New home is proposed for opera, Ballet West

The Salt Lake County-owned Capitol Theatre could lose Ballet West and the Utah Symphony & Opera under a plan being floated by some Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce board members to renovate the old Utah Theatre on Main Street.

With momentum gathering for a $45 million Utah Theatre overhaul, Salt Lake chamber leaders are seeking support for a plan to make the block of Main Street between 100 and 200 South a central city performing arts hub similar to those in New York and Denver.

Chamber board members have inquired if Utah's existing performing arts organizations such as the Utah Symphony & Opera, Ballet West and Pioneer Theatre Company would consider relocating to a renovated Utah Theatre.

"What if we engage this whole area and turn it into a theater, arts and culture block?" chamber president Lane Beattie proposed. "If that could happen, there's some wonderful potential."

The chamber also is exploring the idea of including a 300-seat black box or "experimental" theater on the same block that would use the same "back support systems" as the Utah Theatre, 148 S. Main. There, the Pioneer Theatre Company could produce experimental, first-run or new plays.

While the ballet and opera are currently housed at Capitol, they could be persuaded to move if circumstances were right.

Ballet West executive director Johann Jacobs said the idea is intriguing but added his group would only consider leaving if the Utah Theatre was a better venue.

"We would love to learn more about whether the (Utah) Theatre could accommodate what the ballet needs," he said.

If the ballet did move, it wouldn't necessarily spell the end of Capitol Theatre, he said.

"I would hope there would be an alternative use for Capitol Theatre," he said. "I think there are many local arts groups that would love to perform as a resident of Capitol."

Beattie noted the plan isn't designed to kill the Capitol Theatre. "We would go on and continue to have other arts groups perform there."

Chris Lino, managing director of Pioneer Theatre Company, said his group has long coveted a small theater for new shows that aren't ready for a 900-seat auditorium. Lino said the black-box theater plan for Main Street may fit that vision.

"As you move forward, there might be a role for Pioneer Theatre Company downtown," he said.

With the possible theater renovation, and with the Utah Museum of Art & History set to open this year or next, the area is already gaining some arts and cultural steam.

Those in favor of the Utah Theatre renovation say it would bring hot, new Broadway shows to Salt Lake City. Those opposed argue the theater might steal business from the city's existing theaters.