Fall arts guide: Theater season includes harvest of moving stories
The move to indoor stages from outdoor pavilions means theater in fall often becomes more insular, more involved and, most of all, more stimulating. Salt Lake Acting Company's regional premiere of "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson" means there's still plenty of fun to be had, but that fun is also more didactic than festive. And Pioneer Theatre Company's production of John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" means its time to launder the hankies before taking your seat. The fall theater season in Utah has more than enough up and coming productions for a great harvest of fine performances, moving stories, and great nights out.
Pioneer Theatre Company
Oct. 19-Nov. 3 • John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men"
Nov. 30-Dec. 15 • "A Christmas Carol: The Musical"
Where • Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre, 300 S. 1400 East, University of Utah campus, Salt Lake City
Tickets • Show tickets $25-70; season tickets $130-$307, at 801-581-6961, or www.pioineertheatre.org
Curtain • Monday-Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Saturday matinees at 2 p.m.
Salt Lake Acting Company
Oct. 10-Nov. 4 • "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson" by Michael Friedman and Alex Timbers
Nov. 7-Dec. 9 • "Manning Up" by Christopher Lewis
Dec. 11-Jan. 5 • "Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type"
Where • Salt Lake Acting Company, 168 W. 500 North, Salt Lake City
Tickets • Show tickets $23-$42; season tickets $61-$186, at 801-363-7522 or visit www.saltlakeactingcompany.org
Curtain • Wednesday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 and 7 p.m.
Plan-B Theatre Company
Dec. 18 • "Radio House Episode 7: Sherlock Holmes and the Blue Carbuncle," world premiere by Matthew Ivan Bennett
Where • Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 W. 300 South, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $20 ($10 students), 801-355-ARTS or www.planbtheatre.org
Curtain • Thursday-Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 4 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.
Broadway Across America — Utah
Nov. 13-18 • "The Addams Family"
Dec. 13-15 • "A Kurt Bestor Christmas"
Dec. 26-29 • "Donny & Marie-Christmas in Salt Lake"
Where • Capitol Theatre (unless specified), 50 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City; also Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City, and Kingsbury Hall, 1395 E. Presidents Circle, University of Utah campus, Salt Lake City
Tickets • Show tickets, $33.50-$133.50; subscription series, $187-419.50, visit www.newspaceentertainment.com/saltlakecity, or call 801-355-5502 for season tickets.
Curtain • Visit www.newspaceentertainment.com/saltlakecity for times and dates.
Utah Shakespeare Festival
Through Oct. 27 • "Stones in His Pockets"
Through Oct. 27 • "Hamlet"
Through Oct. 27 • "Les Misérables"
Where • Randall L. Jones Theatre, 351 W. Center St., Cedar City
Tickets • $28-$73 at 800-PLAY-TIX (800-752-9849) or online at www.bard.org
Curtain • Tuesday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m. through Oct. 23, with matinees at 2 p.m.
Tuacahn Amphitheatre
Through Oct. 19 • Disney's "Aladdin"
Through Oct. 20 • "Hairspray"
Oct. 24-Oct. 31 • "Thriller"
Nov. 23-Dec. 29 • "Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings"
Where • Tuacahn Amphitheatre, 1100 Tuacahn Drive, Ivins
Tickets • $17.50-$59 att www.tuacahn.org or 435-652-3300; 800-746-9882.
Curtain • Most October shows begin at 7:30 p.m.
Pygmalion Theater Company
Oct. 25-Nov. 11 • "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill" by Lanie Robertson
Where • Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 W. 300 South, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $20 (discounts for students) at 801-355-ARTS or www.Arttix.org
Curtain • Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.; visit www.pygmalionproductions.org for more information.
Grand Theatre
Oct. 11-27 • Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods"
Nov. 1-3 • "Songs of Rosemary Clooney" with Ginger Bess
Dec. 6-10 • "Diva Holiday"
Where • Grand Theatre, 1575 S. State St., Salt Lake Community College South City campus, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $10-$24 at 801-957-3322 or http://the-grand.org/
Curtain • 7:30 nightly; 2 p.m. Saturday matinees.
Pinnacle Acting Company
Nov. 2-17 • "The Lion in Winter" by James Goldman
Where • Midvale Performing Arts Center, 695 W. Center St. (7720 South), Midvale
Tickets • $12-$15. Call 801-634-5802 for more information or visit www.pinnacleactingcompany.org
Curtain • 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday
Hale Centre Theatre
Oct. 10-Dec. 1 • "Oliver!"
Dec. 8-22 • "A Christmas Carol"
Where • Hale Centre Theatre, 3333 S. Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City
Tickets • Show tickets $15-$24; season packages $86-$158; tickets and show times for "A Christmas Carol" vary from regular season shows; call 801-984-9000 for more information or visit www.halecentretheatre.org
Curtain • 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturdays; Saturday matinees at 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Hale Center Theater Orem
Oct. 4-Nov. 24 • "South Pacific"
Nov. 30-Dec. 22 • "A Christmas Carol"
Where • Hale Center Theater Orem, 225 W. 400 North, Orem
Tickets • $16-$20; season packages, $67-$108. Call 801-226-8600 or visit haletheater.org for more information.
Curtain • 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with 3 p.m. Saturday matinees. The move to indoor stages from outdoor pavilions means theater in fall often becomes more insular, more involved and, most of all, more stimulating. Salt Lake Acting Company's regional premiere of "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson" means there's still plenty of fun to be had, but that fun is also more didactic than festive. And Pioneer Theatre Company's production of John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" means its time to launder the hankies before taking your seat. The fall theater season in Utah has more than enough up and coming productions for a great harvest of fine performances, moving stories, and great nights out.
Pioneer Theatre Company
Oct. 19-Nov. 3 • John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men"
Nov. 30-Dec. 15 • "A Christmas Carol: The Musical"
Where • Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre, 300 S. 1400 East, University of Utah campus, Salt Lake City
Tickets • Show tickets $25-70; season tickets $130-$307, at 801-581-6961, or www.pioineertheatre.org
Curtain • Monday-Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Saturday matinees at 2 p.m.
Salt Lake Acting Company
Oct. 10-Nov. 4 • "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson" by Michael Friedman and Alex Timbers
Nov. 7-Dec. 9 • "Manning Up" by Christopher Lewis
Dec. 11-Jan. 5 • "Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type"
Where • Salt Lake Acting Company, 168 W. 500 North, Salt Lake City
Tickets • Show tickets $23-$42; season tickets $61-$186, at 801-363-7522 or visit www.saltlakeactingcompany.org
Curtain • Wednesday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 and 7 p.m.
Plan-B Theatre Company
Dec. 18 • "Radio House Episode 7: Sherlock Holmes and the Blue Carbuncle," world premiere by Matthew Ivan Bennett
Where • Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 W. 300 South, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $20 ($10 students), 801-355-ARTS or www.planbtheatre.org
Curtain • Thursday-Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 4 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.
Broadway Across America — Utah
Nov. 13-18 • "The Addams Family"
Dec. 13-15 • "A Kurt Bestor Christmas"
Dec. 26-29 • "Donny & Marie-Christmas in Salt Lake"
Where • Capitol Theatre (unless specified), 50 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City; also Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City, and Kingsbury Hall, 1395 E. Presidents Circle, University of Utah campus, Salt Lake City
Tickets • Show tickets, $33.50-$133.50; subscription series, $187-419.50, visit www.newspaceentertainment.com/saltlakecity, or call 801-355-5502 for season tickets.
Curtain • Visit www.newspaceentertainment.com/saltlakecity for times and dates.
Utah Shakespeare Festival
Through Oct. 27 • "Stones in His Pockets"
Through Oct. 27 • "Hamlet"
Through Oct. 27 • "Les Misérables"
Where • Randall L. Jones Theatre, 351 W. Center St., Cedar City
Tickets • $28-$73 at 800-PLAY-TIX (800-752-9849) or online at www.bard.org
Curtain • Tuesday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m. through Oct. 23, with matinees at 2 p.m.
Tuacahn Amphitheatre
Through Oct. 19 • Disney's "Aladdin"
Through Oct. 20 • "Hairspray"
Oct. 24-Oct. 31 • "Thriller"
Nov. 23-Dec. 29 • "Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings"
Where • Tuacahn Amphitheatre, 1100 Tuacahn Drive, Ivins
Tickets • $17.50-$59 att www.tuacahn.org or 435-652-3300; 800-746-9882.
Curtain • Most October shows begin at 7:30 p.m.
Pygmalion Theater Company
Oct. 25-Nov. 11 • "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill" by Lanie Robertson
Where • Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 W. 300 South, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $20 (discounts for students) at 801-355-ARTS or www.Arttix.org
Curtain • Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.; visit www.pygmalionproductions.org for more information.
Grand Theatre
Oct. 11-27 • Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods"
Nov. 1-3 • "Songs of Rosemary Clooney" with Ginger Bess
Dec. 6-10 • "Diva Holiday"
Where • Grand Theatre, 1575 S. State St., Salt Lake Community College South City campus, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $10-$24 at 801-957-3322 or http://the-grand.org/
Curtain • 7:30 nightly; 2 p.m. Saturday matinees.
Pinnacle Acting Company
Nov. 2-17 • "The Lion in Winter" by James Goldman
Where • Midvale Performing Arts Center, 695 W. Center St. (7720 South), Midvale
Tickets • $12-$15. Call 801-634-5802 for more information or visit www.pinnacleactingcompany.org
Curtain • 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday
Hale Centre Theatre
Oct. 10-Dec. 1 • "Oliver!"
Dec. 8-22 • "A Christmas Carol"
Where • Hale Centre Theatre, 3333 S. Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City
Tickets • Show tickets $15-$24; season packages $86-$158; tickets and show times for "A Christmas Carol" vary from regular season shows; call 801-984-9000 for more information or visit www.halecentretheatre.org
Curtain • 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturdays; Saturday matinees at 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Hale Center Theater Orem
Oct. 4-Nov. 24 • "South Pacific"
Nov. 30-Dec. 22 • "A Christmas Carol"
Where • Hale Center Theater Orem, 225 W. 400 North, Orem
Tickets • $16-$20; season packages, $67-$108. Call 801-226-8600 or visit haletheater.org for more information.
Curtain • 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with 3 p.m. Saturday matinees. —
'Geography' of love
It was in 1998 that Salt Lake City's East High School became the epicenter of LGBT rights when the Salt Lake City Board of Education voted to prohibit all student clubs from public school premises. The catalyst? A group of gay youth who wanted a place and time of their own, away from the judgmental eye and even bullying of their peers. Flash forward to 2003, the publication date of Brent Hartinger's young-adult novel Geography Club, the story of a budding romance between two gay teenagers at Goodkind High School, with a bisexual young woman as the third character. The book, of course, became one of the most banned books in the United States. So it just had to be a stage play. Plan-B Theatre Company producing director Jerry Rapier directs this production, in partnership with the LGBT Resource Center and University of Utah department of theater, for U. Pride Week. The play is as funny and frank as its teenage subject, Rapier said. But it also concerns the slippery slope from being bullied to bullying, in addition to demonstrating that young gay men fall in love the same as everyone else. The title of both play and book is homage to the club the kids form, believing that no one else would join a club with such a boring name. "At its core, the play is about what it's like to get through the treacherous terrain of becoming yourself," Rapier said. In a rare treat for theatergoers, author Hartinger will be available after each show to take audience questions and discussion.
When • Oct. 3-7, 7:30 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinees Oct. 6 and 7
Where • Studio 115, 240 S. 1500 East in Performing Arts Building on campus of University of Utah, Salt Lake City
Info • $8-$10. Call 801-581-7100 or visit www.kingtix.com for more information.