The bard is back

CEDAR CITY — For the Utah Shakespearean Festival's "sapphire-anniversary" season, there are a number of brilliantly polished keepsake performances:

• Brian Vaughn as the tormented Hamlet

• Festival founder Fred C. Adams and Eric Van Tielen in "H.M.S. Pinafore"

• Kieran Connolly, Leslie Brott and Victoria Adams-Zischke in "The Merry Wives of Windsor"

• The entire cast of "On Golden Pond"

• The energetic, fly-by-night thespians of "Room Service"

And the three productions in the Randall L. Jones Theatre share one major Wasatch Front connection — scenery designed by George Maxwell, resident designer for Pioneer Theatre Company.

Working in a much smaller space, Maxwell has created stunning — or appropriately tacky — settings that capture the visual essence of the trio of diverse shows. And the three completely contained sets can be rolled off and on for the rapid turnaround of staging two different shows each day.

If you go

What: Utah Shakespearean Festival

Where: Southern Utah University, Cedar City

When: Through Sept. 2

How much: $18-$46

Phone: 800-752-9849

Web: www.bard.org

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