Performing Arts Archives - Page 2 of 6

March 1, 2024March 1, 2024

MJ The Musical

MJ The Musical • February 27, 2024 • Eccles Theater

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

When I first heard they were doing a Broadway musical of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, I thought, this will have great music and dancing, and it’ll surely bring in tourists. But I wondered how good it would be. This seems like a show that a production could easily get wrong. I was thinking if I ever saw it, I’d be seeing a watered-down, cash grab of a jukebox musical. But when MJ was announced as part of the Broadway at the Eccles 2023/24 season, I started to hear good things about the production coming from New York. I was hearing that it was actually a good show. I was excited to find out for myself.

February 21, 2024February 22, 2024

Broadway at The Eccles announces 2024/2025 Broadway Series

Announcing our biggest season ever,
the new 24/25 Broadway Series features
the show with all the #1 hits & Juliet,
the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Kimberly Akimbo,
the return of Salt Lake City’s most “popular” musical WICKED, and more!

Salt Lake City, UT – We are pleased to announce the 24/25 Zions Bank Broadway at the Eccles season, bringing five premiere engagements to Salt Lake City, and the return of crowd-pleasing Add-Ons.

January 12, 2024January 12, 2024

Six

Six The Musical • January 9, 2024 • Eccles Theater

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Photos by Joan Marcus

The North American Tour Boleyn Company of SIX. Photo by Joan Marcus

We all have our favorite musicals, don’t we? Shows that we’ll see every time we go to Broadway, or whenever the touring production stops through town. We know all the words, we know everyone who has played our favorite character, and we know every bit of choreography. There’s nothing like having a favorite show. But once upon a time, that musical was brand new and we saw it for the first time. Think back on not knowing all the words, and as soon as you could you wanted to learn them. Or wanting to learn everything about the actors or the production. Well, departed the Eccles Theater after watching the premier performance of the musical Six, my thought was, “Someone is leaving here tonight with a new favorite musical.”

September 27, 2023

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in Concert

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat• September 21, 2023•Eccles Theater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

The state of Utah has had a love affair with the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for decades. It’s everywhere! Every professional stage to community theater has put on a production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s first musical. It’s impossible not to find a production being staged somewhere within the state’s borders. The most recent production was a concert version of “Joseph” at the Eccles Theater in downtown Salt Lake City.

September 26, 2023

Renée Elise Goldsberry

Renée Elise Goldsberry•September 16, 2023•The Noorda Center

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Photos provided by Utah Valley University

Renée Elise Goldsberry’s concert was a mesmerizing and unforgettable experience that left the audience in awe. Held at The Noorda Performing Arts Center on the campus of Utah Valley University, her performance showcased not only her exceptional vocal talent but also her captivating stage presence and storytelling abilities.

August 10, 2023

Beetlejuice The Musical

Beetlejuice The Musical•August 8, 2023•Eccles Theater

Back in 2018, when I heard that there was going to be a musical adaptation of the 1988 film Beetlejuice I must admit that my first thought was, “This is going to be terrible”. I’m not sure exactly why I thought that. Maybe because the film is so great and there are so many amazing actors that gave such iconic performances that I didn’t think anyone would ever be able to see the characters played differently or by different actors. Whatever the reason was, I didn’t have the best attitude when it came to the production.

July 25, 2023

The Principle Wife

The Principle Wife• July 22, 2023• Cover Center for the Arts

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

*This review contains spoilers. If you’re planning on seeing The Principle Wife come back and read this after you’ve seen it. Otherwise, you may proceed.*

I saw the billboards, I’ve seen the social media ads, and I thought, ‘Is this a musical about polygamy?’ Then I received an email with an invitation to review the production of The Principle Wife. So I read up on it and sure enough, it is. I’m sure many of you might be thinking, why would anyone write a musical about polygamy, why would Kevin go review a musical about polygamy, and do we need a musical about polygamy, are people wanting this? I’ll do my best to answer those questions.

July 23, 2023

The Sound of Music

Utah Valley University and Sundance Mountain Resort Present The Sound of Music July 22, 2023

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Is there a better setting outside Austria to see The Sound of Music than the Outdoor Amphitheater at Sundance Mountain Resort? I can’t imagine there is. The setting was so perfect for the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic. With tree-lined mountains as its backdrop, there was very little need for elaborate set design. These hills, if I may, did come alive as the focal setpiece to make this musical visually soar. The mountain air was crisp and cool. A welcome escape from the blistering hot summer day down in the valley.

The partnership of Utah Valley University and Sundance Mountain Resort has been a successful one. With successful productions like Oklahoma! and Mamma Mia in recent years, it’s no surprise that patrons continue to return to the resort to see quality theater. And while there are many musicals to choose from, it makes perfect sense that they would bring back another production of The Sound of Music. The audience called for it, and I couldn’t have been happier to attend the Saturday Evening performance on Jul 22, 2023.

June 22, 2023

Les Misérables

Les Misérables• June 20, 2023• Eccles Theater

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Nick Cartell as Jean Valjean in *Les Misérable*s
Photo: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

Les Misérables, “The World’s Most Popular Musical” made its return to Utah at the Eccles Theater in downtown Salt Lake City. This show was originally announced as part of the Broadway at the Eccles 20/21 season. But as we all know, tours were stopped and theaters were closed during that period due to the global pandemic. So when the 22/23 season was announced, and Les Misérables was part of it, patrons lined up (figuratively, I know we don’t actually line up to buy tickets in person anymore) to buy tickets to this beloved musical. I must admit, I’ve been anticipating this show since it was announced and could not have been more thrilled to be inside the Eccles Theater on June 20 for opening night.

***This review contains mild to moderate spoilers. If you can wait “One Day More”, go to the show then come back and read the review. Otherwise, you have been warned. ***

May 31, 2023

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical• May 30, 2023• Eccles Theater

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Naomi Rodgers as ‘Tina Turner in the North American touring production of TINA THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL Photo by Matthew Murphy

It’s hard to believe that within a week of the great Tina Turner’s passing, I was sitting inside the beautiful Eccles Theater in downtown Salt Lake City, watching Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. As I walked into the theater I could overhear several conversations talking about the legend’s passing. Many patrons lined up to sign a memorial that was set out for Tina Turner. Some stated that they were looking forward to the show because they didn’t know much about her life. Others claimed to be the biggest Tina Turner fans ever and were excited to see the musical. Either way, there was a different buzz in the theater lobby. I wouldn’t quite call it a sadness but more like a reverence for the situation. The timing of the opportunity to see this show just after Tina’s passing did not seem lost on anyone.