A WINTER’S TALE won’t leave you cold

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CEDAR CITY — Shakespeare is well-known for his work in the three main genres that his plays fit into: histories, comedies, and tragedies. However, many of his later plays fall into the category of romances, with The Tempest being the best known play in this group. The romances have been a largely misunderstood genre for [...]

After slow start, DIAL M FOR MURDER packs the suspense

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CEDAR CITY — Last year, the Utah Shakespeare Festival produced The 39 Steps, a stage adaptation of a 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film. This year the Festival has decided to produce another classic of suspense, Dial M for Murder, which Hitchcock turned into a renown 1954 film staring Grace Kelly. Dial M for Murder is a [...]

Romeo & Juliet hits the highs, lows of emotion

CEDAR CITY — “Two households, both alike in dignity . . .” Thus begins one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, Romeo and Juliet. This play is so famous that many of its images and characters have permeated the popular culture. How many times have you heard a male lover referred to as “a Romeo”? When [...]

You really ought to give "The Music Man" a try

CEDAR CITY — The Music Man is a staple of the American theatre. Debuting on Broadway 54 years ago, this beloved show has been produced thousands of times, been incarnated on film (in 1962) and TV (in 2003), and revived on Broadway twice (in 1980 and 2000). As part of the 50th season of the [...]

"Noises Off!" at Utah Shakes – Two plays for the price of one

CEDAR CITY — It was a play about a play, with the actors playing actors, and it was nothing short of delightful insanity.  This year, the Utah Shakespeare Festival is presenting Noises Off! for their summer and fall seasons, so you have no excuse to miss this quirky show.

Love to hate "Richard III" at Utah Shakes

CEDAR CITY — I’ve been reading and watching Shakespeare plays for half of my life and I like to consider myself well versed in the Bard’s work. However, there has been one gaping hole in my knowledge of Shakespeare’s work: the histories. Quite frankly, the histories are not as frequently produced in Utah—or elsewhere in [...]

Opening night with Shakes’s "A Midsummer Night’s Dream"

CEDAR CITY — I would first like to say, what a privilege it is that my first review for Utah Theater Bloggers Association is on a Utah Shakespeare Festival production. This production was directed by none other than festival’s creator, Fred Adams. His return to directing is for the celebration of the festival’s fiftieth year. [...]

“Love Letters” Celebrates Valentine’s Day

CEDAR CITY — In 1990 Love Letters, by A.R. Gurney, was one of the finalists for The Pulitzer Prize drama category.  On February 4 and 5, 2011, the Guild of the Utah Shakespeare Festival presented this play as a fundraiser for the Utah Shakespeare Festival.

A little, happy production of “Little Happy Secrets”

CEDAR CITY — I’ll start by stating my prejudices. I am lucky to count the playwright, Melissa Leilani Larson as a friend. Beyond that, I am a great admirer of her work. Further still, Little Happy Secrets has been dear to me since I first listened to it on iTunes more than a year ago. [...]

A Christmas Carol: For the Child in You

CEDAR CITY — For many people, Cedar City, Utah, is nothing more that just a stop on I-15 on the way to another larger destination, such as Las Vegas or Salt Lake City.  But for some, it is a community of approximately 25,000 – 30,000 people with opportunities to view or participate in world-class theater [...]