Lots of new energy: The top 10 moments of The Utah Enlightenment in 2021

INTRODUCTION It has been an enormous project to regain the spirited momentum that many arts and cultural organizations in Utah’s creative industries had amassed before the pandemic brought everything to a ground stop in the early spring of 2020. With resilience and durability exercised to their intrinsic advantages for respective organizations, many creative producers also … Read more

Still time to catch several impressive exhibitions at Utah Museum of Contemporary Art before year’s end

While downtown Salt Lake City is the hub of many holiday activities and the season’s hospitality and retail commerce, one ideal respite for some quiet enjoyment and contemplation is the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, where several outstanding exhibitions still are available for viewing through the end of the calendar year. Among them is Her … Read more

Memorable solo moments dominate Repertory Dance Theatre’s Compass concert

There were many unforgettable solo moments in Repertory Dance Theatre’s (RDT) Compass concerts. There were many astounding moments featuring the RDT ensemble and guest dancers from Utah Valley University who demonstrated the authentic virtues of a tight-knit community who communicate through movement with mutual clarity of purpose and emotion. Ursula Perry’s solo in Martha Graham’s … Read more

Exceptional multidimensional perspectives at Vida, muerte, justicia exhibition at Ogden Contemporary Arts

In the mixed media painting Consuela – dee Flying Yoke, Mexican-born artist Amelec Diaz offers a brilliant statement on the stubbornness of efforts to prevent any attempts to introduce, enrich and expand different cultural heritages in education and in the community. In the background of the painting, Diaz, who recently completed an artist residency at … Read more

Free Plan-B Theatre offerings of Radio Hour Episode 15: Sleepy Hollow, Alli and #3 signify strengths of two of company’s outstanding programs

RADIO HOUR EPISODE 15: SLEEPY HOLLOW For Plan-B Theatre’s Radio Hour series, in addition to his original science fiction episodes, playwright Matthew Ivan Bennett has penned outstanding adaptations of Frankenstein, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s only Christmas-themed short story The Blue Carbuncle.  But, his latest adaptation, which premiered last week in … Read more

Live performances continue to return in first-class fashion: season openers for Repertory Dance Theatre, Bachauer concert series, NOVA Chamber Music Series, Pygmalion Theatre Company

Four more local performing arts organizations have now launched their seasons with live performances, vividly reminding audiences just how impressive Salt Lake City’s cultural scene is as it returns to its pre-pandemic pace. Beginning its 56th season, the Repertory Dance Theatre (RDT) offered North Star, celebrating the work of choreographer Lar Lubovitch, including two selections … Read more

Salt Lake City’s golden age of street art in murals acknowledged by Utah Museum of Fine Arts, new downtown complexes, Visit Salt Lake tour opportunity

No doubt, Salt Lake City is in the midst of a golden age flourishing in an astounding network of murals. Street art and public art traditions have found their way into exhibitions at two of the city’s foremost museums, including the newest show at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. Murals with Utah community themes … Read more

Elaine Jarvik’s Four Women Talking about the Man under the Sheet makes a stellar opener for Salt Lake Acting Company’s 50th season

Justin Ivie’s consummate set design for Salt Lake Acting Company’s (SLAC) world premiere production of Elaine Jarvik’s Four Women Talking About the Man Under the Sheet highlights large banner portraits of the four historical characters and the smaller portrait of Frederick Douglass. The shrouded body of Douglass lies in repose on a bier in the … Read more

Salt Lake City’s arts scene is roaring back to full steam: Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company’s Total Ellipse, Roger Benington’s Psychopomp, SONDERimmersive’s The Chocolatier

With live performances resuming on several fronts, the arts calendar for the fall season in Salt Lake City has returned to levels not seen since the fall of 2019. The Utah Review offers reviews of three shows, seen within the span of four days. RIRIE-WOODBURY DANCE COMPANY: TOTAL ELLIPSE Season openers for Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company … Read more

Utah Museum of Contemporary Art continues 90th anniversary celebrations with exhibitions including murals by local street, graffiti artists; Yoriko Mizushiri animation; works inspired by Mormon culinary traditions, pandemic

The Utah Museum of Contemporary Art’s 90th anniversary year has been a splendid affair so far and exhibitions that are continuing through the early fall merit a thorough visit by patrons. This includes the seven impressive large-scale murals that signify the outstanding reputation for local public art in the street and graffiti forms. Likewise, two … Read more