Openings this week range from a big Broadway musical to an evening of intimate, avant-garde theater, music and dance. In between you'll find a family comedy, free readings, a mystery-dinner outing and other events.
- "MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS," the Broadway touring version of the classic MGM musical, opens an eight-performance run at the Capitol Theatre on Tuesday, Jan. 26, under the auspices of the Theater League of Utah.For theatergoers weary of the high-tech, pop-disco razzmatazz of "Cats" and "Les Miserables," this promises a healthy dose of traditional, old-fashioned musical theater.
Evening performances will be Tuesday through Saturday, Jan. 26-30, at 8 p.m., with matinees at 2 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Jan.29-31. Admission ranges from $15 to $32, depending on performance time and seat location. For reserved seats, call the ArtTix box office at 355-2787.
- "CONFESSIONS," is a multidisciplinary piece at the Ladies Literary Club, 850 E. South Temple, on on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 29-30, at 8 p.m.
Performers and various selections include Hilary Carrier's "Song of the Tangle," about undercurrents in a marriage; Barbara Susco's solo about childhood memories, Basil Katsan's film of James Thurber's "Mr. Preble Gets Rid of His Wife," and Jana Trueblood-Lloyd's quartet, "Hot Time in the Old Time," mixing square dancing and rap music in a commentary on rap's volatile love and hate.
Two pairs of choreographers have collaborated on pieces for the program: Eric Koegel and Hilary Carrier in "Better Off Without You," with Suzy Levin and Katie Elliot premiering a new work.
A.F. Caldiero will present a "language performance" and there will be short theatrical vignettes performed by Shannon Duncan, Tina Karlsson, Michael Larkin and Renee Scuba.
Organizers of the event - Beware of Dance Productions - are Trueblood-Lloyd, Carrier and Koegel. Admission is $5. Tickets are available at the door.
- "CINDERELLA" has opened the 1993 "Young Persons' Season" of Saturday matinee productions at the Pages Lane Theatre, 292 E. Pages Lane, Centerville, where it is playing through March 20.
With an emphasis on comedy, this version of the fable has teenage boys portraying the two ugly stepsisters, Georgette and Bobette. Other not-so-familiar names for the characters in this new adaptation, written by Ralph Rodgers, include Wickedreena (Cinderella's nasty stepmother) and Dramamina as the somewhat sleepy fairy godmother.
All seats are $3. Season tickets, which will include admission to such upcoming productions as "The Ugly Duckling," "The Wizard of Oz" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," are $10 each.
The theater has also announced the formation of its new Pages Lane Kids Klub for children 5-15. Each member of the free club will receive a quarterly newsletter with information about theatrical productions and educational material about live theater. Members will also receive discounts on merchandise and be eligible for a yearly drawing for T-shirts, tickets and other prizes. To join the club, stop at the box office or call 298-1302.
- "ONCE WAS ONCE TOO MANY," a dinner-mystery presentation by Hunt Mystery & Company, will be presented on the next two Fridays, Jan. 29 and Feb 5, at Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort in Little Cottonwood Canyon.
In the deja vu participatory mystery, actress Abigail Starlight is coaxed out of retirement in 1958 to serve as a consultant on a show she was to star in back in 1928. But again the rehearsals are plagued by odd occurrences, accidents and even . . . death.
Cast members include Sissy Eichwald, Jesse Dolce, JoDean Pond, Lenore Cambria, Monte Lyon, Diane Lyon, Mike Weaver, Sue Jarrard and Bruce Craven.
Seating for the dinner show starts at 7 p.m., and tickets are $25 each. Call Snowbird at 521-6040, Ext. 4080, for further information or to make reservations.
- "WAITING FOR GODOT," one of Samuel Beckett's early "theater of the absurd" works (and, arguably, his most accessible) is opening this week in the Margetts Arena Theater of Brigham Young University's Harris Fine Arts Center.
Director Robert Nelson notes that the playwright makes his audience, despite their faith, look at such human issues as the reality of aging, growing old and eventually dying to face the unknown.
Actors in Nelson's production include Kevin Rahm, Todd Parmley, Mika Valai, David Glick and Mark Nelson.
Performances are Tuesdays through Saturdays through Feb. 13 with a 4 p.m. matinee on Feb. 8. Admission is $7 for general public, $6.50 for senior citizens and $6 for students, faculty, staff and children 6-18. For tickets, contact the box office at 378-7447.
- "CHICAGO," the Broadway musical that was based on a sensational Roaring Twenties murder case, is opening a six-performance run in the Randall L. Jones Theatre, Cedar City.
Fred Adams, who is directing, says the production is the perfect showcase for the talents of Southern Utah University theater students.
The story, based on an actual incident in Windy City history, began as a straight play, followed by a silent film. In 1942, it was remade as "Roxie Hart" with Ginger Rogers and Adolphe Menjou, after which Bob Fosse, Fred Ebb and John Kander produced the musical version in 1975 - "Chicago."
The show contains Fosse's trademark song, "All That Jazz."
"Chicago" replaces the previously announced "Olympus On My Mind" on SUU's 1992-93 season. Playdates are Thursdays-Saturdays, Jan. 28-30 and Feb. 4-6 at 8 p.m., with a matinee at 2 p.m. on Feb. 6. For reservations or further information, call 586-7878.
- "PETER PAN" . . . and Tinkerbell will soar through Logan's elegant new Ellen Eccles Theatre during six performances by the Opera Theatre company of Utah State University.
Production dates will be Jan. 29-30 and Feb. 5, 6 and 8 at 8 p.m., with one matinee at 2 p.m. on Feb. 6. (There will be no performance on Feb. 1, as previously announced.)
Ticket prices range from $6 to $18, depending on date and seat location. There are also half-price discounts for children, students and senior citizens. For reservations, contact the theater box office at 752-0026.
- FREE READINGS: New York playwright/juggler Russell Davis' new play, "Sally's Porch," will be read on Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Salt Lake Acting Company, 168 W. 500 North. The reading, directed by Ellen Graham, is not part of SLAC's regular reading series. Utah author David Kranes will read selections from his works at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28, in the Little Theatre at College of Eastern Utah, Price, as part of CEU's Utah Readers' Series.