Several musicals, along with classics by Tennessee Williams and Woody Allen, will open this week on local stages.
"CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF," Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning drama about the tension in one Mississippi family, is the fourth of this season's productions by the Old Lyric Repertory Company, in Logan's historic Caine Lyric Theatre, 28 W. Center.
The cast includes Salt Lake actor-director Ron Frederickson, reprising his recent Westminster College role as feisty Big Daddy, ailing patriarch of a troubled Southern family. Also in the cast, directed by Lynda Linford, are Kent Hadfield as Brick, an ex-football star whose marriage is crumbling; Keri Larsen as Maggie, his frustrated wife; Maribeth Evensen-Hengee as Big Mama; Cory Castillo as Gooper, Brick's brother; and Katie Ackerman as Mae, Gooper's outspoken wife.
Performances are July 14-Aug. 3 in repertory with "The Fantasticks," "Arsenic and Old Lace" and "You Can't Take It With You."
Tickets are $8-$17 (435-752-0026, ext. 14, or 435-752-1500 or www.usu.edu/lyric).
"PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM," Woody Allen's romantic farce, directed by Rob Luckau, a European making his U.S. directing debut, will play from Saturday through Aug. 13 at StageRight TheaterCompany, 5001 S. Highland Drive.
Christian Hill portrays Allan Felix, a recently divorced man who is channeling Humphrey Bogart for advice on how to handle the ladies. John D. Morris plays Dick Christie, Allan's best friend, with Chelsey Richardson as Allan's ex-wife, Linda Christie as Dick's wife, Dan Armstrong as Bogart and Laurel Sharette as all the girls Allan is dating.
The director, born and raised in Europe, earned his degree in drama and community theater from the University of Northumbria in Newcastle, Great Britain.
Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $9 for senior citizens and students (272-3445). The production's subject matter is considered not suitable for preteens.
"BYE BYE BIRDIE," the second in this year's "Summer Theatre Festival" at St. George Musical Theatre, 37 S. 100 West, opens Thursday and continues through Aug. 15. Russ Saxton is directing a cast that includes Matt Bolton as Presley-style rock star Conrad Birdie, with Michelle Truax as Rosie, his press secretary, and John Brunner as Albert, Birdie's agent.
Play dates are Mondays and Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., with Saturday matinees at 2 p.m. on July 30 and Aug. 6. Tickets are $13 for adults, $12 for senior citizens and $10 for children for evening performances, and $8-$10 for matinees (435-628-8755 or www.sgmt.org).
"CASH ON DELIVERY," a British farce about a con artist duping the welfare authorities by claiming every possible benefit for fictional people he claims lives at his address, will play from Friday through Aug. 6 at the Heritage Community Theatre, 2505 S. Highway 89, Perry.
Directed by Jacob Thompson, the cast includes Lynn C. Larsen, Kate Woodward, B.J. Whimpey, Lee Anderson, Keith Hoskins, Jennifer Weston, Shannon Barton, Carianne Bowels and Hayley Marie White.
Performances are Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., with one matinee on July 23 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults, $7 for children and senior citizens and $35 for a six-person Monday Family Night special (435-723-8392).
"GODSPELL," Stephen Schwartz's 1971 rock version of the Gospel According to St. Matthew, is being staged by Emerson-Smith College as a nightclub in the 1930s. It runs Thursday through July 25 in the Villa Theatre, 254 S. Main, Springville. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for children 11 and under (471-7193).
The school's summer-stock passes are still available — $20 per person or $69 per family, good for all shows and as many performances as desired (group rates are also available).
"THE SOUND OF MUSIC" is playing Thursday through July 23 at dusk on Thursdays-Saturdays in Farmington City's Woodland Park amphitheater. Patrons should bring their own blankets and lawn chairs.
Tickets are available at the gate or in advance from the Leisure Services office, 100 N. 720 West, $3 each or $10 for a family pass (451-0953).
"FIDDLER ON THE ROOF," currently being revived on Broadway, has two local editions opening Friday in Rogers Memorial Theatre in Centerville and the Old Barn Community Theatre in Collinston.
The Centerville production, directed by Leslie Warwood and choreographed by Alane Schofield, has a double-cast ensemble that includes Dave Hill and Scott Van Dyke alternating as Tevye, and Linda Jean Stephenson and Sonia Miller sharing the role of Golde. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays through Aug. 13 at 292 E. Pages Lane. Tickets range from $9-$14 (298-1302).
The Collinston production, directed by Heather Gleason, plays through Aug. 6 with performances on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and one matinee on July 30 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $6 for children and senior citizens and $7 for adults (435-458-2276).
The Old Barn will also have a special performance on Thursday in connection with its popular "Summer Barn Burner" event — a Dutch oven dinner followed by the show. Tickets for this are $25 per couple or $15 per person, with dinner starting at 6 p.m. Advance reservations are required.
The troupe also has a new dinner-show discount program with the TL Steakhouse in Garland, with $1 off both dinner and show tickets (435-257-3947).
LOCAL IMPROV TOURING DUO, Joseph Kyle Rogan and Jesse Parent — known as "JoKyR and Jesster" — will present an evening of long-form comedy improv on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Sugarbeats, 2106 S.1100 East, Sugar House.
This will be the final local performance of "The Hook," a hip, new poetic form and a mix of def poetry, music and improv developed by Parent. The duo will also be performing their signature format known as the "Shellac," a high-stakes, character-driven segment made up of impromptu improv scenes and monologues.
Tickets are $5 at the door.
"THE MUSIC MAN" is being co-produced by Monticello Community and Monticello High School, Wednesday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the school auditorium, 164 S. 200 West.
Director Pat Husted's cast includes Derryl Jack as Professor Harold Hill, Laura Butler as Marian, David Boyle as Winthrop, and Lyle Anderson as Mayor Shinn.
All seats are reserved. Tickets are $5 each (435-587-2587).
THE ALPINE COMMUNITY THEATER and Alpine Community Arts Council are holding an "Annie Warbucks Ice Cream Social" fund-raiser on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Legacy Park in downtown Alpine.
Activities include a coloring contest (entries available now through Friday at Kohler's), an auction and entertainment, including selections from the theater's upcoming production of "Annie Warbucks," a sequel to "Annie," scheduled to play Aug. 1-6. There will also be all-you-can-eat ice cream sundaes for $1 (www.alpinecommunitytheater.org or 318-2495).
E-mail: ivan@desnews.com