USU’s Old Lyric Repertory Company Presents Family-Friendly Plays This Summer
The Old Lyric Repertory Company, a professional theatre group in northern Utah, returns this summer with four family-friendly comic stage productions at the historic Caine Lyric Theatre in downtown Logan. The 2010 summer season begins June 10 and runs through July 31.
The Old Lyric Repertory Company is a production program based in the Theatre Arts Department in the Caine School of the Arts, soon to be the Caine College of the Arts, at Utah State University. The OLRC is led by artistic director Dennis Hassan.
“We are looking forward to the 2010 season because each production was selected for its excitement level and appeal for families,” Hassan said.
The company traditionally offers a variety of shows annually, including a comedy, a musical, a classical piece and a mystery.
“While each production this season falls into one of these categories, they all contain comedic elements,” Hassan said.
As part of the company’s tradition of producing four shows in rolling repertory annually since 1967, this summer features “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged),” “Blithe Spirit,” “Always…Patsy Cline” and “The Mousetrap.”
“The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” represents the comedy for the season, as three zany college-age boys reenact the entire works of Shakespeare in an hour and a half. Hassan said the show is quick and hilarious.
“If you’ve never read Shakespeare, you’ll love it; if you’ve read the entire works, you’ll love it even more,” Hassan said.
The production runs June 10-12, 19, 23, 25 and July 10, 14, 22 and 30. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. nightly with additional 2 p.m. matinees June 19 and July 10.
Summer 2010’s classic piece, “Blithe Spirit,” was written by Noel Coward during World War II with the intention of brightening spirits during a time of bombardment. According to Hassan, it makes light of the serious topic of death.
“During its day, it was the longest-running production,” he said. “It’s still one of the top three productions in Britain.”
“Blithe Spirit” runs June 16-18, 24, 26 and July 15, 23 and 29. Curtain times are 7:30 p.m. with an additional 2 p.m. matinee June 26.
“Always…Patsy Cline” is the popular choice for the season’s musical and includes a bigger band than usual in an OLRC production and “two lead-role powerhouses that really carry the show,” Hassan said.
The play includes “country talk” and social drinking, but is still recommended for families, he said.
This production runs June 30, July 1-3, 16, 21, 24 and 28. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. with additional 2 p.m. matinees July 3 and 24.
The summer’s mystery, “The Mousetrap,” is the longest-running play in Great Britain to date.
“It features fascinating characters, will keep your attention and surprise you with an ending as only Agatha Christie can do,” Hassan said.
It runs July 7-9, 17, 20, 27 and 31. Each night’s production begins at 7:30 p.m. with additional 2 p.m. matinees July 17 and 31.
Tickets for OLRC productions are available by calling or visiting the Caine School of the Arts Box Office at Utah State University in the Chase Fine Arts Center, 435-797-8022, or by online purchase at the box office website (http://boxoffice.usu.edu). Tickets are also available at the Caine Lyric Theatre beginning May 17, from 12:30-8 p.m. daily, Monday through Saturday.
Individual ticket prices range from $15 to $25 for adults, $12-$21 for seniors and USU faculty and staff and $9-$18 for USU students and youth. More information about tickets, discounts, season passes and production summaries can be found online (http://csa.usu.edu).
For more information on the OLRC’s 2010 season, visit the website (http://csa.usu.edu).
—USU Media Relations and the Caine School of the Arts