Descriptions of the shows listed below were provided by the theaters producing them. They have been lightly edited for clarity.
OGDEN
The Ziegfeld Theater, 3934 S. Washington Blvd., Ogden
Forget the West End, British “Panto” is the most popular form of theater across the pond. And Zig Youth Theater is bringing it to the Ziegfeld Stage! A “Panto” is a traditional fairy tale with a modern twist. Modern music, modern dance with current jokes and themes.
Spirited heroine Cinderella searches for love in spite of the exploits of her hideous Ugly Sisters and Evil Stepmother. A friend named Buttons, singing mice, a magical Fairy Godmother, the sparkle of glass slippers with beautiful sets, big song and dance numbers, slapstick comedy and a handsome prince combine together to create the perfect family night out.
Performances: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 17 and 18; 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18
Tickets: $12 at zigarts.com or call 855-944-2787
Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts, 1901 University Circle, Weber State University, Ogden
Imagine a world where only 1,000 words are allowed. All other words are forbidden. “Old” words, like beautiful, are replaced with calculated words, like photosubmissionization. Intended for audiences of all ages, this thought-provoking new play explores the often overlooked beauty and power of words.
Performances: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov.17 and 18; 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18
Tickets: $11-$13 at weberstatetickets.com or call 801-626-8500
Treehouse Museum, 347 22nd St., Ogden
A fantastic Khan-medy about the Emperor of Mongolia and the power of illusion.
Performances: 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 17 and 18
Tickets: $5 at http://bit.ly/2zN9OrB or call 801-394-9663
MAGNA
The Empress Theatre, 9104 W. 2700 South, Magna
Called “the funniest farce ever written,” Noises Off presents a manic menagerie of itinerant actors rehearsing a flop called Nothing’s On. Doors slamming, on and offstage intrigue, and an errant herring all figure in the plot of this hilarious and classically comic play.
Performances: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 17 and 18; 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18
Tickets: $10 at http://bit.ly/2tTYwuG or call 801-347-7373
SALT LAKE CITY
Leona Wagner Black Box, Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 W. 300 South, Salt Lake City
Leandra, Skye and Fioon are witches — good witches, but witches nevertheless. They have been hired by Thomas Middleton to perform in a new play called Macbeth, which he’s written in tandem with a playwright known to the witches as The Brad, aka Shakespeare. Before and after each scene in which they are featured, we see the “weyward” (weird) sisters in their dressing room — the here and now. Not completely savvy to a theater world — the out there — these three sisters grapple with how they fit into the fabric of the play, how they contribute to the telling of Macbeth’s story and if they should somehow alter the final conclusion.
Performances: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 17 and 18
Tickets: $20 at arttix.artsaltlake.org or call 801-355-2787
The Off Broadway Theatre, 272 S. Main St., Salt Lake City
The Off Broadway Theatre is constantly criticized for not having enough intergalactic Christmas shows with a Mormon-based theme. Unfortunately, Santa meets the Mormon Martian Missionaries just didn’t sell. But this year they silence all of their critics with their holiday show, “Star Ward Christmas.” This amazing musical parody takes characters from last year’s very successful “Star Ward” and mixes them with current sci-fi characters so that they can save Christmas from the dork side. Happy Holidays and may the Farce be with you.
Performances: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 23 and Mondays Nov. 27 through Dec. 18; 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9
Tickets: $10-16 at https://theobt.retailregister.com/ or call 801-355-4628
SOUTH SALT LAKE
‘THE MASQUE OF BEAUTY AND THE BEAST’
Utah Children’s Theatre, 3605 S. State St., South Salt Lake
A fanciful tapestry of the theatrical enchantment retelling the ageless fairy tale for audiences of children of all ages, this production has been produced six times over the years at UCT.
Written in rhyming couplets, this dramatic and beautiful play engages in classical storytelling with the accompaniment of a narrator and silent masked characters called Grotesques.
Performances: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17; 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18
Tickets: $16 at http://bit.ly/2mfaTT6 or call 801-532-6000
