Broadway Archives - Utah Concert Review

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.

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.

May 28, 2025May 29, 2025

The Play That Goes Wrong coming to The Ruth

Mayhem and Mischief Take Center Stage in The Play That Goes Wrong at The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater

PLEASANT GROVE, Utah – May 28, 2025

What happens when an amateur theater troupe attempts a murder mystery well beyond their capabilities? Total, glorious chaos. This Summer, The Play That Goes Wrong will turn catastrophe into comedy at The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater.

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 4, 2025September 4, 2025

Life of Pi

Life of Pi • April 2, 2025 • Eccles Theater

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Photographed by Murphy Made and Kevin Rolfe

In April 2025, Salt Lake City’s Eccles Theater hosted the Tony and Olivier Award-winning stage adaptation of Yann Martel’s acclaimed novel Life of Pi.” This theatrical production captivated audiences with its innovative storytelling, breathtaking visuals, and profound exploration of survival and spirituality. We had the opportunity to attend the play on Opening Night, April 1, 2025. Every aspect of the production was impressive.

January 31, 2025September 4, 2025

Ramin Karimloo

Ramin Karimloo and The Broadgrass Band • January 24, 2025 • BYU Concert Hall

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Photographed by Molly McCoy

I find it interesting the way we discover the artists we come to like. Back in the day, we’d hear a song on the radio, buy the album, and fall in love with a band by listening to them over and over. Sometimes, we’ll see a band or singer open a concert for someone we intend to see, and they end up becoming one of our favorites. More often today, we hear a song on TikTok or Instagram and go down the rabbit hole looking for more music than just the 30-second clip we heard. When it comes to becoming a fan of a star of musical theater it can be a little trickier. Most often we’ll hear a cast album and fall in love with a voice. From then on, pay attention to what they’ve done or will end up doing.

December 12, 2024December 12, 2024

Kimberly Akimbo

Kimberly Akimbo • December 10, 2024 • Eccles Theater

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Entering Eccles Theater on Tuesday night, I knew about as little about the musical Kimberly Akimbo as I think I have for any show ever. I knew that it won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2022 and that this show was called Kimberly Akimbo. That’s about it, which is rare for me. As a musical theater fan, I am usually up to date on most productions. And while I try to hold off on knowing too much until I’ve seen the show, for some reason this one totally slipped by me. It was only as I talked to another colleague that I learned that the show was about a teenager in high school with a rare condition that ages her faster to the point where she looks like a woman in her 60s.

November 8, 2024November 8, 2024

Peter Pan

Peter Pan • November 5, 2024 • Eccles Theater

Reviewed by Alisha Gregson

Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy (Courtesy of Broadway at the Eccles)

The newly reimagined production of Peter Pan brought magic to the stage at Eccles Theater. The thrilling musical has been captivating audiences of all ages for nearly 70 years. Now with new changes, the production continues to keep its audience hooked. Opening night brought in a crowd full of kids, many attending the theater for the first time. With its beautiful starry sky, Eccles Theater was the perfect setting for Peter Pan.

October 22, 2024October 23, 2024

Jessica Vosk

Jessica Vosk • September 21, 2024 • The Noorda Performing Arts Center

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Musical Theater fans in Utah have developed a real affection for Broadway Star, Jessica Vosk. Vosk performed at The Noorda Performing Arts Center on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem. The venue where Jessica made her Utah debut in February 2023. She returned a year later to perform at Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City with Jeremy Jordan and Kara Lindsay. So within a fairly short period of time she’s grown quite the fanbase. There was a buzz inside The Noorda on September 21. Fans were eager to see what the talented vocalist would bring to this show. Her prior appearances were so entertaining that I’m sure expectations were high. Let’s get this out of the way in the first paragraph, Jessica Vosk did not disappoint.