Three new productions are opening this week in Salt Lake City -- the Grand Theatre's season finale, "42nd Street," Plan-B Theatre Company's original, sociopolitical drama, "A Violent Attraction," and Wasatch Theatre Company's production of "Spoon River Anthology."42nd STREET, the second longest-running American musical in Broadway history, tap-dances its way into Salt Lake Community College's Grand Theatre for a May 5-20 run.
Directed and choreographed by James Christian, the cast includes Alisa Harris as over-the-hill Broadway trouper Dorothy Brock, Amy Oakeson as naive newcomer Peggy Sawyer, Gary Neilson as Broadway director Julian Marsh and Peter Russell as handsome young dancer Billy Lawler.
The splashy, tune-filled show, set in 1933, celebrates the stuff that dreams are made of. Sawyer, a starstruck chorus girl, is called upon to save the day when Brock, an egocentric diva, breaks her leg. She has 36 hours to memorize 25 pages, six songs and 10 dance routines.
Writers Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble adapted the show using songs by composer Harry Warren and lyricist Al Dubin -- such timeless tunes as "Lullaby of Broadway," "We're in the Money," "Shuffle Off to Buffalo," "You're Getting to be a Habit With Me," "I Only Have Eyes for You" and "About a Quarter to Nine." Five of the songs are from the classic 1933 movie, supplemented by others culled from the Warren-Dubin catalog.
Also in the Grand Theatre's cast are Loria Badali as Maggie, Darin Hathaway as Bert, Kaycee Rachael as Anytime Annie, Rocky Revels as Pat and Wyatt Scott as Andy.
Grand Theatre Artistic Director Kenneth Plain is musical director for the show, with Marnie Sears as scenery designer, Diane Allen as costume designer, Megan McCormick as lighting designer and Shawn Maxfield as assistant director.
All seats are reserved. Ticket prices range from $6 to $16, with discounts for students and senior citizens.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, and 2 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays. For reservations, call 957-3322 or stop at the box office at SLCC's South City campus, 1575 S. State.
A VIOLENT ATTRACTION, being produced by Plan-B Theatre Company, delves into the unsettling fascination with violence so prevalent in today's world.
Theresa A. Carson is directing Sally A. Kenyon's script, developed through a collaborative effort involving the actors, director and writer during the play's rehearsal process.
According to Plan-B spokeswoman Britney Burgess, the show is a series of vignettes that are narrated by a news reporter, who reflects something of a cross between Ed Sullivan and National Public Radio. The vignettes take the audience through a journey of world and personal events, illustrating how the public is attracted to -- and helps promote -- violence.
The cast includes Jayceen Craven, Emily Sandack, Rebecca Dutton, Joe Hamilton, Will Keesen, Angie Prater and Eric Wing.
Performances, in Salt Lake Acting Company's Downstairs Theatre (Plan-B's recently acquired temporary home), will be 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays and 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, May 4-27, with one matinee on Sunday, May 21, at 2 p.m.
SLAC is located at 168 W. 500 North.
Tickets are $9 for adults and $7 for senior citizens, students (with current activity card) and children under 12. Seating is limited. Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling Plan-B at 201-9791. (Note: All students will be admitted free of charge to a preview performance on May 3 or on opening night, May 4. Early reservations are strongly suggested.)
The company cautions that "A Violent Attraction" contains adult language and situations that may not be suitable for those under 16 years of age.
SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY, Edgar Lee Masters' poetic drama, will be presented May 5-22 by Wasatch Theatre Company.
The play, adapted by Charles Aidman and directed by Beth Bruner, features Leisha Cook, Jeff Davis, Raelynn Potts, Mark White, Jacob Bruner, David Bruner, Becky Davis, Jennie Tobler, Lisa Higbee, Lynn Marie White and Mark Brocksmith in the cast.
Told in poetic verse and song, the play chronicles the stories of a town's deceased -- their dreams, hopes, sadnesses and loves.
Seating is limited. WTC performs at Jim's Coupers Deli, 2278 S. Redwood Road. Tickets, available at the door, are $6 for adults and $5 for students (with valid I.D.) and senior citizens, and $4 for children 12 and under. A portion of the proceeds is earmarked for the company's Art Heals program, which is targeting efforts toward the National Conference for Community and Justice.
For Wasatch Theatre reservations, call 973-2051.
OPENING IS STILL nearly two months away for the Utah Shakespearean Festival, but additional, special children's performances are already being scheduled for the festival's world premiere of a new adaptation of James M. Barrie's "Peter Pan."
The new stage version was adapted by festival founder/executive producer Fred C. Adams, who will also direct the show.
Originally, children's performances had been scheduled for July 3 and 5 and Aug. 23 at 2 p.m., and July 10 and Aug. 21 and 28 at 8:30 p.m., but children (ages 3 and up) will also be admitted to all Monday evening performances. Also, the youngsters will be admitted for half price.
All other regularly scheduled performances of the production will follow standard festival policies, with no one under the age of 5 being admitted.
For further information, call the USF box office at 1-800-PLAYTIX or visit their newly designed Web site www.bard.org.
"Peter Pan" will be presented in the Randall Jones Theatre, where "Noises Off" and Anton Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard" will also be performed, June 22-Oct. 14.
Three Shakespearean productions are scheduled for the outdoor Adams Theatre. They are "The Merchant of Venice," "The Merry Wives of Windsor" and the world premiere of Howard Jensen's "The War of the Roses," a new adaptation of Shakespeare's "Henry VI" trilogy, the latter of which have never before been performed at the festival.
Compiled by Ivan M. Lincoln, Deseret News theater editor, 1-801-236-6017. Fax: 1-801-237-2550; e-mail: ivan@desnews.com. Information on stage productions or auditions must be submitted at least two weeks in advance.