2 'Oz' shows, 'Annie' opening

Ever since the tornado tore through Kansas, picking up a gal named Dorothy and her little dog, Toto, children's theater has never been the same.

The gang is together again on not one, but two stages, in two different youth productions. Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion will hop, skip and dance their way down the yellow brick road, in search of the wizard, avoiding the wicked witch and trying to make it home.

"The Wizard of Oz," July 7 -11, with a possible extension, Hale Center Theater Orem, 225 W. 400 North, Orem. Starring: Kassie Hamilton, Camille Brown, Kassidy Roberts, Blaze Call, Kyle Vorknik and Karl Liechty.

Weekday performances are 2 p.m., Saturday matinee, noon; $2-$8 (801-226-8600 or www.haletheater.org)

"Oz!" July 10-18, Empress Theatre, 9104 W. 2700 South, Magna.

Starring: Cheryl Cripps, Jeremy Heaps, Skyler Bluemel and Jacob Harmon.

Shows are Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday nights, 7:30 p.m., with matinees available, $9-$11, (801-347-7373 or www.empresstheatre.com)

Here are the other shows opening this week:

"Annie Get Your Gun," Alpine Community Theater, July 10-18, Timberline Middle School, 500 W. Canyon Crest Rd., Alpine.

Irving Berlin's classic score features hits like "There's No Business Like Show Business," "You Can't Get a Man With a Gun," and "Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better." This production stars real-life husband and wife Chase and Brooke Grant, with Kevin Burtenshaw as Buffalo Bill Cody.

Shows are nightly, except Sunday (no show on the 16th), 7 p.m., with matinees available, $8 (www.alpinecommunitytheater.org)

"Standing Still Standing," Bluelight Stage, July 10-27, Provo Theater Company, 105 E. 100 North, Provo.

Written by Melissa Leilani Larson, the play is a comedy about live, love and staying awake for both. Starring: Will McAllister, Heidi Hatheway, Justine Trotter and Courtney Jensen.

Shows are Thursday, Friday Saturday and Monday nights, 7:30 p.m., with Saturday matinees available, $10-$12 (www.bluelightstage.org)

"Summer Revue," Center Stage Players, July 8, Off-Broadway Theatre, 272 S. Main.

Center Stage is a musical theater troupe committed to building self-confidence in children. The summer revue consists of four sketches, each with a different style and feel.

Show time is 7 p.m., $5, (801-486-0475 or www.centerstageplayersutah.com)

"An Inspector Calls," Old Lyric Repertory Company, July 10, running in rep until Aug. 1, Caine Lyric Theatre, 28. W. Center St., Logan.

Set in Victorian England, a prosperous manufacturer holds a family dinner party to celebrate his daughter's engagement. Then a police inspector arrives to investigate the suicide of a young working-class woman. Starring: Kent Hadfield, Keri Larsen, Luke Bybee and Phillip Lowe.

Show nights vary, rotating throughout the OLRC season, 7:30 p.m., $19-$25 (435-797-1500 or www.boxoffice.usu.edu)

e-mail: ehansen@desnews.com