Utah Theater Review Archives - Utah Concert Review

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.

April 4, 2025April 9, 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 23, 2025January 23, 2025

The Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon • January 20, 2025 • Eccles Theater

It’s not often that a musical can stop through a town and connect with so many people and the culture is such a specific satirical in the way the Tony Award winning, The Book of Mormon does when it comes to Salt Lake City. I’d like to think, when South Park Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and co-songwriter for Frozen and Coco, and Avenue Q creator, Robert Lopez were writing this musical, they envisioned the production coming to Salt Lake City and how so many would love the inside jokes that are so specific to the area and culture. If they did imagine such a day, I’m sure they would know how much people would love the inside jokes.

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.

September 12, 2024September 13, 2024

Mrs. Doubtfire

Mrs. Doubtfire • September 10, 2024 • Eccles Theater

Reviewed by Alisha Gregson

Photos

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus courtesy of Broadway at the Eccles

It has been 30 years since the release of the classic movie “Mrs. Doubtfire.” Like most people who were raised in the 90s, I grew up watching the film. It was undoubtedly Robin Williams’ performance as the eccentric Scottish nanny that made the movie such a hit. I had been looking forward to seeing the production, but I admit, I had somewhat low expectations. Robin Williams was one of a kind, and I wondered how anyone else could fill the role. I was also curious about how the addition of musical numbers would affect the storyline. On Tuesday, September 10th, I had the opportunity to see for myself.

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.

June 13, 2024June 13, 2024

Girl From The North Country

Girl From The North Country • June 11, 2024 • Eccles Theater

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Photos provided by:

Photo Courtesy of Melissa Cohen (BOND Theatrical)

With the Tony Awards being broadcast this Sunday night, it felt fitting to find myself inside Eccles Theater watching a musical. A Tony Award-winning (Best Orchestrations) musical at that. The audience seemed in great spirits, ready to enjoy another great evening in downtown Salt Lake City with another show in the Broadway At The Eccles series.

Girl From The North Country is a musical featuring the music and lyrics of the great Bob Dylan with the book by Conor McPherson. It is set in Duluth, Minnesota in 1934 in the shadow of The Great Depression. The show takes place inside a guesthouse, or hotel of sorts. The cast consists of various people staying at the home. As the show goes along we are made aware of the different trials, tribulations, and struggles that each character faces or has experienced.

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.