WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK IN THEATRE (APRIL 22-28, 2015)

(Be sure to visit our monthly theatre calendar by clicking on “Events Calendar.”)

WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY, One-Act Play Festival, through April 25, 7:30 p.m., Eccles Theater, Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts, $10-$12, 800-978-8457, www.weberstatetickets.com.

COVEY CENTER FOR THE ARTS, Shrek, Jr., presented by the Center Stage Youth Performers, for ages 2 and up, through April 25, 7 p.m., Main Hall, $7-$9, 801-852-7007, www.provo.org/community/covey-center-for-the-arts.

HALE CENTRE THEATRE-OREM, Les Misérables, based on the novel by Victor Hugo, book by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, the musical tells the story of Jean Valjean, a runaway convict seeking redemption after serving 19 years in a prison for stealing a loaf of bread, his journey to freedom collides and converges with the lives of the worst and the best of humanity, through April 25, 7:30 p.m., also 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. matinees on Saturdays, $17-$21 general, $13-$17 children, 801-226-8600, www.haletheater.org.

UTAH CHILDREN’S THEATRE, Zorro!, at a fiesta Don Carlos wants his daughter, the beautiful Valencia, to marry Don Alejandro’s son, the charming but seemingly weak Don Diego, but treasure and treachery is in the midst of Old California, led by Captain Ramon, the bumbling Sergeant Gonzales and a mysterious figure, only Zorro can stop the greedy tyrants and bring them to justice, through April 25, 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. performances, 3605 S. State St., $14 general, 801-532-6000, www.uctheatre.org.

SILVER SUMMIT THEATRE, Five Lesbians Eating a Quiche, regional premiere of Evan Linder and Andrew Hobgood’s frolicsome little play that ventures into everybody’s favorite absurdism, directed by Dave Hanson, in 1956 with the ever present threat of nuclear war looming over them the widows of the Susan B. Anthony Society for the Sisters of Gertrude Stein meet in a renovated community center for a special annual event, where the prize winning quiche will be declared in a much anticipated ceremony, and will they be able to keep their cool while in the midst of their beloved annual event Communists descend on their idyllic town, through April 26, 8 p.m., 4 p.m. only matinee on April 26, The Sugar Space, 616 E. Wilmington Ave., $15-$20 online, general seating available at the door, www.silversummittheatre.org.

PYGMALION THEATRE COMPANY, Mockingbird, by Julie Jensen, directed by Tracy Callahan, born with Asperger’s Syndrome, 11 year old Caitlin’s world is black and white, fortunately, her brother taught her which behavior to imitate so people wouldn’t think of her as weird, when she loses him to tragedy, Caitlin must learn to navigate the colors and cacophony of emotion to bring order to her chaotic world, based on a book by Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird sees life through the eyes of autism, through May 2, 7:30 p.m., also a 2 p.m. matinee on May 2, 2 p.m. matinee only on April 26, Leona Wagner Black Box, Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, $20, 801-355-2787, www.arttix.org.

SALT LAKE ACTING COMPANY, world premiere of Mr. Perfect, by William Missouri Downs, directed by John Caywood, the play tells the story of a quirky flight attendant and romance novel junkie who thinks she’s met Mr. Perfect, when it doesn’t work out, she sets out to connect the random events that make up life, hoping to find the meaning of it all, through May 3, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 6 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. performances, Upstairs Theatre, 168 W. 500 North, $24-$42 general, 801-363-7522, or log on to www.saltlakeactingcompany.org.

PLEASANT GROVE PLAYERS, The Boys Next Door, by Tom Griffin, the play shares the story of four mentally handicapped men who live in a communal residence in New England, where they are under the supervision of a very earnest social worker named Jack Norman, who is increasingly “burned out” by his work, through May 4, 7:30 p.m., also a 3 p.m. matinee on May 2 (Friday, Saturday and Monday performances), Keith Christeson Theater (lower level of the Pleasant Grove Library), 30 E. Center, Pleasant Grove, $10 general, $9 seniors and students, www.pgplayers.com.

HERITAGE THEATRE, Lend Me a Tenor, by Ken Ludwig, in 1934, Saunders, the general manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company, is primed to welcome world famous Tito Merelli, the greatest tenor of his generation, to appear for one night only as Otello, the star arrives late and through a series of mishaps is given a double dose of tranquilizers and passes out, but everybody thinks he’s dead, so Saunders’ assistant, Max, gets into costume to pretend to be Tito, in the meantime Merelli comes to and gets into his other costume, now there are two Otellos running around,  through May 9, 7:30 p.m., also a 2 p.m. matinee on April 25, $10 general, $9 seniors/children under 12, S. Highway 89, Peery, 435-723-8392, www.heritagetheatreutah.com.

SCERA CENTER, Guys and Dolls, book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, April 17-May 9, 7:30 p.m., $12 general, $10 seniors (65+ years) and children (ages 3-11 years), 745 S. State, Orem, 801-225-2787, www.scera.org.

THE ZIEGFELD THEATRE, Les Misérables, lyrics by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, English lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, Jean Valjean is released from unjust imprisonment after 19 years, but finds nothing in store for him but mistrust and mistreatment, through May 16, 7:30 p.m., also 2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays, $19 general online ($20 at the door), $17 seniors/students/children (12 and under) online ($18 at the door), 3924 S. Washington Blvd., Ogden, 855-949-2787, www.theziegfeldtheater.com.

CENTERPOINT LEGACY THEATRE, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, book by Jeffrey Lane, music and lyrics by David Yaybek, directed by Jim Christian, lying, cheating, totally dishonest, dirty, rotten, and completely hilarious, two swindlers make a bet, but end up getting a surprise of their own, this conman comedy will have you rolling in the aisles,  through May 16, 7:30 p.m., Barlow Main Stage, 525 N. 400 West, Centerville, $17.25-$23.25 general, 801-298-1302, www.centerpointtheatre.org.

HALE CENTRE THEATRE-WEST VALLEY CITY, Over the River and Through the Woods, by Joe DiPietro, in New Jersey two very loud sets of grandparents simply adore their 29-year-old grandson, when he tells them he might take a job in Seattle, they think a girl might make him stay, through May 23, 12:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. performances, $27-$30 general, $16 children (5-11 years, no children under 5 years permitted), 801-984-9000, www.halecentretheatre.org.

TERRACE PLAZA PLAYHOUSE, Annie Get Your Gun, book by Dorothy Fields, music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, Annie Oakley is the best shot around, when she’s discovered by Buffalo Bill he persuades her to join his Wild West Show, where she falls head over heels for dashing shooting ace Frank Butler, who headlines the show, through May 30, 7:30 p.m., 99 E. 4700 South, Ogden, $12-$14 general, $11-$13 seniors/students, $9-$11 children (12 and under), 801-393-0070, http://terraceplayhouse.com.

DESERT STAR PLAYHOUSE, Into The Hoods: A Fractured Fairy Tale, through June 6, 2:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8:30 p.m., and 9:30 p.m. performances, 4861 S. State Street, Murray, $18.95 adults, $10.95 children (11 years and under), www.desertstar.biz.

UNIVERSITY OF UTAH, Godspell, MTP Senior Showcase, directed and choreographed by the seniors of the musical theatre program, a small group of people help Jesus Christ tell different parables by using a wide variety of games, storytelling techniques, and a hefty dose of comic timing, April 23-26, 7:30 p.m., 2 p.m. matinees on April 25-26, free student previews on April 23-24, 7:30 p.m., Studio 115, $18 general, $15 seniors/U. faculty/staff/military and immediate family, $8.50 students, free for U. students, 801-581-7100, www.kingtix.com.

UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY, Noorda Theatre Centre for Children and Youth, The Boy Who Loved Monsters and the Girl Who Loved Peas, directed by James Arrington, when a boy wishes for a monster, and his sister wishes for more peas, they get a pea-headed monster determined to be part of the family, April 24, 1 p.m., Noorda Theatre, $3, 801-863-7529, or box office located in Noorda Theatre, or Campus Connection, www.uvu.edu/arts.

UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY, Short Attention Span Theatre, this theatre favorite features 10 10-minute plays written, directed and acted entirely by UVU Theatre students, April 24, 7 p.m., April 25, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. performances, exBox Theatre, $5, 801-863-7529, or box office located in Noorda Theatre, or Campus Connection, www.uvu.edu/arts.

DRAPER HISTORIC THEATRE, Mary Poppins, a musical based on the stories of P. L. Travers and the Disney film, original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman, and Robert B. Sherman, book by Julian Fellowes, new songs and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, April 24-25, 7 p.m., $9 general, $7 seniors/students/military, $5 children 12 and under, all seats $5 for matinees, reserved tickets, $11 general, $9  seniors/students/military/children, 12366 S. 900 East, 801-572-4144, www.drapertheatre.org.

UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY, You Can’t Take It with You, directed by Laurie Harrop-Purser, one of the most popular and successful plays of all time, the story pits the highly eccentric Sycamore family against the uptight Kirby family, resulting in chaos, confusion, understanding, and love, April 25, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Noorda Theatre, $12 general, $8 students, 801-863-7529, or box office located in Noorda Theatre, or Campus Connection, www.uvu.edu/arts.

This entry was posted in EVENTS CALENDAR, LIVE THEATER, Live Theater Coverage, Upcoming Theatre Events by Edward Reichel. Bookmark the permalink.

About Edward Reichel

Edward Reichel, author, writer and composer, has been covering the classical music scene in Utah since 1997. For many years he served as the primary music critic for the Deseret News. He has also written for a number of publications, including Chamber Music Magazine, OPERA Magazine, 15 Bytes, Park City Magazine and Salt Lake Magazine. He holds a Ph.D. in composition from the University of California at Santa Barbara. He can be reached at ed.reichel@gmail.com. Reichel Recommends is also on Twitter @ReichelArts.

Leave a Reply