Under the stars

SANDY — Music will once again fill the air in Sandy this summer, as the Sandy Amphitheater enters its fifth full season.

The season, which will start June 4, will include everything from a young country music upstart to time-tested oldies-but-goodies to musical theater.

And it will all take place among spectacular views.

The Sandy Amphitheater, at the northwest corner of 9400 South and 1300 East, is "nestled right there at the bottom of the Wasatch Front," amphitheater marketing director Steven Ireland said, surrounding visitors with the Wasatch Mountains on one side and the whole valley spread out on the other, bright sunsets to the west while the moon rises to the east.

Performing against this backdrop this year will be everyone from Kansas to the Very Model of a Modern Major-General. The three-month season's eight shows with be:

• Country music vocalist Billy Dean, June 4.

• Gilbert and Sullivan's hugely popular musical "The Pirates of Penzance," presented by the Sandy Art Guild, June 24-July 2.

• Rock band Kansas, July 9.

• Up-and-coming country music singer Miranda Lambert, July 15.

• 1960s pop group the Lovin' Spoonful, July 16.

• Singer Gary Puckett, Aug. 6.

• The Sandy Art Guild's production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," Aug. 19-27.

• 1950s rockers Bill Haley's Comets, Sept. 10.

The amphitheater will host a number of special events this season, as well, starting with the Beach Boys on June 9 and including performances by the likes of Peter Breinholt & Big Parade and Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand.

And the amphitheater offers several "free-for-all" nights, performances such as a Romanian folk-dance group and the Utah Symphony and Opera. Those concerts are presented on various nights, and no tickets are required.

The complete lists of shows and special events are available at this link. From there, you can link to online ticket buying. Tickets can also be purchased in person at any Smith'sTix outlet, by calling 1-800-888-TIXX, at Sandy City Hall, 10000 S. Centennial Parkway No. 310, or by calling 568-ARTS. And tickets will be available at the amphitheater's box office starting at 6 p.m. on the night of the show.