Desert Star Opens Return Engagement of MY BIG FAT UTAH WEDDING, 7/15

What do you get when you combine butter mints, crazy relatives, and crepe-papered basketball hoops? A "Big Fat Utah Wedding," of course! The hilarious record-breaking parody of Mormon mating rituals returns to Desert Star Playhouse for a return engagement beginning July 15th.

When "My Big Fat Utah Wedding" was originally performed at Desert Star in 2004-2005, it ran for an astounding 18 months, making it Utah's longest running theatrical production. Now, Desert Star is bringing back it's most popular show ever for a limited 10-week engagement.

"My Big Fat Utah Wedding" is the story of Gretchen, a free-spirited young woman who is twenty-six and unmarried, much to the dismay of her staunch LDS parents, Heber and Betty. Gretchen is waiting for Mr. Right, but mom and dad would settle for just about anybody at this point. Just when Gretchen is ready to give up on love, Dax comes into her family's diner. He's instantly smitten with Gretchen, and after a whirlwind courtship, the two decide to tie the knot. But first they must break the news to Gretchen's family that Dax is a non-member! And to top it off, Gretchen's jealous friend Annie wants to steal Dax for herself. With wedding planners running amok, interfering relatives, and scheming friends, will it be happily ever after or the wedding bell blues for Dax and Gretchen?

Scott Holman, who wrote and directed the original production, is back to helm this revival. "Many of the original cast members are returning," said Holman, "and rehearsals have been a blast. It's fun to see these nutty characters back on the stage." Commenting on the record-setting first run, Holman said, "I'm still amazed when people tell me they never got a chance to see the show the first time around. It ran for 18 months! Were they on a mission? Well, now they'll have their chance."

When asked if he expects the show to run for another 18 months, Desert Star owner Mike Todd said, "That was a phenomenon we don't expect to see again. We're only planning a 10 week run. So we hope people don't put it off, and miss their chance to see this hysterically funny show."

"My Big Fat Utah Wedding" runs July 15 thru September 18, 2010. The evening also includes one of Desert Star's signature musical olios following the show. The "Rock ‘n' R-olio" features a mix of classic Rock ‘n' Roll songs with more of Desert Star's signature comedy.

Food is available from an á la carte menu and is served right at your table. The menu includes gourmet pizza, fresh wraps, appetizers, and scrumptious desserts.

Photo Credit: Chad Whitlock for Desert Star

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