So often when we attend community theater, we can expect to see a classic show. A show that once had a major run on Broadway and has then toured and then, at some point, been made available to be licensed and performed at the community level. We love these shows because they are familiar and beloved to us. Sometimes they give us great opportunities to show one of our favorite shows to someone who hasn’t seen them. We have an idea of what to expect, at least to a certain degree, and therefore feel safe attending and bringing someone. And while I love that familiarity and nostalgia, there is nothing like seeing something entertaining due to the unexpected. Such is the case with The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Whether you’ve seen it or not.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child • September 23, 2026 • Eccles Theater
Reviewed by Alisha Gregson
Photography by Manuel Harlan courtesy of Broadway at the Eccles
Courtesy of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD. Photo by Manuel Harlan.
The touring production of the Broadway play, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” brought its magic to the stage at Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City.
I have always been a Harry Potter fan. I read the first book the year it came out, when I was just 9 years old. I would eagerly wait for the release of each of the following books. I have read the series straight through multiple times, even as an adult. I have thrown at least 4 Harry Potter parties; I have a framed quote from Dumbledore hanging in my entryway, and I was Voldemort for Halloween a few years back.
Courtesy of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD. Photo by Manuel Harlan.
I really love Harry Potter. But for some reason, I have always been a little hesitant about seeing The Cursed Child. I liked the way things ended, so I think I was concerned about what a continued storyline would be like. I also wasn’t sure how it would be possible to successfully portray anything related to Harry Potter and the Wizarding World on a stage setting.
Courtesy of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD. Photo by Manuel Harlan.
Still, when I saw the announcement that the tour would be coming to Eccles, I decided it was time to give the show a shot. To say it exceeded my expectations would be an understatement. I was simply blown away by the entire performance. Every part of the production was absolute perfection.
Courtesy of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD. Photo by Manuel Harlan.
The visual production of the show was truly unlike anything I have seen before. I went into the theater assuming I would need to use my imagination quite a bit with a story involving so much magic. It turns out I was just greatly underestimating what was in store for me. At some point during the show, I decided to stop asking myself “how did they do that” and just enjoy. There were so many jaw-dropping moments and unbelievable special effects. It felt impossible not to enjoy.
Courtesy of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD. Photo by Manuel Harlan.
While anyone would surely be entertained and in awe of the visual performance, I will admit that when it comes to the plot, the show is better suited for those who have either read the books or seen the movies. It helps to be familiar with the characters and original storyline. The final chapter in Harry Potter jumps forward 19 years, as Harry Potter arrives at platform 9 3/4 to send his kids off to Hogwarts. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child begins with that very scene. The plot moves very quickly, especially in the first half, and most of the scenes referenced things that took place in the books (or movies).
Courtesy of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD. Photo by Manuel Harlan.
There was a spoiler alert warning on the playbill, advising audience members who didn’t want any surprises spoiled to wait until after the performance to read the cast list. I appreciated this warning, and chose not to read the cast list until later. I also do not want to spoil any part of the show, but I will just say that I enjoyed every surprise and loved every moment with the characters.
Courtesy of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD. Photo by Manuel Harlan.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is playing at Eccles Theater until October 11. Tickets start at $65, with premium seats also available. For tickets and to find which days have the best availability, go to https://cursedchildslc.com/
Hell’s Kitchen • June 7, 2026 • Eccles Theater
Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe
Photo by Marc J Franklin
Hell’s Kitchen is a jukebox musical based on the songs of the great Alicia Keys. The story is a semi-autobiographical tale about Keys’ life growing up in the New York City neighborhood. The musical had a successful two-year run on Broadway, just closing in February of this year. It’s pretty exciting to see a show so fresh from Broadway. I make it a point to do my best to avoid seeing or hearing too much before I see a show. As an Alicia Keys fan, this was not easy. I knew I would know the songs, but I didn’t want to know where they fit in the story or what the arrangements would be like within the production. I’m glad I waited. I really enjoyed what I saw with fresh eyes on opening night in Salt Lake City at the beautiful Eccles Theater.
I could feel the anticipation for this one. Timp Arts production of Matilda the Musical has had some real buzz around town. I could tell people were definitely making plans to attend this show. This should come as no surprise. First of all, Matilda has become a favorite story for children of all ages. Whether it be the book by Roald Dahl, the 1996 film, the 2013 Broadway Musical, or the 2022 film adaptation of the musical, people love the story of Matilda. Secondly, Timp Arts has been on a real hot streak as of late. Their productions have been of the utmost quality, displaying some of the best rising talent in the area. And Matilda the Musical was no exception.
Back to the Future the Musical • June 9, 2026 • Eccles Theater
Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe
Photo Credit: Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade
Back to the Future: The Musical Brings Time-Traveling Spectacle to Eccles Theater
There are few films as beloved and instantly recognizable as Back to the Future, so transforming the iconic movie into a stage musical comes with enormous expectations. Audiences at Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City arrived with memories of DeLoreans, flux capacitors, and Marty McFly’s adventures firmly in mind. What they experienced was a production that embraced the spirit of the original film while delivering a theatrical spectacle that stood on its own.
“The Fantasticksâ€, known as the World’s Longest Running Musical, presented by Timp Arts, will be playing at The Valentine Theater in American Fork through April 25. This all-time beloved musical began Off-Broadway in the 1960s and ran for 17,162 performances until 2002. It was then revived from 2006 to 2017. Over the years, The Fantasticks cast has included notable Broadway actors such as Jerry Orbach, Burke Moses, and Rita Gardner, to name a few. I really enjoy this musical. I adored the Timp Arts production. Â
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s mega hit musical “Phantom of the Opera†is playing at Eccles Theater until April 26. I had the opportunity to see this production on Friday, April 10. I thought I knew what to expect. I’ve seen “Phantom†a few times over the years. I have always enjoyed it. I figured, going into Eccles Theater last weekend, that I’d be seeing something similar to what I had seen in the past.  While the show is still the show you might know and love, I felt like everything I had seen before was enhanced. This was “Phantom of the Opera†on a whole new level.Â
There’s something almost ritualistic about experiencing Hadestown live, and its recent stop at the Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City felt less like a night at the theater and more like being invited into a haunting, intimate storytelling circle. From the moment the first notes drifted through the hall, the production established a mood that was equal parts smoky jazz club and mythological dreamscape, pulling the audience into its underworld with quiet confidence.
Timp Arts Production of “Hello, Dolly!” • February 9, 2026 • Valentine Theater, American Fork
These are exciting times for theater in Utah County. The Timpanogas Arts Foundation has begun a new chapter. Here is the Press Release with all the exciting information. On the other end of the press release, we’ll share our review of “Hello, Dolly!â€, which we had the opportunity to see on February 9. Â
A Beautiful Noise The Neil Diamond Musical • January 20, 2025 • Eccles Theater
Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe
Photo Credit: Jeremy Daniel courtesy of Broadway at the Eccles
Photo Credit: Jeremy Daniel courtesy of Broadway at the Eccles
I was there at the Delta Center (then called Vivint Arena) when Neil Diamond played his final Salt Lake City show. It was shortly after that Mr. Diamond announced his retirement from touring due to his Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis. It’s been a long time since that same energy has been felt here. When I walked into Eccles Theater on January 20, 2026, it was clear to me that Diamond-Mania had been resurrected and was the strongest it had been since 2017. Utah loves Neil, so it came as no surprise that the run of The Neil Diamond Musical, A Beautiful Noise, brought huge audiences every night of the run.
