Summer shows offer riveting choices

Every August, Edinburgh, Scotland, comes alive with culture, visitors and performances.

In conjunction with the Edinburgh International Festival, many other festivals kick-off in Edinburgh at the same time, the Fringe Festival being the biggest. Where EIF focuses on the more classical arts, the Fringe has no selection process in its programming — meaning that everything from theater, comedy, children's shows, dance, physical theater and exhibitions are among some of the offerings.

This year, Utah will be represented by the Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts' Spatland Club, as they appear with their production of "Innovation."

Under the direction of Jared Larkin, the group's original physical theater piece will be showcased at the American High School Theatre Festival venue in Edinburgh.

The group, nominated by the Utah Shakespearean Festival, competed against thousands of other nominated schools and was selected to perform at the Fringe.

Those involved have been busy raising funds for the trip and are offering the public a chance to help support them.

"Innovation," will show Aug. 11-13, 7 p.m., at Highland High School Auditorium, 2166 S. 1700 East, Highland.

A suggested donation of $10 will help offset the cost of travel. The show stars Shealyn Kwan-Smith, Maggie Haight, McKenzie Evans, Nora Wilmarth, Derick Rodgers, Bailie Breault, Victoria Bird, Carly Welch, Emily Buck, Kristen Olszewski and Alexis Anderton. Call 801-560-8279 for more information.

There are plenty of other shows from which to choose this week:

"The Scarlet Pimpernel," will show Aug. 11-Sept. 26 at Hale Centre Theatre, 3333 S. Decker Lake Drive.

Back by popular demand, the French Revolution returns to Hale, with all its pomp and circumstance.

One of Hale's biggest technical shows, the set includes a life-size spinning carousel, a guillotine that tricks the eye, a ship, a prison, a ballroom and a tavern. And, if that's not enough to keep the cast and crew busy, there are more than 800 costumes pieces, 357 of which were designed and handmade by Hale's costumers.

In order to create the 18th century period costumes, Hale brought ribbons, laces and fabrics in from Los Angeles and New York to preserve the authenticity.

Female cast members have been rehearsing in corsets and men in high-heeled shoes to get accustomed to the costumes.