In addition to Salt Lake Acting Company's second show of the season, "Salt Lake Salt Lake" (see separate story on this page), other productions opening this week include the premiere of a play about a Vietnam POW's true experiences, the revival of a popular musical melodrama, a traditional Christmas religious drama, a new puppet production and others.
- A CHRISTMAS CAROL, PART 2, OR A DICKENS OF A CHRISTMAS, is for those folks who believe (wrongly, of course) that "sequelmania" is purely a Hollywood invention.This locally written musical melodrama was a big success last year and is being revived for yet another holiday go-around. It takes audiences into the world of Ebenezer Scrooge and the Cratchits three years after the original "Christmas Carol" story ends.
Tiny Tim ain't so "tiny" any more (and if playwright Bob Bedore decides to go for Part 3, they'll have to bring in Shawn Bradley to play little Timmy, if his present growth rate is any indication).
Directed by Jansen Davis, the cast of the 1993 edition has Ken Grazier as old Eb, still attempting to get things right, and Bob Bedore and Mike Westenskow as Bob Cratchit and son Tiny Tim, who've embarked on a life of crime. Also in the cast are Melissa Bridge Porter, Russell Peacock, Barbie Christensen, Ron Johnson, Kim Hart and Ben Porter.
The post-show olio, "Winter Wonderland," was also directed by Davis.
Performances are Mondays and Thursdays through Saturdays at 7 p.m., Nov. 19-Jan. 8, with additional 9:30 performances on some Fridays and Saturdays. Desert Star Playhouse, 4861 S. State, Murray, consistently sells out, especially during the holidays when large groups book the theater. Early reservations are highly recommended. Call 266-7600. Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for children under 12.
The theater has cabaret style seating with pizza, soft drinks and ice cream treats.
- PRISONER, written by Brigham Young University undergraduate James Bell and based on Navy Lt. Gerald Coffee's experiences as recounted in his autobiography, "Beyond Survival," will have its world premiere on Thursday, Nov. 18, in the Margetts Arena Theatre of BYU's Harris Fine Arts Center.
Coffee plans to attend the Dec. 2 performance and will answer questions following the show.
Coffee was flying over the Gulf of Tonkin on his way to the USS Kittyhawk and 10 days of leave when he was shot down and forced to eject from his plane. He spent the next seven years in a Vietnam prison.
Bell became aware of Coffee's experiences while reading an excerpt from his book in Reader's Digest and he decided to use it as the basis for his work in a BYU playwright class - the school's outstanding Playwrights/Directors/Actors Workshop, which is dedicated to nurturing original scripts. Ivan Crosland is directing the new play.
Following its opening on Thursday, performances will continue Tuesdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. through Dec. 4, with one matinee at 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 29. Admission is $7 for the general public, $6.50 for senior citizens and $6 for students and BYU faculty and staff. For reservations, call 378-3875.
- CHILD OF BETHLEHEM, which has become a holiday tradition at City Rep (in repertory with "Babes in Toyland," which will open Nov. 27), is scheduled for 14 evening and matinee performances from Saturday through Dec. 30.
Directed and adapted by City Rep Artistic Director Joanne M. Parker, the play is based on a 1909 book about three childless, lonely, English men who are led by an unusual experience to new hope, wisdom and a link with humanity.
The three men (Prof. Biggleswade, Lord Doyle and Sir Angus McCurdie) will be played by H. Clayton Smith, Collyn Kreuzer and John Gagnier, with Toni Davis and Michael Canham as Mary and Joseph.
Evening performances will be Nov. 20, 22 and 26 and Dec. 4, 6, 10, 16, 18, 20, 23, 28 and 30 at 7:30 p.m., with matinees at 2 p.m. on Dec. 11 and 24. Additional performances are offered on weekdays at 11:30 a.m. for area school field trips at discounted rates. Regular prices are $7.50 for adults and $4.75 for children 16 and under. All seats are reserved.
For reservations, contact the City Rep box office at 532-6000. The theater is at 638 S. State.
- THE SNOW QUEEN, based on Hans Christian Andersen's beloved fable, is being presented by Dr. Puppets (Dmitry Rashkin) and his troupe.
Rashkin's performers use elegent, European style puppets, hand-crafted in Java.
The first public performance of "The Snow Queen" will be on Friday, Nov. 19, at 8 p.m. at the New Hope Center, 1102 W. 400 North, as a benefit for the center. All seats for this performance are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Tickets may be purchased at the New Hope Center or from the Globe Russian Food Store, 2343 E. 3300 South, or by writing to Dr. Puppets at 1140 Princeton Ave., Salt Lake City, UT 84105.
Dates and locations for the next scheduled performances are:
- Dec. 1-3, Highland Park Elementary School, 1738 E. 2700 South.
- Dec. 8-11, Hillside Intermediate School, 2375 E. Garfield Ave.
- Dec. 15-18, Glendale Intermediate School, 1430 W. Andrew Ave.
All of these performances will begin at 7 p.m. with tickets priced at $3 for children and $4.50 for adults.
- THE POSSESSED, adapted and directed by Tobin Atkinson from Fyodor Dostoyevsky's tale of political intrigue and unrestrained passions in Russia during the 1860s, is being presented as Atkinson's graduate directing project at the University of Utah.
Dostoyevsky predicted the rise of socialism and the "death of God," which some view as the subsequent death of man's morality.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 18; at 5 and 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 19; at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 20, and 7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 21, in the Lab Theatre, located in the Performing Arts Building, adjacent to the campus book store. Tickets ($3.50 for adults; $2.50 for students) will be available at the door, or may be purchased in advance at the Pioneer Memorial Theatre box office (581-6961).
- FOREVER, AMEN, a dinner murder mystery, will again be presented at Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort Friday, Nov. 19. Seating begins at 7 p.m.
At the 25th Annual Mountain High Revival, preacher John E. Longwind will heal your infirmities and the special grand exorcist C.C. Churchand will root out your spiritual impurities. Is this the beginning of a beautiful healing partnership - or the beginning of the end?
Cast members include Jesse Dolce' as the flamboyant preacher, Lenore Cambria as his ever-demanding wife, Monte Lyon as his racetrack gambling son, Diane Lyon as his more-than-helpful secretary, Mike Weaver as his money handler, JoDean Pond as his son's love interest, Allison Jensen as his flighty show producer and Sue Jarrard as his competitor.
Call Snowbird Special Events at 521-6040 to make reservations. Seating is limited.
- MUSIC OF THE NIGHT, scheduled Friday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m. in the new Northridge High School auditorium in Layton, will be an evening of medleys from four musicals - "Les Miserables," "Phantom of the Opera," "The Secret Garden" and the new production of "Jekyll & Hyde."
The performance will feature the newly organized Layton Community Choir, under direction of Kathy Skidmore. Scenes from the black-and-white movie classic versions of the shows will be shown on a large screen as the choir performs.
Guest soloists will include Mel Teeples, Trent Teeples, Aaron and Emma West, Emily McCormick, Laura Traum, Sherida Layton and the Central Davis Junior High School show choir, the Central Singers.
Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens and students. There is a $1 discount for those purchasing tickets in advance.
- MAN OF LA MANCHA, which won five Tony Awards when it first opened on Broadway 25 years ago, will be staged by a national touring company under the auspices of Cache Performances on Tuesday, Nov. 16, at 7:30 p.m. in the Kent Concert Hall of Utah State University's Chase Fine Arts Center.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for youths. Admission for USU students is $3 in advance or $4 at the door. All tickets are available in advance from the Smith Spectrum box office or the information desk in the Taggart student center.