Three youth productions are opening this week along the Wasatch Front and the Utah Shakespearean Festival is celebrating Shakespeare's birthday with a two-day party geared to young participants.
"PHANTOM OF THE OBT," a new musical parody by Eric Jensen, will play Friday and Saturday in the Off Broadway Theatre, 272 S. Main.
Performed by OBT's Acting Up! youth theater, this is a shortened edition of a production that will have a longer "main stage" version premiering the following week (April 28-June 3). The Acting Up! production features a cast in the 10- to 19-year-old age range.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. on Friday and 2 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are $9 for adults, $7 for senior citizens, students and military and $6 for children, 10 and under (355-4628).
THE UTAH SHAKESPEAREAN FESTIVAL, Cedar City, is holding its fifth annual Bard's Birthday Bash on Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., on the grounds surrounding the outdoor Adams Shakespearean Theatre.
The Renaissance party — including brief performances, stage combat demonstrations, maypole dancing and jousting contests (with padded royal bathroom plungers) — celebrates William Shakespeare's 442nd birthday.
Topping things off will be slices of birthday cake with Queen Elizabeth I.
Elementary and middle schools in the Cedar City area have registered with the festival as either performing groups or non-performing observers. Nearly 2,500 children from southern Utah are expected to attend. Each of the performing groups will be allowed to present either a scene from a Shakespearean play, songs, monologues or readings, no longer than 15 minutes per group.
"BROADWAY KIDZ: DREAM BIG," a musical revue showcasing songs and dances by a cast of 5- to 18-year-olds, will play Friday through May 13 in the Draper Historic Theatre, 12366 S. 900 East.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students and senior citizens and $6 for children (572=4144).
"GREASE: THE HIGH SCHOOL EDITION," an abridged, less adult version of the Broadway hit, plays Friday through June 10 at the Terrace Plaza Playhouse, 99 E. 4700 South, Ogden.
Directed by Alisha Clegg, the cast includes Justin Stanford as Danny Zuko, Jessica Knowles as Sandy, Christopher Visser as Kenickie and Emily Andersen as Rizzo.
While retaining the popular songs and fun-loving spirit of the original, this version is more suitable in content for teenagers and younger audiences.
Tickets are $9 and $11 for adults and $6 and $8 for children, with discounts for senior citizens and students (393-0070).