SANDY — Every once in a while you come across a piece of theater that stops you in your tracks and makes you think long and hard about life. In reality, isn’t that the point of art? To help audiences process human experiences and connect with one another on a deeper level? Tuck Everlasting at Sandy Arts Guild does just that.
Tuck Everlasting the Musical written by Claudia Shear and Tim Federle with music by Chris Miller, is based on the book by Natalie Babbitt. The story follows young Winnie Foster, who discovers a magical spring that grants immortality to all those who drink from it. Winnie must decide whether to drink from the spring and enjoy eternal youth or embrace the fragility of life.
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Lisa Noyes’ direction and choreography are both tasteful and polished. She masterfully crafts the production around the overarching question: What does it mean to make our time “count”? She uses intentional choreography and blocking to help push the story along and highlight all the right themes. The choreography is simple enough to accommodate all skill levels, but still engaging enough to maintain audience interest. The fair sequence has just the right amount of spectacle, giving each ensemble member a chance to shine with their own tricks and dance moves. Noyes hit the boy jackpot when it comes to male talent for community theater. I truly do not know where she found so many men who can dance AND sing.
Paige Hochhalter shines as Winnie Foster! The audience just immediately falls in love with her from the get go. Despite her young age, she has quite a powerful voice with strong vocals and some fun riffs. She truly understands comedic timing and beautifully portrays the playfulness of “good girl Winnie Foster.”
Jonah Blaney brings so much life to the stage as Jesse Tuck. Not only does he have a beautiful voice, but he also embodies Jesse so well through youthful physicality and vocal mannerisms. I commend his ability to truly commit to the character while still making Jesse his own.
AJ Klomp as Miles Tuck is incredibly vocally dynamic and impressive. His voice is very soothing and makes you feel like you could peacefully drift to sleep. He has a very paternal energy which makes his character background that much more believable and heartbreaking. Blaney and Klomp’s chemistry is rivoting, especially when portraying the reality of bickering brothers. Their voices blend and compliment each other well which makes for some gorgeous harmony moments.
Jennifer Kroff as Mae Tuck is simply stunning. She has an incredible head voice which could really shine in the vibrato nature of the role. She brings such a nurturing presence to the stage that she truly just warms up every single scene she enters.
Max Moss (Hugo) and Sean Newbold (Constable Joe) are such a fun pairing as a classic Holmes and Watson duo. Their unique characters play really well off of each other in “You Can’t Trust a Man” and have the audience laughing the whole song. Moss creates such a wholesome character that you just want to root for and see succeed.
The scenic design by Ricky Parkinson is practical, yet also deeply rooted in the heart of storytelling. Large rolling platforms are cleverly repurposed into abstract trees in the forest, rooms in the Tuck house, and fair booths at the Treegap Fair. There are also many circle motifs throughout the set that echo the show’s message of the passage of time. Time does not stop. Things must begin, change, end, and begin again.
Paige Wilson’s costumes are beautifully detailed and accurate to the time period. Each costume adds to the scenes and characters without ever taking away from the story. The Treegap Fair scene, in particular, is brought to life through colorful costumes and playful combinations of patterns.
The music at the beginning of the show was extremely quiet, which I think contributed to some unsteady vocals. However, about halfway through Act One, this was fixed and the vocals dramatically improved. Keri Hughes’ work as music director truly paid off, as every single number has incredibly strong vocals. The group numbers in particular are especially strong.
Tuck Everlasting at Sandy Arts Guild is a must-see for all ages. Its message resonates whether you are a high schooler soaking in all the lasts of senior year, a new mom anxiously documenting every second of your child’s life, or a grandparent desperately trying to pass down family history. Angus Tuck says it best, “You don’t need to live forever, you just need to live.” We all need that reminder every once in a while.
MORE INFO: Tuck Everlasting is currently playing in The Theater at Mount Jordan Middle School in Sandy, (9351 Mountaineer Lane, Sandy, Utah 84070). Performances play through October 17, 2026. Tickets typically range from $12 to $20. For the most up-to-date schedule, performance details, and official ticketing, visit Sandy City Arts Guild website: https://sandyarts.com
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