Utah Regional Ballet

The ballet is a light-hearted ballet that includes the second act of Swan Lake and is something the whole family will enjoy. Performances will be May 9 at 7:30 p.m. and May 10, at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. URB is the professional company in residence at Utah Valley State College and all performances will take place in the Reagan Theatre at UVSC.

Once Upon a Time is a ballet that depicts the story of a child who dreams to be a ballerina. She dreams of playing the coveted role of Odette in Swan Lake. Through her hard work and dedication she overcomes doubts and her dream comes true. Rachelle Jardine, a URB principal dancer, will perform the role of Odette and Christopher Young and Wilson Domingues will perform the other main roles in the ballet.

This URB production is unique in that along with URB dancers, it will include dancers from Jacqueline's School of Ballet that will perform children's roles in the corps de ballet with the professional company.

"Swan Lake is 'Bible' of ballet and I'm proud that the dancers have the opportunity and technique to perform such a range of ballets like this historical piece and the contemporary works we've done in the past," states Colledge. "The importance of classical works is paramount and we are excited to provide families in the community the opportunity to come and appreciate classical ballet paired with a very identifiable story. The music of Swan Lake will be familiar to adults and my hope is that the children attending will and come to identify with it as something beautiful and meaningful in the future," adds Colledge.

Thanks to the help of Orem City CARE grant, the ballet has been heavily discounted to appeal to families. All seats are general admission and the ticket price is $8. Tickets can be purchased by calling UVSC Campus Connection at (801)-863-8797. For more information about Utah Regional Ballet or Jacqueline's School of Ballet, visit www.utahregionalballet.org.

UVSC

Leonardo Da Vinci at the Woodbury Art Museum -- The Da Vinci Experience, an international traveling exhibit based on the work of Leonardo Da Vinci, will be featured at UVSC's Woodbury Art Museum at the University Mall May 9 through Oct. 4. The exhibit consists of working mechanical models based on the drawings found in Leonardo Da Vinci's notebooks.

The models are being assembled by the exhibit's international managing partner, Luigi Rizzo, from Florence, Italy, through May 8 -- exactly to scale and proportion of Da Vinci's sketches and originals. Those attending the exhibit will have to opportunity to fidget, fiddle, build and explore 11 replicas of Da Vinci's devices and ingenious creativity.

Guests at The Da Vinci Experience will see replicas of some of Da Vinci's greatest paintings, including "Mona Lisa" and "The Last Supper," and will be surrounded by scale models of transportation, military and mechanical devices developed from drawings and notes left by Da Vinci, who lived from 1452 to 1519.

Featured inventions include an airscrew -- a forerunner for the modern helicopter, a hang glider with a rudder-like tail, a one-person "helicopter" with two sets of rotor blades and a life preserver that would enable people to float in water.

The exhibit will open to the public May 9 at 11 a.m. The museum will offer free entry for all teachers showing credentials on May 9 and 10.

"The exhibit provides a wonderful opportunity to explore the ingenuity and creativity of one of the World's greatest artists and inventors," said Marcus Vincent, director of the Woodbury Art Museum. "It's amazing to see the machines and to celebrate the life of a genius who was possessed with such insatiable curiosity."

Admission will be $14 for adults, $11 for seniors 65 and up and $6 for students with ID, active military and their family members and children 5-18. Family group rates are available for immediate family for $28. Children 5 and under are free. Group rates are offered with a minimum of 15 in a group, $3 per person for student groups, $4 per person for youth groups and $7 per person for adult groups.

The Woodbury Art Museum is located on the second floor of the University Mall in Orem in the southeast corner just west of Nordstroms. The exhibit runs from May 9-Oct. 4. The exhibit is open Monday from 12 to 9 p.m. and Tuesday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday the exhibit is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information on the exhibit, visit www.uvu.edu/museum/.

Wasatch Winds

Spring Concert -- The Wasatch Winds will perform in a spring concert May 30 at 7:30 p.m. in the American Fork High School auditorium, 510 N. 600 East, American Fork.

The evening's concert will feature selections from Sousa, Bernstein, Holst, and more.

The Wasatch Winds Symphonic Band is an adult community band of some 70 members under the direction of John Miller. For more information, visit www.wasatchwinds.org or call Shazelle at 330-2186. $2 students, $3 individuals, $10 family.

Showtime Utah

Entertainment theater opens in Pleasant Grove -- Showtime Utah opened on Friday with a Monday show, Family Night Live, opening a month later. The theater is located at 20 Main Street in Pleasant Grove. For more information, log onto www.showtimeutah.com.

Showtime Utah will be a variety entertainment theater specifically designed for Utah County. Joan Peterson, who owns and operates the new theater, said she saw a need for family friendly live entertainment in Utah County and has spent much of the last year putting that idea into action. What she came up with is unique: six different kinds of entertainment on three different nights the entire year round.

The three evenings are highlighted on Friday and Saturday night by the Old West Dinner Adventure, a dinner extravaganza with music and comedy on the stage and even in the audience because the servers are part of the show.

Friday late night is anchored by the Entertainment Hot Spot, an evening of professional caliber musical talent with several acts every show.

Late night Saturdays are devoted to a different show every week. Starting with It's Just For Laughs, a full comedy show with stand-up comedians, comedic musicians and a game or two thrown in for fun. The second Saturday is the Beginners Luck show, an open mic where anyone who dares to can get on stage.

Monday nights bring a whole different kind of talent to the stage with Family Night Live. This is a variety show specifically for and featuring children along with a few adults.

SCERA

Synthesis to bring Prize-winning Jazz Big Band at SCERA Friday -- A classic jazz song declares, "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing," and if that's true, then the May 9 performance at the SCERA Center for the Arts by BYU's award-winning jazz and big band ensemble Synthesis should mean a lot of things.

The celebrated ensemble will swing with jazz, big band, American swing, blues, pop, Latin, funk and fusion in a 7 p.m. concert where playing renditions by such classic musicians as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Harry Connick, Jr., Glenn Miller and Louis Armstrong is a performance staple.

Reserved-seat tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors (65 and older), students (w/ID) and children (age 3-11). They are available weekdays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m. at the SCERA Center, 745 S. State St., Orem, by calling (801) 225-ARTS, online at www.scera.org or at the door 30 minutes prior to performance.

Synthesis began in 1973 and quickly became one of the university's most sought after groups. It also became one of the most difficult groups of which to be a part. Rigorous auditions yield between 18 and 20 student musicians selected for the premier group. ¬ 

Much of the group's success can be attributed to its director, Ray Smith, who is the director of jazz studies and a woodwind professor at BYU. He earned his bachelor's degree at BYU where he played lead alto saxophone and was first clarinet in the Wind Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestra. He subsequently earned his master's and doctoral degrees from Indiana University and became a part of the BYU faculty in 1982.

Hale Center Theater

The Miracle Worker¬ -- The inspiring story of young Helen Keller and her teacher, Annie Sullivan, is currently being performed through May 24 at the Hale Center Theater Orem, 225 W. 400 North, with performances nightly, except Sundays.

Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday matinees are scheduled for May 10, 17 and 24 at 3:30 p.m.

Ticket prices range from $11.50 to $15.50, depending on night and seating location. Tickets may be purchased by calling the box office at 801-226-8600.

The play is directed by David Morgan, who single cast the play.