Theater Archives - Utah Concert Review

December 8, 2025December 8, 2025

’ Twas the Night Before…

Cirque du Soleil’s “’ Twas the Night Before…” • December 6, 2025 • Eccles Theater

Photo Credit: Brandon Todd, Kyle Flubacker, and Errisson Lawrence, courtesy of Broadway at the Eccles.

Cirque du Soleil’s “’ Twas the Night Before…” is Cirque du Soleil’s first Christmas show, based on the classic poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore. Memorable lines from this cherished classic inspired Cirque du Soleil’s story about a jaded young girl who rediscovers the magic of Christmas. A festive flurry of love and cheer created especially for families, ‘Twas the Night Before… features thrilling acrobatics performed by a cast of 26 artists sailing from all over the world, lovable characters, and a soundtrack including Christmas favorites re-invented by Cirque du Soleil.

November 13, 2025November 14, 2025

SUFFS

SUFFS • November 11, 2025 • Eccles Theater

Photography by Joan Marcus courtesy of Broadway at the Eccles

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus coutesty of Broadway at the Eccles

The touring production of SUFFS arrived at Eccles Theater in Downtown Salt Lake City with a burst of energy, conviction, and theatrical confidence that makes it one of the most engaging new musicals of this season of Broadway at the Eccles. The show, which dives into the final chapters of the American women’s suffrage movement, balances history with emotion in a way that feels both entertaining and unexpectedly urgent. What makes this touring version particularly striking is how it manages to retain the intimacy of the story while embracing a broader national audience.

October 2, 2025October 2, 2025

Some Like It Hot

Some Like It Hot • September 30, 2025 • Eccles Theater

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Photos by Matthew Murphy courtesy of Broadway at the Eccles

The 2025/2026 Broadway at the Eccles season has officially begun! Some Like It Hot, the Tony Award-winning musical, brings the classic 1959 film starring Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Marilyn Monroe, and written and directed by Billy Wilder, roaring back into the 1930s Prohibition era once again. This time, with a modern lens. Principally around issues of gender identity, inclusion, and discovering one’s identity. The score is by award winners, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray, Catch Me If You Can, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). The book is by Matthew López and Amber Ruffin, with choreography and direction by Casey Nicholaw.

September 4, 2025September 5, 2025

Bright Star

Bright Star • Sentinel Theatre Production • September 1, 2025 • Liahona Theater for the Community

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Photographed by Jane Smith, courtesy of Sentinel Theater

Photo Credit: Jane Smith Courtesy of Sentinel Theater

I have to admit, I had pretty high, unfair expectations walking into the Liahona Theater to see Sentinel Theatre’s production of the musical Bright Star. Just under five months ago, I reviewed Sentinel’s inaugural production, Dogfight. I walked away extremely impressed with the cast, the direction, and the overall production. So I thought, if they did that well with their first show, I can only imagine how much better their second show will be. And it’s a show I know and love. No pressure, right? It was unfair for me to put those expectations on this production. And yet, Sentinel Theatre did not disappoint. In fact, Bright Star exceeded any expectations I had. This is a must-see show.

September 2, 2025September 4, 2025

Aaron Tveit

Aaron Tveit • August 25, 2025 • Scera Schell Outdoor Theatre

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Over the last few years, we have had a great run of Broadway Stars in concert here in Utah. We’ve had amazing vocalists such as Jeremy Jordan, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jessica Vosk, Ben Platt, Kara Lindsay, Kristin Chenoweth, Bernadette Peters, and, of course, just last month, Sutton Foster and Kelli O’Hara. Utah loves musical theater and its stars. Anticipation was as high as I’ve ever seen it for Tony Award-winner Aaron Tveit. He performed a sold-out show at the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre in Orem with the Utah Valley Orchestra.

July 31, 2025September 4, 2025

Sutton Foster and Kelli O’hara

Sutton Foster • Kelli O’hara • July 26, 2025 • Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

The Utah Symphony has been busy this summer. The Deer Valley Music Festival has been filled with a variety of great performances. From artists like Lindsey Stirling, to the music of Disney, to The Beach Boys, the symphony shows their range and brings great performance after great performance to the Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater at Deer Valley. July 26 was no exception. Two great Tony-Award Award-winning Broadway Stars, Sutton Foster and Kelli O’Hara, graced the Park City stage. It was a special night for fans of musical theater. Getting to see two of the best performers Broadway has to offer in our state for one night doesn’t happen here all the time. The show was well attended, and the audience was totally entranced by these vocalists.

June 18, 2025September 4, 2025

& Juliet

& Juliet • June 17, 2025 • Eccles Theater

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy courtesy of Broadway at the Eccles

Jukebox musicals can be a polarizing topic in the musical theater world. Some people love them. Others dismiss them due to the fact that the shows are created with songs that have already been written. I enjoy them. If they’re done right. Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia, Rock of Ages, Crazy For You, and, Moulin Rouge, to name a few, have been well done and are some of my favorite musicals to see whenever I get the chance. I won’t name the jukebox musicals that are not well done, but let’s just say when they’re bad, they’re really bad. The music and story feels forced. The musical & Juliet is one of the most recent jukebox musicals to hit Broadway.

April 19, 2025September 4, 2025

Wicked

Wicked • April 17, 2025 • Eccles Theater

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Photographed by Joan Marcus courtesy of Broadway at the Ecceles

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus courtesy of Broadway at the Ecceles

What can I possibly say about one of the biggest musicals in Broadway history that hasn’t already been said? Wicked the musical has been seen the world over by millions of people. I know multiple people in my own life who go to see Wicked on a regular basis. It’s their favorite musical and they’ve seen it over and over again. To coin a phrase, this show is in a word, “Popular”. I’m sorry, I regretted it the moment I wrote it. But it had to be done.

April 17, 2025September 4, 2025

A Chorus Line

A Chorus Line • April 12, 2025 • West Valley Performing Arts Center

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Photographed by Vanessa Olson

Photo Credit: Vanessa Olson courtesty West Valley Arts

A Chorus Line is one of the most successful musicals of all time. Winner of 9 Tony Awards in 1976, including Best Musical, A Chorus Line became the longest-running show in Broadway history. It has since been surpassed by a number of other productions (Phantom of the Opera is the current title holder). But for years, if you went to New York City to see a Broadway show, this was the musical to see. It’s interesting because the show has virtually no set and has minimal costume changes. The show rests completely on the singing, dancing, and acting of the cast.

April 10, 2025September 4, 2025

Dogfight

Dogfight • April 7, 2025 • Valentine Theater

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Photos courtesy of Sentinel Theatre

I had the opportunity to see a musical I had never even heard of, at a theater not far from my house (that I had strangely never knew existed), from a theater company producing its first ever show. I was excited for the new experiences. My expectations were not at an all-time high. How can a first-time production from a brand new theater company possibly be as good as some of the many well-established theater companies in the area? Well, I’m here to tell you that Sentinel Theatre is off to a great start. Their production of “Dogfight” was an entertaining night of really well-done theater.