New productions coming to stage

The premiere of a new spoof at Desert Star and two Broadway musicals are opening this week.

• "KICKING THE HOBBIT: BORED OF THE RINGS," written and directed by Scott Holman, takes a poke at "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and other fantasy favorites. It opens Thursday in the Desert Star Cabaret Theatre, 4861 S. State, Murray, where it continues through March 19.

The plot revolves around Walter, a sci-fi fanatic, who gets a "Dear John" letter from his fiancee because he spends too much time watching "Star Wars" and "The Lord of the Rings." In order to restore balance to the world (and the ring to his girlfriend), he must travel to Middle-Earth. En route he joins forces with a fellowship that includes Fraudo, Karl Malone and "Jeopardy!" champ Ken Jennings.

The cast includes Bob Longoria and John Rowland as Walter; Kerstin Davis and Kirsten Nagel as his fiancee, Donnalea, and Princess Leia; Mary Parker Williams and Lynnette Parry as Gandolf; Ashley Mayfield and Kirsten Nagel as Fraudo; Ed Farnsworth as Gollum and Karl Malone; Brian Bahr and John Rowland as Ken Jennings; Jack Drayton as Sharon; and Matt Kohler as Dog the Bounty Hunter.

Performances are 7 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 7 and 9:30 p.m. on Fridays and 3, 7 and 9:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Admission is $11-$13 for adults, $10 for students and senior citizens (specific performances only) and $6 for children, 11 and under, not including optional food and beverage service (266-2600).

• "JANE EYRE, THE MUSICAL," featuring Marvin Payne as Rochester and Aimy Kersey as Jane Eyre, is being staged from Friday through Feb. 5 by the Alpine Playhouse, 81 S. 100 West, Alpine.

Performances are Wednesdays at 8 p.m. and Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $11.50 for adults and $9.50 for children (492-0499).

• "SHE LOVES ME," the Broadway version of the film "The Shop Around the Corner" (remade as both "In the Good Old Summertime" and "You've Got Mail"), plays Friday through Jan. 15 in the new Midvale Performing Arts Center, 695 W. Center (7720 South).

Directed by Linda Littlewood and choreographed by Peggy Sherratt, the cast includes Wade and Suzanne Walker as pen pals Georg and Amalia — who become soul mates through their letters to each other but who are bickering co-workers in a Budapest perfume shop. Also in the cast are Katey Lowder as Ilona, Stephen Harmon as Kodaly, John Bowe as Maraczek, David Bowe as Sipos and Ames Bell as Arpad.