4 tales by local writer opening

This week's stage offerings include a new quartet of original tales by local playwright Mike Dorrell and Bear Lake's popular Pickleville Playhouse opening its summer season.

• "TALKING WALES II," being staged by Utah Contemporary Theatre from Wednesday through July 1, is a follow-up to last year's collection of four insightful monologues written by local playwright Mike Dorrell. It's a continuation of the same concept: stories centered around characters who have some connection to Wales (Dorrell's homeland).

According to UTC Artistic Director Kurt Proctor, they all share the same tagline was used last year: "Four people — four stories — four epiphanies — forever changed," all directed by UTC co-founder Kirstie Gulick Rosenfield.

— "Missing," with Paul Kiernan, who plays a Welsh character.

— "Merlin," with Josh Pierson as a young man sent to Wales by his mother to investigate his ancestors; genealogy with a twist.

— "The Creditor," with Fiona Smith as a young woman from the southeast part of Great Britain who moves to Wales because of a promotion at work, then falls in love with a man who runs a reggae club.

— "Deeds," with Daisy Blake as a woman who gets in trouble while researching her thesis on author Jane Austen. She visits a mansion that her ancestors owned in the 18th century, with very strange results.

As in last year's foursome, the plays will be staged in an art gallery, this time at The Gallery at Evolutionary Health Care, 461 E. 200 South, Suite 100. Performances are Wednesdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., with ample free parking adjacent to the building in the evenings. Tickets are $20 at the door or reserved in advance (886-3019).

• "ROUTE 66," the second of four rotating productions in the Old Lyric Repertory Company's 2006 season in Logan's historic Caine Lyric Theatre, is an original musical revue created by former Utahn Roger Bean.

Director Kris Bushman said the show fits the lyrics of Bobby Troup's legendary title song, encouraging travelers to "get your kicks on Route 66." Four Texaco gas-station workers as they sing and dance their way down the familiar 2,448-mile route which was one of the first major arteries connecting Chicago and Los Angeles. They'll sing songs from the 1950s and '60s by the Beach Boys, Willie Nelson, Woody Guthrie and others, along with period commercials and jingles.