The summer-season floodgates are open this week, with a mix of old standbys and contemporary works.
"TRUE WEST," Sam Shepard's gritty comedy examining the aspect of duality within the human psyche, is being staged by the newly formed Shortcut Theatre Company, playing Wednesday-Saturday in the Lab Theatre/Studio 115 of the University of Utah's Performing Arts Building, located directly west of the campus bookstore.
The plot revolves around two brothers who seem to be polar opposites but cannot exist without each other. Hugh Hanson is directing. The cast includes Whit Hertford, Eric McGraw and Tony Larimer.
Curtain is 7:30 all four nights, with one Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets, available only at the door, are $6 for students and $7 for adults.
"SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK LIVE! JR.," a "junior-edition" stage version of ABC's musical TV series of the mid-1970s and '80s, is being staged by Youth Theatre at the U., the U.'s teen-oriented company.
Directed by Amy Oakeson, the show features a cast of 12 young people (ages 10-16), with one adult, local actor Glen Carpenter (seen most recently as Sancho in the Grand Theatre's "Man of La Mancha" and the Cat in Rodger's Memorial Theatre's "Seussical the Musical").
Oakeson said that many of the youths involved have previous experience with such groups as Children's Dance Theatre, Janet Gray Studios, Ballet West, Pioneer Theatre Company, Hale Centre Theatre and others.
Performances are Mondays-Saturdays, June 15-25, at 7:30 p.m., with Saturday matinees at 2 p.m., in the Babcock Theatre of the U.'s Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre, 300 S. 1400 East.
Tickets are $5 for youths 3-18, and $10 for adults (ArtTix outlets or 581-7100). For school and group rates, call 581-6098.
"GUYS AND DOLLS," the Broadway classic based on Damon Runyon's colorful collection of Times Square characters, kicks off Emerson-Smith College for the Arts' 2005 summer-stock series in the Villa Theatre, 254 S. Main, Springville.
The cast includes Josh Francis as Sky Masterson, Matt Hogan as Nathan Detroit, Jessica Huffaker as Sarah, Jill Bell as Adelaide, Jordon Willie as Nicely-Nicely Johnson and Rob Young as Arvide.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. nightly except Sunday, beginning Thursday and playing through June 27.
Season passes are $20 per person or $69 for a family pass. Single tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for children. Group rates are also available (471-7193).
Other shows this summer are "Some Like It Hot," June 30-July 11; "Godspell," July 14-25; "Oscar," July 28-Aug. 6, and "Singin' in the Rain," Aug. 11-22.
"THE MORMON MIRACLE PAGEANT," featuring a cast of more than 500 on the hill below the historic Manti LDS Temple, is Thursday-Saturday and June 21-25.
The pageant relates three intertwined stories — Joseph Smith and the restoration of the gospel, incidents in ancient America and the journey of the pioneers to the Sanpete Valley.
Gates open at 6 p.m. and the pageant begins at dusk (about 9:30 p.m.) There is chair seating for 14,000. Crowds are smaller on weeknights. Free.
"SOUTH PACIFIC," Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical, is part of this season's "Arts in the Park" series at the Murray Park Amphitheater. The show plays Thursday-Saturday and June 20-21 at 8 p.m.
Co-directed by Georgia Fairbanks and Lynn Chatterton, the cast includes Julie Blatter as Nellie Forbush, Chatterton as Emile de Becque, Melinda Chidester as Liat, Brandon Orton as Lt. Cable and Eric Armstrong as Luther Billis.
Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children and senior citizens, available at the gate (open at 7:15 p.m.) or in advance from the Murray Parks Office (264-2614).
"OLIVER!" the West End and Broadway hit musical based on Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist," is being presented by West Jordan Theater Arts in the Sugar Factory Playhouse, 8125 S. 2200 West, from Friday through June 29.
Directed by Rosalie Richards, the cast includes Bryson Chipman in the title role, Gordon Jones as Fagin, Kristine Bethers as Nancy, Riley Groves as the Artful Dodger and Monte Garcia as Bill Sykes. Stacey Schultz is choreographing and Dana Bentley is music director.
Performances, under the auspices of the West Jordan Arts Council, are at 7:30 nightly except Sunday. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children and senior citizens. Group rates are also available (569-5100). Tickets may be purchased in advance at Macey's, 7859 S. 3200 West. They will also be available at the door.
"THE RIVALS," Richard Sheridan's comedy featuring Mrs. Malaprop — who led to the phrase "malapropism" for words used incorrectly — is being presented as a staged reading on Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. by StageRight TheaterCompany, 5001 S. Highland Drive.
Directed by Raelynn Potts, the cast includes ClaraSusan Morey as Mrs. Malaprop, Celeste Porter as Lydia Languish, Samuel Johnson as Jack Absolute and Jeff Davis as Acres.
Tickets are $5 each (272-3445).
"PEACE, LOVE AND TIE-DYE," presented by the Midvale Copperview Theatre Arts Youth Program, will be staged Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Midvale City Park Amphitheater, 400 W. 7500 South.
The 1960s tribute, written and directed by Wendy Dahl-Smedshammer, features a cast of 65 youths, choreographed by Peggy Sherett. Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets. Free.
E-mail: ivan@desnews.com