Two more productions of "A Christmas Carol" (now it's four down, two to go), four other Christmas-themed plays and the reading of a new play by Michael Hollinger are among this week's new theatrical openings. (See separate story on Page E12 for details on Rodgers Memorial Theatre's regional premiere of "Madison Square Garden's 'A Christmas Carol.' ")"THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO," Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Alfred Uhry's Tony Award-winning holiday comedy, will play Nov. 26-Dec. 30 at the Provo Theatre Company, 105 E. 100 North.
Set in Atlanta, Ga., in December 1939, on the eve of the world premiere of "Gone With the Wind," the play centers on the Freitag family, caught up in excitement surrounding Ballyhoo, a sort of German-Jewish debutante ball that was a major event in the South between the first and second world wars and up to the '50s.
In a recent interview from his home in New York, Uhry, an Atlanta native, said Utah audiences should connect to the play's interracial/religious humor.
Uhry, who won a Pulitzer Prize for "Driving Miss Daisy," was commissioned by the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Committee to write "The Last Night of Ballyhoo," which went on to a successful Broadway run in 1997.
"I'm delighted they're doing 'Ballyhoo' in Provo. It's about Jews who are uncomfortable with being Jewish and I'm thinking that maybe Mormons will relate to that in some way," he said.
He wondered if Donny Osmond, who is on PTC's board of advisors, had something to do with "Ballyhoo" being produced in Provo. "I know Donny and I worked with him at one time several years ago," Uhry said.
Uhry's latest stage production, "Parade," a musical, which won a Tony during its limited Lincoln Center run, is reopening in June at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, where Uhry grew up.
"It was supposed to reopen on Broadway, but we got caught in that Livent Inc., debacle, but now we're going on tour, so it could be worse," he said.
Uhry was also pleased that he was being so well represented in Utah, with previous productions of his "Driving Miss Daisy" and "The Last Night of Ballyhoo" at Pioneer Theatre Company in Salt Lake City, and next year's production of "Daisy" as part of the Utah Shakespearean Festival's fall season, as well as next week's "Ballyhoo" in Provo.
Adjunct BYU professor Laurie Purser is directing "Ballyhoo" for PTC. Her cast includes Karen Baird, Michelle Evans, David Phillips, Carolyn Stone, Christopher Clark, Colleen Hansen and Matt Biedel.
Performances will be Mondays and Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m. (no matinees and no performances Dec. 24-28). Tickets range from $9.50 to $15, with several discounts available. For reservations, call the box office at 379-0600, between 6 and 9 p.m. on performance evenings.
"RED HERRING," written by Michael Hollinger, will be read as part of Salt Lake Acting Company's New Play Sounding Series on Monday, Nov. 22, at 7:30 p.m., in the Upstairs Theatre, 168 W. 500 North.
The piece is a theater-noir comedy/murder mystery set during the McCarthy hearings on un-American activities.
Hollinger's "Incorruptible" was the best play of the 1996-97 season in Salt Lake City, and his "An Empty Plate at the Cafe Du Grand Boeuf" was a hit during SLAC's 1994-95 season.
William Moore is directing a cast that includes Wayne Brennan, Joseph Crnich, Melissa Gessel, Rory Kozoll, Mary Moore, Bob Ormsby and Michelle Peterson.
The reading is free of charge and open to the general public. A post-play discussion will be held immediately following the reading.
"THE X-MAS FILES: THE SPOOF IS OUT THERE," the Off Broadway Theatre's most successful show ever, is being brought back for a Nov. 26-Dec. 30 run.
Teammates Smoulder and Scullery probe such questions as the mystery of what's
being stored in Area 51, why the government is trying to control Christmas, and what is the secret behind fruitcake.
Sandy Jensen is directing the comedy.
The cast includes Bob and Laura Bedore, Robert Bogue, Zack Zumbrunnen, Eric Jensen, Steve and Charlene Harmon, Rebecca Larson, Mark Harris and Logan Rogan.
Josh and Brianna Bedore and Alex and Eric Phillips are alternating in the children's roles.
Performances are Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students and senior citizens and $5 for children, 11 and under. For reservations, call 355-4628.
"A LITTLE LONDON CHRISTMAS," featuring an original script by Marvin Payne, a holiday feast and an evening of seasonal music, will be presented Nov. 26-Dec. 23 at the Little London Dinner Theatre, 20 S. Main St., Pleasant Grove.
Performances will be Wednesdays-Saturdays, with dinner being served at 6:45 p.m. and curtain for the show at 7:30 p.m. Advance reservations are required. Call 785-0827.
"A CHRISTMAS CAROL " is back for its 10th annual go-around at the Hale Center Theater Orem.
Based on Charles Dickens' 156-year-old book, it's a story of greed, selfishness, love and sharing.
William Bisson and Merrill Dodge will alternate in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge.
Performances will be Mondays-Saturdays, Nov. 26-Dec. 23, at 8 p.m. (note this is a change from HCT/O's usual 7:30 p.m. curtain time; the later curtain is in deference to a number of 5 p.m. weekday matinees later in the run).
Saturday matinees will be at 3:30 p.m., beginning Dec. 4, and at both noon and 3:30 p.m., starting Dec. 11 The weekday 5 p.m. matinees will begin Dec. 16. General seating ranges from $8 to $11, with an additional $3 charge for reserved seating. Advance reservations are required for all tickets, which must be paid for at the time of purchase. For reservations, call 226-8600.
TWO SHOWS geared to younger audiences, "Annie Jr." and "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," will play on the next four Saturdays at the Terrace Plaza Playhouse, 99 E. 4700 South, Ogden.
"Annie Jr., " starring Brooke Robison of Layton as Annie, will play Saturdays at 2 p.m., Nov. 27-Dec. 18, at the Terrace Plaza Playhouse, 99 E. 4700 South.
This is an all-children's version of "Annie," adapted from the original script especially for younger performers. The cast of more than 60 features youngsters from Box Elder, Weber and Davis counties. Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for children.
"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" will be performed at noon on Saturdays. Tickets are $4 for adults and $3 for children.
"THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER" will also play Nov. 22-Dec. 18 at the Valley Center Playhouse, 780 N. 200 East, Lindon, alternating with "A Christmas Carol." Performances will be Mondays-Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., with "A Christmas Carol" playing Thursdays-Saturdays. Call 785-1186 for reservations.
"THE CHRISTMAS STRANGER," originally scheduled to run Nov. 26-Dec. 20 at the Lighthouse Theatre at Cottonwood Mall, has been postponed until Dec. 20. Details on specific dates and performance times will be announced.
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