Weather fails to dampen spirits at summer theaters

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jun 21, 2009 | by Erica Hansen Deseret News

There are, no doubt, mixed opinions about the Seattle-like weather we've had through most of June.

In my opinion we've been cheated out of two weeks of summer. Others (like my husband) are glad to have escaped two weeks of summer.

But one thing is certain -- if you're a theater person, or you know one, rain during the summer theater season is a monster.

Many theater companies offer outdoor plays during Utah's lovely - - and usually dry -- summer evenings. But rain and microphones, costumes, lighting, wigs and sets don't mix.

"We've still been trying to rehearse. Blocking hasn't been real effective, but we have been able to work on choreography and music," Suzanne Walker of the Midvale Arts Council said last Tuesday -- just days before opening the production of "Seussical the Musical," which runs through June 27.

"We tried painting our sets in the storm last Saturday. It should have only taken two hours and it took eight."

The summer show is performed on an outdoor stage in Midvale Park. The stage is covered, but audience members brings their own chairs and blankets and sit on the lawn.

"It does affect attendance because the grass is wet and people know that," said Adam Robertson with Orem's SCERA Shell, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary at the outdoor venue. "But we've been very lucky, with 'Beauty and the Beast' (which just closed), we only had to cancel one performance due to rain. We had a couple where it was drizzling, but the audience came prepared and stuck through."

And as long as the audience shows up, the show will go on. "The cast's attitude has been so great, even though we've had so many rehearsals canceled," Walker said, noting that this has been the worst year for rain in the 12 years Midvale has been performing outside. "We're behind but we'll be ready. We're keeping our fingers crossed."

In the meantime, eyes are skyward as the curtain rises on many summer productions. Here is a list to help you get started -- both outdoor and indoor.

Professional

Utah Shakespearean Festival, Cedar City: "As You Like It," "Henry V," "The Comedy of Errors," "Private Lives," "The Secret Garden" and "Foxfire," June 29-Oct. 17 (www.thebard.org).

Tuacahn Amphitheatre, Ivins: "Annie," "Footloose" and "Aida," through Oct. 17 (www.tuacahn.org).

Pickleville Playhouse, Garden City (Bear Lake): "Annie Get Your Gun" and "The Hanging of El Bandito," through Sept. 5 (www.picklevilleplayhouse.com).

Utah Festival Opera, Logan: "Camelot," "Carmen," "The Mikado" and "Cavalleria Rusticana/I Pagliacci," July 8-Aug. 8 (www.ufoc.org).

Old Lyric Repertory Company, Logan: "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," "The Foreigner," "The Importance of Being Earnest" and "An Inspector Calls," through Aug. 1 (www.boxoffice.usu.edu).

Salt Lake Acting Company, 168 W. 500 North: "Saturday's Voyeur," through Aug. 6 (www.boxoffice.usu.edu).

Semiprofessional

Dark Horse Theatre Company, Egyptian Theatre, 328 S. Main, Park City: "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," July 10-17 (parkcityshows.com).

Desert Star Playhouse, 4861 S. State: "James Blonde: Agent 7-11 in Casino Real," through Aug. 22; "Snooty and the Beast," Aug. 27- Nov. 7 (www.desertstar.biz).

Hale Centre Theatre, 3333 S. Decker Lake Drive: "Hello Dolly!" through Aug. 1; "The Scarlet Pimpernel," Aug. 11-Sept. 26 (www.halecentretheatre.org).

Hale Center Theater Orem, 225 W. 400 North, Orem: "Singin' in the Rain," through Aug. 1; "Over the River and Through the Woods," Aug. 13-Sept. 19 (www.haletheater.com).

Off-Broadway, 272 S. Main: "Utahoma," through July 11; "The Pirates of Penzance," July 31-Aug. 29 (www.theobt.com).

Community theater

Academy Theatre Company, 2207 S. Main: "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Aug. 15-Sept. 14 (academyofpa.org).

Alpine Arts Council, Timberline Middle School, 500 W. Canyon Crest Road: "Annie Get Your Gun," July 10-18 (alpinecommunitytheater.org).

American Fork and Highland City Arts Councils, American Fork High School, 510 N. 600 East, American Fork: "Children of Eden," June 25- 29.

Davis Arts Council, Ed Kenley Amphitheater, Layton: "The Fantasticks," Aug. 26-31 (www.davisarts.org).

Draper Arts Council, Summit Academy Junior High School, 1225 E. 13400 South: "Broadway Kidz," through June 29; "Beauty and the Beast," Aug. 14-24 (www.draperartscouncil.org).

Draper Historic Theatre, 12366 S. 900 East, Draper: "The Princess and the Pea," through June 27; "The Wizard of Oz," Aug. 7-29 (drapertheatre.org).

Empress Theatre, 9104 W. 2700 South, Magna: "See How They Run," through June 29; "Oz!" July 10-18; "Once Upon a Mattress," July 31- Aug. 31 (www.empresstheatre.com).

Heritage Theatre, 2505 S. Highway 89, Perry: "Guys and Dolls," through June 27; "The Star Spangled Girl," July 17-Aug. 8; "Urinetown -- The Musical," Aug. 28-Sept. 19 (www.heritagetheatreutah.com).

Midvale Arts Council, Midvale Outdoor Stage, 400 W. 7500 South: "Seussical the Musical," through June 27.

Murray Arts Council, Murray Park Amphitheatre: "Beauty and the Beast," June 17-25; "Grease," July 27-Aug. 7; and "Nunsense," July 28-Aug. 8.