Utah Symphony concert to feature Utah premiere of Jessie Montgomery’s Rounds with pianist Awadagin Pratt, guest conductor Teddy Abrams

Pianist and conductor Awadagin Pratt remembers meeting Jessie Montgomery, violinist and composer, several years ago and playing chamber music together for a week. “She talked about the experiences she had in making the transition from a violinist to a composer and her thoughts about music making in general,” Pratt said in an interview with The … Read more

A 2023 holiday season exclusive for U.S. and Salt Lake City: Pioneer Theatre Company set for production opening of Christmas in Connecticut musical adaptation

The most enduring Hollywood movies about Christmas reinforce the nostalgia about holiday celebrations, even when chaos threatens to upend plans for the perfect gathering. In 1945, as GIs began to return to the States after the long world war, American audiences welcomed the holiday madcap farce of Warner Bros.’ Christmas in Connecticut.  Nearly 80 years … Read more

Five choreographers will have premieres at upcoming Repertory Dance Theatre’s Venture production

Five premieres will mark Repertory Dance Theatre’s (RDT) Venture production later this week. The new works include three from artists who have been part of RDT’s Regalia choreographic competitions, along with a full company work by an internationally known choreographer from Poland and a piece for participants in RDT’s Prime Performance Workshop. Venture will have … Read more

¡Jaleo!: Spanish pianist José Ramón Mendez set to make his Salt Lake City debut on Nov. 10 Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation concert

Just last month, internationally known pianist José Ramón Mendez was in Utah to judge the state chapter of the Music Teacher National Association’s piano competitions. Later this week, Mendez will return to perform his Salt Lake City debut, in ¡Jaleo!, a concert of solo piano works by Chopin and Spanish composers Antonio Soler, Isaac Albéniz … Read more

World premiere of Gabriela Lena Frank’s A Psalm of Disquiet by Fry Street Quartet set for Utah State University’s music school, NOVA Chamber Music Series

This week’s world premiere of Gabriela Lena Frank new string quartet A Psalm of Disquiet at Utah State University and then on Nov. 5 at NOVA Chamber Music Series in Salt Lake City, is yet another milestone in the flourishing relationship which the composer and Fry Street Quartet have developed over many years. “I have … Read more

Plan-B Theatre, in partnership with KUER-FM’s RadioWest, to present Radio Hour Episode 17: Sherlock Holmes and The Final Problem, in live broadcast with live audience for first time since 2014

EDITOR’S NOTE: On Friday, Oct. 27, at 11 a.m., from the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, The Utah Review will live blog the world premiere of Radio Hour Episode 17: Sherlock Holmes and The Final Problem, produced by Plan-B Theatre and KUER-FM’s RadioWest program. Tune into KUER-FM 90.1 and follow The Utah Review during the … Read more

Marking its 20th anniversary, the Utah Film Center’s Damn These Heels Queer Film Festival set for Oct. 12-15

EDITOR’S NOTE: This three-article package highlights the Utah Film Center’s Damn These Heels Queer Film Festival, which marks its 20th anniversary this year. The second feature is a detailed description of the festival’s slate and the third feature highlights two film workshops that are part of the festival. When the Utah Film Center decided 20 … Read more

A detailed rundown of the slate of films for the 2023 Damn These Heels Queer Film Festival of the Utah Film Center

From the Utah Film Center, the 2023 offerings at the Damn These Heels Queer Film Festival represent five local filmmakers, 17 female directors, 10 directors identifying as a person of color, and 14 countries represented. A large majority of the films are receiving Utah premieres and at least one is being screened for the first time … Read more

Workshops for independent, do-it-yourself filmmakers set for Damn These Heels Queer Film Festival, courtesy of Utah Film Center’s Artist Foundry

The 20th anniversary of the Utah Film Center’s Damn These Heels Queer Film Festival also marks the return of the center’s Artist Foundry program through two workshops for independent, do-it-yourself filmmakers and a conversation about queering the filmmaking process.  Festivals such as Damn These Heels often inspire aspiring filmmakers to make their debuts with their … Read more

Finding close community in and out of the studio: Repertory Dance Theatre set to open 58th season with world premiere of Natosha Washington’s I AM…

Just as essential as a choreographer’s skills in setting the most impactful movement upon a dance company in the studio is their capacity to trust the dancers as collaborators in rendering themes they envision, particularly when the work is steeped in the choreographer’s autobiographical experiences.  In an interview with The Utah Review, choreographer Natosha Washington … Read more