Shakespeare festival’s fall season has ‘Tempest,”Mousetrap,”Art’

The Utah Shakespearean Festival’s fall season kicks off at 7:30 p.m. today with a preview performance of William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” Saturday will feature a preview performance of French playwright Yasmina Reza’s “Art” at 2 p.m. and a preview performance of Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” at 7:30 p.m.

All performances will take place in the Randall L. Jones Theatre in Cedar City, Utah.

Directed by Kathleen F. Conlin, the festival’s associate artistic director, “The Tempest” is a tale of magic and mystery. The deposed Duke Prospero (John Pribyl) and his daughter Miranda (Marcella Rose Sciotto) face monsters and fairies on a magical island, but gain wisdom and humanity through their struggles.

“Art,” directed by J.R. Sullivan, also a festival associate artistic director, is a comic look at the question of what constitutes art. Serge (Elijah Alexander) has purchased an expensive modern painting, but he and his friends have varying opinions regarding its artistic value. John Pribyl stars as Marc and Chris Mixon is Yvan.

Brad Carroll directs “Mousetrap,” the festival’s first murder mystery. The classic play is set in Monkswell Manor, where murder lurks around every corner and where everyone is a suspect and a possible victim. Carole Healey stars as Mrs. Boyle and Mark Light-Orr will appear as Mr. Paravicini.

The festival continues Thursday through Sept. 22 and Tuesdays through Saturdays through Oct. 27.

For tickets or more information, call (800) 752-9849 or go to www.bard.org.