Blair Howell - Page 2

Tony nominee Will Swenson will play the lead role in Stephen Sondheim's SWEENEY TODD in a coproduction by The Noorda Center for the Performing Arts and Utah Repertory Theater Company.

Pioneer Theater Company stages a riveting SWEAT. The production is more than worthy of the drama's credentials as a 2017 Best Play Tony nominee and winner of the year's Pulitzer Prize.

Park City Cabaret Girl Ellie Gallagher is taking her PC GIRL CABARET nightclub act to New York City's Triad Theatre. The show is Fosse-esque and features Broadway-style songs and show-stopping numbers.

Mary B. Robinson, director of SWEAT at Pioneer Theatre Company, says the Pulitzer Prize-winner contains 'nine characters [that] are created with empathy and humanity, demonstrating the 'curiosity not judgment' mantra of Playwright Lynn Nottage.'

Director Lisa Hall and Music Director Justin Bills show expert work with the large NEWSIES cast at Hale Center Theater Orem. But it's the glittering dances created by Ashley Gardner Carlson that elevates NEWSIES to a true spectacle.

At the University of Utah, Director Ryan Emmons has a thorough understanding of a Sondheim masterwork and shows stellar work with the eager students. With Music Director Alex Marshall and Choreographer Ellie Hanagarne, COMPANY is thrilling.

At Pioneer Theatre Company, ONCE is luminous. Working hand-in-glove, Director Pirronne Yousefzadeh and Music Director Tom Griffin have guided the full cast and production team to stage a heart-piercingly beautiful production of the Tony-winning Best Musical.

Wasatch Theatre Company takes a drive in HANDS ON A HARDBODY, a mediocre musical turbo-charged by an exuberant and excellent-voiced cast comprised of some of the area's finest musical performers.

In the lead AN AMERICAN IN PARIS role of Lise, Hale Centre Theatre Sandy Associate Director/Choreographer Jenny Barlow was able to cast Juliet Doherty, 'a world-class ballerina [who is] quite famous in the ballet world.'

Her ability to play the accordion helped Equity Actress Mary Fanning Driggs to be cast in ONCE at Pioneer Theatre Company, following 21 other roles she has played on the PTC stage.

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.