Backstage at the Utah Arts Festival 2015: City Library, The Leonardo packed with performances, workshops, technology demonstrations

Once again, the City Library will have a prominent presence at this year’s Utah Arts Festival with an exhibition featuring award-winning art by 53 high school students, numerous visual arts workshops, a sneak peak at what the third annual performance art festival will feature this fall, and, of course, the entire schedule of screenings for … Read more

Backstage at the Utah Arts Festival 2015: Out into the streets, Kurt Wenner’s art resonates in profound social significance

Focused on tackling the consequences of what remains a large cultural problem that has, as he explains in an interview with The Utah Review, “really dislodged artists and set all of them out in the streets,” Kurt Wenner lived in austere conditions as a young artist – even camping out in a sleeping bag in one of … Read more

Backstage at the Utah Arts Festival 2015: ‘Art Lives Here’ takes shape in many forms

Somehow managing always to remain calm, cool, good-humored and eternally organized, the staff and coordinators for the 39th Utah Arts Festival could run clinics for organizations on how to conduct effective, concise, fast-paced meetings where every participant can walk away at the end feeling something notable has been accomplished. In April, two months before the … Read more

Utah Blues Festival is great music for a good cause

Carrie Scott Courtesy of Utah Blues Society

It’s summertime! Time for outdoor music concerts, food trucks and fun. Grab your lawn chairs and your dancing partner and head down to the 1st annual Utah Blues Festival on June 13, from 1-10 p.m. at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center. This musical festival is designed to both support local musicians and a local cause: … Read more

Making the most of their differences: Arcane’s trio of musicians in Spy Hop’s newest band

Whatever their differences in family, religion, school interests, or even musical tastes, three Utah teens have come together in an extraordinarily rewarding and productive way in Spy Hop Productions’ musicology program. The only students who have completed one of Spy Hop’s rigorous year-long programs in music and media arts, the three teens who comprise the … Read more

Creative choreographers highlighted in Ballet West’s Innovations 2015

Ballet West's Innovations 2015

For the closing program of the 2015 season, Ballet West has chosen to highlight the developing works of young choreographers—mostly from their own core dance troupe. Ballet West Artistic Director Adam Sklute explains, “For Innovations 2015, I am excited to present the work of a talented Utah native, three Ballet West artists including two women, … Read more

Doing things a little differently on tap for Plan-B Theatre’s 25th season

NOTE: This is Part Two of a series about Plan-B Theatre, which offers a glimpse of the five premieres for the silver anniversary season. For Part One, see here. True to its mission of keeping programming as fresh and innovative as possible, Plan-B Theatre will mark its silver anniversary season with two world premieres that … Read more

Many thrilling moments of intimacy in Plan-B Theatre’s 24th season

NOTE: This is the first of a two-part series about Plan-B Theatre. The first looks back at the company’s 24th season. In every production for its recently completed 24th season, Plan-B Theatre brought many thrilling moments of intimacy to audiences. The visceral, emotional punches between a young Mormon couple trying awkwardly to process the grief … Read more

Utah Opera’s The Rake’s Progress is bold and creative

Utah Opera's The Rake's Progress

Utah Opera’s production of Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress is new to Salt Lake City, but this 40-year-old production is one of the most iconic in the history of American opera. The Rake’s Progress follows the story of Tom Rakewell, a young man who decides to reject the life his future father-in-law has set up for … Read more