Local stage openings this week include a comic Broadway farce, a thoughtful play about the Holocaust and a combination of Japanese dance and Shakespeare.
BUTOH MACBETH, an original play, written by S. Glenn Brown, brings together two art forms — the physical movement of the Japanese dance known as Butoh and verse derived from Shakespeare's "Macbeth," directed by Linda L. Brown and choreographed by Jerry Gardner.
Butoh emerged as an art from after World War II as a rebellion against the ancient Japanese tradition of Noh and Kabuki and is performed with shaved heads and white body and face paint to symbolize the ash from the bombing of Hiroshima. Traditionally, Butoh is done without text, but in this production, lines from Shakespeare's play are used to express the struggles of the characters.
"Butoh Macbeth" runs March 25-April 1 in the University of Utah Lab Theatre. Performance times are Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets are $6 for general admission and $4 for students, available at the door or by calling 581-6961.
"CAMELOT" will be presented by the St. George Musical Theatre Company March 29-April 23 in the historic St. George Opera House, 212 N. Main. Performances will be 7:30 p.m., March 29-31, April 2-7, 9, 12-14, 16, 19-21 and 23. All seats are $10 each. For reservations, call (435-628-8755). Tickets may also be purchased in advance at Kenworthy Signs and Monuments, 735 E. Tabernacle, or R&K's Book Store, 36 E. Tabernacle.
"CHARLEY'S AUNT," Brandon Thomas' Broadway comedic romp, will be presented March 30-April 28 at the Hale Centre Theatre in West Valley.
Directed by David Nieman, the cast includes Curt Doussett as Lord Fancourt Babberly; Jacob Johnson and John Sweeney sharing the role of Jack Chesney; Michael Holmes as Charley Wykeham; Eden Benson as Kitty Verdun; Chelsea Ayn Stevens as Amy Spettigue; Alan Mangum and Andrew R. Looney will share the role of Sir Francis Chesney; G. Ray Jensen and David Mitchell will share the role of Stephen Spettigue; Nancy Parsons as Donna Luciea D'Alvadorez; Stuart Lewis as Brassett; and Candace Christensen as Ela Delahay.
Costumes will be done by Candida Nichols; set and lights are by Andrew Barrus, Sound design is by Mike Williams and the production assistant is Jan Nieman.
The play will run each Monday-Saturday at 8 p.m., with noon matinees on March 31, April 7, 14, 21 and 28; and 3:30 p.m. matinees on March 31, April 14, 21 and 28. Ticket prices for Mondays are adults $12.50 and children $9; Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday matinees, adults are $13.50, children $11; and Friday and Saturday, adults are $15.50, children $11. For reservations call 984-9000.
THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK will be staged by VIP Arts. The award-winning play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett is based on the diary of a 13-year-old girl who lived in hiding with her family and others in an attic above her father's office building when Holland was taken over by Hitler's Nazi regime.
Directed by W. Bill Brown Jr., the production will feature Erica Glenn and Jessica Woahn as Anne Frank; Margret Milius and Genna Gardner as Margot Frank; Mel Taylor as Otto Frank; Wendy Asay as Edith Frank; Scott Tarbet as Mr. Van Daan; Marie Knowlton as Mrs. Van Daan; Michael Crockett and Jeff Carter will share the role of Peter Van Daan; James Gritton will play Mr. Dussell; Tisha Thornhill will play Miep; and James Glenn will appear as Mr. Kraler.
The play will run March 30-May 7 in the Little Brown Theatre, 239 S. Main St., Springville. Performances will be each Friday, Saturday and Monday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 for general admission, $7 for students, $6 for children 11 and under, and $35 for a family pass. For reservations, call 489-3088.
FOOTLOOSE The Capitol Arts Alliance will present Big League Theatrical's production of the musical, based on the popular movie, at the Ellen Eccles Theatre April 2 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $28, $25 and $22 and are available at the Ellen Eccles Box Office (435-752-0026).
THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN is the upbeat musical about Margaret Tobin Brown as she goes from her childhood home in Mississippi to a silver mining camp in Leadville, Colo., falls in love with Johnny Brown, strikes it rich and becomes one of America's elite.
Directed by Soni Barrus and produced by Jacqueline Judd, the musical will feature Natalie Emtey in the title role and Richard Losee as Johnny Brown. The musical will run March 29-April 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Draper City Hall auditorium. Reserved seats are $8 general admission, or $6 for seniors and children under 12. Tickets may be purchased at the Draper Albertsons, 1212 Draper Parkway, or at the door.
MOAB REPERTORY THEATRE is offering a two-day intensive Shakespeare Workshop led by professor Michael Shurgot, Ph.D., on Thursday, March 29, and Friday, March 30. The workshop will meet from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., with a lunch break at the Moab Arts & Rec Center, 111 E. 100 North. Beginning and advanced actors are welcome. Shurgot, A member of the Shakespeare Association of America, has taught and written about Shakespeare and his plays, characters, staging, dramatic structure and audience. The cost for the two days is $50, including scripts. To register, or for more information, phone Moab Repertory Theatre at 435-259-3983.
THE EGYPTIAN THEATRE COMPANY has announced auditions for its summer season to be held Saturday, March 31, from 2-5 p.m. at Utah Opera company, 336 N. 440 West. The production "Beehive" will be directed by Jim Christian, and "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" will be directed by John Caywood. Roles are available for five women, ages 18-45, for "Beehive," and one man and one woman for "I Love You." Come prepared to sing 16 bars from an early 1960s pop tune for "Beehive" and 16 bars of a show tune for "I Love You." An accompanist will be provided. For questions call the Egyptian Theatre Company at 435-649-9371.
Information on stage productions or auditions must be submitted at least three 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.