City Guide 2025 

Page 5 of 8

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• Salt Lake Acting Company’s Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

Stage Struck
In the Salt Lake City area, you can find the best of the performing arts.
By Scott Renshaw

Whatever direction you turn in the Salt Lake metropolitan area, you're going to find great performing arts options; don't imagine you've found yourself in some culture-free backwater. Here are just a few of the organizations you can check out to get some of the best creative work anywhere.

THEATER
Salt Lake Acting Company's (saltlakeactingcompany.org) 50-year-plus history has prominently included a summer show taking aim at the quirks and foibles of local life in an edgy but humorous way. Their seasons also typically include challenging world and regional premieres, plus a family-friendly holiday production.

At the Salt Lake County-operated Rose Wagner Center (arttix.org), Plan-B Theatre Company (planbtheatre.org) occupies the Studio Theatre space, with a full season of offerings that in recent years has focused on world premieres by local Utah playwrights. In the Black Box Theatre, Pygmalion Productions (pygmalionproductions.org) carries out its mission statement of focusing on "the human experience through the eyes of women" by presenting shows centering female-identifying characters, from female-identifying creators.

Another stalwart of the local scene, Wasatch Theatre Company (wasatchtheatrecompany.org), brings its wide-ranging program of more intimate plays to a venue at The Gateway mall.

Salt Lake City's largest all-Equity company is the University of Utah's resident Pioneer Theatre Company (pioneertheatre.org), which brings large-scale production values to a wide range of offerings in a season of typically new plays, vintage classics and beloved musicals; it even served as the regional try-out location for the recent Tony Award-winner Shucked, before it hit Broadway. A new venue, the more intimate Meldrum Theatre, is home to both PTC productions and shows by University of Utah drama students.

Touring versions of hit Broadway shows come to the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater (131 S. Main St.) via Broadway at the Eccles (saltlakecity.broadway.com), with upcoming productions including Wicked and Hadestown. The Eccles also hosts some of the world's most popular touring comedians (see "Comedy").

Outside of SLC proper, your options are almost too many to name, from Sandy's popular and long-lived Hale Center Theatre (hct.org) to Ogden's risk-taking Good Company Theatre (goodcotheatre.com).

DANCE
The local dance scene is thriving, built on nationally-respected programs at the University of Utah and Brigham Young University. Ballet West (balletwest.org) performs at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre (50 W. 200 South), offering both modern works and classics of the ballet canon, including the beloved annual holiday production of The Nutcracker.

For those with more of a taste for modern dance, the Rose Wagner Center (see "Theater" above) is home to two wonderful companies: Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company (ririewoodbury.com), showcasing amazing works of modern dance, including new works by local choreographers; and Repertory Dance Theatre (rdtutah.org), dedicated to the creation, performance and perpetuation of modern dance works, including an extensive repertoire of classic dance treasures.

Seasonal shows—including the popular Thriller Halloween production—are the name of the game for Odyssey Dance Theatre (odysseydance.com), which recently returned to presenting after a two-year hiatus. And if you want to expand your live-performance horizons to smaller companies, check out the distinctive works that are created by SALT Contemporary Dance (saltdance.com) and Wasatch Contemporary Dance (wasatchcontemporary.com).

CLASSICAL MUSIC & OPERA
In the heart of downtown, Abravanel Hall (123 W. South Temple) is home to the Utah Symphony (utahsymphony.org), which plays a full season of classical masterworks, pops performances, symphonic accompaniment to classic films and more. During the summers, the Symphony takes up residence for an outdoor series in the beautiful setting of Park City's Deer Valley resort, including regular offerings like the July program of patriotic favorites.

The Capitol Theatre (see "Dance" above) hosts performances by Utah Opera (utahopera.org), which has delighted Utahns for more than 45 years with canonical classics from Verdi, Puccini, Mozart and more, plus occasional presentations of newer works, accompanied by the Utah Symphony.

For classical music on a smaller scale, the Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation (bachauer.com) presents an annual piano competition and showcase performances for great pianists at the Rose Wagner Center. And at Libby Gardner Concert Hall (1375 E. Presidents Circle, music.utah.edu) on the University of Utah campus, you can experience classical performances by student performers and more.

COMEDY
On the west side of downtown, The Gateway (400 W. 200 South, atthegateway.com) offers even more than retail shopping and great dining. It's also the home of one of three Utah Wiseguys Comedy (wiseguyscomedy.com) locations, bringing in both the best of the local comedy scene, including open mic nights, and national touring comedians.

Kingsbury Hall (1395 E. Presidents Circle, kingsburyhall.utah.edu) also plays host to touring comedians, as well as touring dance productions and fascinating speakers; you can also find big comedy names coming to the Eccles Theater (see "Theater," live-at-the-eccles.com).

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• Salt Lake Film Society

Best Arts Nonprofit
1. Salt Lake Film Society
Locals know the Salt Lake Film Society best from its film programming at the Broadway Centre Cinemas, from first-run theatrical releases to themed programming like the annual "Tower of Terror" and "Summer Showdown" series. But it's also a resource supporting filmmakers, as was demonstrated by the Oscar-nominated Ninety-Five Senses, an offshoot of the Media Accelerator Studio (MAST) program's "Voices Seen" animation contest. SLFS doesn't just show great filmmaking; it helps to create it.
slfs.org

2. Utah Arts Alliance
A particularly busy hub within the Beehive State, the Utah Arts Alliance works for the promotion of the arts before the public and in championing opportunities for artists. They are the ones responsible for facilities like the Alliance Theater; for events like the Urban Arts Festival; and programs like radio's KUAA 99.9FM. They do great work on many fronts, and life is all the sweeter for it.
utaharts.org

3. Salt Lake Acting Company
Since 1969, the Salt Lake Acting Company (SLAC) has been fostering local talent, producing contemporary theater and educating various age groups for decades. Committed to bringing audiences in touch with thoughtful and provocative work on a regular basis, you never quite know what SLAC will do next—and that's so much of the fun!
saltlakeactingcompany.org

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• Patrons admire a colorful collection at Urban Arts Gallery

Gallery Strolling
An introduction to some of Salt Lake City's visual arts galleries.
By Christa Zaro

Salt Lake City has a vibrant visual arts scene that rivals other midsize and large metropolitan cities. It's said that artists, needing to find affordable studios to make and sell art, find an industrial or under-developed building in an off-beat area ... and create. Soon, the people notice, and artists unknowingly plant the seed for growth and development for communities like Art Space, Original Pierpont and the Granary District in downtown SLC.

This is where the magic happens, the confluence of creation and community. Show me an artist, and I'll show you a story of expression embodied as life, love and community. 

New to the local scene? Start your experience with the Salt Lake Gallery Stroll. Salt Lake City is home to one of the longest-running gallery strolls in the nation, held on the third Friday of every month. A network of more than 30 galleries and museums hosts monthly evening open houses to showcase new artists, their collections and creative spaces. Meet the artists, browse the art and bring the entire family.

For a complete list of participating galleries, go to gallerystroll.org. Here are some standouts that I like to frequent:

15th Street Gallery (15thstreetgallery.com/m/): A charming neighborhood gallery offering custom framing, representing popular local artists and a stunning retail collection of vases, frames and home goods.

A Gallery (agalleryonline.com): Full-service art gallery in an architecturally significant space blending contemporary and fine art. Acclaimed Utah artists are represented, like painter Brent Godrey, industrial sculptor Brian Christensen and weaver John Hess.

Alpine Art (alpineartinc.com): A supporter of emerging Utah artists in a friendly space. Standouts are magical realist painter Chris Miles and Paul Heath's pop nostalgia of SLC iconic streets and signage.

Anthony's Fine Art & Antiques (anthonysfineart.com): Like stepping into a museum of fine art and antiquities, with emphasis on Utah's historic artists. A place to explore and leave you breathless.

Brushworks Gallery (brushworksgallery.com): Original contemporary paintings from local and national artists in its 49th year. 

David Ericson Fine Art (davidericson-fineart.com): A consistently high quality gallery in the Avenues representing some of Utah's best artists, past and present like Justin Wheatley, Greg Newbold, Brian Kershisnik and Waldo Midgley.

Fice Gallery + Boutique (ficegallery.com): Sneaker and apparel store that blends as community space to showcase art and culture. DJ sets, street art, limited editions, book clubs, global and local artists.

Modern West (modernwestfineart.com): A stunning building featuring modern and contemporary art with odes to the American West. Represented artists include Ben Steele's pop depictions of Utah culture, modern landscape painter Billy Schenck, nicknamed "the Andy Warhol of the West", Diane Tuft's photographs of climate change, with a remarkable eye on Utah's Great Salt Lake, and Modern West director and artist Shalee Cooper stuns with her large scale minimalist abstractions. The largest and most versatile coffee table art book selections I've come across.

Phillips Gallery (phillips-gallery.com): The oldest gallery in the Intermountain West, with three levels of meandering rooms and an impeccably curated selection of floor to ceiling art. Find yourself at home in this incredibly beautiful space with an outdoor sculpture garden and the last independent art supply store in SLC and custom framing. Utah artists like Lee Deffebach, Hadley Rampton, Connie Borup, Mark Knudson, Denis Phillips and industrial sculptor Cordell Taylor.

The Gala (thegalaslc.com): The Gala, located in the Granary District, is a space for working artists to create and also display prominent and emerging Utah artists. This community space hosts makers' marts, workshops and film premieres. Check the calendar for a robust schedule of events. There's also a retail shop open to the public.

Urban Arts Gallery (urbanartsgallery.org): A non-profit art gallery in the Gateway District representing more than 100 emerging and established Utah artists with diverse art backgrounds, making art accessible in a retail environment.

Utah Museum of Contemporary Art [UMOCA] (utahmoca.org): Since 1931, UMOCA has remained a hub for contemporary art with shows from global and local artists. 

Utah Museum of Fine Arts (umfa.utah.edu): UMFA is your destination for global arts spanning across centuries with over 20,000 original works in their collection. 

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• Some of the many selections at Weller Book Works

Lit It Up
A glance at the literary scene of SLC
By Scott Renshaw

BOOKSTORES
A thriving literary scene isn't all about independent booksellers—but we've got 'em. In addition to those mentioned in some of our other sections (see p. 12 and p. 28), The King's English Bookshop (1511 S. 1500 East, 801-484-9100, kingsenglish.com) continues its long history with a terrific selection of local books, and many live author events every month featuring both Utah and national writers. Ken Sanders Rare Books (209 E. 500 South, 801-521-3819, kensandersbooks.com) recently moved into new digs at The Leonardo (see "Museums" below) with its huge collection of ephemera and vintage books, including many with a Utah focus. Weller Book Works (607 Trolley Square, 801-328-2586, wellerbookworks.com) also features in-store events in addition to its wide selection of books.

LIBRARIES
Those who visit downtown Salt Lake City are often struck by the spectacular Salt Lake City Main Library (210 E. 400 South, slcpl.org), with good reason, but that's far from the only place to enjoy all that local libraries have to offer. The Salt Lake City Library system features eight total branches, all of which offer programs, community spaces and special events in addition to their circulating collections. Beyond Salt Lake City proper, there's also the Salt Lake County Library system (slcolibrary.org), with 18 branches ranging from Millcreek in the northeast to Herriman in the southwest, and including West Jordan's Viridian Event Center. Murray Library (166 E. 5300 South, murraylibraryut.gov) also exists as its own dedicated stand-alone branch.

WRITERS' SUPPORT
If you're all about creating stories as much as about reading them, SLC has you covered. Supported out of Salt Lake Community College, the Community Writing Center (210 E. 400 South, Suite 8, Library Square, slcc.edu/cwc) offers a wide range of workshops on a wide range of writing topics, as well as individual coaching. League of Utah Writers (leagueofutahwriters.org) includes regional and genre-specific groups to help writers with their latest projects, and how to get their work out into the world. For performance poets, Salt City Slam (IG: @utahpoetryslam) is an award-winning group that presents regular poetry events as well as workshops for writers.

• Clint Burlap

Good Times and Great Brews
The 2025 Utah Beer Festival is the suds-and-sun party of the summer.
By Bill Frost

There's a beer festival in Utah? Yes, and it's one of the best in the West, if we do say so ourselves.

Salt Lake City Weekly launched the Utah Beer Festival with just 10 vendors serving up 50 brews in 2010. The first festival was an all-you-can-drink affair, which prompted the booze-averse Utah state legislature to tighten up local liquor laws even further—so the Utah Beer Festival is a precedent-setting phenomenon in more ways than one.

Today, the annual event draws 10,000 beer-curious attendees over one weekend at The Gateway in downtown Salt Lake City, and that beverage number has grown to over 250 from 70 participating breweries from Utah and around the world.

The 15th Utah Beer Festival will take place in 2025 over an August weekend still to be finalized at press time, at The Gateway, which has proven to be the most accessible and accommodating open-air venue for this tasty event over the years. The party kicks off at 2 p.m. and closes at 8 p.m. each day.

You're welcome to bring your own lawn chairs, blankets and umbrellas to the festival—Utah's weather is notoriously unpredictable, so it's best to be prepared for anything from summer heat to summer rain (as we've learned from past events). No coolers or large bags will be allowed on the grounds. Also, leave the kiddies and doggos at home; the Utah Beer Festival is a strictly 21+ human event.

Pour yourself a cold one—we're getting into the details of the 2025 Utah Beer Festival.

TICKETS
You can get advance tickets to the Utah Beer Festival at UtahBeerFestival.com, or pay on the day in-person at The Gateway North or South entrance. Full-weekend and single-day tickets are available in these package options:

General Admission covers daily 2–8 p.m. entrance and comes with a 10-drink punch pass and a 5-oz. souvenir Utah Beer Festival sample mug.

Early Admission gets you into the Beer Fest at 1 p.m. so you can enjoy a one-hour head start and beat the lines (10-drink punch pass and 5-oz. sample mug are included).

VIP includes 1 p.m. early admission, the 10-drink punch pass and 5-oz. sample mug, as well as access to a designated hospitality area with private restrooms. VIP tickets also hook you up with extra food options and six additional beer samples.

THE VENUE
The Gateway is located at 18 Rio Grande St. in Salt Lake City. Limited street and underground parking is available, but the easiest way to get to the Utah Beer Festival is via Trax to Planetarium Station on the Blue Line (downtown SLC is a UTA Free Fare Zone, so no cost for riders if you board within that area). City Weekly offers a free bike valet service to accommodate two-wheeled attendees. Uber, Lyft, and other ride-share services will also be available in the downtown area.

THE BEER
The Utah Beer Festival will feature over 250 beers, ciders, and seltzers from 70-plus breweries, including non-alcoholic drinks. Joining the dozens of Utah-based breweries will be several national and international brands pouring familiar fare and a few surprises. You just might find your new favorite brew at this year's Utah Beer Festival.

THE FOOD
What's a great beer without great eats? Dozens of local food trucks will line The Gateway, selling everything from pizza to BBQ to international fare. Bring your credit card or cash, as the Utah Beer Festival punch passports only cover beverage vendors. VIP ticket holders will have access to Flanker, an upscale-casual restaurant and sports club located in The Gateway.

LIVE MUSIC
The Utah Beer Festival serves up tasty tunes in the afternoons, with local bands of various genres hitting The Gateway's center stage daily from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

SITES AND SOCIALS
Online: UtahBeerFestival.com
Instagram: UtahBeerFest
Facebook: UtahBeerFestival
Hashtag: #utahbeerfest