THE RIDE DOWN MOUNT MORGAN is a bumpy one

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SALT LAKE CITY — Lyman Felt is a fellow who is quite proud of the fact that he lives his life to the fullest. He is robustly healthy in his middle age; he is wealthy and successful in his work; and he appreciates women. He appreciates them so much he has two wives. Now you [...]

Hasten to “The Hasty Heart”

WEST VALLEY CITY — John Patrick’s classic comedy The Hasty Heart is the story of a group of recovering Allied soldiers — each from a different country — who share a hospital ward under the care of a kind British nurse, Sister Margaret (Amy Addams Stocking).

Infamous "Lady Macbeth" Makes a Cameo

SALT LAKE CITY — I have always wanted to attend the Script in Hand series at Plan-B, and was lucky enough to be able attend a staged reading of Aden Ross’s new play Lady Macbeth at Plan-B, with Jerry Rapier directing an ensemble consisting of some of the finest actors working in Salt Lake today. [...]

"In" makes the grade

SALT LAKE CITY — Getting into college is no easy task. High school seniors who want to go on to the next level are expected to have impressive resumes, grades, and test scores. Standardized tests — the most famous being the SAT — can play a huge part in a student’s higher education. Pioneer Theatre [...]

The Empress presents “Little Women”

MAGNA — Little Women has been one of my favorite books since a friend introduced me to the March sisters in seventh grade. I don’t know how often I’ve read it; it’s one of the few books that always feels familiar, like coming home. It’s a story that never grows old because the Marches are [...]

SLAC continues its “Angels” experience with “Perestroika” reading

SALT LAKE CITY — Tony Kushner’s epic stage experience Angels in America is a theatrical landmark. No getting around that. It’s an important piece to see and to study, to feel and to share. Kushner is an exceptional playwright; his way not only with words but with emotion is stirring, and he doesn’t shy away from difficult [...]

If you love classic films, BYU’s “Stage Door” is a treat.

PROVO — Something about theatre and film fascinates us as a culture; as an audience, we want to know what happens backstage and off screen. Part of it is our obsession with celebrity. But we also long to know the performers we see on stage and screen; we want to know how like—or unlike—their characters [...]

“Bram Stoker’s Dracula” at Pioneer Lacks Bite

SALT LAKE CITY — There are certain expectations that come with holidays: moods and music and styles of dress. Halloween is no exception, as our culture delights in getting scared silly. This was my hope going into Pioneer Theatre Company’s newly opened BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA, though things didn’t quite work out the way I planned.

A Classic Revisited: ‘Hamlet’ at Pioneer Theatre Company

SALT LAKE CITY — There’s something intimidating about Hamlet. Whether seeing it or reading it—and I’m certain performing it—it’s a daunting task to approach the play that many argue is the greatest ever written in English. Charles Morey and the Pioneer Theatre Company have chosen not to be intimidated by the task, and in fact [...]

Caught in ‘The Mousetrap’

PROVO — Agatha Christie is a name that has come to be associated with all things mysterious and twisty. Her classic mystery The Mousetrap is a prime example, filled with red herrings and surprises (I promise, this commentary is spoiler-free). The play has become a classic, holding the world record for the longest theatrical run: [...]