By Katherine Taylor • Sep 27, 2017 During last week’s Logan City council meeting, Mayor Craig Petersen proposed a resolution to provide $150,000 in additional funding assistance to The Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre. … Continued
Charlie Schill features columnist Aug 3, 2017 When it comes to serving up a heaping dose of nostalgia, nobody does it better than the Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre. Want proof? Check out their production of “The Music Man.” … Continued
By Charlie Schill Theatre critic Aug 3, 2017 “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” as presented by the Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre is less a musical production than a staged spectacle. … Continued
By Sean Dolan staff writer Aug 3, 2017 Several summer citizens and year-round residents alike have expressed concern this week that the Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre will not have enough funding to operate next summer, but it will. A crowd of theater-lovers packed the front row of the Logan Municipal Council chambers … Continued
Written by Jennie Christensen August 3, 2017 The Logan City Council chambers were nearly filled to capacity Tuesday night with visitors. They were mostly summer citizens who come from other states to spend their summer months in Cache Valley. … Continued
Kevin Opsahl staff writer Jul 29, 2017 Cache Valley nonprofit Four Paws Rescue will hold its annual benefit concert on Sunday night at the newly renovated Utah Theatre. The concert for the all-volunteer organization that helps find families for homeless dogs and cats … Continued
By Charlie Schill features columnist Jul 27, 2017 You don’t need to be a fanatic Savoyard to love the current production of “The Pirates of Penzance” by the Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre. … Continued
Written by Bill Walter July 25, 2017 More help to find homes for animals in need is coming from the musical-theater community. Members of Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre are holding their 10th annual Musical Paws benefit concert this Sunday, … Continued
Congratulations to the winners of the 9th annual Michael Ballam Concorso Lirico International Opera Competition on July 25, 2017: Kathleen Farrar Buccleugh, 1st Place Winner Markel Reed, 2nd Place / Alternate / Audience Favorite Thank you to all of the talented artists who gave their best in the competition, and a special thanks to our … Continued
By Sean Dolan staff writer Jul 19, 2017 Logan can officially boast a Historic Theatre District after a unanimous vote at Tuesday’s Municipal Council meeting. The proposal for a Historic Theatre District included the Ellen Eccles Theatre, the Caine Lyric Theatre and the Utah Theatre, … Continued
Jul 19, 2017 With the premiere of “Rex,” no one can justifiably accuse the Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre of sticking strictly to tried and true productions guaranteed to please its traditional audiences. … Continued
By Whitney Butters Wilde Jul 19, 2017, 10:00am MDT “REX,” through Aug. 7, Utah Theatre, 18 W. Center, Logan (435-750-0300 or utahfestival.org); running time: 2 hours, 40 minutes (one intermission) LOGAN — Long before William and Kate there was Henry VIII and Catherine … Continued
Posted by Rachel Helwig | Jul 19, 2017 LOGAN — One of the most golden examples of a golden age musical would have to be Meredith Willson’s The Music Man. The story of a fly-by-night salesman who swings into River City, Iowa, to sell the town on a boys’ band they didn’t know they needed is familiar to almost everyone in the audience at Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre. … Continued
By Deseret News Jul 18, 2017, 3:00pm MDT Jay Wamsley, For the Deseret News “THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME,” through Aug. 8, Ellen Eccles Theatre, 43 S. Main, Logan (435-750-0300 or utahfestival.org); running time: 2 hours, 35 minutes (one intermission) LOGAN — Victor Hugo’s story of the half-formed man hidden away in the bell towers of Notre Dame has been put to art in many forms, … Continued
By Deseret News Jul 18, 2017, 12:30pm MDT Jay Wamsley, For the Deseret News “PIRATES OF PENZANCE,” through Aug. 9, Ellen Eccles Theatre, 43 S. Main, Logan (435-750-0300 or utahfestival.org); running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes (one intermission) LOGAN — Providing a nice contrast to the melancholy tones of Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre’s “Madama Butterfly” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” … Continued
By Deseret News Jul 18, 2017, 10:10am MDT Jay Wamsley, For the Deseret News “THE MUSIC MAN,” through Aug. 9, Ellen Eccles Theatre, 43 S. Main, Logan (435-750-0300 or utahfestival.org); running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes (one intermission) LOGAN — “The Music Man,” following the lively baton of conductor Karen Keltner, took a couple of bars in the overture to get up to speed in its matinee presentation, but once there, the Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre orchestra kept a steady, train-like, listen-close-or-you’ll-miss-it pace throughout … Continued
By John Zsiray staff writer Jul 18, 2017 The Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre will host a tribute to an Oscar, Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning lyricist Wednesday evening at the Ellen Eccles Theatre. Billed as one of the “last living Broadway legends” the theater career of Sheldon Harnick will be remembered … Continued
Written by Jennie Christensen July 17, 2017 LOGAN – The Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre will continue this week with a highlight coming Wednesday, July 19. It will be a special tribute to Oscar, Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning lyricist Sheldon Harnick. … Continued
By Deseret News Jul 17, 2017, 11:50am MDT Jay Wamsley, For the Deseret News “MADAMA BUTTERFLY,” through Aug. 8, Ellen Eccles Theatre, 43 S. Main, Logan (435-750-0300 or utahfestival.org); running time: 2 hours, 45 minutes (one intermission) LOGAN — One of the classic tragedies of opera, Giacomo Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” at Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre in Logan explores the morality of deception. … Continued
July 14, 2017 By Lori Geisler Performed in the regally gorgeous Ellen Eccles Theatre on Logan’s Main Street in the Historic Downtown District, Utah Festival’s The Music Man is presented in a stunning fashion that matches its surroundings. From beginning to end, there is a feeling that this is an experience to remember. … Continued
July 14, 2017 By Lori Geisler Memories of childhood washed over me as I watched Utah Festival’s Seussical in Logan at the Utah Theater where I used to see movies. … Continued
Jul 13, 2017 In celebration of its 25th anniversary, The Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre has returned to its roots with a production of “Madama Butterfly” that can only fairly be described as a triumph. … Continued
Posted by C. T. Lewis | Jul 13, 2017 LOGAN — The musical The Hunchback of Notre Dame, with songs by the same team behind the 1996 Disney film, Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, first premiered in Berlin in 1999, where it enjoyed no little success. … Continued
Posted by C. T. Lewis | Jul 12, 2017 LOGAN — One hundred and thirty-eight years after its 1879 New York City premiere, Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance still retains a prominent place in American popular culture. … Continued
July 12, 2017 By Lori Geisler Utah Festival’s production of REX at the Utah Theatre in beautiful downtown Logan is an intriguing blend of history, music, creativity, and wit. The musical tells the story of Henry VIII (Michael Ballam), England’s 16th Century king who is notorious for his six marriages and desire for a male heir. … Continued
Posted by Elise Hanson-Barnett | Jul 11, 2017 LOGAN — Back in 1976, Richard Rodgers penned Rex, what was to be one of his final musicals, with a libretto by Sheldon Harnick. By that time, Oscar Hammerstein had passed, and the once great duo was no more. Love them or hate them, there was something to the work … Continued
July 10, 2017 By Perry S. Whitehair Pirates of Penzance tells the story of an overly duty bound 21-year-old Frederic (Edward Brennan) who was indentured to the Pirate King (Ezekiel Andrew.) Frederic decides to renounce his pirating ways and is determined to eliminate the pirate band. … Continued
July 9, 2017 By Terry Neff Just the thrill of entering the beautiful and historic Ellen Eccles Theatre in Logan gave me a rush of anticipation. I was not disappointed. Madama Butterfly is a well know opera still performed all over the world, and for good reason. The musical drama of Giacomo Puccini’s operas exceeds all other Italian opera. … Continued
by BWW News Desk Jul. 5, 2017 Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theater Company is presenting the first full production of the newly revised, re-conceived Richard Rodgers musical, REX, in their 25th Season, opening July 6. Lyricist, Pulitzer Prize- and three-time Tony Award-winner Sheldon Harnick will be in attendance, along with representatives from the Rodgers and Hammerstein organization. … Continued
Musical theater • Michael Ballam will play Henry VIII at Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre. By Catherine Reese Newton The Salt Lake Tribune July 5, 2017 12:27 pm Logan • Take the composer of “The Sound of Music” and the lyricist of “Fiddler on the Roof” and put them together. Broadway magic, right? Not quite. “Rex,” a musical by Richard Rodgers and Sheldon Harnick … Continued
Written by Jennie Christensen July 3, 2017 A significant donation has been made by a local service club to one of Cache Valley’s biggest summer attractions. A $5,000 donation to Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre by Cache Valley Morning Rotary was described by new President Mark Lund as, “an expression of our gratitude … Continued
Jun 29, 2017 The Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre has opened its 25th anniversary season with the perfect summer show. “Seussical,” a light-hearted musical tribute to the children’s stories of Dr. Seuss, is a delight, blending enough whimsy to entertain youngsters with enough powerhouse talent to enchant adults. … Continued
Jun 29, 2017 The Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre’s 25th season sizzles starting July 6 with the premiere of “Rex,” the story of Henry VIII followed by the opening of four additional productions in repertory July 7-8. … Continued
By Sean Dolan staff writer Jun 29, 2017 Theaters were a top priority for the first white settlers in Utah over 150 years ago. After construction of the Salt Lake Theatre, Brigham Young reportedly said: “If I were placed on a cannibal island and given the task of civilizing its people, I should straight-way build a theater for the purpose.” … Continued
By Whitney Butters Wilde Jun 29, 2017, 9:55am MDT When Michael Ballam, the acclaimed opera singer and founder of Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre, was preparing for the festival’s 2013 production of “Fiddler on the Roof,” he wanted to find the perfect man to play the patriarch, Tevye. … Continued
Written by Jennie Christensen June 28, 2017 The Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre’s 25th season officially opens on Thursday, July 6, with the premiere of “Rex,” the story of Henry VIII, followed by the opening of four additional productions in repertory on July 7-8. … Continued
Posted by Maren Scriven | Jun 27, 2017 LOGAN — Just under two decades ago, I spent a lot of evenings watching second run movies at the Utah Theater on Center Street in Logan because it was perfect for a poor college students budget. When I learned that the Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre had renovated the old theater to house stage productions, I was very excited to attend … Continued
By Kerry Bringhurst • Jun 16, 2017 Cache Valley theater arts organizers are hoping to create a special theater district in downtown Logan. The district would feature renovated buildings and performance halls dating back to the early 20th Century when four theaters were built on Logan’s Main and Center streets. Continued
Dear Festival Friends, They’re here! World-class performers, technicians, set designers, builders, costume designers, seamstresses, tailors, and musicians have descended on Logan, Utah, this past week to kick off Utah Festival’s 25th season. … Continued
Stage • Annual awards program will send two student actors to compete in New York. The Salt Lake Tribune May 22, 2017 11:31 am Perennial Utah high-school musical powerhouse Woods Cross High won the top trophy at the seventh annual Utah High School Musical Theatre Awards. The Davis County school’s production of “Beauty and the Beast” was named Best Musical at the May 13 ceremony at downtown Salt Lake City’s Eccles Theater. … Continued
Written by Jennie Christensen May 19, 2017 Two Utah high school performers are on their way to New York City after winning the Chevron Award for Best Actress and Best Actor in the seventh annual Utah High School Musical Theatre Awards presented at Salt Lake City’s Eccles Theatre on May 13. … Continued
by BWW News Desk May. 15, 2017 Two Utah high school performers are on their way to New York City after winning The Chevron Award for Best Actress and Best Actor in the seventh annual Utah High School Musical Theatre Awards held in the Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City May 13. … Continued
Arts • Part competition, part celebration, Utah High School Musical Theatre Awards channel spirit of generosity. By Catherine Reese Newton The Salt Lake Tribune May 15, 2017 9:22 am Michael Ballam said he wasn’t sure what to expect when his Logan-based Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre played host to the first Utah High School Musical Theatre Awards in 2011. … Continued
By Carole Mikita | Posted – May 12, 2017 at 7:09 p.m. LAYTON — For six years, Utah high school students have participated in a very creative competition: musical theater awards. The 7th annual Utah High School Musical Theatre awards will be held on May 13. This year’s awards show will be held at the Eccles Theatre in Salt Lake City, now home to Broadway touring companies. … Continued
by BWW News Desk Mar. 9, 2017 Broadway meets Utah on May 13, 2017 when more than 250 performers from 29 high schools productions across the state compete in the seventh annual Utah High School Musical Theatre Awards at the new George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City. … Continued
Published: Friday, February 24, 2017 Woodruff Elementary 3rd and 4th graders were treated to the movie Toy Story at the Utah Theatre Wednesday, February 22. Watching a movie in the middle of the school day served as a reward for students who achieved their reading goals. So far this year, Ellis and Woodruff Elementary schools … Continued
By Michael Burnham, The Utah Statesman Published: Wednesday, December 7, 2016 The Utah Theatre, Logan’s newest — but third oldest next to the Ellen Eccles and the Caine Lyric — theater is unique for many reasons. For starters, it houses a mighty Wurlitzer organ, one of the few in the state. It also has one … Continued
By Jennifer Steele Christensen, Cache Valley Daily Published: Monday, November 28, 2016 The Utah Theatre welcomes humorist and historian James Arrington to the stage December 9-10 in what Arrington calls “a great opening for the Christmas Season.” Showcasing select characters from Arrington’s hilarious and locally-beloved Farley Family, the production promises an evening of comedy, music, … Continued
By Jennie Christensen, Cache Valley Daily Published: Saturday, September 10, 2016 The fall season opens Saturday at the newly-remodeled and renovated Utah Theatre and Operations Manager Gary Griffin says it promises to be a lot of fun. He says the Utah Theatre will be the home of classic movies starting with the Sound of Music … Continued
By Kevin Opsahl, The Herald Journal Published: Thursday, August 4, 2016 As post-graduate students at Boston University, Saundra DeAthos and Harold Meers were trying to get “on the ground floor” of the theater arts business, looking for small parts to play in various operas nationwide. They got to know Michael Ballam, the founding general director … Continued