Dallyn Vail Bayles Leads THE SECRET GARDEN Cast at Hale Center Theater Orem thru 6/2

"Come to my garden," beckons Hale Center Theater Orem.

Leading the cast of "The Secret Garden" is Dallyn Vail Bayles as Archibald Craven. Bayles, an Equity member who has performed the masked lead role in a national tour of "The Phantom of the Opera," Enjolras in a "Les Misérables" national tour, and with Colm Wilkinson at the China premiere of "Les Misérables," is a popular recording artist and treasured stage and film actor locally. His top-selling solo recordings include "Song of Redeeming Love" and "Prayer," which was honored with a 2008 Pearl Award.

Bayles previously played the Archibald role in the Village Theater production in Issaquah, Washington. A reviewer in Seattle Post-Intelligencer wrote, "As Archibald, Dallyn Vail Bayles cuts a tender, melancholy figure, dominating his scenes with a powerful tenor voice."

According to the Talkin' Broadway website: "The top acting and vocal honors in this production go to Dallyn Vail Bayles who makes us see past Archie's brooding exterior and taps into his broken heart with subtle nuance. The actor soars in his solos."

To view a video of Bayles singing "Better Than I," written by John Bucchino for "Joseph-King of Dreams," click here.

Bayles is double cast in the Archibald role with Chris Higbee. Cast in the role of Lilly Craven are Rachel Lynn Woodward and Korianne Orton Johnson. Higbee, Woodward and Orton Johnson are also local favorites in musical Theater Productions.

Mabel Wheeler and Maggie Scott alternate in the role of Mary Lennox, with Greg Hansen and Dave Burton as Dr. Neville Craven.

"The Secret Garden," based on Frances Hodgson Burnett's beloved children's novel of 1911, is a must-see for any of us that have retained the sense of magic and wonder from childhood, or who can appreciate one of the most beautiful musicals of the '90s.

According to Anne Swenson, Hale Center Theater Orem Managing Director/Executive Producer, "The Secret Garden" was first produced at the Hale Center Theater Orem in 2000 and everyone involved has been anxiously awaiting the time that they can produce this haunting beautiful musical again.

The production has a strong spiritual message of families and afterlife, Swenson said. The characters of the show are watched over and gently guided to happiness by those that have "passed on." The bitterly lonely Archibald tells the newly orphaned child, Mary, "They're not gone, they are just dead."

The Hale Center Theater Orem staging of "The Secret Garden" marks the 20th anniversary of the New York premiere, which earned seven Tony Award nominations, two Tony Awards, and a Drama Desk Award for outstanding music. The much-loved musical played on Broadway for more than 700 performances and catapulted Daisy Eagan to stardom as the youngest female actress ever to win a Tony, for her role of Mary at age 11. (Frankie Michaels was 10 when he won a Tony for his role in "Mame.")

The musical's book and lyrics are by Marsha Norman (Pulitzer Prize winner for "'night, Mother") with music by Lucy Simon (older sister of pop star Carly Simon).

"The Secret Garden" plays Hale Center Theater Orem through June 2. Book and lyrics by Marsha Norman; music by Lucy Simon; based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett; directed by Neal C. Johnson with musical direction by Jeremy Showgren.

For more information, call 801-226-8600 or visit HaleTheater.org.

CAPTION: Dallyn Vail Bayles as Archibald Craven and Maggie Scott as Mary Lennox in Hale Center Theater Orem's production of  "The Secret Garden." Photography by Pete Widtfeldt

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