'James and the Giant Peach' comes to life on stage

The image of a giant peach filled with oversize, talking insects was utterly captivating when I was a child, and "James and the Giant Peach" was one of my favorite books. If that sounds like your little one, you can now see the story live on stage.

"James and the Giant Peach," March 11-13, Youth Theatre program, Kingsbury Hall, University of Utah.

The stage adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic features original music by Cathy Neff.

Shows are 7 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays; 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., on Saturdays. Tickets are $5-$10 (801-581-7100 or www.kingtix.com).

"Eurydice,"March 9-20, The Grand Theatre, 1575 S. State.

Sarah Ruhl, one of America's most-produced young playwrights, brings a modern adaptation of the classic Greek tale. The play focuses on love, death, memory, beauty and the question of life after death. The Utah premiere stars Stephanie Ogden, Scott Bahlmann, Steve Williams, Dan Larrinaga, Holly Braithwaite, Joe Crinch and Ileana Kovaskalya.

Shows are nightly, except Sunday, 7:30 p.m., with Saturday matinees. Tickets are $8-$24 (801-957-3322 or www.the-grand.org).

"Doo-Wop," March 12-27, Upstage Theatre for Youth, Peteetneet Museum and Cultural Arts Center, Payson.

Grab your poodle skirts and saddle shoes and take a trip back to the '50s, Daddy-o, in this musical loosely based on "Little Red Riding Hood."

Show nights and times vary. Tickets are $5-$7 (801-754-9107 or upstagetheatreforyouth@gmail.com).

"Reefer Madness," Dark Horse Company Theatre, March 12-28, Egyptian Theatre, 328 Main, Park City.

The musical, based on the 1936 film, cautions people against the evils of marijuana. The film became a cult classic and now the musical has its own cult following. It stars Brian Hague, Ashley Grant, Danny Tarasevich and Stefanie Dean.

Shows are Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m., and Sundays, 6 p.m. Tickets are $18-$25 (435-649-9371 or www.parkcityshows.com).

"The Glass Menagerie," Mortal Fools Theatre Project, March 12-27, Provo Theatre, 100 E. 100 North, Provo.

Considered one of the greatest plays in American Theatre, the Tennessee Williams classic features Reese Phillip Purser, Stephanie Foster Breinholt, Karen Baird and Daryl Ball.

Shows are Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., matinees available. Tickets are $10-$12 (www.mortalfools.org).

e-mail: ehansen@desnews.com