The U of U Department of Theatre is excited to open our season with a return to the Hayes Christensen Theatre for Kander and Ebb's Steel Pier, a musical set in Atlantic City that perfectly captures the rhythms of the 1930s. Then, Terri McMahon from Oregon Shakespeare Festival joins us in October to direct Shakespeare’s sophisticated early comedy, Love’s Labour’s Lost. November brings us George Bernard Shaw's comedy of confused identities, You Never Can Tell. In the spring, we present Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton’s soccer musical The Beautiful Game, followed by Up (The Man in the Flying Chair) by Bridget Carpenter in March. We close with Timberlake Wertenbaker's Our Country's Good, a drama based on real events in 1780s New South Wales when marines and convicts mounted a production of The Recruiting Officer. Compromised of six fantastic productions, the complete 2017-18 season is as follows:
Steel Pier Music by John Kander | Lyrics by Fred Ebb| Book by David Thompson Directed by Denny Berry September 15-24, 2017 The Hayes Christensen Theatre (MCD) In the honky-tonk world of marathon dancing in Atlantic City in 1933, a captivating assortment of depression era souls eager to dance their way into fame and prizes gather on the Steel Pier. The spectacle is presided over by an oily tongued emcee who is secretly married to Rita Racine, the champion dancer. Her usual partner doesn't show up, so she is paired with a handsome pilot on leave. As the hours of dancing whirl on, Rita becomes increasingly disillusioned with her sleazy, conniving husband and more and more infatuated with the handsome young aviator and a vision of life in a peaceful cottage.
Love’s Labour’s Lost By William Shakespeare Directed by Terri McMahon October 20-29, 2017 Studio 115 The King of Navarre and his three schoolmates vow to embrace their studies—and not embrace girls—for three whole years. But the instant they take that vow, the Princess of France arrives with her three beautiful attendants, and all bets are off.
You Never Can Tell By George Bernard Shaw Directed by Alexandra Harbold November 10-19, 2017 Babcock Theatre At one riotous lunch, Mrs. Clandon, a famed feminist author and lecturer, is accidentally reunited with her estranged husband, while her high-minded eldest daughter tries to stave off a smooth-talking dentist’s advances. Identities are confused, ideals are challenged, and mischief is afoot in this turn-of-the-century romantic farce. What could possibly happen? As a wise waiter continuously, and hilariously observes, "You never can tell!"
The Beautiful Game Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber| Lyrics and Book by Ben Elton Directed by Denny Berry February 16- March 4, 2018 Babcock Theatre Under the watchful eye of team coach Father O’Donnel, John and Del both show enough promise to pursue careers as professional soccer players. They’re just two regular teenagers who dream of nothing more than girls and soccer. When they find love with their girlfriends Mary and Christine, they become swept up in the events that engulf their community and, as time passes, each must decide whether to follow their hearts. This powerful and passionate musical is a celebration of the freedom that love can bring.
Up (The Man in the Flying Chair) By Bridget Carpenter Directed by Chris DuVal March 9-17, 2018 Studio 115 “Follow your dreams as high as they go” 20 years ago, Walter Griffin attached 45 helium-filled weather balloons to a lawn chair and found himself 16,000 feet above the world. Today he’s furiously holding onto his dreams and the faded memory of that glorious day, doing everything he can to keep his feet from touching the ground.
Our Country’s Good By Timberlake Wertenbaker Based on the novel The Playmaker by Thomas Keneally Directed by Sarah Shippobotham April 6-15, 2018 Babcock Theatre In January 1788, the first of the British prison ships arrive at Botany Bay, Australia and settle the penal colony at Port Jackson, the site of current-day Sydney. Many of the prisoners have committed minor crimes and their wardens are military men who fought and lost the war against the American colonies. When hope and supplies run low, a lieutenant tries to increase morale by staging a comedy, The Recruiting Officer by George Farquhar, using the convicts as the cast.
Tickets and season flexpasses will go on sale on July 1, at tickets.utah.edu. To receive a season brochure and join our mailing list, please send an email with your information to