One of Shakespeare's romantic comedy classics, plus a comic spin on Shakespeare's "Macbeth" (as seen through the eyes of "The Simpsons"), a local edition of "Grease" and an evening with a storyteller considered to be Japan's premier actress are on tap this week for theatergoers in the region.
-- "AS YOU LIKE IT" brings Touchstone, Orlando, Celia and Rosalind to the Lees Main Stage of the Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre for an Oct. 27-Nov. 13 run.Directed by Paul Barnes, who is familiar to Utah Shakespearean Festival patrons for his work on "Troilus and Cressida" this past summer, the USF's first two fall season productions, plus previous productions of "Henry V," "Henry IV, Part I," "Henry VIII" and "Tartuffe," is making his Pioneer Theatre Company directorial debut.
In addition to several well-known local Equity and non-professional actors (Max Robinson as Jaques, Robert Peterson as Duke Senior, Frank Gerrish, Kevin Doyle of USU, Tobin Atkinson and Chris Van Dijk), three experienced performers from the Cedar City-based festival are also in the cast.
They are Ty Burrell (Orlando), Michael Harding (LeBeau/Hyman) and Jared Larkin. Burrell garnered raves this summer as Richard in "The Lion in Winter" and Oberon/Theseus in "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Harding performed three seasons with the USF and played the title role in the Utah Musical Theatre production of "The Will Rogers Follies." Larkin, a graduate of Southern Utah University, played Joseph in the USF's 1998 production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
Out-of-town Equity players include Carol Linnea Johnson as Rosalind, Deanne Lorette (seen previously at the USF as Elvira in "Blithe Spirit" and Hermia in "A Midsummer Night's Dream," among others) as Celia, Anderson Matthews as Corin, Anthony De Fonte as Duke Fredrick, R. Ward Duffy as Oliver, Joel Friedman as Adam and Andy Paterson as Silvius.
Rounding out the ensemble are Joe Debevc, Rebecca Dutton, Kate Hall, Stephen Ivey and Trish Reading.
PTC musical director James Prigmore has composed an original background score for the production, which features scenery by Gage Williams, costumes by Carol Wells-Day, lighting by Lynne Chase, sound by James C. Swonger and fight scenes choreographed by David L. Boushey.
Performances will be Mondays-Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m., Oct. 27-Nov. 13. All seats are reserved. Tickets range from $16 to $35. Group and student discounts are available. For reservations, call 581-6961.
-- "MacHOMER: THE SIMPSONS DO MACBETH," with Canadian comedian/actor Rick Miller providing all 63 voices, will be staged on Friday evening, Oct. 29, at 7:30 p.m., as part of Peery's Egyptian Theatre's "Great Performances" series in Ogden.
Miller, who will narrate 320 hand-painted slides projected onto a screen behind him, somehow manages to keep 85 percent of Shakespeare's text intact as he presents his condensed version of the Bard's famous "Scottish play."
Despite the inclusion of topical references and a few modern jokes, Miller assures audiences that his spin on "Macbeth" is both entertaining and accessible, and at the same time true to its classic framework.
All seats are reserved. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Egyptian Theatre box office, 2415 S. Washington Blvd., Ogden (telephone 395-3227) or through Weber State University's Dee Events Center box office. Tickets are $15 for adults and $13 for senior citizens, 65 and over, and children (6-12). Group discounts are also available.
-- "GREASE," one of Broadway and Hollywood's biggest musical hits, is scheduled for an Oct. 28-Nov. 8 run in the Ragan Theatre at Utah Valley State College in Orem.
Directed by James Arrington and choreographed by Kathie Debenham, the cast includes Andrea Walker of American Fork as Sandy Dumbrowski and Seth Child as Danny Zuko.
Arrington, who has joined the UVSC faculty this year, assures audiences there will be no "raunchy" dancing in this production, but "it will capture the exuberance of adolescence, the difficulties of becoming independent and the feeling of invincibility that youth have."
Performances will be 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and Mondays, There will also be one matinee at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6. Tickets are $7 for adults, $3.50 for senior citizens and $3 for students and children.
The school's performing arts department cautions that the show is "adult in nature" and that children under 6 will not be admitted " . . . and no nursery is provided."
-- KOYOKO SHIRAISHI, who has won raves in the Japanese press for her spellbinding storytelling technique, will read contemporary Japanese mystery stories on Saturday, Oct. 30, in the Nelke Experimental Theatre of Brigham Young University's Harris Fine Arts Center in Provo.
One Japanese reviewer noted that Shiraishi's performance was "the most frightening I have seen. Although she was just reading stories, I involuntarily closed by eyes because her actions made the scenes too 'real.' Her superb technique takes us far beyond the boundaries of our imagination. She expands it, visualizes the images."
Tickets are $10 for general admission and $8 for students and BYU faculty. For reservations, call 378-4322.
-- "MAGIC IS MURDER," a joint production of Michaelangelo Works and Hunt Mystery & Company, will premiere on Friday, Oct. 29, at 7:30 p.m. at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi.
The mystery includes a song-and-dance magic show where something goes "deadly" wrong.
The cast, directed and choreographed by Lenore Cambria, includes Michael Christensen (who also wrote the script), Aaron Christensen, Andrew Lenz, Amy O'Neil, Rachael Marsh, Camille and Carinne Sullivan and Kathleen Richardson.
Tickets are $35 per person for the buffet dinner and mystery.This is first in a series of performances at Thanksgiving Point. The Nov. 12 show is sold out, but tickets remain for Oct. 29 and Dec. 8.
Information on stage productions or auditions must be submitted at least two weeks in advance. Compiled by Ivan M. Lincoln, Deseret News theater editor, 1-801-236-6017. Fax: 1-801-237-2550; e-mail: ivan@desnews.com