Courageous artistic expression underscores memorable moments of Utah Enlightenment in 2015

There was a lot to celebrate in 2015 with the Utah Enlightenment, a creative movement where courage defines some of the state’s most interesting and independent artists. Indeed, the Enlightenment disturbs and disrupts the peculiar Utah penchant to be civil and docile or to be content with platitudes and pleasantries. Artists are reclaiming Utah’s unique … Read more

Plan-B Theatre’s Booksmart offers generous holiday gift of socially conscious comedy

In a season where consumers exchange expectations of peace and goodwill for short-lived marketing ‘magic,’ Rob Tennant’s impressively on-point Booksmart is an entertaining call beckoning us back to a sane conscience for the holidays. Plan-B Theatre’s production, which has sold out the house in every performance, is as pitch perfect as an original holiday show … Read more

The power of religious legend in David Pace’s new novel Dream House on Golan Drive

In his marvelous short story American Trinity, David Pace brings to life the religious Mormon legend of the Three Nephites, an apocryphal tradition about ancient disciples whom LDS members claim have interceded and helped them in various situations. The scribe, Zedekiah, is debating a fellow disciple about their spiritual calling and the power of telling … Read more

Impressively enlightened conscience dominates latest round of PitchNic film premieres by Spy Hop students

The latest set of PitchNic short film premieres by students at Spy Hop Productions not only impressed an audience of nearly 500 at the Rose Wagner Center for Performing Arts but it also signaled that all four films are ready for submission to film festivals around the country. In fact, each of the films could … Read more

Bird’s Howl: of Woman and Wolf personal, probing, intelligent mix of culture, storytelling, science

In its fiction releases, Torrey House Press has reconnected science to emotion and humans to their fellow animals in marvelous ways that are captivating readers and capturing awards. And, as it has expanded its nonfiction offerings, the Utah-based publisher has followed a similar course. Recent nonfiction releases such as Wild Rides and Wildflowers by Scott … Read more

Plan-B Theatre’s The Kreutzer Sonata with NOVA Chamber Music is a blockbuster opener for 25th season

At one point in The Kreutzer Sonata, the obsessively mad Pozdnyshev breaches the taboo of chamber music etiquette by invading the space of the violinist and pianist who are in the midst of communicating a rare serene moment in this famous Beethoven work. His stance is almost menacing and he walks away resuming his blistering … Read more

2015 Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah

Another Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah is in the books, with all of the ups and downs you would expect from one of the country’s top three cycling events. The week long Tour of Utah features some of the world’s best professional bike riders and teams competing on Utah’s most challenging terrain, with many … Read more

Glamping and gourmet at Conestoga Ranch’s Campfire Grill

Garden City, UT, the gateway town to Bear Lake’s emerald blue water spanning the Idaho/Utah border is known for its world-famous raspberry shakes and…well, not much else. It’s simply the town you drive through on your way to access the lake or your accommodations, but that’s about to change. The newly opened Conestoga Ranch has … 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