Community theater musicals, a Shakespearean classic and a popular "dinner mystery" event are among this week's stage offerings.

- BYE BYE BIRDIE, the 1960 parody of an Elvis Presly-type rocker being drafted into the army, will be presented Monday through Saturday, Aug. 23-28, at the Bluffdale Fire Station.Director Peggy St. Clair's cast includes Gary Sorenson in the central role of Conrad Birdie, whose induction into the Army and appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" causes a national sensation, with Kelly Day as the adoring fan club member who wins the chance to receive "One Last Kiss" from the departing star, and Daryl MacBeth as Conrad's agent.

James Mortimer portrays jealous boyfriend Hugo and Jay Searle will portray an interfering mother.

Also in the cast are Wayne Mortimer, Cheryl Ingram, Ruel Clark, Kelly Dumont, Alice Mortimer, Mark Copier, Randy Copier, Charles Garner, Mackenzie Huish and Michelle Larsen.

The fire station/city hall is located at 14175 S. 1700 West. On production nights, the trucks are moved outside and a portable stage is set up in the garage area. Following each performance, the trucks are driven back inside and secured.

Tickets are $3 at the door. Discount tickets can be purchased in advance at the Bluffdale City hall or from cast members.

- WEST SIDE STORY, a joint SCERA Shell/Murray Arts in the Park production, will play Wednesday-Saturday, Aug. 25-28, at 8 p.m. in the Murray Park Amphitheater.

The show just closed a brief run at the SCERA Shell in Orem, where the production was directed by Syd Riggs. Her 60-member cast includes Randy Robinson as Tony, Bryce Cropper as Riff, Melinda Larson as Maria, Erik Crawford as Bernardo and Corey Quereto as Anita.

Tickets are $5, available at the gate or in advance from the Murray Park and Recreation Office (weekdays during business hours). The park gates open at 7 p.m. Parking is available at 495 E. 5300 south.

- CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, a children's classic, will be presented Saturdays at noon from Aug. 28 through Nov. 5 as part of the Pages Lane Theatre's Young People's Theater series. All seats are $3 each. The theater is located at 292 E. Pages Lane, Centerville. For reservations, call 298-1302.

- MID-EVIL DAYS AND KNIGHTS, a Hunt Mystery & Company dinner mystery event, is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 27, at the Snowbird Center. Seating begins at 7 p.m., with dinner and do-it-your sleuthing starting about 7:30 p.m. The show is sold out, but you can get on a waiting list by calling Snowbird at 521-6040, Ext. 4080.

- LULLABY OF BROADWAY, a tune-packed musical revue, is being mounted in Logan's new Ellen Eccles Theatre as a joint production of the StageStop Theatre in Collinston and the Capitol Arts Alliance.

Directed by Soni Barrus and choreographed by Lori Saltern, the show contains an array of tunes from several well-known Broadway classics, presented by a five-man, five-woman cast.

For reservations, contact the Eccles Theatre box office at 753-6519.

- THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, one of William Shakespeare's most popular comedies, is being presented by the American Fork Community Stage.

McKay R. Jensen is directing. His cast is a mix of community residents, high school students and college-bound youths, some of whom are majoring in theater arts. Performers include Steven Argyle, Orem, as Antonio, the "merchant of Venice"; Dennis Purdie, Pleasant Grove, as Shylock; and Dr. Carl Bell, American fork, as the duke of Venice.

College talent includes Ben Alexander, who has accepted a $48,000 scholarship to the nationally recognized theater department at the University of Evansville (Indiana); Daniel Beck, who is attending Weber State University this fall on a full tuition theater scholarship; Shelly Packer, who won many acting awards at American Fork High School and is entering Brigham Young University on an academic scholarship; and David Vogeler, who just completed one year at WSU on a theater scholarship.

The production is being mounted on a modified Elizabethan stage in the American Fork High School auditorium, 510 N. 600 East. The production opened Aug. 19 and will continue Monday, Aug. 23; Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 26-28; and Monday, Aug. 30, at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets at the door are $4.50 for adults and $4 for senior citizens and students, or $12 for an immediate family pass. Tickets purchased in advance are only $3 (call 756-0205).

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- GUYS AND DOLLS, which was just recently revived on Broadway in a blockbuster production, will be presented Aug. 26-Sept. 4 by the Payson Community Theatre.

PCT is celebrating its 25th anniversary as a community theater troupe.

Performances will be Thursday-Saturday and Monday, Aug. 26-28 and 30, and Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 2-4, at 7:30 p.m. in the Payson High School auditorium, 1100 S. Main, with a matinee on Monday, Sept. 6, at 4 p.m.

Tickets are $5 each ($4 for senior citizens) or $25 for a family pass (admits up to six people). For reservations or further information, call 465-3284 or 465-9787.

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