Friday, April 25, 2003
By Lee Benson
Deseret News columnist

PARK CITY - Ever since it opened its pyramid tomb-like doors on Christmas Day of 1926, the Egyptian Theatre on Park City's Main Street has faced periodic challenges to its existence. Like the town it lives in, it has had to keep re-inventing itself to stay alive, both inside and out, and like the town it lives in - which successfully made the tricky transition from miner's boots to moon boots - it has always managed to pull it off.

The latest problem facing the theater isn't structural. There are no termites threatening the foundation and no developer wanting to turn the place into a multi-plex, as has happened in the past.
This time it's a creative problem.
The Egyptian Theatre Company - the nonprofit group that coordinates and produces the 76-year-old building's performances - is strapped for money.
If it doesn't soon raise some serious capital, it will produce its own tragedy.
"The building will still be here," is how John Caywood, ETC's producing artistic director, puts it. "But it will be real dark."

The problem is that 41 does not divide into 24.
Caywood explains that while the top ticket price for an Egyptian Theatre performance is $24, it costs an average of $41 per person to put a seat in an Egyptian Theatre seat.
"The shows generally pay for themselves through ticket sales," he says - referring to productions such as this year's lineup of "Yours, Anne," "Eating Raoul," "King Mackerel" and "Oliver!" - "but the overhead isn't covered by the shows." That means expense for utilities, staff costs, building upkeep and the community and youth education programs has to come from somewhere.

With the economy on the downswing and charitable foundations, especially, pulling back on their gift-giving as a result, not-for-profit organizations like ETC are having to take a very dramatic gulp.
"We have to raise about $450,000 a year," says Caywood. He admits asking for money is not his favorite part of the job. "But either that part gets done," he says, "or the other doesn't."

Saturday night, starting at 7, the Egyptian will hold a Casino Night fund-raiser that Caywood hopes will help right the ship. The cost is $65 a person - creating an initial $24 profit for each seat right from the start. In addition, there will be giveaways, auction items that include a trip to St. Marten, sculptures, mountain bikes and weekend ski trips; and Vegas-type casino games with Vegas-type results - meaning the house gets to keep most of the money.
The big draw will be Park City native Jason Hewlett, who will provide the evening's entertainment. Hewlett made his Park City debut in the Egyptian in January to a sold-out theater, where he unveiled a variety show that ranged from impersonations of Nat King Cole to Elton John to Jurassic Park dinosaurs. Caywood remembers that he was initially skeptical about booking Jason but was pleasantly surprised. "He's the kind of person you seldom see in this business," he says. "He is what he says he is and more. Plus, he goes through his entire act and doesn't use any questionable language or material. He's quite amazing."
"Come and see him while he's still affordable," smiles Caywood.
He could say the same thing about the place in which Jason Hewlett will be performing. Come and see the Egyptian Theatre while it can still afford to stay open.