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TheatreTheatre

I took my first "drama" class when I was 12, and was immediately hooked on performing. I acted in my first full play at 14, my first community theatre production at 16, and directed my first full production at 20. In 2005, I staged my first Salt Lake production with "The Spitfire Grill". I joined Around the Globe Theatre Company in 2007 and directed "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" for them in 2008 and the world premiere of "Bob Juan Cassanova" in 2012. In 2010, I launched the Backstage Utah website, which I sold to Theatresoft in 2018. I joined Utah Repertory Theater Company in 2013 and worked as Technical Director, Marketing Director, and finally Managing Director, while still directing six acclaimed productions for them until 2019 when the company was forced to shut down. My feelings around that shut down made me unintersted in working in Utah theatre, and only time (and money) will tell if I ever return. Until that happens, I can say I had a rewarding life (artistically, if not financially) in the Utah theatre community for over 40 years.

"When theatre is at its best, it is the most extraordinary COLLABORATIVE success. And when it fails, it's YOUR fault."

Click the posters below to jump to these 12 highlights of my Utah theatrical career. Click this link to view my full theatrical resume.

Straight
The Whale
Doubt
Amadeus
Grace
Steadman & Walker, Zombie LLC
Bob Juan Cassanova
12 Angry Men
True West
Picasso at the Lapin Agile
The Taming of the Shrew
The Spitfire Grill

Straight
By Scott Elmegreen and Drew Fornarola

Straight

Straight performed March 9-25 2018 at the Sorenson Unity Center Black Box Theater.

"Carter also brought the play to life with precise direction. I was never bored with the action, and was pleased to see the characters move about the apartment naturally with purpose. The best plays are often those where the choices that are made are never questioned. In most productions, even good ones, there is usually still something that breaks my concentration and interrupts my "suspension of disbelief." I am pleased to admit that I was fully invested in 'Straight' from start to finish." - Tara Nicole Haas, Utah Theatre Bloggers

"Under JC Carter's direction, the play's smart, millennial characters are beautifully realized by a well-balanced cast, who deliver their quick-witted dialogue — and their characters' interruptions — with authenticity." - Ellen Fagg Weist, Salt Lake Tribune

Cast and Production Team

John Valdez - Ben
Andrea Peterson - Emily
Dallon D. Thorup - Chris

JC Carter - Director
Josh Patterson - Stage Manager
Michael Nielson - Costume Design
Lee Hollaar - Lighting Design
JC Carter - Set Design
Shawn Henry - Scenic Artist

Utah Repertory Theater Company

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The Whale
By Samuel D. Hunter

The Whale

The Whale performed June 16 - July 1 2017 at the Sorenson Unity Center Black Box Theater.

"The Whale" is about Charlie (JC Carter), a reclusive Idaho man who teaches composition courses via the Internet and is consciously eating himself to death. The character is constructing "his own fleshy coffin year by year," is how Hunter describes him. "It's sort of a long-form suicide. In a way, Charlie doesn't hide himself because he's obese — he's obese because he hides himself."

Despite the tour-de-force character's limited movement, Charlie's story has emotional reach. "This is probably the biggest role I've had, pun intended," says Carter, who labels himself a "very reluctant" actor, much more comfortable as a director.

Carter describes Charlie as a "very sweet man," while the women in his life — his best friend, his angry daughter, his ex-wife — are "forces of nature."

To embody the character, Carter performs encased in a neoprene fat suit, which is hot enough that the actor also dons ice packs underneath. In rehearsals, he says he feels envious of his castmates who can shift or pivot when they come to sit by Charlie on the couch. "I can't," he says, adding that beyond a couple of movement sequences, "I'm stuck."

From the article: One actor, wrapped in a fat suit, anchors 'The Whale' by Ellen Fagg Weist, The Salt Lake Tribune

The Whale was reviewed by the audience with two word reviews, an idea unique to The Hive Theatre Company.

Cast and Production Team

JC Carter - Charlie
Tiffany Greathouse - Liz
Carlie Young - Ellie
Alec Kalled - Elder Thomas
Nova Calverley-Chase - Mary

Jared Greathouse - Director
Johnnie Brakely - Stage Manager
Essie Wilson - Props/Costumes
David Finley - Light/Sound Tech
Ben Platt - House/Box Office Manager
Arjay Smith - Photos Michael D. Austin - Set

The Hive Theatre Company

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Doubt: A Parable
By John Patrick Shanely

Doubt

Doubt: A Parable performed March 4-20 2016 at The Sorenson Unity Center Black Box Theater.

Utah Repertory Theater's intimate and stirring production—with understated, organic direction by JC Carter and an outstanding cast—is a rare opportunity for Utah audiences to experience this exceptional piece of theatre. - C.T. Lewis, Utah Theatre Bloggers

WINNER Utah Theatre Bloggers Excellent Acting Performances of 2016

Cast and Production Team

Tracy Callahan - Sister Aloysius Beauvier
Roger Dunbar - Father Brendan Flynn
Cylie Janiece - Sister James
Dee-Dee Darby-Duffin - Mrs. Muller

JC Carter - Director
Dallon Thorup - Stage Manager
Johnny Hebda - Producer
Nancy Susan Cannon - Costume Design
Geoffrey Gregory - Lighting Design
Cara Pomeroy - Set Design
JC Carter - Sound Design

Utah Repertory Theater Company

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Amadeus
By Peter Shaffer

Amadeus

Amadeus performed September 11 - 26, 2015 at the Sorenson Unity Center Black Box Theater.

All of the show's elements are ably tied together by the show's director, JC Carter. His positive influence on this production can be easily seen. The material could easily disintegrate if not handled carefully into a depressing or overly dark tragedy on one hand or pure unintentional comedy on the other. Instead, the production cohesively blends the tragic elements (i.e. suffering and death) and comedic elements (like the immature ramblings of Mozart) to make the audience laugh one minute then feel pity the next. - Robert Gibbons, Utah Theatre Bloggers

(JC's) vision of the ebb and flow of the story complimented it well, it even at times seemed to accentuate the multiple layers of the characters and the conflict that make this show so stellar. - Cindy and Perry Whitehair, Front Row Reviewers

WINNER Broadway World 2015 Salt Lake City Awards

Best Actor (Play) - Roger Dunbar - Amadeus

Best Play - Amadeus

Best Production Design (Play) - Amadeus

Cast and Production Team

Roger Dunbar - Salieri
Geoffrey Gregory - Mozart
Merry Magee - Constanze
Dallon Thorup - Venticello (also Kappelmeister Bonno)
Lindsay Marriot - Venticella (also Teresa Salieri)
Jeffrey Owen - Count Orsini-Rosenberg
JayC Stoddard - Baron Van Swieten
Greg Carver - Emperor Joseph II (also Valet)
Criss Roselof - VonStrack (also Cook)
Natalie Easter - Katherina Cavalieri

JC Carter - Director
Shianne Gray - Stage Manager
Johnny Hebda & Blair Howell - Producers
Anne Puzey - Music Director
Nancy Susan Cannon - Costume Designer
JC Carter & Lee Haller - Lighting Designer
James Hansen - Sound Designer
Cindy Johnson - Wig Designer
JC Carter - Set Design
Allisyn Thompson - Scenic Painter

Caitlin Rosenlof - Stage hand
Sierra DuCharme-Hansen - Stage hand
Briony Denker - Dresser

Utah Repertory Theater Company

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Grace
By Craig Wright

Grace

Grace performed April 25 - May 10, 2014 at the Sugar Space in Sugar House.

There are moments in a successful theatrical production when electrifying performances take the text to somewhere so potent that you need to remind yourself to breathe…Utah Repertory Theater's production of Craig Wright's "Grace" finds the desperate, yearning core that makes us need to believe in something. - Scott Renshaw, City Weekly

"Grace" was unlike anything I've yet seen on stage. Wright's script ambitiously tackles weighty abstractions like space and time and explores them within the context of four people's transitioning faith. With so much on this play's agenda, I'm still impressed at how much Wright and Utah Repertory Theater Company got right and have me thinking about the play days later. - Julia Shumway, Utah Theatre Bloggers

WINNER 2014 ARTYS - BEST DOOMED ROMANCE

Emilie Eileen Starr & JayC Stoddard, Grace (Utah Repertory Theatre)

Real love isn't an easy sell for actors; it's even harder when you're trying to convey that love as something akin to a religious experience. In Utah Repertory Theatre's production of Craig Wright's Grace, Emilie Eileen Starr plays a married Christian woman who drifts away from her unstable husband and falls for her physically and emotionally wounded neighbor (JayC Stoddard). The scene in which their connection becomes evident was an electrifying theatrical moment, the emotions so raw it was almost uncomfortable peering in on something that's so pure—yet, as we know from the play's outset, can never have a happy ending.

Cast and Production Team

Johnny Hebda - Steve
Emilie Eileen Starr - Sara
JayC Stoddard - Sam
Jeffrey Owen - Karl

JC Carter - Director
Annie Brantley - Stage Manager
Robert A. Easton - Producer
Nancy Susan Cannon - Costume Designer
Emilio Casillas - Lighting Designer
Mikal Troy Klee - SoundScape Design
Kelly Donahue - Makeup and Hair Design
Ashley Ramsey - Properties Design
JC Carter - Set Design
Johnny Hebda - Executive Producer

Utah Repertory Theater Company & Around the Globe Theatre Company

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Steadman & Walker (Zombie LLC)
By Jared Greathouse

Steadman & Walker (Zombie LLC)

Steadman & Walker (Zombie LLC) performed October 11-19 2013 at the Sugar Space in Sugar House.

The show's unconventional structure treats the three acts as distinct vignettes, to the point that they each have their own director. But the script maintains enough running gags and touchstones to keep the show cohesive despite its episodic presentation. And the zombie makeup, a large part of the success of the endeavor, is spectacular. With five makeup artists credited, it seems neither expense nor detail were spared to bring the cast of zombies to "life." - Rob Tenant City Weekly

Jeffrey Owen as Steadman and JC Carter as Walker embraced the corrupt old executives turned Zombies with a strong stage presence and believable relationship. This brought much humor to the third act as they interacted with Ashley in a politically incorrect and chauvinistic manner before devouring her.

The design element that stands out is the exceptional costuming and make-up. The audience was seated up close and the level of detail in the zombie make-up, blood and costuming was so superbly created that the visuals were incredibly believable and stunning. Coupled by each actor's physicality and movement, I had no trouble believing that the theater was being invaded by zombies (some of which were perhaps a little too real). JC Carter, Shanna McChesney, Kalika Rose, Sidney Bre Davis, and Kelly Donahue are all cited as make-up artists and deserve much praise. - Johnny Hebda Utah Theatre Bloggers Association

Act III saw really enjoyable performances by JC Carter and Jeffrey Owen, who worked very well together as the head "jefes", Walker and Steadman, respectively. - Jean Ansolabehere Backstage Utah

Cast and Production Team

Sam C. McGinnis V - Mike
Spencer Belnap - Bob
Robert A. Easton - Willie
Jared Greathouse - Larry
Elise C. Hanson - Lisa
David J. Bohnet - James
Tiffany A. Greathouse - Ashley
JayC Stoddard - Coach
Jeffrey Owen - Steadman
JC Carter - Walker

Tiffany A. Greathouse - Director (Act I)
Elise C. Hanson - Director (Act II)
Jared Greathouse - Director (Act III)
Michael D. Austin - Set
Jared, Tiffany & Kelcey Greathouse - Props/Costumes
JC Carter - Makeup Artist
Shanna McChesney - Makeup Artist
Kalika Rose - Makeup Artist
Sidney Bre Davis - Makeup Artist
Kelly Donahue - Makeup Artist
Jared Greathouse - Sound Design
Clint Vought - Sound Tech
Lawson Mills - Lighting Design/Tech
Cami Rozanas - House Manager
Bobby Cody - Zombie Wrangler

The Hive Theatre Company

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Bob Juan Casanova
By Robert A. Easton

Bob Juan Casanova

Bob Juan Casanova performed October 5-13 2012 at the Midvale Main St. Theatre

While chronologuing one's dating life has been done before, presenting the details as a memory play and breaking the fourth wall breathed originality into this production. - Julia Shumway, Utah Theatre Bloggers

Mr. Carter has a great eye for detail and I also appreciated all the little nuances he added. He shaped each scene nicely with clear arches and kept the scenes fresh. There was a natural and intimate feel in the directing style that I particularly enjoyed and he utilized the stage area well with the blocking. He was equally committed to the comedy and dramatic moments that made the piece well rounded and full of depth. - Johnny Hebda, Backstage Utah

Cast and Production Team

JayC Stoddard - Bob
Rachyl Bonell - Cute Girl
Jennifer Hamilton - Bianca
Lindsay Marriott - Rowena/Tracy/Sierra
Alice Gonzalez - First Date/Fan-Girl/Valerie/Kelmarie

JC Carter - Director
Robert A. Easton - Writer/Producer
Garrett Fairbourn - Lights and Sound

Around the Globe Theatre Company

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12 Angry Men
By Reginald Rose

12 Angry Men

12 Angry Men performed March 16-25, 2012 at the West Jordan City Hall

I appreciated that director J.C. Carter was not afraid to let characters turn their backs to the audience in a proscenium setting; there was very much a fourth wall in place, and none of the actors ever did so much as push up against it. Carter's blocking was effective, feeling natural and unstaged. - Melissa Leilani Larson, Utah Theatre Bloggers

Mr. Carter did a phenomenal job with both the color palette and the blocking to keep the production interesting to watch... In the hands of a director who understands the pertinent themes and relevance in today's social setting it was extremely well executed. - Erin Walton, Backstage Utah

Cast and Production Team

Dallas Erekson - Foreman
Nick Jarvis - Juror 2
Criss Rosenlof - Juror 3
Jim Schroeder - Juror 4
Bud Perry - Juror 5
Conor Thompson - Juror 6
Robert A. Easton - Juror 7
Anthony Lovato - Juror 8
David Layne - Juror 9
Allan Groves - Juror 10
John Hinckley - Juror 11
Jeff Robinson - Juror 12
Steve Hedman - Guard

JC Carter - Director
Michelle Groves - Stage Manager/Costumes
Vic Groves - Producer/Set Designer

West Jordan Community Theatre & Sugar Factory Playhouse

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True West
By Sam Sheppard

True West

True West performed May 5-21 2011 at the Rose Wagner Center for the Performing Arts

Director JC Carter accentuates the ferocious and animalistic undercurrents of the play. The preshow announcement warns audience members not to "tap on the glass" or "feed the animals" and the set has a lip around the front suggestive of an animal enclosure. - Alex Ungerman, Utah Theatre Bloggers

Cast and Production Team

Jesse Peery - Austin
Lane Richins - Lee
Jared Greathouse - Saul
Laurie Mecham - Mom

JC Carter - Director
Sam McGinnis - Stage Manager
Jim Martin - Producer
Kit Anderton - Set Design
Megan Crivello - Lighting Design
Mikal Troy Klee - SoundScape Design
Nicole Hostetler - Properties Design

Wasatch Theatre Company

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Picasso at the Lapin Agile
By Steve Martin

Picasso at the Lapin Agile

Picasso at the Lapin Agile performed June 3-7, 2008 at the Rose Wagner Center for the Performing Arts

Cast and Production Team

Freddy - Robert A. Easton
Gaston - Aaron Rowell
Germaine - Claire Richardson
Albert Einstein - Joshua Long
Suzanne - Lindsay Marriott
Sagot - Bryan Glick
Pablo Picasso - JayC Stoddard
Charles Dabernow Schmendiman - Sam C. McGinnis V
The Countess - Angela Thompson
A Female Admirer - Lindsay Marriott
A Visitor - Josh Curtis

Director - JC Carter
Stage Manager - Delanie Tucker
Lights and Sound - Rachyl Bonell
Costumes - Linda Eyring
Production Design - JC Carter
Guest Scenic Artist - Van Tinkham
Producer - Robert A. Easton
Executive Producer - Linda Eyring

Around the Globe Theatre Company

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The Taming of the Shrew
By William Shakespeare

The Taming of the Shrew

The Taming of the Shrew performed September 15-30 2006 at the Columbus Center

Cast and Production Team

Katharina - Katey Lynn Lowder
Bianca - Claire Richardson
Petruchio - David Hanson
Lucentio - Alex DeBirk
Baptista - Miriam Latour
Hortensio - Mark Shulz
Gremio - David Burrow
Grumio - Jared Shipley
Tranio - Melinda Indo
Biondello - Lindsay Marriott
Vincentio/Tailor - Jeff Rolan
Curtis/Pedant - Gordon Hultberg

Director - JC Carter
Stage Manager - Maline Hairup
Costumer - Amy Wadsworth
Set Design - JC Carter
Producer - Brian Pilling

Wasatch Theatre Company

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The Spitfire Grill
By Fred Alley & James Valcq

The Spitfire Grill

The Spitfire Grill performed October 6-15, 2005 at The Columbus Center

WINNER Wasatch Theatre - Best Production Award, 2005

Cast and Production Team

Percy Talbot - Katey Lynn Lowder
Shelby Thorpe - Julie Webb
Hannah Ferguson - Leisl Bonell
Caleb Thorpe - Mike Holmes
Sheriff Joe Sutter - Daniel Frederickson
Effy Krayneck - Lissie Kessley
The Visitor - Mark Schulz
Pianist/Band Leader - Amy Brown
Guitarist - Joe Banz
Bass Guitarist - Eric Manning
Accordion - Yvonne Mueller

Director - JC Carter
Music Directors - Katey Lynn Lowder & Amy Brown
Producer - Dawn Corrigan

Wasatch Theatre Company & Suddenly! Productions

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