The peculiar, poetic magic of The Distance of The Moon to premiere in Sackerson holiday production

For this holiday season, the wonderfully unconventional Sackerson theatrical company turns to the peculiar magic of The Distance of the Moon, one of the short stories that Italo Calvino wrote more than a half century ago as part of his unique Cosmicomics collection. At its surface, this fantastical tale springs from the incidental scientific premise … Read more

U of U play “Big Love” reimagines ancient play in time of #MeToo

Can one of the world’s oldest plays be relevant today? It’s a question you ponder while watching the University of Utah Department of Theatre’s production of “Big Love”—a play based on a story that is thought to have originally been performed in 470 B.C. Despite it being about a forced marriage between cousins, the answer … Read more

Royal Musings: NOVA Chamber Music Series All-British concert to feature composers from Purcell to Adès

Compared to its European neighbors, especially in the latter half of the 18th century and through most of the 19th century, Britain did not produce the same depth and breadth of composers whose works have endured. While Henry Purcell (1659-1695) is considered that nation’s preeminent Baroque composer, it was Benjamin Britten (1913-1976), one of the … Read more

Repertory Dance Theatre’s Mosaic concert set for Nov. 15-17

In a mosaic, the complete picture and the array of artistic tiles or photographs are distinguishable at the same time. More than a dozen years ago, scholars Georgia Chao and Henry Moon elegantly applied the mosaic metaphor to understanding how diversity is manifested in the workplace. If we view the cultural mosaic of an individual … Read more

Works by Beethoven, Rachmaninov to highlight Bachauer concert with Canadian pianist Jane Coop

Some of the most familiar works for solo piano by Beethoven and Rachmaninov will highlight the second concert of the Bach, Beethoven, Brahms … and Beyond series, which makes up the 2018-2019 season for The Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation. Jane Coop, one of Canada’s most prominent pianists and music professors, will be the soloist … Read more

Utah Film Center to screen new documentary about German design great Dieter Rams, with director Gary Hustwit attending

In Rams, the new elegant, harmonious biographical documentary about Dieter Rams, the great German product designer, there are scenes of him visiting the new factory headquarters for the U.K. furniture brand Vitsœ, located in Leamington Spa in Warwickshire. The new factory, indeed, epitomizes the 10 design principles that sit at the core of Rams’ philosophy … Read more

Ballet West opens 55th season with Jewels

Emeralds, rubies and diamonds will grace the stage of the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre beginning November 2 through 10 as the curtain rises on the 55th season of Ballet West performances. Returning to the Ballet West stage, Jewels is a pivotal masterpiece of legendary choreographer George Balanchine. The triple bill—which features three approximately 20-minute … Read more

16th annual Spy Hop Productions’ PitchNic films scheduled to premiere Nov. 8

Last year’s class of PitchNic short films, produced, filmed and directed by students in one of Spy Hop Productions’ signature programs, added nicely to the 15-year totals of film festival appearances and awards for these projects. Winning the Utah Short Film of The Year prize at the 2018 Utah Arts Festival, the short narrative feature … Read more

The lovely Eighties vibe of PYGmalion Productions’ Tigers Be Still

There is a lovely Eighties vibe in PYGmalion Productions’ season opener of Tigers Be Still, a 2010 play by Kim Rosenstock. Each of the four characters struggles to cope with depression brought on by significant events or circumstances. And, in this pleasing production, a Utah premiere directed by Elizabeth Golden, the comedic touches bring out … Read more

Recent SLC art happenings: Utah Museum of Fine Arts’ Site Lines, Utah Museum of Contemporary Art presentation of memorial videos

The Utah Review looks at two events from local museums: Site Lines, The University of Utah Art Faculty’s exhibition at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA) and a recent video presentation at the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA) that was held in connection with a national conference of funeral directors held in Salt … Read more