IVINS — A light has gone out at Tuacahn Amphitheatre at the announcement of the death of Peggy Hickey, director and choreographer, whose impact on Tuacahn and the theater world at large made a difference in the lives of so many.
Known internationally as the choreographer for the Broadway productions of “Anastasia” and “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” this Tony Award winner was also involved in several Tuacahn productions beginning in 2019. She passed away Jan. 22 at age 61 after a long battle with breast cancer, according to a news release from Tuacahn.
“Everything Peggy did in life came from her heart, and that definitely carried over into her directing and choreographing style,” Shari Jordan, associate artistic producer for Tuacahn, said in the news release. “Her attention to detail was incredible. Every actor wanted to do their best and please her because she was so respectful of them and their craft.”
Hickey’s time at Tuacahn started when she brought “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” to life on the indoor Hafen stage in 2019.
“She directed the Tuacahn production with as much care and detail and panache as she did the Broadway show,” Jordan said. “Southern Utah audiences were lucky to see a show just the way it was on Broadway.”
Hickey’s contributions to “Tuacahn also included “Elf” in 2019, “The Count of Monte Cristo” and “School of Rock” in 2021 and “Mary Poppins” in 2022.
“Peggy never let her cancer stop her from doing what she loved,” Jordan said. “She never let it define her. She was open about having cancer, but she just kept going and kept working.”
During a 2022 interview, Hickey went on and on expressing her gratitude for the experiences she shared in the shadow of the red mountains of Southern Utah.
“I just love it, love it, love it at Tuacahn,” she said. “The resources are remarkable for a regional theater. The technology they bring in is amazing. Broadway level. It’s just this magical place.”
Her gratitude is echoed back by many of the Tuacahn staff who feel deeply the loss of this magnanimous person.
“It’s impossible to sum up all the feelings I have at the moment,” said Scott Anderson, artistic director at Tuacahn. “Peggy was truly a remarkable woman, and she will be sorely missed.”
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