Comments about ‘Many are questioning necessity of Salt Lake theater’

in today's economy the headline alone bothered me. with so many of us cutting back every place we are able in our spending, and the country on the brink of a financial depression, do we need another theater? maybe it's a wonderful idea, but the timing seems way off.

As Utahns, we should all band together to oppose the incursion of culture into our state.

First they tried to bring us Shakespeare. Now they are trying to bring us Broadway thee-a-tuh.

If they succeed, who knows what will be next: books of poetry in our libraries?

Let's stand up to this and defend our way of life.

I was against the Sandy venue that was shoved down our throats - now this. It hardly makes any sense to build another venue that will drain funds away from other fine facilities. Bigger isn't always better. Do the citizens of Utah need to keep subsidizing entertainment venues?

The decision to build this theater, in this economy and waste good money (when there are so many other pressing REAL needs) brings to mind the phrase:

*#&* the torpedoes!! FULL SPEED AHEAD!!

What is the Salt Lake City Administration thinking ?? The Public Safety Building is in dire need of repair, actually replacement. Plus, an earthquake is going to happen, and doesn't the largest city in Utah think an Emergency Operations Center to manage various major incidents is a priority need ?? Both of these should be addressed before another Salt Lake Theater be funded. Get real Mayor and City Council.!!!

I'm sure it gives you some satisfaction to pretend that Utah is some cultural backwater where Broadway theater and Shakespeare, and poetry, aren't wanted or appreciated.

But read the article again. There's no evidence that anyone is against theater per se, just some legitimate concerns over financial support, numbers of seats, and how it will affect similar venues in the area.

From the article: "At 2,400 seats, times six shows a week, that's 150,000 seats to sell. Where will they come from?" asked Caywood,"

Is this an editing error, or is this guy really that dumb? Or is he just sliding it by hopeng we won't use our brains for ourselves (of course, that's a strong possibility in this state)?

2,400 x 6 = 14,400. Less than 10% of what he quotes. Way to purposely instill paranoia by overinflating the numbers, whoever was responsible.

Oh, and my take on this whole thing: Whether we need a theater is debatable. But if this city can sell out 19,000 tickets 45-50 times a year (includes preseason and playoffs) for the Jazz (plus parking, hot dogs, drinks, programs, blah blah blah) with no problems, i'm thinking a short run of Broadway shows isn't as farfetched as this guy makes it sound.

I agree the economic timing is not right for a new theater. However, after attending numerous events at the Capital Theater, a more modern theater is needed for the type of events like Broadway shows.

The Capital Theater's seats are too small and the view of the stage is often blocked by the person in front of you. It is a joke to pay that kind of money for an event and then feel like a sardine in order to watch it. Also, why do all three theaters need to exist???

I would like to see a first class facility for the performing arts in Salt Lake and then we might get more performances come here and 2400 seats might be filled for every production.

It seems the mayor has forgotten about the west side again. We are having real problems in this neighborhood and all we have heard is that budgets are being cut. Then, how is this theather possible?

The mayor is out of touch

When I was young I used to go to the theater in Salt Lake. I enjoyed the shows. My question is will the new theater show Saturday morning cartoons?

i'm tired of going to Las Vegas or L.A. to see a real show.

I say bring it on. Just don't ask the public to pay for it.

Balance will not hurt us. pi

SLC and Sandy will both ask the county to be a major funding player to operate their oversized theater facilities

There are no broadway theaters that are this big.

Broadway shows are built for a 2400 seat theater. Most broadway theaters are half that size.

I work with local performing arts groups and the need is really two fold. The area is in desperate need of venues with 400-700 seats located throughout the valley. The Rose, in downtown Salt Lake, is booked out for up to two years. The south end of the valley has no performing arts venues at all, outside high schools and outdoor amphitheaters that can only be used in the summer. I guarantee if smaller venues were built, outside of Salt Lake, they would be booked solid in no time.

I just love that these people are complaining that they might not get as much government support with a new theatre.

If you can't support your theatre in the first place without government support you shouldn't have it in the first place! And competition in the market place always makes things exciting anyway. But maybe not in the arts, I don't know.

Just another government subsidised money pit, how about some gang protection for the west side, some green space,development of the Jordan river parkway.
Cheez, another theater to compete with the ones we have...brilliant to say the least.

Utahns have never, I repeat opposed cuture, even though some of it goes against our values and community decency. That being said, in this financial crisis, with tax revenues going down the drain, yes revenue is way down, maybe it would be responsible for government to tighten their belts as all of us are. The public is not a never-ending pocketbook, times are hard, respect that and do the right thing, we do not need this right now, maybe in the future when we have the monies and it is ethically correct, and as for the Jazz and such that was built when economic times were much better, watch attendance go down this year and you will see the results of this economy.

Is the mayor trying to build a monument to himself? If so, do it without tax funds. This project is the result of someone sitting in an office insulted from reality. What part of "No" does the government not understand?

Yeah, I like culture and the theater and I agree that the facilities could be better, but at a time when all of us have to do some serious belt-tightening, this seems like a poor time to propose this project.