Two acclaimed dramas, one of which began as an all-male production in the 1950s and the other an all-female drama from the mid-1980s, are opening this week at opposite ends of the valley.
The Hale Center Theater is mounting Robert Harling's emotional look at relationships in a small town in the Deep South in "Steel Magnolias," while StageRight is bringing one of the most powerful courtroom dramas ever written - "Twelve Angry Men" - into the '90s as "Twelve Angry Jurors."- NEARLY 40 YEARS AGO, during the golden era of live television drama, Reginald Rose's tautly written "Twelve Angry Men" created quite a stir. It focused on one man's efforts to convince a stubborn all-male jury to reconsider its hasty decision convicting a 19-year-old boy of murder.
Henry Fonda saw the Kraft Theater 1954 TV version and decided to produce a big-screen edition in 1957, starring himself and directed by Sidney Lumet.
This week's newly updated edition, directed by Jansen Davis, puts both men and women in the jury room.
In addition, the intimate Bountiful Elks Lodge setting will draw the audience right into the sweltering little room, where they can experience the emotions and prejudices up close.
The cast includes Hazel Rowe, Jan Williams Smith, Barclay Tucker, Wayne Schmidt, Mike Canham, Renata Nebeker, Raelynn Potts, Karen Webb, Norman E. Plate, Gordon Johnson, Jacob Bruner, Shellie Waters and Beth Bruner.
Performances will be Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Bountiful Elks Lodge meeting room, 544 W. 400 North, West Bountiful (in the same building as Cafe Alicia).
Tickets are $6 for adults and $5.50 for students and senior citizens. For reservations call 292-5193 or write to StageRight TheaterCompany, 207 E. 400 North, Bountiful, UT 84010.
- IT'S UNLIKELY there'll ever be a mixed-gender edition of "Steel Magnolias." With all that chatty "girl talk" in and around Truvy's Beauty Parlor you might as well hang out the "no men allowed" sign.
Ron Jewett, assisted by Annette Nashea, is directing. It's a show packed with very strong roles, and one that consistently attracts outstanding actresses.
For the HCT production, all roles are double-cast.
The cast includes Sharon Shamy and Jackie Forrest as Truvy; Mary Parker Williams and Sherrie Magnusson as Annelle, fresh from beauty school and "born again"; Sally Hale Swenson and Carol Ann Taylor as Clairee, the mayor's wife; Kim Stone and Elizabeth Whitney as Shelby, an excited bride-to-be; Sharon Lynn Kennison and Donna Ostlund as M'Lynn, the mother of the bride, and Winkie T. Horman and Annette Nashea as Ouiser, the cantankerous-but-loveable complainer.
Performances at Hale Center Theater, 2801 S. Main St., South Salt Lake, are Mondays-Saturdays at 8 p.m., from Sept. 30 through Nov. 19, with Saturday matinees scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 15, 22 and 29 and Nov. 5 and 12. Tickets range from $7 to $10. All seats are reserved. Call 484-9257 for reservations.
Two upcoming dates of interest to HCT patrons:
- Oct 1: Tickets to the theater's 10th annual production of "A Christmas Carol" will be available. This always sells out. Call early for the best choice of dates and seating.
- Jan. 14: The theater will revive its popular Saturday matinee children's shows, starting with "Sleeping Beauty." Ticket prices are $4 and $5.
Also of note: HCT's Halloween costume shop is open daily except Sundays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and subscriptions are still available for the 1995 season.
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Additional Information
Holiday theater deadline Oct. 21
Fall is in the air and you're getting Christmas catalogs in the mail. It must be time to plan for the Christmas/New Year's theater lineup.
The Deseret News calendar of Christmas and holiday-oriented shows will be published in the Weekend Extra section on Friday, Nov. 4.
Submit listings, including titles, venues, inclusive dates, names and phone numbers of directors or publicists, and other pertinent information to: Ivan M. Lincoln, Deseret News theater editor, P.O. Box 1257, Salt Lake City, UT 84110, or fax them to (801) 237-2121.
The deadline is Friday, Oct. 21.