U TA H VA L L E Y UNI V ERSI T Y
DIRECTOR’S NOTE Growing up, I took it as a given that my dad read to my siblings and me. Though not college educated, he’s a many-time published author who may have even done an assembly at your elementary school to promote literacy. He has told stories his entire life, and he read us books far above our grade level (Where the Red Fern Grows, To Kill a Mockingbird, etc.) because that’s how he explores the world. Some of my most cherished memories are waiting for midnight releases of the Harry Potter books with him and having him stay up late to read a few chapters to us. We’d then spending summer days blitzing through the books as a family. I viewed this kind of thing as universal. As I‘ve grown older, I’ve realized this was less common than I thought. When I read Salt and Pepper in graduate school, I found myself crying several times. I was astounded at children being raised by people who didn’t (and couldn’t!) read. I then spent years teaching at Glendale Middle School where I saw intergenerational living with parents and grandparents working hard to scrimp and support a family. I realized that reading time is precious, and even rare when every day requies hard labor to survive. But it’s still essential. Adults reading regularly to children has a more profound impact on childhood literacy than any other factor — including great teaching. This beautiful play, deeply personal to me and, as I’ve learned recently, the playwright’s own experiences, explores what life is like without literacy. It is hard, it is lonely, and can even be embarrassing. But as Salt and Pepper shows, it is never too late to start reading and opening doors that were once believed to be closed forever. — Scott Savage, Director
CAST Old Man Salt Andy Pepper Hannah Swing F Swing M
Gavin McLelland Cole Hixson Brady Thompson Taylor Porcelli Claire Mallory Tanya Cespedes Oliver Estrada-Brown
CREW Director Producer Assistant Director / Stage Manager Sensory Friendly & Tour Coordinator Dramaturgy Costumes Scenic Designer
SCAN FOR STUDY GUIDE
Scott Savage John Newman Lillian Sampson Meredith Campbell Taylor Porcelli Hannah Henage Kade Strong
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