Student and collegiate productions this week in the region include an acclaimed contemporary drama and an evening of original 10-minute plays.
"THE LARAMIE PR0JECT," Moises Kaufman's acclaimed drama about the aftermath of Matthew Shepard's brutal "hate-crime" slaying in Wyoming in 1998, is being staged for six performances from Thursday through April 16 by the Westminster College Theatre Department. Patrick Kibbie, a former Westminster theater student, is guest director.
The cast, sharing nearly 60 roles, includes Aaron Adams, Alison Lewis, Corbin Layton, Kenny Fudge, Meredith Hinckley, Pamela Chase, Rebecca Ray, Sean Bayles, Tami Silvester and Yancy Sanders.
Performances are Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Jewett Center's new Dumke Student Theater, 1250 E. 1700 South. Tickets are $5 for students and $8 for general admission (832-2457).
"SHORT ATTENTION-SPAN THEATER," Utah Valley State College's annual festival of eight 10-minute plays, will be presented Thursday-Saturday and April 12-16, 7:30 p.m., in the Black Box Theater (located in the Gunther Trades Building).
The student-written, designed, directed and performed plays range from harsh, reality-based themes to comic adventures.
Tickets are $10 general admission, $8 for UVSC faculty/staff and children and $6 for UVSC students (863-8797)
"TO GILLIAN ON HER 37TH BIRTHDAY," directed by Corey Ewan from Michael Brady's script, is being staged in the round, Thursday through April 12 at College of Eastern Utah, Price.
The play is a poignant story of a man trying to come to terms with the death of his wife. On the second anniversary of her death (which is also her birthday), her family gathers to remember her and console her grieving husband.
The cast is a mix of CEU alumni and high school talent, including Samuel Bailey as the husband, Krista Viau as his teenage daughter, and Amy Anderson and Bo Brady as his sister and brother-in-law, and Kim Jenks, Diana Halford and Kristin Kimber in other roles.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and April 11-12. Patrons will be seated on the stage, surrounding the players in an "arena"-style setting. Tickets are $7 for general admission, $3 for CEU faculty and staff and $2 for CEU students (435-613-5228).
"LES MISERABLES: SCHOOL EDITION," featuring school-age talent from throughout Utah County, is being performed Friday through April 29 at the Center Street Musical Theatre, 177 W. Center, Provo. Gavin Grooms is directing the all-youth cast, with live orchestra directed by Brandon Matthews.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays, with optional dinner served at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for senior citizens, students and children or $25 per immediate family (on Monday nights only). There is an additional charge for dinners: $10 for adults or $5 for children.
Advance reservations are required for meals (764-0535) and these reservations must be confirmed with a credit card (www.csmtc.com).
E-mail: ivan@desnews.com