CEDAR CITY — A new performing arts training facility is set to open its doors in Cedar City. The InterMountain Performing Arts Conservatory, or IMPAC, aims to provide children ages 6-18 with educational opportunities to build their acting, singing and dancing skills.
IMPAC’s founders are Brandon Burk and Tamera Merkley, both of whom have extensive theatrical experience.
“There’s a lot of talent in Cedar City,” Burk told Cedar City News during a short informal tour of IMPAC’s studio, which is set to have a public open house this coming Thursday, Feb. 16.
“We see it every year at Cedar City Star Search, we see it at Dancing with the Stars and all of the performance opportunities that are here,” he continued. “We’ve got CCMT (Cedar City Children’s Musical Theater), we’ve got CVCT (Cedar Valley Community Theater), we’ve got the Shakespeare Festival and SimonFest. And with all of those opportunities for people to perform, none of those folks really have a place other than at the university, where they can train and learn how to improve those skills.”
Now actors and dancers in Cedar City will have the option for theatrical training without having to make a trip out of town.
“Down in St. George, they have a number of options,” Burk added. “They’ve got Encore, they’ve got COPA (Utah Conservatory of Performing Arts at Tuacahn), where Tam used to teach. But we don’t have anything like that up here in Cedar City. So we just see it as an underserved area.”
Merkley said a number of students she has taught at COPA over the past few years have already begun making an impact on stage.
“Kids who started with us are now out there in the world, doing big things, Broadway, Tuacahn, you know, just out there being successful,” Merkley said. “We’re hoping to create that same thing here at IMPAC.”
“We want to feed the performance opportunities that are here in Cedar City,” Burk added in agreement. “We want to feed the Shakespeare Festival. We want to feed SUU’s theater program.”
Burk added that he and Merkley are hoping to make IMPAC a “one-stop shop” for people of all ages who want to learn, practice and refine their skills in the performing arts.
While students will be able focus on certain aspects of performing, such as acting, dancing or singing, they will receive instruction and practice in all of those areas during the semester classes, mini-sessions and workshops, Burk said.
Private tutoring sessions are also available for those who desire more advanced or specific training, he added.
“The biggest hurdle for us right now is getting the word out and getting the word out to the right people, making sure that families and people who are interested in the arts, and we’ve got a lot of them here in Cedar, that they are finding out about us, what we do and where we are.”
IMPAC’s first two five-week training sessions have been announced, with a Classic Broadway class running from March 7 through April 8 and a Disney Broadway class from April 18 through May 20. Each session will consist of classes Tuesdays through Thursdays, plus showcases on Saturdays.
Registration is $150, with a $15 family discount given for each additional sibling. For more information, visit IMPAC’s website or its Facebook page.
Event details
- What: IMPAC open house.
- When: Thursday, Feb. 16, 4-8 p.m.
- Where: 389 North 100 West #7, Cedar City.
- Details: Free and open to the public. For more information, visit im-pac.com or call 435-572-0072.
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.