SALT LAKE CITY – When a producer makes a list, they have to check it more than twice.
Kaysville musician Lynnette Thredgold is taking her first spin as a theater producer with “A Time of Forgiving,” a musical coming to Salt Lake’s Kingsbury Hall Dec. 21-22 at 7:30 p.m.
The show, written by Paul “Cactus Jack” LaMarr, follows one man’s redemption in a diner on Christmas Eve.
“My favorite thing about the show is how different it is from other productions you might see at Christmas time,” she said. “I love its message.”
Thredgold, who has produced her own concerts for years, became involved with “A Time of Forgiving” after it had already started. Her husband has Australian ties, and after making a connection with LaMarr, he invited the fellow Aussie to dinner. LaMarr revealed that his new musical had an opening for a producer.
“Being a theater producer is a whole different world,” said Thredgold. “I’m used to handling things like lights and orchestra, but in theater you also have to worry about the cast and wardrobe for everyone. That was new.”
As a producer, she couldn’t just focus on the areas she knew best. According to Thredgold, a producer’s job is to make sure all the different parts of the production are running smoothly.
“I do pretty much everything you can think of,” she said. “I’m constantly on the phone or computer, answering a million questions at once.”
The people she works with have been an immense help, she said.
“I’m grateful the cast is fabulous and the crew really knows what it’s doing,” said Thredgold. “I’ve been kind of a taskmaster, but it’s been a real pleasure and honor to work with them.”
As an artist herself, she said she also understands the effort it took LaMarr to put his production in her and director Kim Yandow’s hands. LaMarr first released many of the songs from the production on CD in 2011, and would perform them in concert.
“It’s his story, and he’s had to sit back and have trust in Kim and I to know what we’re doing,” said Thredgold. “It’s been a joy to work with both of them.”
Though Thredgold said she probably wouldn’t experiment with producing other plays or musicals, she grew thoughtful at the possibility.
“I do so many different things in my life,” she said. “I’ve always enjoyed a good challenge, and this as definitely been a good challenge.”
Tickets for the show are available by calling 801-581-7100 or online at kingsburyhall.utah.edu/performances/a-time-of-forgiving. For more information about the show, including samples of musical performances, visit atimeofforgivingmusical.com.
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