THE ESSENTIAL A&E PICKS FOR MAR 27 - APR 2 

• BW Productions

Pioneer Theatre Company: A Case for the Existence of God
It's almost conventional wisdom now that the traditional "American Dream" has become ever more inaccessible to younger generations. And it's also clear that some kinds of people feel farther removed from that dream than others. Those realities are enough to make some people lose faith—which feels like part of the inspiration behind the title of A Case for the Existence of God, the 2022 play by Samuel D. Hunter, whose The Whale was the source material for the Oscar-winning film of the same name.

The story is set in an Idaho office, where mortgage broker Keith is meeting with Ryan, a client trying to secure a loan to buy land. Surprisingly, they discover that they have something in common: Both are in the middle of challenging custody battles, though with very different foundations. In a 2024 interview with SpeakEasy Stage, Hunter shared that the origins came from his own recent experience as a gay man trying to adopt a child and buy an apartment. "It was staggering to me how difficult both of those processes were—these very normal, middle-class goals, to own property and have a family," Hunter says. "I think it said something about our current moment, how difficult it is for so many Americans to lead middle-class lives. So I wanted to write a play that actively wrestled with that."

Pioneer Theatre Company's production of A Case for the Existence of God comes to the Meldrum Theatre (375 S. 1400 East) March 28 – April 12. Tickets are $44 - $62, with a "Pay What You Can" performance Monday, March 31. Visit pioneertheatre.org. (Scott Renshaw)

• Courtesy Photo

Science Friday Live
Remember that nerdy kid who consistently made straight A's and loved to show off for the teacher? We do, too. So here's your chance to score the same status by attending a live, in-person recording of one of America's favorite radio shows, National Public Radio's Science Friday.

Big brains Ira Flatow and Flora Lichtman, along with other experts, offer insights specifically related to our own home state. They'll introduce Lokiceratops, a behemoth some 78 million years old. That's older than most politicians! And what could be peachier than the Southwest peach, once cultivated by Native American tribes? They'll also show the complexities of bringing cells to life. (No, it's not about charging your cell phone.) Likewise, for those who ever marveled at a natural history diorama that brought the past to life with amazing detail, representatives from the University of Utah's Animation Lab and the Natural History Museum of Utah will explain how complicated science concepts are recreated and shared with Hollywood blockbusters. Interactive activities, a Q&A, live music and science demonstrations will prove that TV's Mr. Wizard was right: Science can be fun! And given that the program will be recorded for a future Science Friday broadcast, it also offers an opportunity to show that former smart-aleck classmate you've made it to the head of the class as well.

Live at the Eccles presents Science Friday Live on Saturday, March 29 at 7 p.m. at the Eccles Theater's Delta Hall (131 S. Main St.). Tickets cost $25 - $65, and the program is recommended for ages 8 and up. Visit saltlakecountyarts.org for tickets and additional event information. (Lee Zimmerman)

• Courtesy Photo

Odyssey Dance: Shut Up & Dance
After returning from its nearly two-year hiatus to present its popular Halloween Thriller production and Christmas-themed spectacular, all that was really left to feel like Odyssey Dance was fully back in its groove was to get another installment of the spring show Shut Up & Dance. So now here we are, with the gifted dancers from the company—which has produced nine dancers as finalists on the popular TV series So You Think You Can Dance—presenting an evening combining one old favorite with several brand-new works.

It's a format that allows for the demonstration of a wide range of choreographic styles, from hip-hop to modern dance and more. In addition to a return of the period-piece-themed Moulin Rouge—now retitled The Can Can Club—which was originally created in 2007 and returned more than a decade later, the program includes three original works: a world-premiere created by former Odyssey dancer Christian Denice; a hip-hop piece by former Odyssey dancer Jeffrey Louizia; and a work by company founder Derryl Yeager set to Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms. "The title says it all," Yeager shares in a press release. "Dance is an amazing form of expression that doesn't require manuals and textbooks to understand. It communicates to all and across all boundaries."

The 2025 production of Odyssey Dance's Shut Up & Dance comes to the Grand Theatre (1575 S. State) for five performances only, April 2 – 5 at 7:30 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, April 5. Tickets are $22 - $40; visit odysseydance.com to purchase tickets and for additional event information. (SR)