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Show Strongvoices carry ‘West Side Story’ ear ae around afi Egyptian captain is betrothied to the Pharaoh's ter but falls for.an Ethiopian slave. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20-April 15; also 12:30 and 4 p.m. Saturdays and 4 p.m, March 31,April 7, 10, 13 and 14, Hale Centre », 3333 S. Decker LakeDrive, West Valley City. soeaaaoe Thursdays ai sieniyand Saturday evenings. halecentretheatre.org. “CIRCLE OF LIFE” — BYU's Young Ambassadors will perform a variety of Broadway songs, from musicals like “The Music Man,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Mamma Mia” and “The Phantom of the Opera.” 7:30 p.m. Feb.16-18, de Jong Concert Hall, Harris Fine Arts Center, BYU campus, Provo. $10 adults and $8 students and faculty. 422-4322. “CURSES, FOILED AGAIN” — This 1984 7:30 p.m.Fridays, Saturdays », Feb. 17-4wa He ay CenterPlayhouse, 780 200 East, Lindon.$6 adults, 8 Tickets available at the door, or call 785-1186 for reservations. “THE IMPORTANCEOF BEING EARNEST” — hilarious mix- up of names and identities, this Oscar Wilde play shows how the truth is told in order to bring two together. 7:30 p.m. Fridays LoganMolyneux DAILY HERALD alcony scenesare always so romantic. There’s something welike about the young man reaching upforthe girlof his dreams, who fell in love with him at first sight. During one such scenein Hale Center Theater Orem’sproduction of “West Side Story,” Tony and Maria enchantthe audience while enchanting THEATER each other. REVIEW Brad McOmber and Rachel Lynn Woodward are so convincingly in love as Tony and Mariathatall those stage kisses don't feel uncomfortable at all. Their voices are so evenly matched and emotional that, well, it’s romantic. And they manageit all without the benefit of a real balcony. The cramped ledge on the set that represents the fire escape outside Maria's bedroom (andat other times represents her bedroom itself) is barely big enoughto hold the twoill-fated lovers. That'sfine, because the spotlight isn’t on anything but their engaging banter. For that moment, we forget that McOmberdoesn't look anythinglike the street-wise former gangleaderhe plays. Instead,he lookslike a straight-shooting math major who nobody would be afraid to fight. Good thing he has a Travolta-esque sidekick, Nicholas C. Berg as Riff. He and the other Jets cronies sometimes intimidate MARKPHILBRICK/Hale Center Theater Orem Rachel Lynn Woodward and Brad McOmberin Hale Center Theater Orem’s production of “West Side Story.” and sometimes amuse, as in their hilarious performance of “Gee, Officer Krupke.” Other cast members don't quite look like Sharks, the Puerto Rican gangrivals ofthe Jets. For example, red-haired Stacia Hardy should wear a wig to look more like Anita, the sassy girlfriend of Sharks leader Bernardo. Racial incongruities aside, the musical is carried by the strong voices ofits cast. Woodward's voice deserves an encore. McOmber might not have the swagger, but he has the pipes. Except that, for some reason, he doesn’t sing the repeated Marias during the famous songof the same name. They're echos. The Friday cast workswell as a team, especially during the dance scene when Tony first meets Maria. Nearly everyone is onstage, and they’re all committed to their dancing and their parts. Even the square principal, Gladhand(L.D. Weller), is good for a few laughs here. But the sadstory of lovers from opposing worlds is no laughing matter.In fact, the oddly placed intermission comes at a particularly darkpoint of the story, after a main characterhas died. The problem with thatis the scenefollowing intermission actually took place during the scenebefore the intermission, in another location. Thaf’s not only confusing, but the story loses the powerful momentum it gains while careening toward tragedy. The performance would be better served by putting intermission after the balcony scene.It’s more emotionally engaging, and then audience memberscould enjoy the romantic atmosphere with their dates while they wait for the tragic second half to begin. Afterall, West Side Story was written as a romance/action/drama/comedy, and the Hale Center Theater Orem makesthe most ofall those aspects. and Saturdays Feb. 17-April 1, Art City Playhouse, 254 S. Main St., Springville. $7 adults, $5 students, will eee farce, which foll and offstage antics of an hid ecard scting troupe.7 p.m.Feb. 16-18, 20 and 21, American Fork ied SchoolAuditorium, 510 N. 600 East, pete Fork. $5 adults and $4 student CONTINUING: “WEST SIDE STORY” — Shakespeare's “Romeo andJuliet” is transported to modem-day New York City in this classic musical, which centers around two young lovers who are caught between warring street gangs.7:30 p.m. through April 3; 3:30 p.m. Saturday matinees March 11,18, and 25 and no performances Feb. 21 and ason Sn 22 Hale Center |, Orem. wossOTGS0.26800 ww. letheater.com. CLOSING: “THE BOXCAR CHILDREN” — Based ahieclalsegeliect a! po famer,this iey ofa who explore the meaning of Sundays Mondays; fe Ee ricanHans ine $9,$6 $9, wlBYU orsentand D $5 for preview. 422-4322.performances.byu.edu. COMING SOON: “BROADWAY|REVUE" — Featuring | $10 more. Call 764-0535 for reservations. www.csmtc.com. “JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH” — Based on the Roald Dahl, this play tells the story of two hideous aunts, a boy named James, charminginsects and a giant regee 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24, March 3 and 10, 1 and 4 p.m, Feb. 25, March 4 and 11, The children and families that explore the magicalworldof thearts. Rose WagnerPerforming Arts Center, 138 W. 300 South,Salt LakeCity. $5. oy ea or www.arttix. org. 1 neue ;fig —Ballet West will present the most celebrated and tragic love story of all time, set to beautiful Children’s Theatre of Salt Lake, 638 S. State St., Salt LakeCity. $9. No babes in arms. (801) 532-6000. www.childrenstheatresl.com. South,Sat Lake City. STs6s“ty 451-2787. www.arttix.org. DANCE LIVE COMEDY THE BISCUIT THEATRE — Live _ entertainmentvenue. Friday and Saturday, 120 W. Main St., American Fork. $6-$8.Call 7632112 for showtimes. COMEDYSPORTZ — Local chapter of the national comedy-improvisa- tion franchise. Two teams compete against each other for points and audience favor. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 36 W. Center St, Provo.$8. 377-9700 for reservations. www.comedysportzutah.com. “BALLET IN CONCERT” — BYU Theatre Ballet and Ballet Showcase will perform classics with an international flair, ow Act Ill of piece. 730 pm, or es 2 p.m.Feb. 25, Pardoe Theatre, Harris Fine Arts Center, BYU cam- pus, Provo. $8. 422-4322.performances.byu.edu. OREM COMMUNITY DANCE — every Saturday ni ai p.m.at the Orem Center, 93 N. 400 East, Orem. % with optional induded. el isa eee De e ryema nry oe A a Ct a e h 9002 ‘91 Aienugay ‘Aepsiny, ‘pjesay Ajeg ines OFF!" — ‘American Fork 229-7110 of 229-7111. ie?Lesa THE ROSE” —A $7 adults, $5 students, seniors and children. Dinner option available for hosted the reper DanceTheatre, for a e seniors and children.Call 735-4543 for reservations. www.artcityplayhouse.com. |