WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK IN THEATRE (MARCH 11-17, 2015)

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

CENTERPOINT LEGACY THEATRE, Barefoot in the Park, by Neil Simon, directed by Jennie Richardson, there is nothing more fascinating, frustrating, or maddening than the human relationship, whether it’s you first crush, your third marriage, or…well it’s complicated to say the least, through March 14, 7 p.m., Leishman Performance Hall, 525 N. 400 West, Centerville, $15 general, 801-298-1302, www.centerpointtheatre.org.

UTAH CHILDREN’S THEATRE, African Tales, a collection of African folk stories that are woven together to create a magical adventure, through March 14, 7 p.m., March 13-14, 1 p.m., and 4:30 p.m., 3605 S. State St., $9 general, 801-532-6000, www.uctheatre.org.

PYGMALION THEATRE COMPANY, Hellman v. McCarthy, by Brian Richard Nori, directed by Lane Richins, the play is a dramatic reenactment of the $1 million slander lawsuit brought by Lillian Hellman against fellow literary lioness Mary McCarthy, the suit wasn’t settled until Hellman’s death in 1984, Dick Cavett is the casual commentator in this witty and revealing dark comedy, both Hellman and McCarthy thrived in a man’s world, but not by being kinder or gentler, through March 14, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. performances, Leona Wagner Black Box, Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, $20, 801-355-2787, www.arttix.org.

PLAN-B THEATRE, A/Version of Events, by Matthew Ivan Bennett, directed by Christy Summerhays, a claustrophobic road-trip about healing at different speeds, getting trapped in the wrong memories and whether we can ever outrun ourselves, featuring Carleton Bluford and Latoya Rhodes, through March 15, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 8 p.m. performances, Studio Theatre, Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, $20, 801-355-2787, 888-451-2787, www.arttix.org.

DESERT STAR PLAYHOUSE, Pirates of the Scaribbean, by Ben E. Millet, through March 21, 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8:30 p.m., also 2:30 p.m. matinees, $18.95 adults, $10.95 children (11 years and under), 4861 S. State, 801-266-2600, www.desertstar.biz.

CENTERPOINT LEGACY THEATRE, Shrek The Musical, book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abair, music by Jeanine Tesori, beauty is only skin deep, but ogre goes straight through to the bone, through March 28, 7:30 p.m., also 2:30 p.m. matinees on March 21 and 28, Barlow Main Stage, 525 N. 400 West, Centerville, $17.25-$23.25, 801-298-1302, www.centerpointtheatre.org.

HERITAGE THEATRE, The Mikado, by Gilbert and Sullivan, how can you not have a good time visiting the town of Tittipu where Nanki-Poo (second trombone in a traveling band) wants to marry the lovely Yum-Yum, but she is promised to the tailor Ko-Ko, who has changed his occupation to Lord High Executioner so he can save himself from being beheaded for flirting, through March 28, 7:30 p.m., also 2 p.m. matinees on March 14 and 21, $10 general, $9 seniors/children under 12, S. Highway 89, Peery, 435-723-8392, www.heritagetheatreutah.com.

TERRACE PLAZA PLAYHOUSE, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, book by Jeffrey Lane, music and lyrics by David Yazbek,  directed by Dennis Ferrin, tells the story of two con men living on the French Riviera, Lawrence Jemeson makes his lavish living by talking rich ladies out of their money, Freddy Benson more humbly swindles women by waking their compassion with fabricated stories about his grandmother’s failing health, after meeting on a train they attempt to work together only to find the town isn’t big enough for the two of them, through April 4, 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.

THE OFF BROADWAY THEATRE, Indianapolis Jones, the show follows Indianapolis Jones through foreign shrines, caves and an evil temple (not on Evil Temple Square) in search of Pandora’s Box, he is joined in his quest by his Asian sidekick and his bumbling old father, through April 11, 7:30 p.m., 272 S. Main, $10-$16, $11 (March 16, 23, 30 and April 6), 801-355-4628, www.theobt.org.

HALE CENTRE THEATRE-WEST VALLEY CITY, Ghost, the Musical, book and lyrics by Bruce Joel Rubin, music and lyrics by Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard, just off the boards of London and Broadway, adapted from the movie, it’s the story of Sam and Molly, exquisite devotion, betrayed friendship, a compelling murder mystery, comedic incantations and lastly, a love that transcends spheres, through April 11, 12:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. performances, $30-$33 general, $16 children (5-11 years, no children under 5 years permitted), 801-984-9000, www.halecentretheatre.org.

HALE CENTRE THEATRE-OREM, Les Misérables, based on the novel by Victor Hugo, book by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, 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 p.m. and 3 p.m. matinees on Saturdays, $17-$21 general, $13-$17 children, 801-226-8600, www.haletheater.org.

BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY, Microburst Theatre Festival, a series of short plays written by BYU students, directed by George D. Nelson. March 11-14, 7:30 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinee also on March 14, Margettes Theatre, Harris Fine Arts Center, $5 general, 801-422-4322, www.arts.byu.edu.

COVEY CENTER FOR THE ARTS, Mary Mary, tells the story of wisecracking cynic Mary and infuriating sensible Bob, only recently divorced and who haven’t seen each other in nine months, who meet at his department in the hope they can avert an audit by the IRS, March 12-14, 19-21, 7:30 p.m., Brinton Theatre, $14 reserved, $12 seniors/students/military, 801-852-7007, www.provo.org/community/covey-center-for-the-arts.

UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY, The Milk Dragon, John Newman, director, in this world premiere Play for Young Audiences, two young people journey from a perfect village to a dark and dangerous forest, finding imagination and courage along the way, March 12-14, 16, 19-21, 7:30 p.m. with 2 p.m. matinees on March 14 and 21, Noorda Theatre, $12 general, $8 college students with ID, $5 children 8-17 years, 801-863-7529, or box office located in Noorda Theatre, or Campus Connection, www.uvu.edu/arts.

THE GRAND THEATRE, The Skin of Our Teeth, By Thornton Wilder, Mark Fossen, director, combining farce, burlesque, satire, and elements of the comic strip, the author depicts an everyman family as it narrowly escapes one end-of-the-world disaster after another, from the Ice Age to flood to war, March 12-28, Salt Lake Community College, 1575 S. State St., $14-$20, 801-957-3322, www.the-grand.org.

UNIVERSITY OF UTAH, Kingsbury Presents, Mamma Mia, by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, based on the music of ABBA, March 13-15, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 8 p.m. performances, Kingsbury Hall, University of Utah, $35-$65 general, 801-581-7100, www.kingsburyhall.utah.edu.

EGYPTIAN THEATRE, Ziegfeld Theater Company presents Fiddler on the Roof, book by Joseph Stein, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, music by Jerry Bock, a tale of Tevye, the dairyman, as he attempts to raise his daughters with a sense of tradition in a world of changing norms, March 13-14, 8 p.m., March 15, 6 p.m., March 19-21, 8 p.m., March 22, 6 p.m., 328 Main, Park City, $29 (house), $35 (front of house), $45 (cabaret) [Thursday performance], $35 advance/$38 at the door (house), $43 advance/$46 at the door (front of house), $55 advance/$60 at the door (cabaret) [Friday-Sunday performances], 435-649-9371, www.egyptiantheatrecompany.org.

DRAPER HISTORIC THEATRE, Hairspray, based on the film written and directed by John Waters, directed by David Beach, the enchanted tale of acceptance, beauty, and being true to yourself, March 14, 16, 20-21, 23, 27-28, 7 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinees also on March 21 and 28, $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.

This entry was posted in EVENTS CALENDAR, LIVE THEATER, 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.

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