'Patsy Cline,' 'Aida' open this week on Utah stages

A revival of one of the Grand Theatre's biggest hits, the Utah premiere of a recent Disney Broadway musical and a gala celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Babcock Performing Readers are among this week's new stage offerings.

"ALWAYS . . . PATSY CLINE," featuring Erica Hansen and Toni Byrd reprising their roles from last season, is one of those rare "back-by-popular-demand" productions.

Based on ballots turned in by the Grand Theatre's patrons and subscribers, it's been brought back to open the Grand's 2005-06 season, beginning Friday and running through Sept. 24.

Hansen portrays the legendary country star Patsy Cline, and Byrd plays one of her biggest fans and friends, Texas housewife Louise Seger. The show includes many of Cline's chart-busting hits, including "I Fall to Pieces" and "Sweet Dreams." Richard Scott is directing.

Performances are Mondays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. at the theater, located on Salt Lake Community College's South City campus, 1575 S. State, with 2 p.m. matinees on Sept. 17 and 24. (There are no performances on Sept. 12 and 13).

Tickets are $10 to $24, with discounts for students and senior citizens (957-3322 or www.the-grand.org).

"AIDA," Elton John and Tim Rice's contemporary spin on the legendary opera, is making its Utah debut in the SCERA Showhouse II, 754 S. State, Orem.

Directed by Chad Taylor and choreographed by Rick Robinson, the cast includes Kandyce Cameron as Aida, an African princess captured by the Egyptians.

Also in the cast are Justin Uttley as Radames, heroic captain of the Egyptian soldiers, and Cindy Winkel as Amneris, princess of Egypt, betrothed to Radames.

Taylor is focusing on the theatricality of the script instead of the spectacle of the costumes and staging.

Following the general plot of the opera, "Aida" is the musical drama of the love between Radames and Aida, who is torn between her love for the warrior and loyalty to her family and her people.

Taylor notes that productions he's seen previously treat "Aida" as ". . . a dance and pop concert. We will still have some spectacular choreography . . . and some of the flashy elements, but I want to have audiences really see the story and the choices and struggles the characters must go through."

"Aida" opens the SCERA's "Encore Season" on Friday and continues through Oct. 3, with performances at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays-Saturdays and Mondays. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children, senior citizens and students (225-2787 or 225-2569).