Joel Thomas, center, stars in The Stage Door’s production of “The Producers” at the Electric Theater in St. George.
In Southern Utah we’re blessed with an abundance of theater. While the big ones are obvious — the Utah Shakespeare Festival, Tuacahn’s Broadway in the Canyon, the Neil Simon Festival — there are also plentiful community theater options. And nearly all of them have new shows opening this month (many of them this week).
I’m particularly excited for The Stage Door’s “Jekyll & Hyde,” beginning Oct. 5, since I’ve never seen this musical before but I’ve heard a number of fantastic songs from it. And, of course, I’m looking forward to seeing St. George Musical Theater produce one of my favorite plays, the always hilarious “Noises Off,” also beginning Oct. 5.
Additionally, I’m intrigued by the first theatrical performance at Kayenta’s Center for the Arts, which will push the boundaries for what we normally see in Southern Utah when it comes to musical theater. “[Title of Show]” begins Oct. 20 but has a warning for mature subject matter and language.
The professional theaters also have shows continuing through this month. The Neil Simon Festival is launching its new production, “Frankenstein on the Air,” on Oct. 27. Meanwhile Tuacahn’s three musicals — Disney’s “Newsies,” “Shrek the Musical” and “Mamma Mia!” — will close on Oct. 18, 20 and 21, respectively, before Odyssey Dance Theater’s “Thriller” opens there on Oct. 26 and runs through Halloween. And the Utah Shakespeare Festival’s four ongoing plays — “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (abridged),” “How to Fight Loneliness” and “The Tavern” — will also wrap-up mid-month.
For all you theater-lovers looking for entertainment this month, here’s a list of the new shows opening. If I missed any, please send an email to brianisawriter@gmail.com and let me know. I hope to review some of these productions and post them here at BrianPassey.com.
Rachel Robertson Cox and BJ Cox play Baker’s Wife and The Baker in St. George Musical Theater’s 2016 production of “Into the Woods.”
- Brigham’s Playhouse presents “She Loves Me” from Oct. 5 to Nov. 11 at 25 N. 300 West #C1, Washington City. Tickets are $17-23. Visit BrighamsPlayhouse.com or call 435-251-8000.
- Cedar Valley Community Theatre is holding auditions from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Oct. 16 for “The Drowsy Chaperone” at the Heritage Center Theater, 105 N. 100 East, Cedar City. Visit CedarTheatre.org.
- Hurricane Valley Theatrical Company presents “Ghost the Musical” from Oct. 6-28 at the Hurricane Fine Arts Center, 92 S. 100 West, Hurricane. Tickets are $10. Visit HurricaneValleyTheatrical.com or call 435-668-9753.
- LaVerkin Community Theater will be presenting “A Cinderella Story” sometime soon but I was unable to find more information about this production. Please let me know if you have details.
- Kayenta Arts Foundation presents “[Title of Show]” from Oct. 20-28 at the Center for the Arts at Kayenta (north end of Kayenta’s Coyote Gulch Art Village, near the intersection of Kayenta Parkway and Coyote Gulch Circle in Ivins). Tickets are $30-$100. Visit KayentaArtsFoundation.org or call 435-674-2787.
- Neil Simon Festival presents “Frankenstein on the Air” from Oct. 27-30 at the Heritage Center Theater, 105 N. 100 East, Cedar City. Tickets are $10-$15. Visit SimonFest.org or call 435-267-0194.
• Parowan Community Theatre presents “Something’s Afoot” from Oct. 20-30 at the Heritage Center Theater, 105 N. 100 East, Cedar City. Tickets are $5. Visit this link for the Facebook event or call 435-477-8190. Tickets may also be purchased in advance at the Parowan Visitors Center, 5 S. Main St., Parowan.
- St. George Musical Theater presents “Noises Off” from Oct. 5 to Nov. 4 at the St. George Opera House, 212 N. Main St., St. George. Tickets are $17-21. Visit sgmt.org or call 866-967-8167.
- The Stage Door presents “Jekyll & Hyde” from Oct. 5-21 at the Electric Theater, 68 E. Tabernacle St., St. George. Tickets are $18-$21. Visit TheStageDoorTheater.com or call 435-656-4407.
- St. George Opera presents two shows of “Magic, Mystery, and Macabre in Opera and Musical Theater” on Oct. 30 at the Center for the Arts at Kayenta (see directions above). Tickets are $5-$15. Visit KayentaArtsFoundation.org or call 435-674-2787.
McKenzie Morgan plays the title role in the Hurricane Valley Theatrical Company’s production of “Aida.”