By LAURA LEE COTTON
laura@newsroom.byu.edu
Fairy tales have been given a fresh start in Sundance Outdoor Theatre's 1999 summer season.
Under the direction of Damien Gray, all three musicals -- 'Cinderella,' 'Umbrellas of Cherbourg' and 'Oliver!' -- have been given original twists to stay away from 'recycling' the same summer theater productions, said Philip Himberg, artistic director of Sundance Theatre Production.
'I want to give the audiences something different -- to give them a unique way of seeing things so they see them for the first time,' Gray said, 'And for those who are seeing it for the first time, to give them a powerful theater experience.'
While 'Cinderella' is an obvious fairy tale, 'Umbrellas of Cherbourg' and 'Oliver!' are not often considered of the genre.
'Each in its own way has a grand notion of the real world,' Himberg said.
Sundance will kick off its summer season with the timeless story of Rogers and Hammersteins's 'Cinderella.' The story has been given a modern outlook to make it apply to the current lifestyle.
'It's Cinderella today,' said Elizabeth Nebeker, Sundance Institute public relations director.
The production's set and costumes are contemporary and the choreography of New York choreographer, Sally Silvers, adds to the modernized feel of the well-known musical score.
'It's a story everyone knows. It's timeless,' Gray said, 'But I want the audience to know there is something immediate about it -- about youth culture worldwide.'
'I want kids to recognize themselves and the parents to recognize what the kids are going through,' Himberg said.
'Cinderella' will run June 30 through July 13, Monday through Saturday at 8p.m., excluding Saturday, July 3rd.
For the first time in twenty years, an English version of the French cinema classic, 'Umbrellas of Cherbourg' will be staged for theater. Two-time Grammy nominee Maureen McGovern will lead Michel LeGrand's musical score, including the song, 'I Will Wait For You.'
' is a new play, no one has seen it but the songs are familiar,' Himberg said.
The play's love story of Genevieve, the young daughter of an umbrella shop owner, and Guy, an automobile mechanic, is told completely through song.
'Umbrellas has a beautiful score of music that will leave the audience in tears,' Gray said, 'I think it is relevant here because people have to get used to the men leaving for two years.'
Himberg said 'Umbrellas of Cherbourg' is a 'fairy tale for adults' because love doesn't always work out as planned.
'Umbrellas of Cherbourg' will run July 16-29, Monday through Saturday.
Closing the Sundance Summer Theatre is 'Oliver!' Set in a rehearsal hall, the production is staged so that the audience can experience how a musical is put together while enjoying the full musical score.
'('Oliver!') was created so that the audience can be apart of the process of creating a musical,' Himberg said.
Roger Daltrey, a former member of the music group 'The Who,' leads the cast as the character Fagin. The cast begins around a huge table working with the script. As the production proceeds in telling the story of young Oliver and his quest for love and shelter, the characters throw down their script and sing and dance their numbers on the table.
'I hope the audience walks away feeling they were given something,' Gray said. 'Something they will never forget.'
'Oliver!' will run August 2-17.
All three musicals will be staged on the Sundance's outdoor Eccles Stage. Tickets average $15 and are available at the Sundance Box Office at 801-225-4100 and at SmithsTix Outlets at 1-800-888-TIXX/801-467-TIXX.