Simon festival among openings

The "other festival" in Cedar City (known as Utah's "festival city") opens its third season this week.

• THE NEIL SIMON FESTIVAL, opening Thursday and continuing through Aug. 13 in Cedar City's Heritage Center Theatre, is adding a non-Simon comedy to the mix this summer.

Playing in repertory for the 3 1/2-week run will be "Lost in Yonkers" and "Chapter Two," along with a comedy by Utahn James Arrington, "The Farley Family Reunion," in keeping with the company's mission of "always including the contributions of local theater artists."

Festival founder Richard Bugg is directing "Lost in Yonkers," which the New York Post calls "the best play Simon ever wrote." It also won the Pulitzer Prize for drama and four Tony Awards, including best play.

The cast includes guest Equity artist Sean Boyd of Las Vegas as Louie, Chrystine Potter Hyatt as Grandma Kurnitz, Bradford Garrison as Jay, Aaron Judd as Arty, Ashley Neves as Bella, Katie Wecker as Aunt Gert and Brice W. Harris IV as Eddie.

Matt Neves is directing "Chapter Two," featuring Sean Boyd as George Schneider, Ellen Treanor as Jennie Malone, Jan Felt as Faye Medwick and Brice Harris as Leo Schneider.

Festival co-founder Connie Fulton is directing "The Farley Family Reunion," with Matthew Nickerson and Sally Hunter Jensen playing multiple roles.

The three plays alternate in repertory, with matinees on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Check the Web site, www.simonfest.org, for a detailed calendar. All seats are $18. Group rates are also available (435-327-8673 or 866-357-4666).

• "SEE HOW THEY RUN," a madcap British comedy, with wild shenanigans and an assortment of oddball characters running amok in an English vicarage, opens Friday and plays through Sept. 3 in Hale Center Theater Orem.

Curt Doussett is directing a mostly double-cast ensemble, including Joel Dehlin and Mitch Hall alternating as the Rev. Lionel Toop, Brett Merritt and Doussett as Cpl. Clive Winton, Hailey Smith and Tonia Freeman Doussett as Penelope Toop, Page Petrucka and Stephanie Gray as the maid (who's seen too many American movies), and April Fossen single-cast as Miss Skillon, who "touches alcohol for the first time in her life."

Performances are Mondays and Thursdays-Saturdays during the first two weeks of the run, after which it will play nightly except Sundays. Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m., with Saturday matinees at 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 20 and 27 and Sept. 3. Tickets range from $10.50-$14.50 (226-8600).