Lyric Repertory Company Sets its 49th Season

Utah State University’s Lyric Repertory Company — the Lyric Rep — brings audiences music, mystery, love and laughter in the summer 2016 season.

“The Caine Lyric Theatre has been an integral part of the community for more than 45 years,” said Richie Call, co-artistic director of the Lyric Rep. “We have a cast of amazing actors from all over the country.”

And, Call notes, a number of long-time audience favorites return this summer. The company offers four shows that, when all have opened, play in repertory.

Opening this year’s season is Arsenic and Old Lace, a comedy by Joseph Kesselring. This Lyric Rep favorite includes some of the most beloved characters of all time. Mortimer Brewster, a drama critic who must deal with his crazy, homicidal family, scrambles to keep Brooklyn safe from the “charity” of his well-meaning aunts. In the classic comedy, Martha and Abby Brewster leave Mortimer questioning his own sanity. The two aunts are played by Leslie Brott and Colleen Baum, both members of Actors’ Equity Association with extensive regional credits.

Arsenic and Old Lace opens June 9 and continues through the summer June 10, 11, 18, July 8, 16, 23, 28 and Aug. 5.

Next is Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, opening June 16. In the Sherlock Holmes mystery, Ludwig puts his farcical spin on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic The Hound of the Baskervilles. Five actors play 45 characters in the regional premiere by the playwright who brought audiences Lend Me a Tenor and Moon Over Buffalo. Among the cast is Lee Daily, a Lyric Rep veteran and audience favorite.

Audiences can solve the mystery in Baskerville June 16-18, 25, July 9, 13, 16, 21, 29 and Aug. 6.

Opening June 23 and adapted from the 1952 movie of the same name is Singin’ in the Rain, based on the original screenplay by Betty Comden and Adolph Green with songs by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed. One of the most popular movie-musicals of all time, the show follows a Hollywood film studio as it adapts its latest silent film into a musical “talkie.”

Katie Francis, who played the title role in last summer’s The Mystery of Edwin Drood, is set to play Kathy Selden and Tyler Whitsides plays Don Lockwood.

Toe-tapping tunes from the show include “Singin’ in the Rain,” “Good Morning,” “Moses Supposes,” “Make ‘Em Laugh” and many more. The production opens June 23-25, July 2, 6, 9, 14, 22, 30 and Aug. 3 and 6.

The fourth show of the season is You Can’t Take it With You by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman. A charming, feel-good comedy, You Can’t Take it With You rounds out the 2016 Lyric Rep season. In the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Grandpa Vanderhoff, played by Patrick Williams, leads his family to question what matters most in life: money and security or love and happiness? Audiences can ponder that question June 30, July 1, 2, 7, 15, 23, 27, 30 and Aug. 4.

The Lyric Rep also offers four dates with its “Dinner and Discussion” series. Those purchasing the package can enjoy a meal by the river at Elements Restaurant with select Lyric Rep actors, directors and designers prior to curtain. Dinner and Discussion features special presentations, discussions and interactions with Lyric patrons’ favorite artistic team. Individual dinners are $30 per person with a discount when purchased in a package of four. All dinners start at 4:30 p.m. Dinner for Arsenic and Old Lace is Friday, June 10; dinner for Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery is Friday, June 17; dinner for Singin’ in the Rain is Friday, June 24, and dinner for You Can’t Take it With You is Friday, July 1.

The Lyric Rep company includes theater professionals and advanced university theater students. It is a professional program based in the Theatre Arts Department and the Caine College of the Arts at USU.

Tickets for the 2016 season are now on sale. For more information or to purchase tickets, go see the Caine College of the Arts website or stop at the Caine Lyric Theatre Box Office from June 1-Aug. 5, Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

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Writer and contact: Whitney Schulte, 435-797-9203, whitney.schulte@usu.edu