Though summers in Cedar City are hard to beat, autumn may just be the next best thing.
With fall colors well underway in Cedar Breaks, the nip of the new season settles in and the Utah Shakespearean Festival offers three new productions.
"The thing I hope people realize when they look at the plays is the diversity," R. Scott Phillips, festival executive director, said during a phone interview. "We're really offering a lot."
The offerings include "Tuesdays With Morrie," "The Woman in Black" and "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)."
"Tuesdays With Morrie" is based on Mitch Albom's best-selling book of the same name and the best-selling memoir of all time.
"People say, 'That's just a play about dying,' " Phillips said, "but it's really the opposite; it's about living life's lessons."
The lessons Morrie Schwartz teaches his former student are powerful, emotional and humorous. In weekly doses, Morrie teaches how to love, forgive, love, laugh and be human.
"It's absolutely life-affirming." It stars James Stellos and Dan Kremer.
"The Woman in Black," by Stephen Mallatratt, is adapted from the novel by Susan Hill.
This is the first-ever ghost story to be presented at the festival. "This is the perfect story to pay homage to the fall," Phillips said.
Haunted houses, supernatural happenings and a mysterious, ghostly woman make for a thrilling mystery.
"When Fred (Adams) saw this in London he screamed and was too afraid to walk out of the theater. It's a wonderful story."
Phillips added that director Carole Healey, who is returning to USF, is making sure all of the "proper suspense and special effects are there, to be really terrifying just in time for Halloween."
The show stars Dan Kremer and James Stellos.
"The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)" is a 97-minute play features three who do all 37 of the Bard's plays — and sonnets.
"We did it 10 years ago in our first fall season," Phillips said. "Some people say it's just silly and we're making fun of Shakespeare. But parody is the highest form of flattery."
Described as an irreverent, hilarious and lightning-paced overview of the greatest plays of all time, this production will have something special for festivalgoers.
"David Ivers, the director, thought it would be funny, since so many patrons come back every year, to have them recognize things (set peices, props, etc.) from past USF productions. But there is still plenty for those who haven't been before."
Phillips also added that since the three actors are not double-cast in other shows, they've really been able to fine-tune their comedic timing.
It stars newcomers Geoffrey Kent, Matthew Mueller and returning artist Quinn Mattfeld.
"Fall is a wonderful time of year for storytelling. And we hope folks will come to the USF to get a dose."
If you go…
What: The Utah Shakespearean Festival, fall season
Where: Cedar City
When: Sept. 18-Oct. 17
How much: $25-$52
Phone: 800-752-9849
Web: www.bard.org
e-mail: ehansen@desnews.com