The Independent
Tickets are now on sale for the Utah Shakespeare Festival’s 2015 season, with eight exciting and diverse comedies, musicals, tragedies, and histories running from June to October. Artistic directors David Ivers and Brian Vaughn originally announced the season, which includes four Shakespeare classics, a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, a classic American farce, one of the world’s greatest suspense thrillers, and the story of the famous composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
The Adams Shakespearean Theatre will feature three plays by William Shakespeare, running from June to August. First is the festival’s continuation of its history cycle with the fourth play in Shakespeare’s theatrical chronicle of England and its kings: “Henry IV, Part Two,” picking up where last year’s “Henry IV, Part One” left off. Theatergoers won’t want to miss this epic family drama that ultimately leads up to the War of the Roses.
Also in the Adams Theatre will be two of the bard’s greatest works, “King Lear” and “The Taming of the Shrew.” The two shows are on opposite ends of the theatrical spectrum: one tells the story of a mighty king who falls into a state of tragic disintegration and madness, while the other is a witty slapstick comedy about the battle of the sexes.
In the Randall L. Jones Theatre will be Rodgers and Hammerstein’s captivating and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, “South Pacific,” as well as “Amadeus,” Peter Shaffer’s brilliant fictionalized account of the lives of composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri.
In addition, the Randall Theatre will also include the hilarious farce, “Charley’s Aunt,” by Brandon Thomas. Love, romance, and secret disguises drive the plot of “Charley’s Aunt,” which will play throughout the entire festival season.
Rounding out the late end of the season will be Shakespeare’s romantic adventure, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona,” and Steven Dietz’s “Dracula,” adapted from Bram Stoker’s original novel. Both will play from September to October.
“This new year, 2015, is yet another thrilling season that not only keeps our mission front and center but further bolsters our commitment to the works of William Shakespeare,” said Ivers. “I’m particularly excited to share ‘Amadeus’ with our audiences and to return ‘Charley’s Aunt’ to the Randall Theatre. In addition, by the time the 2015 season opens, the new Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts will be rising out of the red earth before our eyes. There’s a lot to look forward to.”
Vaughn agreed.
“The 2015 season marks the conclusion of an amazing trajectory of work in the Adams Shakespearean Theatre,” he said. “The last full season in the theatre, 2015, will be a time full of reflection, regard and much remembrance as we celebrate the next glorious chapter of the Utah Shakespeare Festival.”
Tickets for the 2015 season are available at www.bard.org, by telephone at 1 (800) PLAYTIX, or at the ticket offices at the Adams Shakespearean Theatre and Randall L. Jones Theatre.
