H.C.R. 6 Enrolled

1

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING
2 CONTRIBUTIONS OF FRED C. ADAMS
3 2006 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: DeMar Bud Bowman
6 Senate Sponsor: Thomas V. Hatch
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor recognizes the
11 contributions of Fred C. Adams to the state of Utah.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This resolution:
14 . recognizes the contributions of Fred C. Adams, Founder and Executive Producer
15 Emeritus of the Utah Shakespearean Festival, to the arts in the state of Utah, and to
16 the state's economic vitality.
17 Special Clauses:
18 None
19
20 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
21 WHEREAS, the Utah Shakespearean Festival is considered by many to be one of the
22 most prestigious repertory theaters and Shakespearean festivals in the United States;
23 WHEREAS, over the last 44 years, the Utah Shakespearean Festival, which is currently
24 in its 45th season, has hosted 4,148,008 people who have attended 144 productions of
25 Shakespeare's plays;
26 WHEREAS, as of the year 2000, the Utah Shakespearean Festival had produced
27 Shakespeare's entire canon of plays;
28 WHEREAS, the Utah Shakespearean Festival has employed 170 musicians, 376
29 electricians, 218 directors, 447 designers, 314 props artists, 957 carpenters, 877 Greenshow

30 performers, 260 make-up artists, 2,007 actors, 291 stage managers, and 1,272 costumers;
31 WHEREAS, Fred C. Adams is the Festival Founder and Executive Producer Emeritus;
32 WHEREAS, under Mr. Adams's guidance, the Festival has grown from a budget of
33 $1,000 and 3,276 paid admissions in 1962, to a 2006 annual budget of $6 million and an
34 anticipated attendance of 150,000 paid admissions;
35 WHEREAS, beginning his long association as a teacher at Southern Utah University in
36 1959, he retired from his university teaching and directing responsibilities in 2000, to devote
37 his energies full-time to the day-to-day artistic operations of the Festival;
38 WHEREAS, Mr. Adams received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Brigham Young
39 University in theater arts and Russian;
40 WHEREAS, on June 4, 2000, the Utah Shakespearean Festival received the prestigious
41 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theater at Radio City Music Hall in New York City;
42 WHEREAS, 1,389 schools have participated in the Festival's High School Shakespeare
43 Competition since 1977;
44 WHEREAS, 183,280 students have seen the Festival's Educational Tour since 2001;
45 WHEREAS, the International Festival and Events Association estimates the annual
46 economic impact of the Utah Shakespearean Festival to be in excess of $64 million;
47 WHEREAS, in 2001 the Festival received the 25th Annual National Governors
48 Association Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts;
49 WHEREAS, Mr. Adams is the recipient of the Pioneer of Progress Award for the Days
50 of '47 in Salt Lake City (2005), the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2003),
51 the Utah Theater Association's Lifetime Service Award (2000), an honorary doctorate degree
52 from Southern Utah University (1999), the Institute of Outdoor Drama's Mark R. Sumner
53 Award (1998), Brigham Young University's Distinguished Service Award (1995), Geneva
54 Steel's Modern Pioneer Award (1994), the Cedar City Area Chamber of Commerce Arts
55 Contribution Award (1992), Southern Utah University's Outstanding Alumni Award (1991),
56 the Citizen Meritorious Service Award from the American Parks and Recreation Society
57 (1991), Utah Business Magazine's Outstanding Business Leader recognition (1989), the First

58 Annual Governor's Award in the Arts (1989), and the Distinguished Alumni Award from
59 Brigham Young University (1984 and 1987);
60 WHEREAS, Mr. Adams was also honored to carry the Olympic flame in Cedar City
61 during the 2002 Winter Olympic Torch Relay;
62 WHEREAS, Mr. Adams was the featured personality for the Utah Travel Council's
63 summer tourism advertising campaign in 1995 and 1996, appearing in a number of magazines,
64 including Condé Nast Traveler, Mature Outlook, American Heritage, Midwest Living, National
65 Geographic Traveler, Gourmet, and Life;
66 WHEREAS, Mr. Adams is the author of many articles appearing in several professional
67 magazines, and he is a favorite lecturer for educational institutions and professional
68 organizations throughout the United States and Europe;
69 WHEREAS, Mr. Adams also conducts and is host for at least one annual tour to
70 Europe;
71 WHEREAS, as executive director of the Festival Center Project, Mr. Adams will now
72 focus on securing funding for the completion of the Utah Shakespearean Festival Center for the
73 Performing Arts;
74 WHEREAS, the projected $65 million Center will feature Renaissance-style buildings
75 surrounding a brick-paved central plaza and a beautiful fountain highlighted by bronze statues
76 of some of Shakespeare's most loved characters;
77 WHEREAS, the Center will include the relocated Adams Shakespearean Theater (a
78 Tudor-styled outdoor theater), and one additional small performance facility (the New
79 Playwright's Theater), as well as a bookstore, art gallery, bakery, restaurant, ale house, costume
80 and scene shops, Greenshow performance stages, a seminar grove, and a feast hall patterned
81 after the great banquet halls of Europe, all of which will compliment the state-of-the-art
82 Randall L. Jones Theater, built in 1989;
83 WHEREAS, as executive producer emeritus he will consult and advise the Festival
84 concerning play selection, choosing directors and designers, and long-term planning;
85 WHEREAS, Mr. Adams will also continue to be seen at the Festival as he conducts

86 orientations, participates in all Festival functions, and greets patrons and his many friends
87 before the plays; and
88 WHEREAS, the life and accomplishments of Fred C. Adams and his contribution to the
89 arts and to economic development in the state of Utah merit the thanks and praise of a grateful
90 state:
91 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
92 Governor concurring therein, recognize the enormous contributions of Fred C. Adams to the
93 arts in the state of Utah, and to its economic development.
94 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to Fred C. Adams.