1999 Disney film of the same name, “Tarzan: The Musical” features a book written by David Henry Hwang and music by Phil Collins. White said people will be able to recognize songs like “Trashin’ the Camp” and “Son of Man” from the movie, but will also get to hear songs they haven’t heard before.
Director Brandon Stauffer said the show has such a great story and music, and that he’s excited to be directing it.
“It’s really exciting to direct Tarzan because I think the story is really amazIng,” he said. “This show hasn’t really made the circuit around the area in the other theaters or high schools.”
Stauffer said he loves watching the love story of Tarzan, a human raised by apes, and Jane, the daughter of an English professor — along with their families — come together.
“For me I love that it’s simply a story about human love,” he said. “It’s just about finding what’s good about another person and forgetting about everything else. … It’s a story about love and what it can do for the world, honestly.”
The choice to double-cast the show gives audience members a chance to see two versions of the musical.
“Because the Hope Box is new, we decided to double cast the show completely and we had such a great turnout at auditions,” Stauffer said. “It’s great to watch separate casts put their own take on the show.”
For Bills, who also plays Tarzan’s human father in the opening number of the cast opposite his Tarzan role, being in “Tarzan” helps him relive his childhood.
“My favorite part about playing Tarzan is I’m a kid of that generation and I love those movies so I’ve just been trying to bring to life one of those characters,” Bills said. “It’s really cool to live it and act it.”
White’s first stage musical experience was when she saw “Tarzan” at the Hale Centre Theatre a few years ago. She thought it would be so fun to play Jane one day, she said, but never really thought she’d get the chance. Now, her dream is coming true.
“There’s so many things I love about being Jane,” White said. “She’s one of my favorite Disney characters of all time. I love how excited she gets about everything — she’s a really cute character so that’s been really fun.”
All the challenges the cast and crew have experienced so far are technical, Stauffer said, including figuring out how to make Tarzan fly through the air with aerial silks. Bills said using the silks is hard and nothing like he’s ever done before.
“All of the challenges we faced were technical. It’s been really awesome to see the tech team come together and figure out how to make this Broadway musical work in a smaller theater,” Stauffer said, noting the theater’s ceiling height of 25 feet.
Stauffer said people should come see “Tarzan” to support the community.
“People should come to the show because it’s not only about coming to a great show but also giving back to the community,” he said.
White said she thinks it’s unique that some of Hope Box’s proceeds go to someone who has cancer.
“Not only are you going to be super entertained, but you’re also going to be supporting a really awesome cause by buying a ticket to the show, so that’s why I would encourage people to come and see it,” she said.
To learn more about Hope Box Theatre, visit http://www.hopeboxtheatre.com. The theater is located at 1700 S. Frontage Rd. in Kaysville.
Contact reporter Sonja Carlson at 801-625-4229 or scarlson@standard.net. Follow her on Twitter @sonjacSE and like her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SonjaCarlsonSE.
PREVIEW
- WHAT: ‘Tarzan: The Musical'
- WHEN: 7 p.m. August 7, 8, 10, 14, 15, 17, 20, 21, 22; 2 p.m. matinee performances August 8, 15, 22
- WHERE: Hope Box Theatre, 1700 S. Frontage Rd., Kaysville
- TICKETS: $10-$15 at www.hopeboxtheatre.com; $11-$16 at the door