JOYFUL NOISE more pleasant and subdued than joyful
PROVO — The year is 1741, and George Frederic Handel is in a slump. His recent operas have received a mixed or negative response from the London public. And the…
33 VARIATIONS ascends to triumph
SALT LAKE CITY — Why did Ludwig Von Beethoven devote four years of his diminishing life writing 33 variations of a mediocre waltz? This question has remained largely a mystery…
RICHARD II is second to none
CEDAR CITY — One line from the title character encapsulates Richard II at the Utah Shakespeare Festival: “Now mark me how I will undo myself.” As the play unfolds, the…
Grassroots HENRY IV, PART 2 breaks the sequel curse
SALT LAKE CITY — Browsing a list of the five highest grossing movies of 2013 so far shows that four of them are either sequels or prequels. Obviously, continuing the…
5 new plays for 5 Utah theatre companies from CATF
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA — Given the number of world premieres that UTBA has reviewed, it’s clear that Utah audiences have an appetite for new plays. So, when the American Theater…
Egyptian Theatre’s EVITA falters technically, but features strong performances
PARK CITY — Evita, as presented by the Egyptian Theater, tells the story of former Argentinian first lady Eva Perón. From humble origins, to a B-film star, to her slow…
Shakespeare Festival portrays a realistic politician in KING JOHN
CEDAR CITY — “Might makes right.” This old adage has illustrated that often the person with the strongest army becomes a leader by virtue of the physical force at his…
MORMON MIRACLE PAGEANT: Experiencing Utah’s theatrical heritage
MANTI — On Thursday night, I made a pilgrimage, of sorts, to the small, quaint town of Manti, Utah, to attend the Mormon Miracle Pageant. For many thousands of people…
The GSC cast reigns over a rough HENRY IV, PART 1
OREM — Utah’s Grassroots Shakespeare Company (GSC) is one of the most innovative theatre companies in the state. As has been stated in many UTBA reviews of their work, they…
Face America’s past with THE FACE OF EMMETT TILL
SALT LAKE CITY — Some of the most important stories are also the hardest stories to tell. The Face of Emmett Till is certainly one of those stories. And, thankfully,…