3 stage musicals opening

Three stage musicals are opening this week.

• "THE SPITFIRE GRILL," a poignant, sweetly sentimental musical based on the 1996 film (an Audience Award winner at the Sundance Film Festival), is playing Friday through May 20 in Salt Lake Community College's Grand Theatre, located on the school's South City Campus, 1575 S. State.

Directed by Toni Lynn Byrd, the cast includes Brittany Klintworth as Percy Talbot, an ex-convict seeking new life in a rural Wisconsin town, and Anne Cullimore Decker as crusty Hannah Ferguson, owner of the village's only restaurant, the Spitfire Grill.

Also in the ensemble are Jake Miskimins as Sheriff Joe Sutter, Percy's parole officer; Breanna Bassett as Shelby Thorpe, a cafe employee who befriends Percy; Shawn Maxfield as Caleb, Shelby's stubborn husband; Betsy West as Effy Krayneck, the town's busybody postmistress; and Mark Schulz as a mysterious Visitor.

Musical direction will be by Kevin Mathie, heading up a small, folk style combo onstage.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday of this week, then Wednesday-Saturday the second week and Monday-Saturday the final week, with matinees at 2 p.m. on May 13 and 20. Tickets range from $10-$24 with senior citizen and student discounts available (957-3322 or www.the-grand.org).

• "THE KING AND I," Rodgers & Hammerstein's classic musical, will play Friday through June 3 in the Center Street Musical Theatre, 177 W. Center St., Provo.

Directed by Gavin Grooms and choreographed by Jessica Carney, the cast includes Tara Stewart as British school teacher Anna Leonowens and Matt Champneys as the King of Siam. The production features a live orchestra directed by Steven Liening.

Tickets are $8-$10 for adults and $7-$9 for students, senior citizens and children. There is also a $35 family pass on Monday nights only. Optional catered dinner is $10 per person, with advance reservations required. Dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. with curtain at 7:30 (764-0535 or www.csmtc.com).

• "GODSPELL, JR.," a youth-oriented edition of Stephen Schwartz's 1971 musical version of the Gospel According to St. Matthew, is playing Friday and Saturday and May 12-13 under the auspices of Farmington Arts Council's "Spring Youth Theatre" program.

Curtain is 7 p.m. Seating will be cabaret style, with seating at tables going for $7 each and $5 for those in regular chairs. Desserts and other concessions will be available (447-0953, Ext. 4).

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E-mail: ivan@desnews.com