There's something for every theatergoer's taste this week in the region, ranging from classic radio drama to Broadway musicals and comedies. For details on the regional premiere of "The Goodbye Girl" in Hale Centre Theatre's new Black Box theater, see today's story."CABARET" is scheduled for 12 performances in an "environmental" setting, in the Performing Arts Building at the University of Utah, where one of the rehearsal halls (Room 115) is being transformed into a nightclub in prewar Berlin. For production details, see the Weekend entertainment section for Friday, April 7.
Curtain is 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays, 2 & 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, and 7 p.m. Sundays, April 12-16 and 19-23. The Performing Arts Building is directly west of the campus bookstore. Parking is available in a lot just south of the PAB.
Although "Cabaret" is part of the Babcock Theatre season, it is not being performed in the Babcock itself. That space is being remodeled as part of the Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre expansion project.
Tickets are $10 for general admission seating ($5 for students). To reserve tickets, call the Pioneer Theatre Company box office at 581-6961.
"WAR OF THE WORLDS," the classic 1938 radio drama, will be performed by the Babcock Performing Readers on Thursday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m. in the Little Theatre of the U. Union Building.
Actor/producer Orson Welles' radio version of author H.G. Wells' 1898 science-fiction novel, about Martians invading Earth, created a nationwide panic when it was first broadcast on Halloween in 1938.
Rett Neale is directing this staged reading of the rarely produced work. Free parking is available in the lot east of the Union Building (although tickets are dispensed when entering the lot, no fees are collected when tickets are presented for cars parked after 6 p.m.).
"WAIT UNTIL DARK," Fredrick Knott's classic suspense thriller, will be staged April 14-May 13 by Provo Theatre Company, 105 E. 100 North.
Leading performers include Tayva Patch, Jeremy Hoop and Scott Bronson.
Curtain is 8 p.m. on Wednesdays-Saturdays.
Tickets range from $7.50-$12.50. All seats are reserved; for reservations, call 379-0600.
THE REDUCED SHAKESPEARE COMPANY will present its latest comedy, "The Complete Millennium Musical (Abridged)" during a one-night stop at Weber State University's Browning Center for the Performing Arts, Ogden, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 14. For ticket information, call 626-8500 or 1-800-WSU-TIKS.
"MOON OVER BUFFALO" is a recent Broadway comedy about a has-been acting couple attempting to make a comeback in 1953, who see their chance to hit the big time when they are told that legendary Hollywood director Frank Capra will be in the audience for their play.
It's playing April 14-May 6 at the Heritage Community Theatre, 2505 S. Highway 89, in Perry.
The cast includes Dee Pace and Pam Higginson as George and Charlotte Hay, with Melanie Nelson as their daughter, Rosalind.
Misunderstandings quickly mount, mostly due to Charlotte's deaf mother (Betty Thomas), who manages their theater.
Performances are 8 p.m. Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets are $6 for adults and $5 for senior citizens and children. For reservations, call 1-435-723-8392.
"SEASONS OF LOVE," a musical revue of Broadway and opera favorites -- all about various aspects of relationships and love -- will be performed by BYU faculty members Barry and Debra Bonous as part of this season's Entr'Acte Series.
Performances are 7:30 p.m., Thursday-Saturday, April 13-15.
Tickets are $10 for general admission and $8 for BYU students and faculty. For reservations, call 378-4322.
"THE SWORD IN THE STONE," a new stage adaptation of the Arthurian legend, will play April 15-June 5 at City Rep's Family Theatre, 638 S. State.
The production has been written and directed by Joanne M. Parker, City Rep artistic director.
The cast includes Nigel James as both Uther Pendragon, King Arthur's father, and Young Arthur; Owen Richardson as Merlin, the magician who becomes the future king's mentor; Stephanie Coltrin as Uther's wife, Igrayne; Keith Holland as Sir Kay, Clint Coltrin as Sir Hector and Amy Richardson as Chorious, Sir Hector's wife.
Regular performances will be Friday evenings and Saturday afternoon, with two Monday and three additional Saturday evening performances during the run. Curtain times are 2 and 7:30 p.m. all seats are $7. For reservations, call 532-6000.
In addition, there will be a number of 10:30 a.m. weekday performances for elementary school field trips. These must be scheduled in advance. Group rates for these performances are $3.75 per person. Call City Rep's Teacher Hot Line at 856-6810 for details.
A ONE-ACT PLAY FESTIVAL is scheduled April 13-16 in the Jewett Center for the Performing Arts at Westminster College.
Two separate sets of plays will be performed in repertory, with one set on April 13 and 15 and the second group of plays on April 14 and 16, all at 7:30 p.m.
The student-directed performances are free and open to the general public.
BEYOND THE WASATCH FRONT, there are collegiate productions of "Les Liasons Dangereuses" in the Morgan Theatre at Utah State University, "Misalliance" in the Crane Theatre at Snow College, Ephraim, and "They're Playing Our Song" in the Geary Theatre at College of Eastern Utah, Price.
-- Christopher Hampton's adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos' notorious 18th century novel, "Les Liasons Dangereuses" is Utah State Theatre's main stage production for the season.
Directed by Lynda Linford, the drama probes the devastating treatise on the machinations of our society. Unlike the 1989 movie version, the stage play leaves much more to the imagination.
"There's absolutely nothing gratuitous," assures Linford.
The cast includes Michael Flood as Vicomte de Valmont, Annette Pyne as the Marquise de Merteuil, Erica Stoddard as Madame de Tourvel and Amber Tuttle as Cecile Volange.
Performances will be 8 p.m. April 13-25 and 20-22 in the Morgan Theatre of Utah State University's Chase Fine Arts Center. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for USU faculty/staff and all senior citizens, and $5 for youths under 16 and non-USU students. (USU students will be admitted free of charge with valid identification.)
Tickets may be reserved in advance at the Spectrum ticket office (1-435-797-0305) or at the customer service desk in the Taggart Student Center. Tickets will also be available at the door.
-- George Bernard Shaw's classic comedy, "Misalliance," is scheduled April 12-15 in Snow College's Crane Theatre in Ephraim. Call 1-435-283-7411 for tickets.
-- "They're Playing Our Song," a former Broadway musical, will play April 14-16 in the Geary Theatre at CEU in Price. For tickets, call 1-435-613-5334.
"MORE MYSTERY ON THE MOORS," a Hunt Mystery & Company audience participation event, has been scheduled for five performances during April and May at Graycliff Lodge in Ogden Canyon and the Inn on the Creek in Midway.
The cast includes Rocky Revels, Emily Decker, Gary and Tabitha Thompson, John Sweeney, Teri Sanders, Drew Keddington and Jennifer Kennington.
The next performances are April 14 and May 20 at Graycliff Lodge, where tickets are $30 per person for dinner and show combined. Call 392-6775 for reservations.
The sleuth-it-yourself mystery will also be presented April 28 and May 12 and 26 at Inn on the Creek, where tickets are $35 per person for combined buffet dinner and show. Call 1-800-654-0892 for reservations.
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