This is one of those "something-for-everybody" weeks.
An epic musical about the Mormon Pioneers, a Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy, a children's fantasy, and a new, one-woman play about an intimate collaborator to existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre are among these nine productions opening in the region:- PROMISED VALLEY, Arnold Sundgaard and Crawford Gates' musical about the Mormon trek from Nauvoo to the Great Salt Lake Valley. The show will get a new in-the-round perspective when it runs from June 19 through July 25 at the Pages Lane Theater, Centerville.
In leading roles are Craig Stephenson and Steve Evans as Jed, Kathi Pike and Nanette Garrett as Celia, and Ron Johnson and Ralph Rodgers (who also co-directs) as Fenelly Parsons.
The theater is offering a special family discount: $20 per immediate family (up to five people), plus $4 each for any additional family members. The family discount will be available only until June 18.
Some performances are nearly sold out. Early reservations are recommended. Call 298-1302. The theater is located at 292 E. Pages Lane.
- HARVEY, Mary Chase's prize-winning comedy about gentle eccentric Elwood P. Dowd and his best buddy, a giant, invisible rabbit named Harvey, opens a four-weekend run on Saturday, June 20, by the StageRight TheatreCompany in the Bountiful Elks Lodge building.
The opening night performance will be a benefit for Camp Wapiti, a summer youth camp for medically disabled children, sponsored by the Utah Elks Association.
Directed by Norman E. Plate, the cast of "Harvey" includes Jansen Davis as Elwood P. Dowd, with Kevin Cottam, Bryan B. Gardner, Connie Bloomquist Goble, Jessice Huber, Derek Johnson, Ann Lalli, Robin Murdock, Evelyn Neville, Rob Rawson and Kinton Kennedy also in the cast.
Regular performances will be on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays at 8 p.m. through July 11 (except there will be no performance on July 4). There will also be Saturday matinees on June 27 and July 11, both preceded by a StageTalk discussion on various aspects of theater.
The Bountiful Elks Lodge is located at 544 W. 400 North (the same building as The Shed restaurant). Group discounts are available. Reservations: 292-3284.
- CHARLOTTE'S WEB, a musical version of E.B. White's fantasy, will play Thursday-Saturday, June 18-20, at 8:30 p.m. in the Murray Park amphitheater as part of the 1992 Arts in the Park series.
Director Ken Harper's cast includes Chris Angelos (just recently seen as Action in "West Side Story"), Berit Winge, Danielle Tuckett, Tucker Dansie, Tommy Barron and Irene Santiago.
Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children and senior citizens. Tickets are available at the Murray Parks Office (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or at the gate prior to performance. The amphitheater is located at 495 E. 5300 South. For further information, call 264-2614.
- SIMONE de BEAUVOIR, written and performed by local writer/actress Caitlin Myer, will be presented Thursdays-Saturdays, June 18-20 & 25-27 at 8 p.m. at the Grand Hall Gallery & Theater, 721/2 W. 400 South.
First performed in April at Brigham Young University, the one-woman show is Myer's perspective on enigmatic French thinker Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986), best known as the intimate collaborator for five decades to existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre.
General admission seating for all performances is $5 each. For reservations, call 363-2215. The Grand Hall Gallery is an intimate space with limited seating. Early reservations are suggested.
- THE WA-HOO REVUE, an evening combining Dutch oven grub and a Wild West musical revue, opens its summerlong run on Friday, June 19, at Sherwood Hills Resort in Sardine canyon between Brigham City and Logan.
The dinner/revue will be staged on Fridays and Saturdays through Sept. 12. The cookout starts at 7
p.m., followed by the show in the adjacent hillside amphitheater.
Admission is $14.95 for adults, $13.75 for senior citizens, $8.50 for children, and $56 per immediate family (two adults and any children under 18 years of age).
Reservations may be made by calling Sherwood Hills' front desk: toll-free at 1-800 772-4209, or (in the Cache Valley area) 254-6424.
- THE MEDDLING MYSTIC, a pre-Father's Day evening of comedy and suspense produced by Hunt Mystery & Company, is scheduled Friday, June 19, at 7 p.m. at Snowbird in Little Cottonwood Canyon.
Would-be sleuths will dine and find the answers to: Is psychic Claire Voyant intercepting murderous thoughts? Will Alexandra Valentina announce her miraculous cosmetic discovery? Will the bleating of her tax-phobic husband, Freddie, drive everyone to drink?
The mystery and dinner is $25 a person, and Snowbird is offering a special overnight package rate. Call 521-6040 or 1-800-453-3000 for reservations.
- THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN will be presented by a cast of 45 children (and two grownups) on Thursday and Friday, June 18 & 19, at the Taylorsville High School auditorium.
The show, featuring youngsters from throughout the school district and directed by Teresa Johnston, is open the public. General admission is $1 each, with tickets available at the door.
- ANNIE, one of Broadway's biggest successes, opens a six-week run on Friday, June 19, at the StageStop Theatre at Hampton's Ford (in Collinston, between Logan and Tremonton).
Following the Friday opening, performances will be Mondays and Thursdays through Saturdays through July 27 at 8 p.m. There will also be two Saturday matinees, July 11 and 18 at 3:30 p.m. Admission: $6 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. All tickets are $1 less on Monday evenings and for Saturday matinees. For reservations, call 257-7330.
- LOVE IS FOR THE BYRDS, a popular comedy by Ruth and Nathan Hale, will be presented Friday and Saturday, June 19-20, at the Hale Summer Playhouse, located on the Hale family's ranch at Grover, Utah, near Capitol Reef National Park.
For reservations, call Sherry Hale Brian in Salt Lake City at 572-5070 or contact the ranch at 425-3589. Directions on how to find the summer playhouse are on flyers available at the Hales' two year-round theaters in Salt Lake City and Orem.
Compiled by Ivan M. Lincoln, Deseret News theater editor, 237-2150. FAX: 237-2121.