Richard Scott is the Executive Artistic Director for SLCC’s Grand Theatre. He has been here for nine years now and was recently recognized for his extraordinary work.
Scott received the prestigious Salt Lake City Mayor’s Performing Arts Award, an award he was nominated for by various colleagues.
“It’s wonderful to be recognized by your colleagues and that’s really where this came from. Really I didn’t know anything about this until it was actually awarded to me. It’s nice to have that kind of statement that they enjoy working with you and think highly of your work,” Scott said.
Scott was not planning on pursuing any form of acting in the beginning. He was a pre-law student and hadn’t done any acting. A friend of his produced an original play and wanted somebody outside of the theater community to take on the lead role. Scott accepted the part and discovered a personal interest.
“It was my last year in college and I did an original play that a friend had written and it was great fun. I didn’t pursue it then but about four years later I was in Philadelphia and started taking workshops and got involved. I just started doing it full-time. I was close to 30 at that point.”
Scott began his professional career in theater about 20 years ago dedicating his efforts specifically to acting, directing and teaching. He ran the Egyptian Theater in Park City and also worked with the Pioneer Theater along with the Salt Lake Acting Company. Acting was his first true interest, but Scott is very happy doing anything involving the theater.
“My first love is acting and next directing. It depends on the piece. I’ve gotten a little bit older and there are only certain parts that make sense for me anymore. The directing gives me a little bit more flexibility. My heart I guess is still with the acting, but I love to direct and it gives me a little bit more I can be involved in.”
Scott is constantly busy keeping up with the schedule of the Grand Theatre. Whether casting characters for new plays or presenting current plays, he always has a full plate. Scott thoroughly enjoys his responsibilities and is completely dedicated to putting on the best show.
“It’s pretty involved. The arts are not something for the faint-hearted. It’s a lot of hours. You’ve got to figure out what you’re going to spend, project what you think you might get in income, hire the right people and make sure you’re watching the artistic integrity of the product.”
Scott is currently working on several projects. He just finished casting for Oliver, which will be the Grand Theatre’s fall opener. Scott appreciates the possibility of increased publicity resulting from his recent award and hopes that it can make the upcoming season a success.
“It’s always good to get any kind of promotion that is for Grand Theatre and for SLCC. We’ve had some public press and press within the college itself and it’s all helpful. That’s part of what performing art is about is to make people aware of what you’re doing.”
For more information on the Grand Theatre and its schedule of upcoming events visit the-grand.org.