Except for one British comedy and a puppet show, this shapes up to be a mostly musical week.
"ENCHANTED APRIL," adapted by playwright Matthew Barber from Elizabeth von Arnim's 1921 novel (and filmed twice, in 1935 and 1992), is the third of this summer's four Old Lyric Repertory Company productions in Logan.
The romantic comedy revolves around four unacquainted Englishwomen who share the cost of renting an Italian castle. Two of the central characters are frustrated housewives looking to escape a dreary Hampstead winter. Their idyllic plans are compromised by two other women who join them — a staid widow and a free-spirited young noblewoman.
Directed by Lynda Linford, the cast includes Tracy Hill as Lottie, Keri Hostetler as Rose, Kindra Steenerson as Lady Caroline Bramble, Jackie W. Fullmer as Mrs. Graves and Maribeth Evensen-Hengge as Costanza, with Lego Louis as Frederick Arnott, Lee Daily as Mellersh Wilton and Phillip R. Lowe as Antony.
Performances are Thursday-Saturday this week in the Caine Lyric Theatre, 28 W. Center, and July 23 and 31 at 8 p.m., with Saturday matinees at 2 p.m. on July 10 and 31. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for senior citizens and USU faculty/staff and $10 for all USU students or youths under 18. Matinee tickets are $10, $6 and $5 (435-797-0305).
"THE SECRET GARDEN," Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon's Tony Award-winning musical version of Frances Hodgson Burnett's beloved children's book, opens Friday and continues through July 23 at the SCERA Shell amphitheater, Orem.
Directed by Neal Johnson, the cast includes Marissa Smith as Mary Lennox, Cindy Winkel as Lily, Laura Money Brockbank as Martha, Tony Winkel as Dickon, Jordan Allen as Colin, Joel Gillespie as Archie and Chad Hardy as Craven.
Performances are 8 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. Tickets are $10-$14 (depending on location of seating) for adults and $8-$12 for children, students and senior citizens (225-2569 or 225-2787 or www.ufoc.org).
Another production of "The Secret Garden" is being produced July 8-Aug. 5 as one of four entries in the Utah Festival Opera series in Logan, with Michael Ballam as Archibald Craven.
"TRIUMPH OF LOVE," a 1997 Broadway musical based on a classic commedia d'ell arte play by Marivaux, a contemporary of Moliere, is the second of this season's three productions for Utah Musical Theatre, a summer stock series based in Ogden.
The romantic farce — a chamber piece mixing everything from operetta to rock-opera styles — includes mistaken identities, revolving love affairs and over-the-top comedy. (UMT management suggests that the production is geared to those 13 years of age and up.)
It's set in an elaborate 18th-century Greco-French labyrinth of Sparta, where the stern philosopher Hesione pines for the day when her young nephew, Agis, will slay the wicked Princess Leonide, who has stolen their kingdom. The princess, meanwhile, has a crush on Agis, unaware that his sole mission in life is to kill her.
Director Linda Kerns' cast includes Rebecca Brandt Hample, Paul Cheney, Mark Kelley, Robert Anthony Jones, Michael Weingart, Kara Buhrley Powell and Michelle Gilbreath.
Performances will be Friday and Saturday and July 14-17 and 21-24 in Weber State University's Allred Theatre, at 7:30 p.m., with one matinee at 2 p.m. on July 17. Tick-
ets are $18 for adults, $16 for senior citizens and $10 for all students, military and educators (626-8500 or 1-800-978-8457).
"THE MUSIC MAN," produced by the combined Midvale and Taylorsville arts councils, will play Friday through July 17 on the Midvale Park outdoor stage, 400 W. 7500 South. (It's also scheduled for a repeat engagement July 28-Aug. 2 in the Alder Amphitheater at Salt Lake Community College's Redwood campus.)
Co-directed by Bruce and Marcia Craven (with Bruce playing con man Harold Hill), the cast includes Alisa McNulty and Erica Hansen sharing the role of librarian Marian Paroo, Stacey Vass as Mrs. Paroo, Brett Huish as Winthrop, Wyn L. Howard as Mayor Shinn, Stephanie Johnson as Mrs. Shinn, J.D. Rogers as Marcellus and Amelia Rose Moore as Amaryllis.
Midvale performances will be 7:30 p.m. nightly, except Sunday. Tickets are $4 for general admission, $2 for children and senior citizens or $15 for a family pass. Tuesday and Wednesday will be "youth night," with youth groups and their leaders admitted for $1 per person. Group rates, for 10 or more, are $2 each. Tickets may be purchased in advance from City Hall, 655 W. Center St. (7720 South). They will also be available at the gate.
"MY TURN ON EARTH," Lex de Azevedo and Carol Lynn Pearson's popular family musical, will be staged on Monday only at 2 and 8 p.m. by Provo-based Emerson-Smith College's touring company at the Villa Playhouse, Springville. According to Pam Lockwood, who is coordinating ESC's performing arts activities this summer, the touring group will make a one-day stop at the Springville venue.
With music by de Azevedo and book and lyrics by Pearson, the production has a cast that includes Tina Marie, Katie Young, Beth Bryson, Josh Francis, Joe Spear and Jason Fullmer.
"Bringing the show to the Villa is another step in ESC's plan to turn the Villa into a major part of the college campus and a force for arts in Springville," Lockwood said in an e-mail news release. Previously, the Villa Playhouse has been used mainly for shows produced by the Springville-based VIP Arts. The latter, however, has more recently moved most of its productions across the street into the smaller Little Brown Theatre.
Tickets for "My Turn on Earth" are $8 for adults and $6 for children and senior citizens. ESC's special "Summer Stock Series" coupons, for other shows at the Villa this summer, do not apply to this one-day-only production (471-7193). Proceeds from the two performances will help fund ESC's arts projects for youths.
"ROBIN HOOD: THE MUSICAL," produced by Emerson-Smith College for its current Summer Stock Series, was written by Karrol and Tony Cobb, Utah County's well-known "Brothers Cobb" collaborators.
This production, playing Thursday through July 19, throws a new twist into the familiar story. Robin is a thief who is conning the people of Sherwood, with plans to keep the loot for himself . . . until he meets Maid Marian, who changes his heart.
The cast includes Eric Blood in the title role, Melissa Stevens as Marian, Sam Bellows as Prince John and Josh Francis as the Sheriff of Nottingham.
Performances are 8 p.m. nightly except Sundays at the Villa Playhouse, Springville. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students, children and senior citizens or $35 for a family pass (489-3088).
"THE LITTLE WIZARD," based on a 200-year-old German fairy tale, will be staged throughout the summer by the D.R. Puppets Theatre troupe at Trolley Square, beginning Friday and continuing through Sept. 4.
Performed under the direction of Russian puppeteer Dmitry Rashkin of Salt Lake City, the production involves 15 puppets of many sizes and styles, ranging from 2 to 4 feet in height.
Based on a fable by Willhelm Hauff, it's the tale of a young boy who is transformed by an evil witch into a small dwarf. The plot follows his adventures as he tries to return to his former state as a human boy.
Performances are 6 p.m. Fridays and 1 p.m. Saturdays at No. 250 Trolley Square (the Liberty Art Gallery). Due to limited seating, tickets must be reserved (363-1441). All tickets are $9 each. Group rates are available and additional showings can be arranged for special events.
"ANNIE GET YOUR GUN," Irving Berlin's Broadway classic, opens a 3 1/2-week run on Thursday at the Old Barn Community Theatre, 3605 Bigler Road, Collinston. Opening night is the company's traditional "Barn Burner" gala, which includes dinner. Regular performances begin the next night — 7:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays. Tickets are $7 for adults and $6 for children and senior citizens (435-458-2276).
E-mail: ivan@desnews.com