{"id":59134,"date":"2026-01-08T07:00:05","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T14:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pioneertheatre.org\/?p=59134"},"modified":"2026-01-22T09:29:35","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T16:29:35","slug":"pioneer-theatre-company-presents-world-premiere-of-will-van-dyke-and-jeff-talbotts-ten-brave-seconds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pioneertheatre.org\/pioneer-theatre-company-presents-world-premiere-of-will-van-dyke-and-jeff-talbotts-ten-brave-seconds\/","title":{"rendered":"PIONEER THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS WORLD PREMIERE OF WILL VAN DYKE AND JEFF TALBOTT\u2019S TEN BRAVE SECONDS<\/i>"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Cast Features Tony Nominee John Cariani and Broadway Alumni Will Blum, Luke Kolbe Mannikus, and Carson Stewart\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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[SALT LAKE CITY, UT JANUARY 8, 2026] \u2014 Pioneer Theatre Company<\/b> (PTC), Utah\u2019s premier professional theatre company in residence at the University of Utah, presents the world premiere of Ten Brave Seconds<\/i><\/b> from January 30-February 14, 2026<\/b>. The production, with music & lyrics by Will Van Dyke <\/b>and book & lyrics by Jeff Talbott<\/b>, is described by the authors as follows:<\/span><\/p>

One day can change everything if you pay attention. And Mike is certainly looking for something to change. He and his family are finding their way the best they can on a new and rocky road. Mike has also been sitting on something about himself that he’s been waiting to say, but he\u2019s got a thing or two to find out first. What he is learning is that in order to step into his community, he\u2019s going to have to be brave and join in. And today\u2019s the day. Ten Brave Seconds is a vibrant and heartfelt new musical for everybody that all takes place on one day in the life of an American teenager that will open your eyes and recalibrate your heart.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>

\u201cWe have spent almost seven years crafting the story of Mike and his family, and the fact that we now get to share it with audiences alongside our artistic family at Pioneer Theatre Company makes us the luckiest writers in the world,\u201d <\/span>Van Dyke<\/b> and <\/span>Talbott<\/b> provided in a joint statement. \u201cAs writers, we are very committed to making theatre that opens channels to both feeling and talking, and getting to start that conversation in a production created for the Utah audience is thrilling. Using pop music as a gateway to emotion is something we passionately believe in, and we cannot wait to open our hearts with PTC\u2019s audiences.\u201d<\/span>
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<\/span>\u201cPioneer Theatre Company is thrilled to present the world premiere of <\/span>Ten Brave Seconds<\/span><\/i>, written by two of PTC\u2019s most treasured collaborating artists: Will Van Dyke and Jeff Talbott. From the moment I read the script, I knew this story needed a spotlight in our community,\u201d said <\/span>PTC Artistic Director Karen Azenberg<\/b>. \u201cAs a theatre company, we at PTC have a responsibility to champion new voices and develop original works that move the American Theatre forward. By bringing new stories to the stage, we help expand the canon and ensure the art form remains vibrant, relevant, and responsive to the world around us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cFor a long time, stories like the one portrayed in<\/span> Ten Brave Seconds <\/span><\/i>were rarely shared onstage. This production is not only a prime example of PTC’s commitment to developing new work, but also a powerful reminder that when authentic lived experiences are placed at the center of the story, they create recognition, belonging, and courage\u2014and that visibility can be life-changing,\u201d adds <\/span>PTC Managing Director Adrian Budhu<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>

CAST & CREATIVE
<\/b>Reprising their roles from PTC\u2019s Fall 2025 Insider Reading of<\/span> Ten Brave Seconds<\/span><\/i> are Tony Award Nominee <\/span>John Cariani* <\/b>(Broadway\u2019s <\/span>Fiddler on the Roof;<\/span><\/i> Caroline, or Change<\/span><\/i>; <\/span>The Band\u2019s Visit<\/span><\/i>) as Mr. G. and <\/span>Carson Stewart*<\/b> (Broadway\u2019s <\/span>The Notebook<\/span><\/i>) as Mike. Both actors make their PTC mainstage debuts with this production.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

They are joined by <\/span>Will Blum*<\/b> (Broadway\u2019s <\/span>Beetlejuice<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Torch Song) <\/span><\/i>as Carl;\u00a0 <\/span>Luke Kolbe Mannikus* <\/b>(Broadway\u2019s <\/span>Matilda<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Pippin<\/span><\/i>) as Tim; <\/span>Jessica Money*<\/b> (<\/span>Spelling Bee<\/span><\/i> at Arden Theatre Co., <\/span>The Color Purple<\/span><\/i> at Theatre Horizon) as Gabby; and <\/span>Heidi Farbe<\/b>r (<\/span>Medea<\/span><\/i> at the Salt Lake Greek Theater Festival, <\/span>Sweeney Todd<\/span><\/i> at the Grand) as Becky.<\/span><\/p>

The \u201cTeen\u201d ensemble is comprised of <\/span>Nick Eibler*<\/b> (Broadway\u2019s <\/span>The Prom<\/span><\/i>); <\/span>Zachary Daniel Jones<\/b>* (Broadway\u2019s <\/span>Gypsy<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Wicked<\/span><\/i>); PTC alum <\/span>Jalen Michael Jones<\/b>* (PTC\u2019s <\/span>The Prom, Bye Bye Birdie <\/span><\/i>at The Kennedy Center); <\/span>Laura Leo Kelly* <\/b>(<\/span>West Side Story<\/span><\/i> International Tour, <\/span>Regency Girls<\/span><\/i> at The Old Globe); and PTC alum <\/span>Jordan Cruz <\/b>(PTC\u2019s <\/span>Jersey Boys,<\/span><\/i> Waitress<\/span><\/i>).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Harrison Timm<\/b>, a senior in the University of Utah\u2019s Actor Training Program; and <\/span>Sydney Rudel<\/b> and <\/span>Ella Mei Williamson<\/b>\u2014both seniors in the U\u2019s Musical Theatre Program\u2014join the production\u2019s ensemble as 2025-2026 Season PTC Interns. <\/span>Ariana Bagley<\/b> and <\/span>Kaden Conrad<\/b> will serve as swings.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Will Van Dyke, Jeff Talbott (center), and Cast | Credit: BW Productions<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Both <\/span>Will Van Dyke<\/b> and <\/span>Jeff Talbott <\/b>are alumni of PTC\u2014Van Dyke was the composer of incidental scores for <\/span>Noises Off, The Lehman Trilogy,<\/span><\/i> Ass, i<\/span><\/i>, and <\/span>The Messenger<\/span><\/i>. Talbott has been featured both onstage (<\/span>The Lehman Trilogy, Oslo, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Doubt<\/span><\/i>, and <\/span>The Odd Couple<\/span><\/i>) and as playwright of the PTC world premieres of <\/span>i<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>The Messenger<\/span><\/i>. Together, they have written the musicals<\/span> fuzzy<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Imagine Harry<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Wintersong<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Seven Broken Hearts<\/span><\/i>, and <\/span>The Circle and the Wheel<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>

Ellie Heyman<\/b>, who helmed the PTC Insider Reading of <\/span>Ten Brave Seconds<\/span><\/i> as well as the recent world premiere of Van Dyke and Talbott\u2019s <\/span>fuzzy<\/span><\/i> at Barrington Stage, directs <\/span>Ten Brave Seconds<\/span><\/i>. Other credits include: (<\/span>Still) Asking For It<\/span><\/i> (The Public Theater); <\/span>Space Dogs<\/span><\/i> (MCC); <\/span>ThisTree<\/span><\/i> (Prototype); <\/span>Dinner with Georgette<\/span><\/i> (New York Theater Workshop, Next Door); Jason Craig & Dave Malloy\u2019s Beardo (Drama Desk Award Nomination; Pipeline Theater) <\/span>Erin Markey: Boner Killer <\/span><\/i>(Under the Radar\/The Public Theater); and Becca Blackwell\u2019s <\/span>They, Themself and Schmerm<\/span><\/i> (Under the Radar\/The Public Theater).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Reed Luplau<\/b> serves as Choreographer for <\/span>Ten Brave Seconds<\/span><\/i>. A graduate of the Australian Ballet School, his choreography has been featured in productions including <\/span>Spring Awakening<\/span><\/i> (Skylight), <\/span>Head Over Heels<\/span><\/i> (Australia), <\/span>A Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream<\/span><\/i> (Santa Fe Opera), and events such as <\/span>PHISH<\/span><\/i> at Madison Square Garden and the Macy\u2019s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Additional credits include work for The Australian Ballet, Sydney Dance Company, and West Australian Ballet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Patrick Sulken<\/b> serves as Music Supervisor, having also music directed the world premiere of <\/span>fuzzy<\/span><\/i>. Other credits include music direction of Broadway\u2019s <\/span>Pretty Woman: The Musical<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>Trisha Paytas\u2019 Big Broadway Dream<\/span><\/i>; Off-Broadway\u2019s <\/span>Little Shop of Horrors<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Teeth<\/span><\/i>, and <\/span>We Are the Tigers<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>

Rounding out the Creative Team are Scenic Designer <\/span>James Noone<\/b> (PTC\/ATC\u2019s <\/span>Dial M for Murder<\/span><\/i>, Broadway\u2019s <\/span>Sunset Boulevard<\/span><\/i>); Costume Designer <\/span>Brenda Van der Wiel<\/b> (PTC\u2019s <\/span>Jersey Boys, Sweeney Todd<\/span><\/i>); Lighting Designer <\/span>Jos\u00e9 Santiago<\/b> (PTC\u2019s <\/span>Prayer for the French Republic<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Bonnie & Clyde<\/span><\/i>); Sound Designer <\/span>Aaron Hubbard<\/b> (PTC\u2019s <\/span>Dear Evan Hansen<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Sweeney Todd<\/span><\/i>), and Hair & Makeup Designer <\/span>Kate Casalino <\/b>(PTC\u2019s <\/span>Noises Off<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Beautiful: The Carole King Musical<\/span><\/i>). Orchestrations and Vocal Arrangements are by <\/span>Will Van Dyke<\/b> and <\/span>Patrick Sulken<\/b>. <\/span>James O. Hansen<\/b> is Production Stage Manager. Casting is by <\/span>Andrew Fem<\/b>, Casting by Them.<\/span><\/p>

ASTRONAUT 63<\/em> EP
<\/b>In anticipation of the production\u2019s premiere, Van Dyke and Talbott are <\/span>releasing a five-track <\/b>Ten Brave Seconds<\/i><\/b> EP, titled <\/b>Astronaut 63<\/i><\/b>. Individual tracks will be released each Friday in the leadup to PTC’s <\/span>Ten Brave Seconds<\/span><\/i> world premiere on January 30th. The first song release\u2014the EP\u2019s title track, performed by <\/span>Ten Brave Seconds<\/span><\/i>\u2019 Carson Stewart\u2014is out now. Remaining tracks will feature the talents of Jordan Tyson, Nathan Levy, Jake Pedersen, Zachary Noah Piser, Stark Sands, Makai Hernandez, and Joy Woods. The EP can be<\/span> pre-saved and streamed here<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Reed Luplau, Will Van Dyke, Ellie Heyman, Jeff Talbott, and Patrick Sulken | Credit: BW Productions<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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TICKETS
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Ten Brave Seconds <\/span><\/i>plays Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre from January 30-February 14, 2026. Tickets are now on sale at <\/span>PioneerTheatre.org <\/span><\/a>or by calling the PTC Box Office at 801-581-6961.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

A limited number of <\/span>Curtain Call for All<\/span><\/i> (\u201cname your own price\u201d) tickets will be available for each performance of<\/span> Ten Brave Seconds<\/span><\/i>. These tickets, which go on sale starting Monday, January 26, start at a minimum suggested price of $15 and can be purchased by visiting or calling the PTC Box Office at 801-581-6961.<\/span><\/p>

*Member of Actors\u2019 Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPRESS KIT<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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PRESS CONTACT 
<\/b>Joshua Black 
<\/span>Director of Marketing and Communications
<\/span>Joshua.Black@PTC.Utah.edu  
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INTERVIEWS:<\/b> Theatre staff, members of the cast, and creative team can be made available for interviews. Please contact Joshua Black to arrange.<\/span><\/p>\n

TICKETING INFORMATION
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Ten Brave Seconds<\/em>
<\/b>Music and Lyrics by <\/span>WILL VAN DYKE
<\/b>Book and Lyrics by <\/span>JEFF TALBOTT<\/b><\/p>\n

WHEN 
<\/b>January 30-February 14, 2026<\/span><\/p>\n

TIMES 
<\/b>Monday – Thursday, 7:00 PM 
<\/span>Friday and Saturday, 7:30 PM 
<\/span>Saturday, 2:00 PM <\/span><\/p>\n

WHERE 
<\/b>Ten Brave Seconds <\/span><\/i>will be performed at <\/span>Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre.<\/b>
<\/b>300 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City<\/span><\/p>\n

PRICES 
<\/b>$57 – $83<\/span>
<\/span>Students K – 12 or ages 5-18 are half-price Monday – Thursday <\/span><\/p>\n