Musicals, comedies dominate stage this week

Comedies, musicals and a touring production are among this week's stage openings.

• "HARVEY," Mary Chase's Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy about the eccentric Elwood P. Dowd and his imaginary friend — a 6-foot-tall rabbit, plays Friday through March 26 in Rodgers Memorial Theatre, 292 E. Pages Lane, Centerville.

Jansen Davis is directing a double-cast ensemble that includes Dave Peterson and John Williams alternating as Elwood, Debe Jacobs and Jane Huefner as his frustrated sister, Veta Louise Simmons, and Nancy Lee Manus and Kathryn Christensen as her daughter, Myrtle Mae.

Performances are Mondays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12-$14 for adults, $11-$12 for students and senior citizens and $9 for children (298-1302).

• "ROBIN HOOD: THE THIEF OF HEARTS," a touring production from the Cleveland, Ohio-based SignStage on Tour, will play Tuesday-Thursday in the Pardoe Theatre of Brigham Young University's Harris Fine Arts Center.

SignStage on Tour is one of only a handful of professional theater companies in the United States that features both deaf and hearing actors on stage together in every production. All performances of "Robin Hood" will be presented in American Sign Language as well as spoken dialogue.

Performances are 7:30 nightly, with one matinee at 2 p.m. on Wednesday. Tickets are $9 for general admission or $6 for those with BYU or student I.D. (378-4322 or www.performances.byu.edu).

• "THE MERCHANT OF VENICE," one of William Shakespeare's early comedies, plays from Friday through April 1 at the Terrace Plaza Playhouse, 99 E. 4700 South, Ogden.

Directed by Carolyn J. Stevens, the cast includes Kenneth Jeppson as Antonio, Alisha Clegg and Emily Louise Dewey sharing the role of Portia, Mark Sparkman as Shylock and Michael Brunson and Thomas Sparkman alternating as Bassanio.

Performances are Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $9-$11 for adults, $8-$10 for senior citizens and students and $6-$8 children (393-0700).

• "SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS," the Broadway version of MGM's classic 1954 movie, will play Friday through April 2 at Center Street Musical Theatre, 177 W. Center St., Provo.

The cast includes Gavin Grooms as Adam Pontipee and Mandy Anderson as Millie, the girl he chooses for a bride, though she is unaware that he has six rambunctious younger siblings at home.