The regional premiere of a romantic comedy (see separate story on this page about "Nuptials"), two Easter events, two Broadway musicals, a homespun comedy and an evening of one-act plays are among productions opening this week:"THE GARDEN," the fully staged theatrical version of Michael McLean, Bryce Neubert and Merrill Jenson's oratorio, set in a celestial version of the Garden of Gethsemane, will be presented Friday and Saturday, April 2 & 3, and Tuesday, April 5, in the Timpview High School auditorium, Provo.
The cast includes Norris Chappell Jr. and James Royce Edwards, both BYU students, in two key roles -- the Gardener and the Ram.
Many members of the cast, which includes singers from California, Nevada and Utah, are part of the production's national tour.
Performances at Timpview, 3570 N. 65 East, will begin at 7:45 p.m. Tickets are $10 if purchased in advance or $13 at the door. Seating is not reserved. To purchase tickets in advance, call 1-888-537-4412.
"The Garden" is being jointly produced by the Inland Theatre Guild of San Bernardino, Calif., and Deseret Book.
"THE KING AND I," Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical based on "Anna and the King of Siam," will play April 2-May 24 at the Hale Center Theater, 225 W. 400 North, Orem.
Directed by Syd Riggs, the double-cast ensemble includes Rex Kocherhans and Gordy Villarini sharing the role of the King; Mary Hall Drinkwater and M'Lisa Hansen as English widow Anna Leonowens, Emma Bullock and Julie Partridge as Lady Thiang, and Paul Hill and Garrett Smit as the Kralahome.
In the roles of the star-crossed lovers are Jennifer Webb and Natalie Hill as Tup-Tim and Jason Celaya, Jason Webb and T.J. Young triple-cast as Lun Tah.
Performances will be 7:30 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, with matinees at 2 p.m. on May 7 and 15. Ticket prices range from $8 to $11. Call 226-8600 for reservations.
"EASTER CONVENIO," a two-day Easter pageant, is being presented for the second year by the Richfield-based Compani.
The project is a multidenominational event with participants representing churches throughout the community.
At 8:30 p.m. on Friday, April 2, there will be a "Firelight Cantata" at Richfield City Cemetery, Main and 800 North, where music and scriptures will be used to re-enact scenes from the New Testament.
Near the conclusion of the program, the audience and cast will light candles and join together in singing "How Great Thou Art." After the last word of the last verse, the candles will be blown out and the audience will leave in silence, signifying the closing of Christ's tomb, a Lutheran Church custom contributed by Pastor Shultz, a member of the production committee.
Then, at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 4, church leaders from the community will take part in a sunrise service -- also at the cemetery. This will include a community choir, conducted by Pastor Knowler of the Richfield Baptist Church.
(If the weather is bad, the service will be held in the Senior Citizens Center, just north of the cemetery).
"INDEPENDENCE," Lee Blessing's drama about a family divided against itself, will play Wednesday-Saturday, March 31-April 3, in the Old Lyric Theatre, 28 W. Center, Logan.
The Utah State Theatre production, being directed by Kindra Steenerson, focuses on an emotionally disturbed mother and herthree daughters, each dealing with her own emotional problems.
The cast includes Sage Davis, Sarah Jane Hardy, Jessica Jorgensen and Vicki S. Fowler.
Steenerson cautions that the play contains mature themes and language.
Performances will be at 8 p.m. All tickets are $5, available at the door. USU students will be admitted free with a valid activity card.
TWO ONE-ACT PLAYS, "The Rise and Fall of a Meaningful Relationship on a Park Bench Anywhere at All," written by Weber State University student Corey Atkins, and "Wasp," written by comedian/actor Steve Martin, will be presented Thursday-Saturday, April 1-3, in the Lair of WSU's Shepherd Union Building.
Performances will begin at 7:30.
Both plays are being directed by Sara Lewis, a senior and recipient of this year's Anya Kenley Award.
The cast of "The Rise and Fall . . . " includes Nicollete Coiner, Bret Palmer and Travis Gauchay.
Coiner and Gauchay are also in the cast of "Wasp," along with Scott Howes, Joey Khourey, Kristin Morgan and Marissa Heiser.
To purchase tickets in advance, contact the Dee Events Center box office at 626-8500 or 1-800-978-8457. They're also available at the Egyptian Theater, Ogden City Mall and the Weber County Fairgrounds, and will be sold at the door one hour prior to curtain.
"JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT" is being mounted as a dinner-theater production at Utah Valley State College, April 1-12.
There will be three theater-only and seven dinner-theater performances during the run, all in UVSC's Black Box Theatre, Room G-627 of the Gunther Trades Building on the campus, 800 W. 1200 South, Orem.
Dinner-theater performances will be April 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 12, with dinner at 6:30 and curtain at 7:30 p.m. The theater-only play dates are April 3, 6 and 7 at 7:30 p.m. (with a possibility of a fourth performance on April 13, depending on demand).
Tickets for the dinner-theater shows are $9.50 for students and $12.50 for all others. They're priced at $3 and $6 for the theater-only dates. Advance reservations are required for the dinner-theater shows. Call 222-8982.
"THE PORTRAIT, THE WIND, THE CHAIR," a 1991 comedy-drama written by Y York for the Seattle Children's Theatre, will be presented for four performances as part of the educational outreach program of the Villa Institute for the Performing Arts (VIP ARTS).
Directed by W. Bill Brown Jr., the cast features Marilee Ashby, Trina Milius, Jasmine Milius and James Jackson.
Performances will be at 7:30 p.m., April 1-3, with one Saturday matinee at 3 p.m., at the Villa Playhouse, 254 S. Main, Springville. Due to a generous donation from the Esther Foundation, children and students will be admitted to any performance on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets for all others are $4 each. Call 489-3088 for reservations.
For information about the VIP ARTS youth programs and workshops call 489-8873.
AN OLD-FASHIONED MELODRAMA is scheduled to play April 2-May 10 at the Valley Center Playhouse, 780 N. 200 East, Lindon. Performances will be 7:30 p.m. Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays. Call 785-1186 for details and ticket information.