Utah Theater Archives - Utah Concert Review

June 18, 2025June 19, 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, 2025April 23, 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, 2025April 17, 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, 2025April 10, 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.

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.

August 7, 2024August 9, 2024

Hamilton

Hamilton • August 1, 2024 • Eccles Theater

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Company – HAMILTON National Tour- (c) Joan Marcus

It’s a special feeling having Hamilton back in town. This is the third tour to stop in Salt Lake City at the Eccles Theater. It’s almost hard to believe that we’ve been this fortunate to have this show in our state this many times. And this time the Hamilton is here for a five-week run! I think it’s pretty clear that I don’t need to mention how big this show is. It is THE musical of this generation. It will go down in history as one of the greatest of all time. Lin-Manuel Miranda created a masterpiece that will be unmatched in so many ways.

May 13, 2024May 20, 2024

Annie The Musical

Annie The Musical • May 10, 2024 • Eccles Theater

Reviewed by Alisha Gregson

Photos Courtesy of Broadway at the Eccles/ MurphyMade

The May 10, 2024 performance of “Annie” at Eccles Theatre in Salt Lake City was a delightful and heartwarming experience that captivated both children and adults alike. This run of the beloved musical, directed by Jenn Thompson, who herself played an orphan in the original Broadway production, was full of charm and energy.

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.

April 13, 2023

Hairspray

Hairspray the Musical• April 11, 2023• Eccles Theater

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Photographs by Jeremy Daniel

The 2022/2023 season of Broadway at The Eccles has been one for the books! Shows like Moulin Rouge, Ain’t Too Proud, and Dear Evan Hansen has thrilled audiences. Eccles Theater has been packed to the rafters with satisfied patrons. The shows of this season have been excellent, but I must admit, when this season was announced, I was thrilled to see Hairspray on the list. I didn’t know there was a tour up until that point. Outside of the occasional regional or community theater productions, my Hairspray musical experience had ended. I really love this musical so I’m sure you can imagine how delighted I was to see it on the season schedule, and how much more ecstatic I was to be sitting in my seat Tuesday night waiting for the show to begin.