Shakespeare Festival, Deer Valley Music Festival, and Additional Events

For residents of Utah eager to experience the performing arts this summer, a variety of choices await.

Although two of Utah’s major summer festivals are quite a distance from the Wasatch Front, numerous other events are scheduled throughout the state.

Below are details on the Utah Shakespeare Festival, the Deer Valley Music Festival, and more — featuring Broadway performances and outdoor events.

Utah Shakespeare Festival

Cedar City becomes a haven for theater enthusiasts each summer at the celebration of William Shakespeare. This year’s festival takes place from June 16 to October 4. For ticket details, visitbard.org. The plays this year include:

“Macbeth” • (June 16-Sept. 4) Shakespeare’s intense tale of ambition and murder — a psychological thriller so gripping that mentioning its name in a theater is considered unlucky.

“Antony and Cleopatra” • (June 17-Sept. 5) The great military hero Marc Antony faces off against one of Shakespeare’s lesser-known tragedies.

“As You Like It” •(June 18-Sept. 6) This romantic comedy follows Rosalind as she disguises herself as a boy to search for her father in the forest of Arden — and ultimately helps her beloved, Orlando, win over his crush: Rosalind.

“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” •(June 19-Oct. 3) In this comedic musical — with a book and lyrics by Robert L. Freedman and music by Steven Lutvak — a man realizes he’s ninth in line to inherit the title of Earl of Highhurst and plots to eliminate the eight relatives ahead of him. In a nod to the 1949 film “Kind Hearts and Coronets,” all eight impending victims are portrayed by the same actor.

“The Importance of Being Earnest” • (June 20-Oct. 4) Two young men in London adopt the same alias — Ernest — to charm two young women, resulting in a series of humorous complications in Oscar Wilde’s timeless farce.

“Steel Magnolias” •(June 21-Oct. 4) Robert Harling’s play, which inspired a 1989 film, revolves around the lives of women at a beauty salon in Louisiana, illustrating the friendships they build.

“Dear Jack, Dear Louise” •(July 11-Oct. 4) Playwright Ken Ludwig shares the story of his parents’ romance in this drama about an Army doctor and an aspiring actress communicating through letters during World War II.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” • (July 29-Aug. 2) A limited run of Shakespeare’s enchanting romance, presented as part of the festival’s artist exchange program with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

Deer Valley Music Festival

The Utah Symphony presents summer concerts at Snow Park Amphitheater, located at 2250 Deer Valley Drive South, Park City. For information and tickets, visitutahsymphony.org.

Thursday, July 3 •“Patriotic Pops,” featuring classic songs in honor of Independence Day weekend, with Broadway vocalist Nikki Renée Daniels.

Saturday, July 5 • “A Salute to John Williams,” showcasing his iconic film compositions. Conductor: Lawrence Loh.

Friday, July 11 •The rapper Common

Saturday, July 12 • “The Music of Paul Simon,” featuring vocalists Chester Gregory and Morgan James. Conducted by Ted Sperling.

Friday, July 18 • “Disney in Concert: ’80s & ’90s Celebration.” Conducted by Ron Spigelman.

Friday, July 25 • Dance/electronic violinist (and Brigham Young University alum) Lindsey Stirling. Conducted by Wesley Schulz.

Saturday, July 26 • Renowned Broadway talents Sutton Foster and Kelli O‘Hara join forces, with Michael Rafter conducting the symphony.

Friday-Saturday, August 1-2 • Classic surf-rock band The Beach Boys will perform.

Friday, August 8 • “The Music of Journey,” with vocalist Juan Del Castillo. Conducted by Brent Havens.

Saturday, August 9 • A rendition of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, conducted by Jessica Rivero Altarriba. Yes, live cannons will feature in the performance.

More performing arts

Broadway at the Eccles • The touring production of “& Juliet,” depicting Shakespeare’s heroine envisioning life beyond Romeo, complemented by popular ’90s hits, runs June 17-22. Eccles Theater, 131 S. Main St., Salt Lake City. Tickets can be found at saltlakecity.broadway.com.

Hale Centre Theatre • This beloved community theater organization has an exciting lineup on its two stages at Mountain America Performing Arts Centre, 9900 S. Monroe St., Sandy. Tickets available at hct.org.

The Centre Stage features the musical “Finding Neverland,” which depicts the creation of “Peter Pan,” running through June 14. Following that, a musical adaptation of “Footloose” will run from July 5 to Aug. 30, and the musical “Sister Act” will take the stage from Sept. 22-Oct. 25.

On the Jewel Box Stage, Reginald Rose’s courtroom drama “12 Angry Men” is running through July 26. A youth edition of “The Wizard of Oz” will be performed in matinees from June 9-20, and a youth edition of “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical” will run in matinees from July 14-23. A special engagement featuring the singing trio Gentri will occur from Aug. 4-23, and “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940″ (a comedy, not a musical) will run from Sept. 8 through Nov. 15.

Meanwhile Park • The theater company, performed in its founder’s backyard, is back with two short plays: “Vacation” by Nathan Johnson and “Red Devil” by Andrea Berting, scheduled July 10-20. The specific location, near Herman Franks Dog Park, will be provided when theatergoers purchase their tickets. For more information, visit MeanwhilePark.com.

Moab Music Festival • Violinist Tessa Lark leads her inaugural festival as artistic director with scheduled concerts and related events across various venues in Moab’s stunning redrock landscape. The festival runs from Aug. 27 to Sept. 12. Visit moabmusicfest.org for further details and tickets.

Salt Lake Acting Company • SLAC’s annual comedy revue suggests that writers Austin Archer, Penelope Caywood, and Olivia Custodio may have been influenced by reality TV. The production is titled “The Secret Lives of the Real Wives in the Salt Lake Hive,” running from June 25 to August 17 at SLAC, 168 W. 500 North, Salt Lake City. Tickets can be found at SaltLakeActingCompany.org.

Tuacahn Amphitheatre • Southern Utah’s premier venue features three productions this summer: “The Little Mermaid,” running now through Oct. 25; “The Wizard of Oz,” running now through Oct. 23; and “Disney’s Newsies,” scheduled from July 12 through Oct. 24. Visit tuacahn.org for tickets and information.

Utah Arts Festival •The festival showcases a diverse range of artistic disciplines, including visual arts, dance, music, spoken word, and more, from June 19-22. National music headliners will include: jam band Leftover Salmon on Thursday; pedal-steel guitarist Robert Randolph on Friday; hip-hop group Souls of Mischief on Saturday; and contemporary Latin act MV Caldera on Sunday. Held at Library Square, 200 E. 400 South, Salt Lake City. Visit uaf.org for tickets and details.