Before Brighton High theater students take to their stage with their fall musical, “Xanadu,” about 20 theater students will perform at the 41st annual junior high and high school Shakespeare competition, hosted by the Utah Shakespeare Festival and Southern Utah University in Cedar City.

Seven students, under the direction of Chantelle Bender, will perform their ensemble piece from “Much Ado About Nothing” at the festival, which will take place Thursday, Sept. 28 through Saturday, Sept. 30. 

Students also will compete in scenes and monologues, in the improv competition and Tech Olympics, said Theater Director Mindy Curtis.

“Our students will be able to compete as well as see other productions to bring them an educational experience,” Curtis said. 

The students will watch “The Tavern” put on by the Utah Shakespeare Festival as well as “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” by SUU.

Meanwhile Curtis, Assistant Director Aaron Sparks, Musical Director Daniel Emrazian, Choreographer Lisa West and Stage Manager Hanna Bartnicki will continue to run rehearsals for “Xanadu.” 

About 90 students will take part in the musical, which is set in the 1980s in California. The leading roles include Zoe Smith as Kira, Tyler King as Sonny, Jacob Hammond as Danny, Sage Madsen as Melpomene and Alexis Brooks as Calliope. 

The show, which will be performed on Brighton’s stage, 2220 East Bengal Boulevard., will be performed at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 26 and Friday, Oct. 27 and again on Monday, Oct. 30. There will be a 2 p.m. matinee Saturday, Oct. 28. 

Tickets are on sale two weeks in advance in the school’s main office and are $9 for adults and $4 for students and children. Tickets at the door are $10 for adults and $5 for students and children.

“The show is based on the movie and will be a lot of fun, with roller skating on the ramps in our auditorium,” Curtis said.

The first show in 2018 will be “The Crucible,” which will be performed at 7 p.m., Friday, March 9, Saturday, March 10 and Monday, March 12. 

Tickets are on sale two weeks in advance in the school’s main office and are $9 for adults and $4 for students and children. Tickets at the door are $10 for adults and $5 for students and children.

“Last year, we performed a lot of comedy, so I wanted a more dramatic, historical play this year. Our students read it in English classes so they’re already familiar with it,” Curtis said.

A selection of the production also will be the piece students will perform at regional competition, under the director of Bender.

The final show of the season will the 25-member productions company’s Devising Theatre Showcase at 7 p.m., Friday, May 25.

“It’s a chance for them to do their own thing,” Curtis said. “They learn a lot from how to create something from nothing. They go through problem solving and critical thinking, but they have fun and really enjoy it. It’s a great way to end our year.”