It's showtime — Utah Shakespearean Festival kicks off summer season

What plays the fiddle, has four hairy legs and a big nose?

The Utah Shakespearean Festival.

Kicking off the summer season, the USF will fill its stages with three of Shakespeare's great works, a couple of theater classics and a musical.

"If they've been here before, they (patrons) know what we do," said R. Scott Phillips, executive director of the USF. "They can expect six very complete and grand productions in the tradition of the festival. If they haven't been before, what they'll experience is something they didn't expect to find in a community like Cedar City."

By that, he means professional, Tony Award-winning theater.

Phillips, chatting by cell phone as he left a production meeting, talked about how the company has just moved into a 24-hour work schedule. "The theaters are in use now for 24 hours a day until we open. When the actors aren't there, the electricians come in, then the painters and builders work until the actors come back. The theater is open 24 hours a day. It takes that kind of commitment."

With many folks looking to stay closer to home this summer due to rising fuel prices, USF hopes families will find Cedar City the perfect spot for a getaway. "People can use Cedar City as a hub for all sorts of outdoor activities, then come see a great show at night," Phillips said.

Here's more explanation on the above riddle and what you can expect:

"The Two Gentlemen of Verona": This is where you'll find the four hairy legs.

The most ill-mannered canine ever to grace the stage will be at the outdoor Adams Shakespearean Theatre. Jake is a mutt that was rescued off the street when he was 8 months old. Chosen from 15 dogs and two competitive dog auditions, Jake had to perform tricks, pose for photos, then pass a callback with actor Brian Vaughn.

"We wanted to see how each dog responded to him," said director Raymond P. Inkel. Jake's owner, Karen Wegner, is nervous for Jake, "because I want him to do well," but she has yet to see him rehearse — she's too big of a distraction. "Hopefully, I'll be able to sneak into a performance."

Aside from scene-stealing Jake, "The Two Gentlemen of Verona," one of the Bard's earlier comedies, is about four young people and their adventures with falling in and out of love.