Listen to this articleAeris Aerial Arts Presents:
Asteria: A Cirque Style Show
Aug. 31–Sep. 2, artsaltlake.org
Leona Wagner Black Box Theatre
Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center
Asteria, daughter of the Sun and Moon, has fallen from the sky. Follow her on her journey home through the elements, depicted through cirque-style acrobatics, hand balancing, contortion and original Aeris-designed aerial apparatuses and costumes.
Egyptian Theatre Company and Ziegfeld Theatre Present:
Next to Normal
Sep. 8–17, egyptiantheatrecompany.com
Egyptian Theatre
A powerful rock musical that grapples with mental illness in a suburban family and expands the scope of subject matter for musicals. “Next to Normal is a sometimes booming roar and a sometimes chilling whisper.” – QSaltLake
Kingsbury Hall Presents:
Kaki King
Sep. 14, kingsburyhall.utah.edu
Kingsbury Hall, UofU
Hailed by Rolling Stone as “a genre unto herself,” composer and guitarist Kaki King is a true iconoclast. “The Neck Is A Bridge To The Body,” is Kaki at her visionary best: deconstructing and redefining the role of solo instrumental artist though virtuoso technique, insatiable imagination and boundless humanity. This groundbreaking new multi-media performance uses projection mapping, making the guitar the main character in a creation myth unlike any other, with luminous visions cast directly onto Kaki’s customized Ovation Adamas guitar.
Kingsbury Hall Presents:
Steel Pier
Sep. 15–24, kingsburyhall.utah.edu
Marriott Center for Dance
Set on the famous Steel Pier in Atlantic City, this energetic musical brings together an assortment of relentless souls eager to dance their way into fame and prizes. Bill Kelly, an adventurous pilot, falls out of the sky and into the arms of Rita Racine, a dancer and the wife of evil Steel Pier manager Mick Hamilton. Entertainment and plenty of razzle-dazzle dancing ensue when Rita and Bill pair up for the marathon. Songs by the creators of Chicago, Cabaret and other Broadway classics perfectly capture the rhythms of the 1930’s dance era.
Yolanda Arrey Presents:
The Bayou
Sep. 16, artsaltlake.org
Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre
We invite you to an unforgettable experience of New Orleans ‘60s Jazz and R&B with a Motown twist and synchronized choreography using state of the art stage design and lighting, video projection, cryo jets, a live band, 20 dancers and original music of two-time UMA music awards nominee Yolanda Arrey. “A Vegas production brought to life in Salt Lake City. If you like Hairspray, Mama Mia!, La La Land and Motown Music, just to name a few, You will enjoy this show!”
Wasatch Theatre Company Presents:
God’s Favorite
Sep. 22–Oct. 8 artsaltlake.org
Studio Theatre
Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center
God’s Favorite by Neil Simon is one of his rarely done classics about a man Joe who is visited by a messenger for God, asking Joe to fulfill a bet between God and the Devil. Will Joe participate in fulfilling God’s unusual request, even if it means hardship for his well-to-do family?
Ririe-Woodbury Presents:
PARALLAX
Sep. 28–30, artsaltlake.org
The Jeanné Wagner Theatre
Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center
This evening will include the re-construction and premiere of a captivating work by choreographer Kate Weare titled “Unstruck.” Weare writes “this trio explores through movement and sound a process of live formation. It taps into the nascency and formation at a primitive level: the carving of the body itself, an organization and dissolution of space and a magnetic energy between dancers.” The dance features an original score by composer Curtis MacDonald. The evening’s lineup also includes a world premiere by choreographer Raja Feather Kelly titled “Pantheon.” This musical-choreographic collaboration transposes the paganism and sacrifice of the Stravinsky/Nijinsky Rite of Spring to the 21st century world of global pop culture, and the inherent sacrifices it demands of its audience. The new score is composed by Sam Crawford. Company Artistic Director Daniel Charon will premiere his latest work, “Exilic Dances,” which honors community, identity, and the idea of embracing and accepting the stranger in the face of diasporic communities.
Kingsbury Hall Presents:
One-Man Star Wars
Sep. 29, kingsburyhall.utah.edu
Kingsbury Hall, UofU
Canadian actor and uber geek, Charles Ross, brings his solo madcap creation One-Man Star Wars trilogy to the stage in this mind-bending whirlwind of a show. Ross retells the classic bad hair trilogy in 60 minutes – no costumes, no props, no sets – all the characters, the music, the ships and the battles. If your kid’s name is Chewbacca, this show is a no-brainer. If not, get your nerd on and experience the global sensation loved by audiences from London’s West End, Off-Broadway, Dubai, the Sydney Opera House, Lucasfilm, and Charlie’s mom. The Force is strong with this one.
Repertory Dance Theatre Presents:
Sanctuary
Oct. 5–7, artsaltlake.org
Jeanné Wagner Theatre
Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center
The nature of sacred places inspires the centerpiece commission by Zvi Gotheiner, celebrating the Bears Ears National Monument with a new ritual that connects humanity to sacred water and land. “Tower,” by Andy Noble honors the hallowed ground where the Twin Towers once stood amidst falling rain and features 33 dancers, including guests from Utah Valley University. Performing under a torrent of 120 pounds of falling rice, the dancers in Eric Handman’s “Ghost Ship” explore how we are connected to our sense of place.
Odyssey Dance Theatre Presents:
Thriller
Oct. 6–30, kingsburyhall.utah.edu
Kingsbury Hall, UofU
Thriller is a Halloween Spectacular – it includes all your favorite Halloween characters such as Frankenstein, The Curse of the Mummy and Jason. “Whether you’ve seen Thriller each year … or you’ve only been one time, there is absolutely nothing you will see that you’ve seen in entirely the same way.” – QSaltLake
Utah Opera Presents:
Puccini’s La Bohème
Oct. 7–15, artsaltlake.org
Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre
You’re invited to look inside the soul of an artist, with Puccini’s classic depiction of struggling bohemians navigating love, life and death in turn-of-the-century Paris. Join Utah Opera as it comes full circle to bring you La Bohème, a celebration of Utah Opera’s premiere performance in 1978. Sung in French with English supertitles.
Ballet West Presents:
Aladdin (Family Series)
Oct. 19–22, balletwest.org
Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre
Join the Ballet West II dancers and students from the Ballet West Academy for a magic carpet ride full of comedy, romance and adventure. Follow an impoverished youth and an entire cast of colorful and magical characters as Aladdin strives to win the love of his beautiful princess and spoil the plans of the wicked magician.
Live at the Eccles and MagicSpace Entertainment Present:
Travis Wall’s After The Curtain
Oct. 24, artsaltlake.org
Delta Performance Hall
George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater
Under the artistic direction of Emmy-award winner, Travis Wall, and co-created with Nick Lazzarini, Teddy Forance and Kyle Robinson, the dance troupe is an electrifying mash-up of dance styles and musical genres brought fully to life on stage by a dynamic company of contemporary dancers. In “After the Curtain” these visual musicians continue to dazzle audiences as they tell the story of a man fighting to find his creative voice after the death of his one true love.
Live at the Eccles Presents:
The Simon & Garfunkel Story
Oct. 24, artsaltlake.org
Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre
Now seen by over a 1/4 million people across the world, The Simon and Garfunkel Story is a critically acclaimed concert-style theater show about two young boys from Queens, New York who went on to become the world’s most successful music duo of all time. Using state of the art video projection, incredible lighting and a full live band, the show is a moving and powerful concert featuring all the hits such as “Mrs. Robinson,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Scarborough Fair,” “The Sound of Silence” and many more.
Utah Symphony Presents:
Broadway Divas
Oct. 27–28, artsaltlake.org
Abravanel Hall
Is there room on stage for more than one diva? Find out during this concert as Jack Everly and the Utah Symphony are joined by four larger-than-life Broadway leading ladies! Get ready for some thrilling, show stopping performances — and maybe just a bit of competition — as they pull out all the stops in selections from blockbuster musicals including Les Misérables, Dreamgirls, My Fair Lady, West Side Story and Chicago.
Pygmalion Theatre Company Presents:
The Weyward Sisters
Nov. 3–18, artsaltlake.org
Leona Wagner Black Box Theatre
Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center
Leandra, Skye and Fioon are witches . . . good witches, but witches nevertheless. They have been hired by Thomas Middleton to perform in a new play called Macbeth, that he’s written in tandem with a playwright known to the witches as The Brad, aka Shakespeare. Before and after each scene in which they are featured, we see the ‘weyward’ (weird) sisters in their dressing room-the here and now. Not completely savvy to a theater world these three weird sisters grapple with how they fit into the fabric of the play, how they contribute to the telling of Macbeth’s story and if they should somehow alter the final conclusion.
Ballet West Presents:
Carmina Burana
Nov. 3–11, balletwest.org
Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre
Ballet West brings you a brand new version of this powerful dance theater work. This world premiere, created by resident choreographer Nicolo Fonte, will surge with powerful transformation and drama when an immense chorus joins the dancers onstage singing Carl Orff’s unforgettable score. The program will open with Serenade, a piece of ethereal beauty that spotlights the artistic craft and genius of George Balanchine, performed to Tchaikovsky’s lush and moving Serenade for Strings.
Live at the Eccles & KRCL Present:
Ani DiFranco
Nov. 4, artsaltlake.org
Delta Performance Hall
George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater
Ani DiFranco is kicking ass and taking names on tour in support of her new album “Binary” on Righteous Babe Records. With “Binary,” the iconic singer/songwriter/activist/poet/DIY trendsetter returns to territory that brought her to the world’s attention more than 25 years ago. One of the first artists to create her own label in 1990, she has been recognized among the feminist pantheon for her entrepreneurship, social activism, and outspoken political lyrics. Ani will be honored with this year’s Independent Icon Award at the American Association of Independent Music’s (A2IM).
Kingsbury Hall Presents:
White Rabbit Red Rabbit
Nov. 4–Dec. 2, kingsburyhall.utah.edu
Kingsbury Hall, UofU
The play you are about to see is sealed inside an envelope. The person about to perform has never seen it. In fact, there is a new performer every night (see schedule below), and they’ve only been told what is absolutely necessary. Everything unravels in real time. Once you start, you must finish … no matter what. We dare you not to Google this play. Slyly humorous and audaciously pointed, this “theater entertainment meets social experiment” is unlike anything and will make you question everything. Guest performers by date:
Nov. 4 – Bill Allred, x96 Radio From Hell
Nov. 9 – Mckayli Abbe, UofU student (Psychology major)
Nov. 10 – Sylvia Torti, Dean, Honors College
Nov. 11 – Jorge Rojas, Artist, Dir. of Education & Engagement, Utah Museum of Fine Arts
Nov. 16 – Mark Macey, UofU student (Theatre Studies major)
Nov. 17 – Deena Marie Manzanares, Actress
Dec. 1 – Theresa Martinez, Associate Professor, Sociology
Dec. 2 – Derek Kitchen, Salt Lake City Council
Plan-B Theatre Company Presents:
The Ice Front
Nov. 9–19, artsaltlake.org
Studio Theatre
Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center
The actors of the Norwegian National Theatre find themselves in an uneasy truce with Nazi cultural authorities during the German occupation of Norway. When they are forced to perform a Nazi propaganda piece, conscience comes face to face with The Final Solution.
The Ice Front questions what it means to be an artist, to be a patriot, to be human. Funded in part by the Venturous Theatre Fund of the Tides Foundation and Sons of Norway. Developed as part of Pioneer Theatre Company’s Play-By-Play Series.
Repertory Dance Theatre Presents:
Top Bill
Nov. 16–18, artsaltlake.org
Jeanné Wagner Theatre
Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center
RDT spotlights work by its most prolific alumni choreographer, William “Bill” Evans, a magnetic dance-maker known for his versatility and style. Top Bill features an eclectic range of music from Vivaldi to the 3hattrio plus a tribute to the “King of Swing” Mr. Benny Goodman. East Indian, tap and electronic rhythms will make this entertaining and nostalgic evening of dance unforgettable.
Egyptian Theatre Company and Ziegfeld Theatre Present:
Guys and Dolls
Nov. 17–25, egyptiantheatrecompany.com
Egyptian Theatre
Considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy, Frank Loesser’s crowd pleaser is about rolling the dice and falling in love under the bright lights of Broadway. Reduced pricing Tuesday and Wednesday.
Live at the Eccles Presents:
John Cleese LIVE ON STAGE
Plus a Screening of “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”
Nov. 19, artsaltlake.org
Delta Performance Hall
George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater
Living comedy legend, John Cleese, is heading in your general direction for a live and truly unforgettable evening of conversation and audience Q&A. Absurd and/or ridiculous questions only are requested, please. John will tell stories of his life and career and you just may finally find out the air-speed of an unladen swallow. Before John silly walks his way on to the stage, the excitement will build as the audience will get to watch “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” in its entirety on the big screen. Coconuts NOT included in ticket price.
Upgrade your seat to include a Meet & Greet. 50 spots available for an additional $150.
Pioneer Theatre Company Presents:
Newsies
Dec. 1–16, pioneertheatre.org
Pioneer Theatre, UofU
Inspired by the real-life newsboy strike of 1899, this Disney movie-turned-hit-Broadway-musical has something for everyone — acrobatic dancing, heartfelt songs and a rousing story of underdogs taking on the establishment — all rolled into a feel-good evening of family entertainment.
