Blair Howell - Page 4

Drew Fornarola, award-winning playwright of off-Broadway hit STRAIGHT, traveled to Utah to coach the cast and production team and participate in talkbacks following Utah Rep's developmental staged seading of JUDGING HAYDEN. He was eager to elicit responses from theatergoers on how to further develop the first publicly performed version of the JUDGING HAYDEN script.

A meeting with a single cast member after Utah Theater Lovers traveled to see the Las Vegas tour of DEAR EVAN HANSEN became a private post-show talkback with the entire tour cast. Megan Guiterrez masterminded the active and influential meetup group, which now boasts more than 1,000 across Utah -- and beyond.

Composer Frank Wildhorn worked directly with cast of BYU's WONDERLAND. This follows the university's first full-scale production of THE COUNT OF MONTE. BWW interviews Director Tim Threlfall of BYU's Music Dance Theatre program.

THE ODD COUPLE, Neil Simon's standout work, is handsomely staged at Hale Center Theater Orem. Good friends become bad housemates when they find themselves separated from their spouses. Director David Morgan shows a deft ability to keep the antics at a quick pace and brings out the contrasting personalities between Oscar and Felix.

The regional premiere of the Off-Broadway hit STRAIGHT was a major success for Utah Repertory Theater Company, with the production highly acclaimed by reviewers and popularly attended.

1. FUN HOME, Salt Lake Acting Company (saltlakeactingcompany.org) The stirring performances under the expert direction of Jason Bowcutt, who guided the cast from melancholy to zany in a heartbeat, made this premiere production hauntingly moving. Hailee Olenberger was utterly astonishing in the pivotal role of Medium Alison, perfectly capturing the awkward joy of first love and discovery of her sexuality. The live band, assuredly led by David Evanoff, was an additional reason for this reviewer to see FUN HOME three times.

At Salt Lake Acting Company, PINKALICIOUS is perfectly presented. And perfectly pink. Shall I say it? Yes, I'll say it: You'll be tickled pink.

CAROLINE, OR CHANGE is not your typical Broadway musical. Director Teresa Sanderson helped me understand that when she explained at a preview that it was originally conceived as an opera. A chamber opera would be more accurate. And it helps to keep in mind the structure of American short stories so popular decades ago.

Anne Puzey is arguably Utah's most-in-demand music director, with experience working with Will Swenson, Marin Mazzie, Jason Robert Brown, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, along with more productions along Utah's Wasatch Front than surely she can count. She's now lending her talents to Good Company Theatre's eagerly awaited production of CAROLINE, OR CHANGE.

The celebrated author, S. Asher Gelman, who also directed the premiere of AFTERGLOW, was able to travel to Salt Lake City for Utah Repertory Theater Company's opening-night festivities. Also enjoying the show as a theatergoer was Utah state Senator Jim Dabakis, who champions theater in Utah and recommended the show's Utah production to Johnny Hebda, founder and artistic director for the company's first five successful years.

SKYFALL, Salt Lake City's premier circuit night of theater, presents DJ icon Nina Flowers at Fantasy Night on Nov. 30, 2018. Runner-up and fan favorite of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 1, Flowers travels the globe to DJ in Pride festivals and circuit parties, besides holding several residencies in dance clubs in a number of U.S. cities.

A Q&A with AFTERGLOW playwright S. Asher Gelman. 'I'd love for people who experience AFTERGLOW to feel empowered to have difficult conversations -- with their partners, with their friends, with their family -- because I firmly believe that transparency is the basis of any good relationship.'

Opening on the day the ashes of Matthew Shepard will be interred at the Washington National Cathedral, the Utah/Idaho Performing Arts will stage the Utah premiere of CONSIDERING MATTHEW SHEPARD.

Augmenting an impressive resume, GOOD STANDING's solo actor Austin Archer establishes an immediate bond with audience members in his typical genial fashion. I was anticipating a more forceful reaction given the final severity of the court, but with artistic director Jerry Rapier helming as director, Archer is restrained while holly effective.

In the roles of Sam and Molly at Magna's Empress Theatre staging of GHOST, Brock Dalgleish and Camille Crawley give bravura performances, seemingly unaware of the bland script and songs.

DEAR EVAN HANSEN: THE NOVEL launches a book tour, with an event in Salt Lake City. 'We know the passionate love people in Salt Lake City have for musical theater,' said composer Justin Paul.

The cast of the first post-New York City production of the runaway off-Broadway hit AFTERGLOW has been announced by Utah Repertory Theater Company. The Salt Lake City-based theater company has as its mission staging premieres and neglected classics for audiences who may not otherwise be able to see these acclaimed, unique shows.

Hale Center Theater Orem's ANYTHING GOES crew members, aboard the luxury cruise ship or unseen production stowaways, are first-class. The gifted Jennifer Hill-Barlow as director-choreographer deeply impresses and brings brilliance to this classic gem.

With soaring vocals and impressive stagecraft, the CenterPoint production of RAGTIME impresses.