Menden philanthropists Art and Mary Heers were the guests of honor at a Vosco Call Spotlight event held July 11 by the Lyric Repertory Company. The couple was saluted for their generosity in providing a lead gift for an upcoming restoration of the Caine Lyric Theatre on Center Street in downtown Logan.
LOGAN – Dr. David Coppin and wife Cathy joined the exclusive ranks of recipients of the 2023 Angel Award from the Lyric Repertory Company on July 11.
The presentation of that award was made by artistic director Richie Call at the conclusion of the theater troupe’s second Vosco Call Spotlight event honoring local philanthropists Art and Mary Heers of Menden.
The Coppins were recognized for their lifelong attendance and support the Lyric Repertory Company, including their lead gift donation funding the company’s recent holiday presentation of “A Christmas Carol.”
Earlier in the talk-show formatted event, Richie Call introduced Mary Heers to a standing ovation from the crowd in the Caine Lyric Theatre.
The daughter of a globe-trotting U.S. Foreign Service officer, Mary Heers was born in post-war Rome in 1947. After a childhood and teenage years spent roaming world capitols, she landed at Stanford University in California in the late 1960s.
“I was going to change the world,” she told Richie Call. Her first attempt to bring about that revolution ended with Mary Heers in jail along with folk-singing activist Joan Baez and others.
While at Stanford, Mary met her future husband Art Heers, an engineering student, and the couple married in 1967.
When Art’s career brought them to Cache Valley in the 1980s, Mary Heers decided at pursue her own dreams by obtaining a teaching certificate from Utah State University to go with her previous degrees from Stanford and Middlebury College.
While on the Logan campus exploring her options, a chance meeting with USU legend W. Vosco Call put Mary Heers on a trajectory for her next calling – the theater.
She immediately volunteered to help the Lyric Repertory Company behind-the-scenes, first as a props manager and eventually as stage manager for the troupe’s summer season.
That experience led to 17 years at Preston High School teaching English, Psychology and Drama. She also served as coach of the academic decathlon team that won two state championships.
But the hearts of Art and Mary Heers have always remained attached to the Lyric Repertory Company and its Caine Lyric Theatre in downtown Logan.
Built in 1913, the theater at 28 West Center Street was used for live performances initially and then as a movie palace during World War II. After falling into disrepair, it was donated to USU in 1959.
The Lyric was restored in 1961 with public donations and became the home of the newly founded Lyric Repertory Company in 1967.
Although it underwent another restoration in 1996, the theater’s roof and backstage fly system need extensive repairs after more than 25 years of service.
“Every summer, I look forward to attending shows at the Lyric Theatre,” Mary Heers said. “There is not a bad seat in the house and it is such a magical environment.”
Art and Mary Heers believe so firmly in the building’s importance that they have provided the lead gift for the theater’s critically needed restoration.
The couple, who both serve on the Caine College of the Arts Board, said that they believe that providing such gifts is a priority.
Musical accompaniment for the Spotlight talk show was supplied by USU alumnus Luke Shepherd and the Spotlight Band, featuring Shepherd on keyboard, Thomas Pratt on bass guitar and Ben Glittins on drums.
Lyric company members Ariana Whatcott, Preston Rowland and Jonah Newton also performed.
Ms. Whatcott is featured in the Lyric’s current production of The Marvelous Wonderettes, ongoing through July 22.
Rowland appears in the company’s ongoing productions of Twelfth Night and One Man, Two Guvnors.
Previous recipients of the Angel Award are Julie Hollist Terrill, Art and Mary Heers and Ross Peterson.
As a new addition to the Lyric’s 2023 season, Richie Call will host one more Vosco Call Spotlight event.
That spotlight will fall on Lyric supporter Julie Hollist Terrill on July 19.
The Vosco Call Spotlight events honor Richie Call’s grandfather, who was a legendary actor, one of the pioneers of USU’s modern theatre program and founding–director of the Lyric Repertory Company.
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