Broadway musicals (both touring and local versions), a classic comedy, the premiere of another new play developed at the Sundance Playwriting Lab, the reading of a new play by former Salt Laker David Pace and two mystery dinner events are on tap this week for the region's theatergoers.
- "THE FITNESS GAME," an interactive children's musical, will have a three-week run on the Sundance Children's Theatre stage before going on a lengthy tour of schools throughout Utah.The play, centered around "an unmotivated loaf of a kid, nicknamed The Lump," finds Wally Crump recruited into a wacky game show where the objective is to meet a series of fitness challenges.
Directed by John-David Keller, the cast includes David Barrus (who can also be seen in the role of Tony in Sundance's evening production of "West Side Story") as Biff; Eric Brotherson as Wally, Erin Hiatt as Terri and Amy Barrus as Karen.
According to the director, "The Fitness Game" is a lively musical teaching valuable lessons about health while entertaining the entire family. It was coauthored by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Jerry Patch with music and additional lyrics by Michael Silversher.
Performances will be Thursdays-Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Aug. 15-31, after which the company will "go on the road" to elementary and middle schools throughout the state. (For information on booking these performances, call the Sundance Institute at 328-3456.)
For the performances at Sundance Resort call 225-4100. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Group discounts are also available.
- "LES MISERABLES," back for a fifth engagement at the Capitol Theatre, has a cast containing a large number of performers with Utah connections - most of whom were cast during auditions in Salt Lake City a year ago.
The company includes Jenell Brook Slack as both Young Cosette and Young Eponine (on alternating nights), Kurk Davidson as rebel student Courfeyrac and an understudy for Jean Valjean, and Holly Jo Crane, Robbyn Thompson Scribner, Chris-tee-na Riggs and D.B. Bonds in a variety of ensemble roles, along with Mike Clifford and Jim Phelps as members of the backstage crew.
According to Mark Chambers of the main ArtTix box office at the Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South, there are tickets available for all performances, although the best selection is for matinees.
Tickets for the Theater League of Utah presentation are $15, $39 and $47 for weekdays and Sunday evenings (and one Thursday matinee on Aug. 15) and $25, $42 and $52 on Friday and Saturday nights and Saturday and Sunday matinees.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. nightly, Aug. 14-Sept. 7, except for two Mondays, Aug. 19 and 26. No evening performances on Sunday, Aug. 25, and Sunday, Sept. 1. Matinees at 2 p.m. on Aug. 15 and all Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Tickets are at the Capitol Theatre box office and all ArtTix outlets (in selected Albertson's stores). Call 355-2787. For group discounts, call 355-5502.
Many of the company's huge cast will take part in a special benefit performance on Sunday, Aug. 25, at 8 p.m. at the Off Broadway Theatre, 272 S. Main.
Proceeds from this musical revue, in which the performers get to entertain the audience with "cabaret" style songs and comedy, will be divided three ways with the Utah AIDS Foundation, the local People With AIDS Coalition and the combined Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS organization.
Tickets to the benefit are $30 each. For reservations, contact the Theater League of Utah's box office at 355-5502.
- "JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT," featuring Brett Bradford as Joseph, is being presented by the newly formed August Night Theater Group and is playing nightly except Sunday, Aug. 15-24, at Kingsbury Hall. Performances are at 8 p.m.
There will also be two matinees, Aug. 17 and 24, at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $19.50 for orchestra and loge seating and $11.50 in the balcony. For reservations, call 581-7100.
The Rice Stadium parking lot shuttle will not be running. However, there should be ample parking in the lot behind Kingsbury Hall, around Presidents Circle and in the parking lots south of Pioneer Memorial Theatre.
- "HYDROGEN BOMB," a new play by former Salt Lake drama critic David Pace, who now lives in New York City, will have two readings this week, the first on Thursday at 4:45 p.m. as part of the Sunstone Institute's annual symposium at the Salt Lake Hilton, and the second under the auspices of TheatreWorks West in its new Upstage Center space at the Wooden Dog in Trolley Square on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Admission to the Hilton Hotel reading will be handled through the Sunstone Symposium registration desk, while the TWW reading is free of charge and open to the public. The playwright will be available following the latter reading for a post-show discussion.
The play is described as "an exploration of the Mormon intellectual experience."
Attendance at the Wooden Dog is limited to those 21 or over.
- "LI'L ABNER," a Broadway musical (and later a movie) based on characters from the late Al Capp's legendary comic strip, has opened at the Pages Lane Theatre, 292 E. Pages Lane, Centerville, where it is playing on Mondays and Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. through Aug. 24.
Bryan Bowles is directing the production, set in the fictional backwoods town of Dogpatch, USA.
For reservations, call 298-1302.
- "THE TAFFETAS: A MUSICAL JOURNEY THROUGH THE FABULOUS FIFTIES," conceived and arranged by Rick Lewis, will be presented Aug. 15-Sept. 7 at the Mount Vernon Academy, 184 E. Vine St., Murray.
There will also be a special benefit performance on Wednesday, Aug. 14, at 7:30 p.m. from which all proceeds will go toward the construction of a new gymnasium for the private school.
Directed by Warren Holz, the Salt Lake Metropolitan Theatre Co. production is a musical revue packed with such '50s classics as "Mr. Sandman," "You Belong to Me" and "Sincerely," as it relates the tale of a girls' quartet from Muncie, Ind., making it to "the big time" for a national telecast from the Dumont Television Studio in 1958.
Tickets are $7.50 for adults and $6.50 for students and senior citizens. Group rates are also available.
For reservations, including the benefit performance, call 484-8108. Tickets will also be available at the door.
- "CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN," the classic, autobiographical comedy about life in the hectic, turn-of-the-century Gilbreth home will play Aug. 16-Sept. 23 at the Villa Playhouse Theatre, 254 S. Main, Springville.
Directed by proprietor Bill Brown, the cast includes John Gholdston as the stubborn, efficiency expert father, and Shana Huffacker as his wife, who attempts to soften him up.
The children's roles will be double-cast, including Esther Covington and Coutney Wright as Anne, Georgiana Deming and Heidi Tippets as Ernestine, Sharleen DeGaston and Eva Tippets as Martha, and James McGregor and Jordan Flake as Frank, the oldest son.
Performances will be Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. Tickets are $6 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. Call 489-3088 for reservations.
- "THE SECRET GARDEN," a Broadway musical based on the beloved children's book, will play Aug. 16-Sept. 27 at StageStop's Main Theatre, 141 N. Main, Smithfield, alternating with "The Sound of Music" (Aug. 24-28).
"The Secret Garden" plays Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., with one matinee on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 3:30 p.m.
Directed by Soni Barrus, the theater's artistic director, the cast includes Chrstine England as young Mary Lennox, David Wright as Archibald, Andrew Barrus as Dickon, Patti Papworth as Rose, Randi Harrington-Weekes as Martha, Gene Summers as Albert, Daniel Kennedy as Colin and Carol Nelson and Marta Johns alternating as Lily.
Tickets range from $5 to $8. For reservations, call 563-3922.
- MURDER MYSTERY DINNERS:
- "You Bet It's Your Life," a murder mystery spoof of the 1950s TV show "This Is Your Life," opens Aug. 15 at the Duckwater's In Layton and travels to the Riverboat in Murray for a performance Aug. 17.
The Hunt Mystery troupe will also perform the show Aug. 24 at the Lighthouse, south of the Cottonwood Hall.
Tickets for the dinner and whodunit are $30 a person. Visit or call Duckwater's at 930 W. 2000 North, Layton. 773-1336. The Riverboat in Murray at 4500 S. 800 West, 268-2628, or The Lighthouse at the Cottonwood Mall, south of JC Penney, 278-5313, to make reservations.
Doors at the Riverboat and Duckwater's open at 7 p.m., and dinner and show begin at 7:30 p.m. At the Lighthouse, doors open at 6 p.m., dinner and show begin at 6:30 p.m. and, as a bonus, guests can stay for the Saturday evening dance.
- "That's the Way the Fortune Cookie Crumbles," presented by Chameleons, the Whodunit Company, is scheduled Friday, Aug. 16, in the Cottonwood Room of the Snowbird Center.
The setting for the sleuth-it-yourself evening, beginning at 7:30 p.m., is an American Embassy in China at the height of World War II.
The action begins at 7:30 p.m. Reservations are required. Admission is $28 per person, including both dinner and show. Call 742-2222, Ext. 4080.
- EXTENSIONS have been announced for two regional productions - "Into the Woods," playing Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. through Aug. 21 at the Pages Lane Theatre in Centerville (call 298-1302 for tickets) and "Love Rides the Rails," extended through Aug. 17 at the Heritage Theatre in Perry, where it will play Monday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. (call 723-8392).