The world premiere of Jim Jarrett's new one-man show, "Sanford Meisner: A Teacher"; StageRight's revival of "My Three Angels"; "Here's Love," a rarely mounted musical version of "Miracle on 34th St.," two Broadway classics -- "The Man Who Came to Dinner" and "I Never Sang for My Father"-- a Shakespeare romance, two more "Christmas Carols," another "Best Christmas Pageant Ever" and "Babes in Toyland" are among the new entries on this week's crowded theatergoing calendar.
For details on the regional premiere of Steve Martin's "Picasso at the Lapine Agile," see today's Arts Section cover story.
"SANFORD MEISNER: A TEACHER," created and performed by one of the legendary acting teacher's former students and assistants, will have its world premiere Dec. 2 and 3 as part of Peery's Egyptian Theater's "Great Performances" series.
Meisner's students included Gregory Peck, Michelle Pfeiffer, Grace Kelly, Mary Steenburgen, Diane Keaton, James Woods, Robert Duval, Sydney Pollack and Peter Falk. The esteemed teacher's credo was "the foundation of acting is the reality of doing."
Another of his students was Jim Jarrett, who brought Leonard Nimoy's one-man production, "Vincent," to the Egyptian Theater in Ogden last year. During that time, Jarrett, who is based in Sun Valley, Idaho, was invited to premiere his own one-man production about Meisner at the Egyptian this season.
Every word in the show has been distilled from Jarrett's 15 notebooks, which he filled during his training with Meisner.
Performances will be 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, Dec. 2-3. All seats are $15. For reservations, call the Egyptian Theater box office at 395-3227 or Weber State University's Dee Events Center box office at 626-8500 or 1-800-WSU-TIKS.
"MY THREE ANGELS," about three escaped Devil's Island convicts who show up at a struggling business in French Guiana in 1910 -- and who do more than just fix their leaky roof -- is being brought back by popular demand as the Christmas production for StageRight TheaterCompany, 1140 S. 900 East.
Director Karyn Tucker's cast includes Mike Brown, Jeremy P. Jonsson and Mark White as the trio of tender hearted convicts, and Bob Walkingshaw, Debra Flink and Heather Ferrel as the troubled Ducotel family. Also in the cast are Beth Bruner, David Tucker and Michael Orlando.
Performances will be Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 4-Jan. 8. (There will be no performances on Dec. 24, 25 or 31.) Tickets, available at the door, are $7 for adults and $6 for students and senior citizens. For reservations, call 485-8038.
"A CHRISTMAS CAROL," currently playing in four Wasatch Front theaters, is opening in two more this week, including the 15th annual production at Hale Centre Theatre and a musical version at the Terrace Plaza Playhouse.
-- Hale Centre Theatre's edition, directed this year by Will Swenson, has some new touches, including Bruce Bredeson and Mike Williams alternating as narrator Charles Dickens, new music (live violin and hand bells) and enhancements of HCT's revolving, multilevel stage.
Directed previously by Richard G. Wilkins, who also performed the role of Scrooge nightly, Wilkins relinquished the directorial job this year to Swenson, due to his busy schedule as a champion of family rights at the recent World Congress of Families II in Geneva, Switzerland. Also this year, his role will be understudied by Scott Morgan.
Others in major roles are Mark Knowles and Mike Maxfield as Bob Cratchit, Andrew Fugate and Dutch Whitlock as Tiny Tim, Scott Morgan and JaceSon Parker Barrus as both Marley's Ghost and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, Adam Russon and Christian Thorpe as Christmas Past, and Tom Stam and Tim Lineback as Christmas Present, Fezziwig and Old Joe. Also in the cast are Cassie Caulkins and Kristine Bethers as Mrs. Cratchit, and Warren Holz and Porter Brinton as Scrooge's nephew, Fred.
Performances will be Monday-Saturday at 8 p.m., Nov. 30-Dec. 23 (all Friday and Saturday evening performances are sold out; call the box office for possible cancellations).
Saturday matinees are at noon and 3:30 p.m., Dec. 4, 11 and 18, with weekday matinees at 5 p.m. on Dec. 13-17 and 20-23, and 2 p.m. on Dec. 21-23. Also, although evening performances end on Dec. 23, there will be two additional matinees, at 2 and 5 p.m., on Dec. 27 only.
All seats are reserved. Tickets are $15.50 and $17.50 for adults and $12 and $13 for children. For reservations, call 984-9000 or stop at the box office, 3333 S. Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City.
-- Terrace Plaza Playhouse, 99 E. 4700 South, Ogden, is mounting a musical version of the Dickens' tale, "Scrooge's A Christmas Carol."
Directed by Jacci Florence (who is also playing Christmas Past), the cast includes Kim Florence as Scrooge, Eric Warfield as Tiny Tim, Don Wilhelm as Christmas Present, Tim Fish and Dale Florence alternating as Marley, Ariel Osmond as Bob Cratchit and Linda Ford as Mrs. Cratchit.
Performances will be Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 29-Dec. 20, with additional performances on Dec. 21-23. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children. Group rates are available. Call 393-0070 for reservations.
"HERE'S LOVE," Meredith Willson's musical version of "Miracle on 34th St.," is playing Dec. 2-18 at the Old Barn Community Theatre in Collingston (formerly the Stage Stop Theatre).
The production is being directed by Arvid Willden. The cast includes John Rich as Kris Kringle, Ronda L. Edrington as Doris, Valerie Harris as Susan, Kirk Mecham as Fred and Evan Maxfield as Macy.
Performances will be Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., with matinees at 3 p.m. on Dec. 11 and 18. Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for students and senior citizens. For reservations, call 1-435-458-BARN (2276).
"I NEVER SANG FOR MY FATHER," Robert Anderson's sensitive drama about a grown man faced with the problem of taking care of his elderly father, will play in the Blackbox Theater at Utah Valley State College, Orem (room 627 of the Gunther Trades building).
Directed by Randall King, the cast includes Wally (Paul) Walstad as the father, Nathan Mitchell as the son, Leslie Manning as the mother, and Sumerlyn Towers as the sister.
Performances will be 7:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays-Saturdays, Dec. 2-13. Tickets are $6 for adults, $3.50 for senior citizens and $3 for children and high school students. Call 222-8797 for reservations.
"THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER" the stage version of Barbara Robinson's beloved 1988 novel, is being staged by City Rep's Family Theatre.
The family comedy revolves around the six notorious Herdman children, who burn down buildings and terrorize the neighborhood. They also smoke cigars and steal. But when they take over the local church's annual Christmas pageant, everyone rediscovers the true meaning of Christmas.
City Rep Artistic Director Joanne M. Parker's cast includes Aaron Asman, Drew Belnap, Olivia Dustman, Laura Hammond, Lindsay Winder, Mike Pascoe and Logan Young as the Herdmans, with Courtney Bello as the Reverend.
Dates for regularly scheduled public performances are 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 4, 9-11, 16-18, 20 and 21, with matinees at 2 p.m. on Dec. 11, 18, 23 and 24. Tickets are $7 each.
In addition, there will be daytime school "field trip" matinees on most weekdays at 10:30 and 1 p.m. throughout the run. Tickets for these performances are $3.75 per student (some restrictions apply).
Call the box office at 532-6000 for information on both public and school performances.
"THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER," written by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, is one of the most beloved comedies of the American theater.
When an irrepressible radio personality must convalesce at the home of an Ohio family, he monopolizes the Christmas holidays with a parade of his famous friends, odd animals, bizarre hobbies, curious neighbors, doctors, nurses, journalists, policemen and more.
Director Dee Pace's cast includes Scott Nelson in the title role, with Anne Benson, Jim Hombs, Hayley Pace, Daniel Kennedy, Betty Thomas, Katie Pace, Troy Hone, Michael Flood, Jessica Pace, Patty Moore, Clayton Gerrard and Chad Huckaby.
Performances will be Mondays and Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m., Dec. 3-18, at the Heritage Theatre, 2505 S. Highway 89, Perry (between Ogden and Brigham City). There will also be two Saturday matinees, Dec. 11 and 18, at 2 p.m. (This show replaces the previously announced "Amahl and the Night Visitors" in the same time slot.)
Tickets are $6 for adults, $5 for senior citizens and $5 for children. Call 1-435-723-8392 for reservations.
"BABES IN TOYLAND," Victor Herbert's holiday operetta/fantasy, is playing through Dec. 18 at the Villa Playhouse Theatre, Springville. The show is best known for its "March of the Wooden Soldiers" segment.
Performances are Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., with one matinee at 3 p.m. on Dec. 11. For reservations, call 489-3088.
"MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING," described by Utah State Theatre as "a Shakespearean holiday amusement," will play Dec. 2-4 and 9-11 at 8 p.m. in the MorganTheatre of USU's Chase Fine Arts Center, Logan.
Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for USU faculty/staff and senior citizens, and $5 for youths and non-USU students. USU students are admitted free with valid I.D.
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