8 THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS WILL OPEN THIS WEEK

      The eight stage productions opening this week in the region include a national touring company's one-night stand in Logan, two student productions on local college/university campuses and a variety of community theater shows.

      In other theater news, two longtime Salt Lake area groups - the Westminster Players and Salt Lake Community Theatre - have new directors at their helms. Also, William Shipley, who formerly operated the Music Box Theatre in Provo, has started an intimate new children's theater in the former Christian Science Church building in downtown Provo, and there's the premiere of a new family Christmas show at the Draper Theater.Plays and musicals opening during the next week are:

      - KEY EXCHANGE, Kevin Wade's comedy-drama about two men and a woman dealing with their relationships, will be presented by the Westminster Players Dec. 9-12 in the Jewett Center at Wesminster College.

      Larry L. West, new head of the theater department at Westminster, is directing the play. His cast includes Anne deLong as Lisa, John Welch as Phillip, and Nic Behrend as Michael.

      West said the play is basically about a triangle, with some of the dialogue focusing on conversations about committment and fidelity. Set in New York City, it's a comedy with serious undertones.

      Performances will be Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. Seating will be in the round on the Jewett Center stage. Admission is free.

      - BENEFACTORS, a comic drama exploring the complex emotions and motives of two couples who are good friends, will be staged Dec. 10-13 in the Lab Theatre on the University of Utah campus.

      The story centers around David, an idealistic architect, who lands a job to convert an area of South London slums into a giant housing project consisting of twin skyscapers. As the architect's ideals are compromised, he faces flak from Colin, one of his closest friends. During the course of the controversey surrounding the project, friends turn into enemies, marriages fall apart and old values and opinions are altered.

      Richard Mathews is directing four U. of U. acting interns: Ja'Nelle J. Dixon, Willard Knox, Mark Larson and Wendy Wilde.