Theatrical openings this week include two adaptations of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" (see adjacent story), Utah State University's annual "narrative theater" effort and the classic musical, "Cabaret."
In addition, Salt Lake Acting Company extending one of its shows and revising its 1994-95 lineup.There's also a repeat performance of a popular Hunt Mystery & Company audience-participation event.
- ALL IN THE TIMING, David Ives' critically acclaimed comedy, is being extended - again - at Salt Lake Acting Company, 168 W. 500 North.
Both of SLAC's current productions, Michael Hollinger's "An Empty Plate in the Cafe du Grand Boeuf," playing Upstairs, and "All in the Timing," in the smaller Downstairs space, had previously been extended through March 12 (both playing Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.).
On March 16, "All in the Timing" will move to the Upstairs theater, where it will continue (at lower Downstairs prices) through March 26.
For tickets, call ArtTix at 355-2787.
"Gunmetal Blues," a jazzy, Chandleresque mystery musical, has replaced "Death and the Maiden" in SLAC's May 4-June 4 Upstairs slot.
- ALWAYS COMING HOME, an unconventional theater piece based on the work of science-fiction author Ursula K. LeGuin, is this year's narrative theater production at USU.
Director David Sidwell notes that LeGuin is a prolific writer. "Though you find her books on the science-fiction shelf, she really defies categorization."
So does Sidwell's production.
It begins as storytelling - as the words of the novel are used as narrative. Then Pandora, played by Kindre Steenerson, imagines a future civilization. As she explores and invents the culture and its inhabitants, they become more real before her . . . and before the audience.
Three actors - Jana Lynn Reese, Sarah Hanson and Shannon Sturgeon - will represent different phases in the life of one character, Stone Telling.
Performances will be at 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, March 6-11, in Room 224 of the Chase Fine Arts Center on the USU campus. Admission is $6.50 for adults, $5.50 for senior citizens, youths and USU faculty/staff, and $3.25 for USU students. Seating is limited. Children under 5 years of age are not admitted. Tickets are available in advance at the Spectrum ticket office (797-0305).
- GODFATHER OF THE BRIDE, a Mafia wedding murder mystery comedy written by Jesse Dolce and presented by Hunt Mystery & Co., will play Thursday, March 9, in a new location - the Aerie Restaurant of the Penthouse at Cliff Lodge, Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort.
It will also be mounted again at the same location on Thursday, March 30 (as well as Thursday, March 16, at the Camelot Restaurant in Layton).
Doors open at 7 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7:30 p.m. For reservations at Snowbird call 1-801-521-6040, Ext. 4080.
- CABARET, the acclaimed musicalization of "I Am a Camera," is playing Thursday-Saturday, March 9-11 in the Geary Theatre at the College of Eastern Utah, 351 E. 400 North, Price.
Directed by Lee Johnson, "Cabaret" is set in a garish Berlin nightclub in the late 1920s, a time of frenzied decadence on the eve of Germany's plunge into the dark days of Nazism.
Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for students and senior citizens. For reservations, call the Geary Theatre box office at 637-6386.