Staging the summer

Two guys decked out in masks and capes — the phantom of the Paris Opera and Zorro —are among characters who will be making the rounds on local stages this summer.

Nuptials will also be big during the summer theater season, with the world premiere of "My Big Fat Utah Wedding," and with one of Shakespeare's best-known brides — the ill-tempered Katherina (a k a Kate the Cursed) — in at least three productions of "The Taming of the Shrew."

Provo Theatre Company jump-started the season last week with Michael McLean and Kevin Kelly's "The Ark," but the traditional June-September lineup really gets going next week with productions ranging from a national touring company of "Phantom of the Opera" in the Capitol Theatre to the madcap musical "Lucky Stiff" at the Egyptian Theatre in Park City to Salt Lake Shakespeare's season-opener, "Taming of the Shrew."

And that's just for starters.

Here's a brief look at some of the changes from previous seasons and a few upcoming highlights:

THE UTAH SHAKESPEAREAN FESTIVAL, now heading into its 43rd year, faces a predicament common to many companies across the country — potential losses due to soaring gas prices and a slowdown in funding.

The Cedar City festival has canceled its Royal Feaste until further notice and is making slight trims in its Plays in Progress series (three plays this year instead of four).

But the festival has also added respected Utah playwright Aden Ross to its staff as director of the "Plays in Progress" project. And former Salt Lake Tribune drama critic Nancy Melich is replacing longtime Literary Seminar director Jerry L. Crawford to conduct the Randall L. Jones seminars throughout the season.

Longtime patrons will also find some familiar faces on stage, including Leslie Brott, Brian Vaughn and David Ivers.

THE EGYPTIAN THEATRE COMPANY in Park City is scaling back, eliminating Sunday performances for its summer repertory productions of "Lucky Stiff" and "Little Me." The company, which was in dire straits a few months ago, is attempting to broaden its audience appeal with these light-hearted, family-oriented musical comedies.