Reader comments
New theater is coming to Regent Street

Henri | 3:15 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Why have a press conference on Thursday to announce what the Deseret News has already announced on Wednesday?

Theater Lover | 3:23 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Great location, great concept and perfect timing to open with the City Creek Center. I'm looking forward to it.

I think everyone knows in their heart of hearts that a theater of this size really belongs in downtown SLC (except possibly Sandy Mayor Dolan, whose hubris is legendary). In downtown it helps create the synergy that all having been working toward to re-establish the vitality of Salt Lake City. This should be a goal of all with the vision to understand what a vibrant downtown means to the whole Wasatch Front.

Great work SLC!

Anonymous | 3:35 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

It will be sad to see a new theater going up directly across the street from the now abandoned Utah theater project. Once again SLC misses the point. The theater in Sandy will now have a twin in SLC. There could have been a historic theater that would honor the arts and history of Utah. So sad Utah. Keep it up stucco valley, soon you won't have any past at all.

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 3:58 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

A large Broadway theatre for touring companies is a venture that benefits investors. It does nothing to support the development of a local professional theatre community. Utah has a plethora of Broadway-quality performers, but not a single venue that can support a full-time acting career for them. Those who wish to have full-time theatrical careers are forced to leave Utah to work in venues that can support them.

I have worked in venues from Broadway, Off-B'way, to B'way Natl. tour, COST, to guest artist and small professional theatre contracts. However, when I moved to Utah, I had no choice but to go inactive in my SAG-AFTRA-AEA unions if I ever wanted to perform in local theatre venues.

On top of this, we are in a "recession" a/k/a depression. I question the timing of this decision. Will taxpayers be agreeable to underwrite the $81 million bill? If local venues could receive this kind of private support, what a boost for a truly professional theatre community it would be.

Perhaps Iï¿½m wrong. I would like to hear a response from the investors and promoters about these concerns.

C.W. | 4:06 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Now the race will be on between Sandy and SLC to see which one gets to take ALL county residents money to pay for it!

Or .....maybe we'll all get to help pay for both of them!

Anonymous | 4:17 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

>>If local venues could receive this kind of private support, what a boost for a truly professional theatre community it would be.>>

Amen.

Future | 4:36 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

To anonymous, the former Utah Theater site has been determined to be to small to use for a 2,400 seat theater and would require to much demolition of the historic structure to accommodate the increased number of seats. The Utah Theater does stand to benefit from the NAC site decision though, The Utah will now be right in between downtowns two largest performing venues and as the city continues to grow it will be utilized as something else in the arts community, a Sundance institute/screening theater has been mentioned as an option.

C.W. If the county's study has determined that SLC is the best place or even if the county gets behind the SLC proposal there is no way the county residents would end up paying for both of them. If the county puts it muscle behind the SLC proposal, which as Theater Lover put it is really the only logical location for such a venue, then Sandy would be insane (which Dolan is) to pursue a large theater. If there are two theaters in a metro area, one in downtown and one in a suburb, touring shows will pick the dt location 9 times out of 10.

C.L. | 4:52 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Sometimes I think even our LOCAL elected officials are CLUELESS!
We are in a SEVERE recession or depression and they're talking about having taxpayers help pay for a "Broadway style theater"?
Its very possible this "recession" will becomes much worse and result in MUCH higher unemployment.
I guess as long as we get to pay for a nice new theater with our property taxes it will give us a more positive outlook!

MAYBE THEY COULD SET UP THE SOUP LINES IN FRONT, IT WILL BE SO SPIFFY!

Sorry, folks.... | 6:05 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

...but lots of us would like to see ADULT "real" theater in Utah, rather than amateur roadshows. IF you want a roadshow venue, build it in Sandy OR get financing for the old Utah theater.

Having Utah finally be seen as a place that grown-ups would like to move to, that companies (besides get-rich-quick schemers) want to locate in, and that enriches it citizens, is a dream that many of us have held for a lifetime.

Thank you, Salt Lake City.
Let's all grow up together

Anonymous | 6:22 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

YAY!!!!

The Utah Theater will likely still be used to house independent films...I am excited about that too. I think this is the best of both worlds.

Great news! | 6:23 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

I'm glad there is an entity in town that can look through the muck of our present to secure the benefits of the future. This recession thing is temporary and we'll recover quickly, just keep the ball rolling. It's better than you think it is, and it'll be better in the future than you think it will be. Curtains up!!!

Pusey | 6:31 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Very sad not to use the UTAH. The key to any thestre is the relationship of audience to the stage and the stage to the audience. You never know how that will work until it is built, with the Utah you can see and feel that immediately. Oh well, SLC messes it up again, hooray for the new and shiny.

We all love The Utah.... | 7:26 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

...but (1) it can't seat enough to make the venture profitable and (2) there's no way to enlarge the stage to today's big-show requirements.

Why can't The Utah be used for big-event films, roadshows, local entertainment, small concents, etc?
It's too beautiful to lose.....but it just doesn't work for this one.

Anonymous | 7:39 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Timing. Where is the crystal ball on the recession/depression being short? Given Congressï¿½ latest bailout, the free market is dead. We are entering a demographic winter statistically. How can we morally put a greater tax burden on our children expecting them to pay off our today's excesses tomorrow?

Governor Sarah Palin has been criticized for her conflict of interest in firing her ex-brother in law in Alaska. How is Mayor Becker's nepotistic relationship with this project's investor any different?

Cherilyn Bacon Eagar | 8:15 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Explain how this project will help, not undermine, a local professional theatre community in supporting full-time local talent.

No touring company brings ï¿½Broadwayï¿½ to a local venue. These are stripped-down, travelling adaptations of Bï¿½way shows. Better to get private funding so that local existing theatres can feature an occasional big-name artist, and at the same time keep local talent here.

If the local talent pool could be beamed up to NYC, it would be highly competitive. I know. Iï¿½m performing with Bï¿½way quality actors right now at the Hale Centre Theatre in Into the Woods.

Show me how the tax revenue injected into this project will not undermine the professional development of our local theatre community and how it will put more funds in patronsï¿½ pockets with which to patronize local theatre.

Utah-based actors should not have to relocate to NYC to get a Broadway credit so they can be sentenced to a gypsy life on the LORT and National tour circuits. No life to live for them and more costly for us.

This is what happens when our local taxes are sent to Washington and then returned: much more costly on the journey and less value on the return.

Winston Smith | 8:40 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

"Governor Sarah Palin has been criticized for her conflict of interest in firing her ex-brother in law in Alaska. How is Mayor Becker's nepotistic relationship with this project's investor any different?"

Easy,

"The site has been a favorite of the mayor's brother, Bill Becker, a Tony Award-winning producer, an experienced theater developer, owner and manager, and chairman of the Downtown Theater Action Group."

Bill Becker is a respected theatre professional, and a product of Utah. He is likely the best candidate for the job. And he is volunteering his services.

Cherilyn Bacon Eagar | 9:24 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

I'm interested in what the Downtown Theatre Action Group's agends is to build our local theatrical community and to make it possible for excellent local actors to stay here and earn a full-time living.

Where does the Utah Arts Council stand on this issue?

A theatre attendee | 10:33 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

How many know that we have Broadway actors performing here already? PTC has Broadway Equity actors in EVERY performance. The stage settings and costume designs are every bit as good as Broadway. And they don't continually bring back the same play year after year. I LOVE live theatre, but I don't see the point in using my tax dollars for this purpose. Maybe it would be different if the current theatres here had sellout crowds every night, but that happens only rarely.

What about the children... | 10:56 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

We supposedly underfund education and other social programs that actually go towards the needy, and yet we have enough to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on a theater that Utahns don't need and obviously don't want enough to get private investors to build it without a government handout.

This whole thing is sickening.

Anonymous | 11:07 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

>>and to make it possible for excellent local actors to stay here and earn a full-time living.>>

Cherilyn, I can see the value in this for local actors.
But why is this a government or a county issue? I.e., what is in it for me (the taxpayer) to make it so that local actors can have a job?

To "A theatre attendee" | 11:43 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Perhaps are rare, but perhaps not as rare as you think. If you try to find seats until the run starts on many Hale shows, you'll be on a waiting list. A Christmas Carol consistently sells out.

Rodgers Memorial is selling out to standing-ovation crowds right now with Jekyll & Hyde, and may extend the run (of course, it helps that several cast members have professional experience, including Broadway, Hollywood, regional theater and professional opera).

Of course, sellouts are a function of patron pool from which to draw, the appeal of the show, length of run, cast/directorial talent, reviews and last but not least--word-of-mouth buzz. The "Field of Dreams" approach doesn't usually work in musical theater...Salt Lake City history is littered with the shells of failed venues...because, contrary to "We all love The Utah"'s notion, "profitable" and "theater" don't usually reside in the same sentence. They all require ongoing government and/or private subsidy to survive. My biggest fear in a 2,400-seat theater is we will build it and they WON'T come.

Cherilyn Bacon Eagar | 10:16 a.m. Oct. 16, 2008

I love the arts, as a performer and an audience member. My husband and I are season ticket holders to many local theatre/music events and touring shows.

However, supporting a LOCAL professional/full-time talent community does not mean taxpayer-supported patronage for traveling artists to the tune of $81 million or any million, for that matter.

Thatï¿½s called tyranny - taking freedom away from citizens who donï¿½t wish to support the arts, as well as undermining local actorsï¿½ livelihoods.

I applaud the incredible local PRIVATE (and generous) benefactors that allow me to perform at the Hale Centre Theatre.

Again: How does bringing in another touring venue develop a full-time local theatrical talent pool and leave enough patron ï¿½buyingï¿½ power when we are now in a long-term recession?

Shouldn't the Utah and the Utah Arts Council take principled positions to encourage business practices that will benefit B'way-quality Utah performers to stay in Utah? Shouldnï¿½t the free market decide?

When government subsidizes one private enterprise over another itï¿½s called economic fascism, not free enterprise. But that doesn't justify the government subsidy in the first place. This is partly why America is bankrupt.

Why is DTAG not responding to these concerns?

Cherilyn Bacon Eagar | 10:54 a.m. Oct. 16, 2008

I know. I know. The Hale Centre Theatre also gets a government subsidy, and I'm admittedly probably the last standing free-marketer in the arts.

However, I understand from news reports that the Hale has embarked on a marvelous, ambitious and successfuly private business partnership campaign. With only a few more private corporate donors who willingly agree to support this fine arts enterprise, the Hale would not need the taxpayer subsidy and would be entirely privately funded.

Establishing a perpetual fund through private contributions is optimal. Living within one's means is a great standard for everyone, government and private sectors alike.

I understand that Utah does have a balanced budget, but the surplus is gone. Let's be cautious and prudent. The arts are best patronized privately.

Time for cuts! | 11:08 a.m. Oct. 16, 2008

Bad Economy = Cuts

Time to cut the funding for the arts.

Can't cut critical services. It's unfortunate that the arts must suffer but...

SLC constantly provides reasons for me to NOT LIVE THERE! I can live outside SLC very comfortably knowing it's run like it is.

SLC gal | 12:05 p.m. Oct. 16, 2008

To Cherilyn - when was the last time a local theater has tried to put on "Cats" or "Rent", or "Hairspray"? Building the facilities neccasary to bring more widely known touring Broadway shows here opens peoples minds and eyes to what a wonderful thing theater really is. From that, someone who has never bought a ticket to Hale, and seen a show you're in may do so after attending a show at the new theater. The key to getting support for the arts is developing a love for those arts, and the new theater will do that.

I also see shows at the new theater becoming like PTC with the mix of equity and non equity actors, meaning a bigger market for actors in general. That's how it will help!

Anonymous | 12:12 p.m. Oct. 16, 2008

Utah's economy is not in a recession. Stop with the doom and gloom. Any recession in the rest of the country will end. Congratulations Salt Lake City on an excellent choice for the theatre. Downtown is the only logical choice. We need to have a vibrant downtown and this is a giant step forward. I support it 100%.

@ SLC gal | 3:01 p.m. Oct. 16, 2008

Cats has been done here in Utah by local companies at least twice recently: Tuacahn and Rodgers both did it in 2006. Seems like there are more performances, but I don't have photographic musical-theater memory like some of my aficionado friends who can tell you the date of a performance and list off the cast.

It's worth noting, however, that no matter who's doing a show, you have to have an audience willing to pay to see it or you won't have a theater very long. It's nice to hear that Jekyll & Hyde is doing well at Rodgers. Many Utah theater companies have avoided the show, considering it too edgy for Utah audiences. Maybe we're growing up a bit....

Anonymous | 4:28 p.m. Oct. 16, 2008

>>I applaud the incredible local PRIVATE (and generous) benefactors that allow me to perform at the Hale Centre Theatre. >>

As you noted in your subsequent post, hale receives an enormous amount of government money, including a special $1MM subsidy that went outside of the Arts Council and caused a big stink last year.

I bet you $100 bucks that Hale would never ever turn down any government money! I can't imagine any non profit turning down a dime.

C.W. | 4:30 p.m. Oct. 16, 2008

I hate to see tax dollars going for everything that comes "down the pike", but I bet our elected officials won't see it that way!

Also, I guess The Church owns the ground so if they want it, I guess it's a done deal!

Sometimes I wish my tithing money could just go to humanitarian issues and leave the development to business!

Ding Dong | 4:43 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

Hey C.W. your tithing dollars aren't going to this project.

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