The Salt Lake Tribune from Salt Lake City, Utah • 89

i at sail uk i rtpupt suneay, ae ptemoer t. September stage: Salt Lake theaters prepare to raise curtain on 1985-86 drama season A. wk Coutiaued from E-l couples," said Miller. "There are ihe college kids who simply make lake, the older mother and father who have always been parents and don't hw-L- tvttiutc umii tuiu nun an, and then there's my couple The woman I portray is a college coach who has always been sort of a tomboy. "She believes that having a baby is the last link in making her fed like a real woman.

Her husband is 'mister macho. and when he discovers that the infertility is due to him rather than her. it a big transition in his thinking About Love Miller said the play is, quite simply, about love. She recommends it for everyone. Faces familiar to 128 will be included in the cast Margaret Crowell and Gene Pack portray the middle-age couple.

Miller and Michad Pi-cardi. the career-oriented, hoping-to-be-pa rents, and Mary Fanning and Kim Blackett the unmarried college students. "Baby. with musical direction by Jeanne McGuire, runs Thursdays through Saturdays through Sept. 28.

Opening the same night, but not a play for everyone, is David Mamet's "A Life in the Theatre. For persons familiar with the strong language and adult subject matter of "American Buffalo. "Sexual Perversity in Chicago" and "Edmond. this New Shakespeare Players production at Westminster College will not be a surprise. Director Barb Gandy, ho has an aversion expansive sets and nu-n rous props, was attracted to this particular Mamet work because it asks for neither.

Rather, it is a two-character play containing 26 scenes and a large challenge to the actors. Two Actors The subject deals with two members of a repertory company, owe in his 20s, the other, his 50s, and the interaction between the two, both on and off the stage. The theme concerns people's dependence on one another and the difficulty in letting go of that dependence. Gandy said the structure of the piece is unusual in that it begins light and funny and then shifts into a serious mode. John, the younger actor, is in awe of Robert the seasoned one then as the play progresses, a rebellion against authority occurs.

In the CUti. UMKI i Ului UCoi lUl Juilil i injection Best At Teaching The Chicago-born Mamet has said the thing he is best at is leaching, and many summers he can be found pursuing that specialty in Vermont where he runs an acting school He states that "acting has nothing to do with emotion, but with action. contradicting the "method school." which employs sense memory exercises a la scratching, sniffing, contemplating. This call to bcUou. to face things squarely and continue ith life, is a ihtrine which fiiia Mamet's plajs.

Gandy agrees with the description once ascribed to Mamet's style: lean and lyrical, foul and funny. "His dialogue is short and dipped. said Gandy. "It is the way most people talk the most natural dialogue. It is also terribly difficult for actors to learn Newcomer, Veteran Accepting that challenge for this production will be Salt Lake City newcomer Mickey Blackwell, and local veteran actor Robert Ormsby.

The play will be offered Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm in the Courage Theatre, second floor of Converse Hall on the Westminster campus. It con tiroes through Sept 21 Pioneer Memorial Theatre Laurence Holofcener was leaving a New York restaurant in 1966 when producer David Merrick stopped him and said. "Go next door and sing for Gower Champion. He's looking for something Holofcener was a talent coordinator for the Merv Griffin Slow at the time, but interrupted his work long enough to sing "What Kind of Fool Am for the director choreographer. At the eod of the song.

Champion said. "OK. fine. to which a bewildered Holofcener said, "Fine, what?" Within weeks Holofcener was standing on stage next to Carol Chan ning in the hit musical "Hello. Doll)- He had replaced Charles Nelson Reilly in the role of Cornelius, i David Letter-man Janies Arrington stars in one-man show, The Farley Family Reunion, in Little Bowery at Promised Valley Playhouse.

SUSC theater season opens Nov. 1 with Wilder classic while there became acquainted with members of the Salt Lake Acting pAiMnonu VVtlrUJ Got the Rights Through several negotiations in- -valving Conn, SLAC artistic director Ed Gryska and Shanley, production rights ere granted to the local com- -pany. The curtain goes up on SLACs 15th season Sept. 11 with Conn and LA. stage and film actor Paul Lieber starring in the often rough, occasionally shocking, but immensely rewarding love story of two victims caged by a hostile society.

(In addition to his roles on and off Broadway and on television's "Barney Miller, "Hill Street Blues, et al Lieber has been an actor at the Sundance Playwrights Conference.) meeting la Bar Roberta and Danny meet in a bar. They are extreme people, he given to violence, she harboring it within herself. They talk and begin to see themselves in one another. They don't understand this form of communication, this "love feeling" that surfaces. Suddenly their primitive instincts become attached to something called hope, and it is at that point the play becomes universal.

Coon and Lieber. two extremely amiable and gentie-souled people, are playing against type in this caustic, painfully drawn, occasionally humorous drama. Both, however, champion Shanley and his play. The two actors presented a staged reading of the work in LA. and are more than pleased to continue the association in Salt Lake City.

"Danny and the Dtcp Blue Sea." directed by Gryska. continues through Oct. 6 in the theater at 168 500 North. Promised Valley Playhouse The musical play, as opposed to the musical comedy, was born in 1943 when Rodgers and Hammerstein gave the world Oklahoma. The show began not with the usual chorus, but with a lone woman churning butter while the hero sang off stage.

Rather than formal dances. Agnes de Mille choreographed American ballets. and in every instance the music, the comedy, the dance grew out of the plot, not the other way around. This history-making musical paved the way for works such as "South Pacific, "Cameloc The King and all by Rodgers and Hammerstein. as well as Frank Loesser's "The Most Happy Fella and Leonard Bernstein's "West Side Story.

PVP Opener The American musical classic returns ooce again Sept 12-Oct. 5 when Promised Valley Playhouse opens its season with the "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin show. Dennis Ferrin directs the cast which includes Jonathan Stowers as Curly, Michelle Stevens as Laurey. Doug Dansie as WilL Laura Whipple as Ado Annie and Marlene Brinkerhoof, Aunt Eller. Musical director is Richard Chatelain.

Returning to the Little Bowery, upstairs at PVP, is James Arrington's comedy concerning family reunions. "The Farley Family Reunion" played to capacity audiences this summer and returns Thursday at 7.30 pm. with Arrington cast in multiple roles. After playing through Saturday, it will continue Wednesdays through Saturdays through Sept. 28.

of nighttime television fame was portraying the head waiter Twenty years uu a full resume later the is actor, writer, director, sculptor, portraitist, and a restorer-renovator of old homes). Holofcener will be next to Dolly Levi once again. He'll portray the wealthy Horace Vandergelder when Pioneer Memorial Theatre opens its season Sept. 11 with the popular musical. He comes to the show at the invitation of his colleague.

Milton Lyon, who has directed more than 150 Equity productions, five of which featured the versatile Holofcener. Another Lyon favorite. Betty O'Neil, will portray the title role. Key is Casting Pleased with the luxury' of having a three-week rehearsal period, Lyon said he has been known to put shows together in a week's time. The length of rehearsal is really irrelevant the key is casting.

Nothing replaces talent I would much rather have a highly talented east fer one eek than a lesser one for three. From all indications. Lyon has the best of both worlds this time. He cast Holofcener because "I needed an actor who knows comedy, who has the ability to play rough but sweet underneath a sense of authority, as well as a gift for the 'funnies. Larry is that person" Took Over Lead Lyon had served as Betty O'Neil's vocal coach years ago and admired her work in such musicals as "Pal Joey, and "Marne.

where she took over the lead for an injured Anne Miller. Believing that "Hello, Dolly!" is much more than just a one-character show. Lyon says all the roles are strong. Based oo Thornton Wilder's "The Matchmaker." the director says "Dolly is establishment theater and good literature the musical became a signature piece for Carol Channing and later Pearl Bailey, but that does not mean it cant stand oo its own. "It's very difficult when the star of a show is so loved, as Carol was.

for an audieoce to look at anything else. said Lyon. "Somehow the piece seemed less when Carol or Pearl were on stage. But it is a wooderfuL delightful show and contains one of the great roles in American theater. Like 'Fiddler.

even if youve seen it before, there is still immense charm in seeing it again. Local audiences will have that opportunity when "Hello Dolly is presented nightly, except Sundays, through Oct 2. Salt Lake Acting Company John Patrick Shanley "Danny and the Deep Blue Sea caused quite a sensation when it premiered at the prestigious Humana Festival of New Plays. Actors Theatre of Louisville. Described as raw, courageous and vital.

the play also introduced to the public a bright new writer from the Bronx. The drama was picked up by New Yorks Circle Repertory Theatre and enjoyed a critically acclaimed run at Circle in the Square. Los Angeles actress Didi Conn "You Light Up My Life. Benson. "Happy Days) was enamored of the work and wanted to see it produced in the West.

She had spent three summers as part of the Sundance Playwrights Conference and Special to The Tribune CEDAR CITY The 1985-86 theater season at Southern Utah State College will include the longest-running show in Broadway history, two Pulitzer Prize winning plays, an Ibsen and a Shakespeare drama, plus a new-to-Dtah musical. The Main Stage season opens Nov. 1 with Thornton Wilders "Our Town. under the direction of Douglas H. Baker.

The 1938 Pulitzer Prize winning play concerns life in a small New Hampshire town, and since its premiere 47 years ago has become an American classic. A new musical by Terrence McNally with music and lyrics by John Kinder and Fred Ebb will be presented Dec. 6-14. The Rink" takes place in a rundown skating rink near a seaside boardwalk and centers around the reconciliation of a mother and daughter. Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera starred on Broadway.

Fred Adams directs the Utah version. Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet bows March 7-15 under the direction of R. Scott Phillips, followed in May by A Chorus Line, Broadways longest running show. The musical which was conceived by Michael Bennett opened April 15. 1975 at the off-Broadway Public Theatre, then moved to Broadway where it has remained ever since.

PMT auditions for Tempest Pioneer Manorial Theatre will bold auditions Sept 12. 13 from 2 to 6 pm. in room 217 at the theater for Shakespeare's The Tempest Those applying must be students, faculty or staff of the University of Utah or members of Actors' Equity Association. All roles are open with the exception of Akmso. Antonio.

Gonxalo. Prospero and AneL Charles Morey, artistic director of PMT. will direct the play scheduled to rim Oct 23 though Nov. 13-All anditiooers are requested to sign up for a specific time on the sheet posted Sept 9 outside PMT room 119. Members of Actors Equity will be asked to audition from 2 to 4 pm.

Sept 12. Callbacks will be Sept 1 4. with rehearsals beginning Sept 0. For further information, contact PMT. Talk, workshop planned by art galleries Sullivan Galleries will host the first of its new monthly workshop- gallery talks Friday and Saturday.

The events will begin Friday at 6.30 pm with a reception at the Sullivan Galleries. 55 W. 100 South, followed by a free demonstration, featuring Miltoa Lyon Directs Hello Dolly Production rights were recently released to theaters around the country with SUSC being the first college in Utah to produce the highly acclaimed musical Adams will also di-. reel this production scheduled to run May 9. 10, 15.

16. 17. Stage II events will begin Nov. 13 when W. Somerset Maugham's The Constant Wife is offered in a four- performance run.

Connie A. Laytorf directs this English comedy, which tells of an aristocratic English wife in the 1920s and how she runs her high society life. Beth Henley's i98l Pulitzer Prize winning Crimes of the Heart is scheduled for Feb. 5-8 and also will be directed by Baker. The smaller theater's season will conclude April 23-26 with Henrik lb- sens Hedda Gabler." Philips will direct this celebrated tale of hatred, deceit and love.

In addition to the plays, the SUSC -theater arts and dance department-will present a dance concert May 29. 30 on the Main Stage, under the direc-'-tion of Burch Mann and San Christo-' pher. Choreography by the SUSC dance faculty will be featured and includes jazz, classical ballet and modern dance, as well as demonstrations' of European dance theories and techniques. Western landscape painter Carl Purcell at 7 pm at the Salt Lake Art Center, 20 S. West Temple.

Participants should bring supples On Saturday from 9 am to 4 p.m Purcell will lead a workshop also at the Salt Lake Art Center. Cost is $35 j- Allen (rtll CO 4117-4189 Sunday rnzzm am open monday! Ends Tomorrow Day at 6pm save on 4545 South 9917202 2971 Labor every room in your home! Carriage House Ethan An 00 East Skit City, Utah 10 wm to pro Friday inrtH 9 pm Oo.