In addition to several additions to the region's major summer festivals, nearly a dozen more shows are being mounted this week by theater companies across the state.
"THE FARNDALE MACBETH," directed by (and featuring) Tobin Atkinson, by the Sandy Arts Council, is playing June 28-July 1 at the Sandy City Amphitheater, 9400 S. 1300 East.
Actually, the entire title of David McGillivary and Walter Zerlin Jr.'s off-the-wall comedy is "The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society's Production of Macbeth," which pretty much tells the plot.
Atkinson will play Mrs. Reece, a 60-year-old cross between Monty Python and "Keeping Up Appearances."
The cast also includes Jeneane Bailyk, Britney Burgess and Fran Knorr as the three "Macbeth" witches, who will sing "That Old Black Magic."
Like all of the "Farndale townswomen's" previous outings, the set may not be quite finished, the costumes may be ragged, and — who knows? — maybe some of the performers will have memorized their lines.
Performances begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students, $5 for lawn seating and $4 for children and senior citizens.
"HULA HOOP SHA-BOOP," a musical revue showcasing 66 tunes (or, at least, bits and pieces of the songs), is playing June 30-Aug. 5 at Provo Theatre Company.
Originally conceived and directed by Larry Deckel for the Milwaukee Repertory Theater (where it played for a record-breaking 267 performances, including three revivals), the 90-minute production stars two married couples: Quinn and Joy Gardner, and Neil and Korianne Johnson.
The show is being directed and choreographed by Marcie Jacobsen.
Performances are 8 p.m., Mondays and Thursdays-Saturdays. All seats are reserved. Tickets are $7.50, $10 and $12.50. There also are "student rush" tickets for $6.50, for any available seats 15 minutes prior to showtime. For reservations, call 1-801-379-0600.
"THE MAN WITH THE POINTED TOES," a comedy by Lynn and Helen Root, will play June 30-Aug. 7 at the Hale Center Theater Orem.
Written and set in the 1960s (HCTO's sister theater, the Hale Centre Theatre in West Valley City, discovered the script gathering dust at Universal Studios), it's about a Texas bachelor who wins a small ranch in a poker game — then strikes oil and becomes filthy rich. He attracts the attention of a gold-digging New York socialite, then hires a tutor to help him become "civilized."
Some of the roles in the show, directed by Merrill Dodge, are double-cast. Mitch Hall and Cody Swenson alternate as rancher Tom Coterel, with MinD Jensen single-cast as money-hungry Pamela Wright; Lyn Vickery as her father, Randall Wright; and Marydee Porter as Coterel's tutor, Florence Rains. Ranchhands and workers are played by Jim Burch, Sandy Porter, David Hanson, Larson Holyoak and Josey Suarez.
Playdates are Mondays and Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. June 30-July 24, after which it will play nightly except Sundays until Aug. 7. There is one matinee, Aug. 4, at 3:30 p.m. Tickets range from $7 to $13 (with an additional $3 charge for reserved seating). For reservations, call 1-801-226-8600.
"I AM JANE," an original drama about black Mormon pioneer Jane James, will play June 30 and July 1, 3, 7, 8 and 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Villa Playhouse Theatre in Springville.
Tickets, available at the door, are $8 for adults, $7 for senior citizens and students, $6 for children, or $35 for a family ticket.
"SATURDAY'S VOYEUR," which is Salt Lake Acting Company's annual fund-raiser, is scheduled June 28-Sept. 3.
This summer's parody will tackle such events as the sale of ZCMI, the opening of UTA's TRAX system, gun control and politics (including Mayor Rocky Anderson and activist Gayle Ruzicka). Be forewarned, however, "mainstream" audiences may find much of the material offensive. SLAC itself has issued this disclaimer: "This play is recommended for mature audiences. May contain material some would find offensive."
Written and directed by Nancy Borgenicht and Allen Nevins, the cast includes Spencer Ashby, Toni Lynn Byrd, Robert Bogue, Annette Wright, Dan Larrinaga, Kurt Proctor, Jim Pitts, Marilyn Alldredge, Brenda Sue Cowley, Jayceen Craven, Melissa Gessel, Jeanette Puhich and Kenneth Wayne.
Discounted preview performances ($24.50 for both seats and cabaret tables), are Wednesday-Friday, June 28-30, with the show's official opening on Saturday, July 1. Regular performances, which continue through Sept. 3, are 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 and 7 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $29.50 for regular seating, or $34.50 for cabaret tables. With the reconfiguration of SLAC's Upstairs Theatre this past winter, there are now 20 additional cabaret tables available for the "BYOP" ("bring your own picnic") affair.
For reservations, call 1-801-363-SLAC (7522) or purchase tickets through any ArtTix outlet (1-801-355-2787 or 1-888-451-2787). For group discounts, contact SLAC's box office directly at 1-801-363-7522.
"THE STAR-SPANGLED GIRL," one of Neil Simon's early comedies, will play June 30-Aug. 5 in the Little London Dinner Theatre, 20 S. Main, Pleasant Grove.
Director Laurie Payne's cast includes Eliza Wren Payne, Elijah Cardon and Shane Hudson as two earnest young "protest" magazine publishers in the '60s and the all-American girl who moves in next door.
Performances are Fridays and Saturdays, with dinner served at 6:30 p.m. and curtain at 7:30. All seats are $25 per person, including dinner and performance.
"THE MUSIC MAN," Meredith Willson's Broadway hit about a traveling salesman attempting to sell trombones, trumpets and uniforms to the unsuspecting folks in River City, Iowa, is being mounted by the Riverton Arts Council.
Performances will be June 29 & 30 and July 1, 3 & 5-8 in the Riverton Community Center, 12800 S. Redwood Road. All performances start at 7:30 p.m., except for July 3, when curtain will be about half an hour later, after the Riverton parade. Tickets ($7 for adults and $5 for children) are available in advance from Riverton Drug, 12600 S. 1751 West. Tickets will also be sold at the door.
"THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE," Gilbert & Sullivan's classic operetta, will play Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays, June 30-July 15, on Midvale City Park's outdoor stage, 7600 S. 400 West. Performances begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for children and senior citizens. All seating is on the lawn. Patrons are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs.
The cast, directed by LaKay Stephenson, includes Scott Stone as the Pirate King, Brady Cash as Frederick, Kimberly Rogers as Mabel, Tracy Evans as Ruth and Nick Cash as the Major General.
Tickets will be available at the door or may be purchased in advance at City Hall. For group ticket sales, call Suzanne Walker at 1-801-567-0087.
There will also be two additional performances on Aug. 11 and 12 during Midvale City's annual Harvest Days celebration.
"NURSES! FOILED AGAIN," a contemporary melodrama about the medical field, is being presented by Blanding's Edge of the Seaters theater troupe on the lawn of the community's College of Eastern Utah branch campus. Performances will be 7 p.m. on July 1, 3 and 4, with one matinee at 4 p.m. on July 4. Tickets will be available at the gate.
TWO MURDER MYSTERY DINNER events are scheduled this week.
— Hunt Mystery & Company will present "Through the Window Glass" on June 29 at Inn on the Creek, 375 Rainbow Lane, Midway. Tickets for the combined buffet dinner/performance are $35 per person. Advance reservations are required (call 1-800-654-0892). Doors open at 7 p.m. and the performance starts at 7:30.
— Chameleons, the Whodunit Company, will present one of its audience-participation mysteries on Friday, June 30, at Snowbird Resort. For reservations, call 1-801-933-2110.
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. Send material to Deseret News, P.O. Box 1257, Salt Lake City, UT 84110 (Attn: Ivan Lincoln), or send it via e-mail: ivan@desnews.com or Fax to 1-801-237-2550.