Written by Charlie Schill June 23, 2020 SALT LAKE CITY – As details emerge from Senate Bill 5010, it appears increasingly unlikely that the statute enacted during last week’s special session of the Legislature will result in any CARES Act payday for Cache Valley performing arts groups. … Continued

Written by Charlie Schill May 27, 2020 CACHE COUNTY – The only thing certain about the distribution of funds from Cache County’s RAPZ and restaurant taxes to local groups and events is that nothing is certain this year. … Continued

Written by Charlie Schill May 18, 2020 SMITHFIELD – The Sky High Players of Sky View High School captured two awards at the 10th annual Utah High School Musical Theatre Awards on May 16. … Continued

Friday, May 15th 2020 (KUTV) — The 2020 Utah High School Musical Theatre Awards is taking the virtual route to honor performers in the state of Utah. You may join in! Watch live on YouTube for the first-ever live streaming awards show presented by Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre. … Continued

By Carole Mikita, KSL TV | May 8, 2020 at 9:14 pm SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Before the COVID-19 pandemic, high school theater teachers and students throughout Utah produced and performed their annual musicals. This year, with the help of video, they will hold their statewide competition next Saturday in a virtual theater. … Continued

Written by Charlie Schill April 23, 2020 LOGAN – For theater-lovers in Cache Valley, the battle with the Coronavirus is over. The Coronavirus won. In a heartfelt message to fans and supporters of the Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre, its founding managing director Michael Ballam cancelled the festival’s upcoming summer season. … Continued

By Charles McCollum staff writer Apr 23, 2020 The coronavirus pandemic has toppled another major cultural event in Cache Valley. The Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre on Wednesday announced suspension of its 2020 summer season. The theater company, which puts on five to six rotating productions at Logan’s Eccles Theatre each summer, had been cautiously optimistic about going ahead with its season, but an announcement posted on the UFOMT website put all the suspense to an end. … Continued

April 22, 2020 Michael Ballam announced today with “sincere regret” that the Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre will cancel its 2020 season. The founding general director said the decision was made after “careful consideration and consultation with health and government officials.” … Continued

By Gephardt Daily Staff – April 22, 2020 LOGAN, Utah, April 22, 2020 (Gephardt Daily) — The show will not go on this summer at Utah Festival Opera. The company has canceled its 2020 summer season after initially hoping the season could continue if enough safety precautions were taken. “It is with ‘sincere regret’ Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre will cancel its 2020 season,” said Michael Ballam, … Continued

By Tom Williams • Apr 16, 2020 On Thursday’s Access Utah, we check in with our arts community. How has COVID-19 affected local arts organizations? How can audiences support the arts? Guests will include Frank Mack, Executive Producer of the Utah Shakespeare Festival; Michael Ballam, Founding General Director of Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theater; … Continued

By CHARLES MCCOLLUM staff writer Apr 15, 2020 Although Utah State University has canceled its annual Summer Citizens program due to coronavirus concerns, many “sunbirds” from Arizona are still considering stays in Logan this summer. … Continued

Written by Charlie Schill April 3, 2020 LOGAN – Cache Valley performing arts organizers and managers have added their voices to the rising chorus of calls for Utahns to hold the line on statewide social distancing and self-isolation guidelines. … Continued

By Ray Boone, KSL TV | Posted – Feb. 1, 2020 at 11:35 a.m. LOGAN — A retired U.S. Air Force colonel and an opera singer have been united by classic cinema and a desire to share their common ground with the Cache Valley city they call home. Col. Gary Griffin and Michael Ballam came together from different life paths to revitalize the old Utah Theatre in Logan. … Continued

By Kat Webb • Jan 31, 2020 According to the National Endowment for the Arts, Utah is the number one state for art participation and number two for attending live performances. But with the tax modernization reform bill repealed, officials say Utah’s general fund budget — where art funding comes from — is stretched thin. … Continued