'Male Intellect' leads pack of new stage productions

A national touring one-man comedy and the premiere of a new, locally written drama about Joseph Smith are among this week's new stage offerings.

-- "THE MALE INTELLECT: AN OXYMORON?" actor-writer Robert Dubac's comedy, is geared to two types of people -- men . . . and women.

The national touring production plays Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Mary G. Steiner Egyptian Theatre, Park City, under the auspices of the Egyptian Theatre Company.

Dubac plays a bachelor named Bobby, who has been told by his fiancee to think about what women want then check back in two weeks. The comedy opens when the two weeks are up and Bobby is desperately seeking advice from chauvinistic role models inhabiting both the right and left sides of his brain -- suave French philosophy student Jean Michel, hip womanizer Fast Eddie, aging Mr. Linger, sensitive Ronnie Cabrezzi and a war veteran called The Colonel.

Dubac is in the process of working on a sequel, set to debut next year, entitled "The Male Intellect: New and Improved (With 60 Percent More Truth)."

The Egyptian Theatre warns that due to sexual content and adult humor, no one under the age of 14 should attend these performances.

Ticket prices vary. On opening night, cabaret seating is $50 and seats in rows 1-6 are $40 -- including private reception following the performance. Those in rows 7-15 are $27 each but do not include the reception.

On Saturday night, tickets are $45 for cabaret seating, $32 in rows 1-6 and $27 for the remainder of the seats (435-649-9371).

-- "FRIENDS OF GOD," a new drama by award-winning playwright Mahonri Stewart, will premiere Friday in the Art City Playhouse, 254 S. Main, Springville, where it continues through Jan. 30.

The cast includes Benjamin King as Joseph Smith, Heather Jones as Emma Smith, Adam Argyle as William Law, Jordan McMillan as Hyrum Smith and Holly Harris as Eliza R. Snow, with Penny Pendleton, Amos Omer, Jason Fulmer and Adam Stallard as the "voices of history."

Stewart cautions parents that the drama does touch on several hard issues, including polygamy, and portrays the violent deaths of Joseph and Hyrum. These aspects should be considered before bringing younger children to the production.

Two of Stewart's previous plays -- an adaptation of "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Farewell to Eden" -- premiered at Utah Valley State College. The latter won the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival's second-place national playwriting award, and the National Selection Team fellowship award.

"Friends of God" plays Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 for general admission and $5 for students and senior citizens (735-4543).

-- "ALADDIN," adapted by Collin Kreuzer from the "Arabian Nights" fables, will play Friday through Feb. 4 in the Academy of Performing Arts, 3188 S. 400 East.

The Academy Theatre Company production features Adam Loewer as Aladdin, Mark Hanson as Moordin, the evil uncle, and Jeff Buckman as Genie of the lamp. Performances are Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children and senior citizens. Group discounts are also available (898-2728 or www.academyofpa.org).

-- "JOKYR AND JESSTER", a local, internationally touring improv comedy duo, will present long-form improv at Sugarbeats Stage, 2106 S. 1100 East, on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. General admission is $5 (891- 6397).

Joining JoKyR and Jesster (Joseph Kyle Rogan and Jesse Parent) will be Parent's def poetry inspired form, The Hook, and Public Announcement.

-- "THE RAT PACK REMEMBERED," a musical revue at Desert Star Dinner Theatre, Murray, has been extended through Jan. 14 (266- 2600).

E-mail: ivan@desnews.com

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