Charlie and The Chocolate Factory• June 14, 2022 •Eccles Theater
Reviewed by Alisha Gregson
Photo Credit: Jeremy Daniel
When I was offered a chance to attend and review Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on June 14th, at the Eccles Theater, I knew it was an opportunity I could not turn down. I have adored Dahl’s fantastic stories for as long as I can remember. His collection of classic children’s books was an influential and memorable part of my childhood. Just as they were for so many others. I have always hoped they would have a similar impact on my children. It just so happens that we are currently in the middle of what we have been calling our “Roald Dahl Summer”. We have been reading through his magical collection and intend to read all his classics before summer is over. Having just recently read Charlie and The Chocolate Factory to them, I was elated to have the opportunity to see the musical.
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY TO CONCLUDE ITS NORTH AMERICAN TOUR IN SALT LAKE CITY!
“WE FINALLY HAVE A TERRIFIC SHOW FOR EVERYONE. GO SEE CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY – I GUARANTEE YOU WILL HAVE A BALL!” – NPR
(Salt Lake City, UT) (June 8, 2022) – Zions Bank Broadway at the Eccles is thrilled to conclude the North American tour of Roald Dahl’s CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY in Salt Lake City’s Eccles Theater from June 14 – 19, 2022.
Tickets available at Broadway-at-the-Eccles.com, ArtTix.org, by calling 801-355-ARTS (2787) and in-person at the Eccles Theater box office, M-F 10am-6pm; Sat. 10am-2pm and Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center, M-F 10am-2pm.
Jesus Christ Superstar 50th Anniversary Tour* May 10, 2022• Eccles Theater
Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe
Photo by Evan Zimmerman
When Jesus Christ Superstar came on the scene fifty years ago, I can’t imagine anyone, composer and lyricist included, would have foreseen this Rock Opera being revived for five decades. Initially, a concept album composed by Andrew Lloyd Weber with lyrics by Tim Rice. Both at the very earliest of stages in what would become legendary careers. The album was made because there was initially very little interest in producing a stage version of the musical. The 1971 album hit #1on the Billboard charts. That sparked some interest and the first production of Jesus Christ Superstar to place in London and eventually the U.S.
Zions Bank Broadway at the Eccles is Excited to Announce the upcoming 2022-2023 Broadway Season featuring Moulin Rouge!, Tina and Les Misérables and more!
Salt Lake City, UT – Broadway Across America is pleased to announce the 2022-2023 Broadway at the Eccles season, bringing the best of Broadway to Salt Lake City. The season begins with two weeks of the smash Broadway hit Moulin Rouge! The Musical, winner of 10 Tony Awards – including Best Musical last year, followed by the Detroit Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, and you can’t stop the beat when an all new production of Hairsprayreturns in April. The season continues with the premiere of Tina – The Tina Turner Musical and one of Utah’s favorites Les Misérables plays an extremely limited two-week engagement opening in June of 2023. Concluding the season is the musical comedy, Beetlejuice, based on Tim Burton’s hilarious film.
I sat at my computer looking at the blank document for a long time. I wondered what I could possibly say about this modern musical theater masterpiece. Is there an angle or breakdown of Hamilton that hasn’t already been covered? The more I thought about it, the more white and blank the document became. The answer is most likely, no, there isn’t much to say about Hamilton that hasn’t been said over the last six or seven years. But what I can and will comment on is my experience with Hamilton, and my review of the cast I saw in the And Peggy Tour here in Salt Lake City at the Eccles Theater. Wish me luck!
Disney’s Frozen the Musical Eccles Theater Salt Lake City October 27, 2021
Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe
Warning: This review contains mild spoilers. If you haven’t seen the production and don’t want anything given away, please read after you’ve seen Frozen.
Photo Credit: Deen van Meer
I’m sorry. I really am. But I have to do it. You know I have to. It’s the most obvious tee up ever. I kinda feel like you’d be disappointed if I didn’t do it. So here it goes (clears throat). It felt so good to be inside Eccles Theater watching a Broadway musical “For the first time in forever”! Ok, I did it, it had to be done, it’s over with. Let’s move on. In all seriousness, it felt amazing to be at a Broadway show. To hear the orchestra warming up in the pit, the ushers guiding people to their seats and handing out programs, the bells indicating that the show was about to begin, all of those once so familiar ellements of live theater felt like a homecoming. Broadway is back in Utah, and the excitement was felt inside the gorgeous Delta Performance Hall.
Producer Jeffrey Seller and Zions Bank Broadway at the Eccles announce today that single tickets for HAMILTONwill go on sale to the public on Thursday, Sept. 16 at 10am at Broadway-at-the-Eccles.com and ArtTix.org; There is no in-person box office service at this time. Tickets will be available for performances December 28, 2021 – January 23, 2022.
Attending The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber at Eccles Theater felt like a joyous homecoming. I love this theater. I was there opening night and have had the great fortune to return many times attending concerts, comedy, and theater. This return, after over a year away felt that much sweeter. I even had the box office staff say, “Hi Kevin, welcome back! Here’s your ticket.” before I even made it to the window. It really did feel like I was home.
“The Really Useful Group in London has authorized a special, limited engagement of The Music Of Andrew Lloyd Webber to be produced almost entirely with Utah talent for Utah audiences in celebration of the return of live performance to Utah stages.
Emmy Award-winning Utah composer KURT BESTOR is collaborating with director LOUANNE MADORMA to bring this very special production featuring Utah musicians, singers, cast, crew and featured performers, including DALLYN VAIL BAYLES , DAVID OSMOND, Tony Award-winner LISA HOPKINS SEEGMILLER, LEXI WALKER and others, to the Eccles Theater, May 7th–15th.“
Utah Concert Review Editor in Chief, Kevin Rolfe had the opportunity to chat with cast member, David Osmond leading up to Friday night’s opening performance.
Photo Credit:Russ Dixon
UCR: I know what it feels like for me to once again prepare to cover a show but to be rehearsing and on a stage and listening to the music, what does it feel like to be preparing for an actual show?
David Osmond: It is goosebumps! We were on stage yesterday and we’re doing our tech rehearsals and the lights are on and you smell that theater smell and everybody’s there and we’re going through the music and its great content. I just have a perma grin. I’m ear to ear, I’ve been able to grow up in the music world since I was a baby in so many different capacities of performing.
As a kid in a barbershop quartet and my brothers as a boy band back in the day to pop music and then the opportunity to get into musical theatre and perform doing Broadway tours and shows and of course “Joseph” was kind of the kingpin of that. I did five companies of it. To do that music again in this setting is epic. There’s nothing quite like it and to know that Eccles has been down for 14 months and this is like we’re kicking the cobwebs off and we’re bringing it back! And this is a Utah show with Utah’s finest. I’m honored to be part of the mix and I think the audience is going to be thrilled not just to be back in seats and not feel that live element again. But because of the show itself, it’s pretty epic.
Salt Lake City, UT – We are pleased to announce the dates for the 2021/2022 Broadway at the Eccles season, bringing back extraordinary entertainment to Salt Lake City. For this season, we have been able to reschedule five of the six season package shows originally announced. We are also thrilled to reveal the 8 time Tony® and Grammy® Award winning production of Hadestown will be added to the package to ensure our subscribers have six amazing shows this season.
