Arts
Last Updated May 5, 2017 03:16PM
Since Curtis Whitear moved to New York City over a year ago, the Utah-trained filmmaker says he was continually intrigued by the conversations about the election he fell into with Uber drivers. He submitted an idea for a film of …
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Sheryl Sandberg’s new book a tale of grief, resilience
Though perhaps best known as Facebook’s No. 2 executive, Sheryl Sandberg is also a mentor, a mother, a billionaire and an author. When her husband Dave Goldberg died suddenly in 2015 while they were vacationing in Mexico, she added “widow” to the list. “The grief felt like a void, like it was suckin... Though perhaps best known as Facebook’s No. 2 executive, Sheryl Sandberg is also a mentor, a mother, a billionaire and an author. When her husband Dav... -
David Ivers leaving as co-artistic director of Utah Shakespeare Festival
One of the artistic directors of the Utah Shakespeare Festival is leaving for a new gig. David Ivers, who has been co-artistic director with Brian Vaughn at the Cedar City festival since 2011, will leave later in May to be artistic director at another — and, for now, unnamed — regional theater comp... One of the artistic directors of the Utah Shakespeare Festival is leaving for a new gig. David Ivers, who has been co-artistic director with Brian Va... -
‘Silent Sky’ illuminates the life of an unknown woman astronomer
“The pulsing isn’t random. There is a pattern. The brightest stars take the longest to blink. We can skip star to star across the deepest space until we know exactly where we are,” exclaims Henrietta Leavitt in a moment of epiphany in Lauren Gunderson’s lyrical play “Silent Sky,” making its regional... “The pulsing isn’t random. There is a pattern. The brightest stars take the longest to blink. We can skip star to star across the deepest space until ... -
Book review: Food is the true main course in ‘Feast of Sorrow’
If true gastronomy resides at the intersection of food, art and culture, then Crystal King’s debut novel can only be described as a gastronomical delight. Like much of the best in historical fiction, “Feast of Sorrow: A Novel of Ancient Rome” features a protagonist plucked from relative obscurity. I... If true gastronomy resides at the intersection of food, art and culture, then Crystal King’s debut novel can only be described as a gastronomical deli...
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Emma Straub becomes the latest author to open a bookstore
Novelist Emma Straub has become the latest author to open a bookshop, joining the ranks of bookstore-owning writers like Ann Patchett and Jeff Kinney. Books Are Magic opened April 29 in Brooklyn, N.Y., a few blocks from where Straub lives with her husband, Michael Fusco, and their two young children... Novelist Emma Straub has become the latest author to open a bookshop, joining the ranks of bookstore-owning writers like Ann Patchett and Jeff Kinney.... -
Book review: ‘Anything Is Possible’ visits Lucy Barton’s hometown
As Pulitzer Prize-winning author Elizabeth Strout was writing “My Name Is Lucy Barton,” she started a companion novel to catch the overflowing stories of the minor characters in Lucy’s life. That was the beginning of the newly published “Anything Is Possible,” where the people Lucy knew during her c... As Pulitzer Prize-winning author Elizabeth Strout was writing “My Name Is Lucy Barton,” she started a companion novel to catch the overflowing stories...
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In autobiographical ‘Real Friends,’ Shannon Hale explores the power and pain of childhood relationships
Newbery Honor-winning Utah author Shannon Hale didn’t have the kind of terrible childhood that lends itself to memoir, but she didn’t have a terribly happy one, either — due in large part to struggles with friends and fitting in at school. “Real Friends,” out Tuesday, details the hope and heartbreak... Newbery Honor-winning Utah author Shannon Hale didn’t have the kind of terrible childhood that lends itself to memoir, but she didn’t have a terribly ...
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Spinning the folk wisdom of Will Rogers at Pioneer Theatre
Will Rogers may have served as the honorary mayor of Beverly Hills, even launched a fake news campaign for president in 1928, but the iconic American humorist didn’t have much use for politicians. “Don’t go around telling the truth,” the actor who was America’s highest-paid entertainer in the early ... Will Rogers may have served as the honorary mayor of Beverly Hills, even launched a fake news campaign for president in 1928, but the iconic American ... -
Federal budget deal would spare arts agencies
The new federal spending bill would spare — and even slightly increase — funding for three arts-related agencies that President Donald Trump has proposed eliminating: the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities. The agreement... The new federal spending bill would spare — and even slightly increase — funding for three arts-related agencies that President Donald Trump has propo... -
Visit four Utah stores during Saturday’s first-ever book crawl
A book crawl linking four Wasatch Front independent bookstores is the new local page-turner to mark Saturday’s Indie Bookstore Day. The third annual event, borrowed from the success of Record Store Day, is a “national party” hosted by more than 400 of the country’s bookstores on the last Saturday of... A book crawl linking four Wasatch Front independent bookstores is the new local page-turner to mark Saturday’s Indie Bookstore Day. The third annual e... -
Meet some of Utah’s unconventional families in a dramatic event
For Jim Martin, a theater-writing workshop focused on the subject of families offered him the chance to bring together his passions. In his day job, Martin is the principal at Riley Elementary School in Salt Lake City, while after work he directs the Wasatch Theatre Company. After years as an educat... For Jim Martin, a theater-writing workshop focused on the subject of families offered him the chance to bring together his passions. In his day job, M... -
Meet author Sandra Cisneros, as she advises Salt Lake students to dream big — starting now
Sandra Cisneros — who, as a girl, was so shy that in class pictures she tried to fold her body inward to make herself smaller — was in fifth grade when she first dreamed of having a book with her name on the spine. That was her big secret dream, growing up the daughter of a hardworking upholsterer i... Sandra Cisneros — who, as a girl, was so shy that in class pictures she tried to fold her body inward to make herself smaller — was in fifth grade whe... -
‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ comes to life for thousands of Utah students through Hale Centre Theatre program
Hundreds of students were treated Wednesday to Hale Centre Theatre’s production of Harper Lee’s American masterpiece, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” at the West Valley City stage. More than 5,000 students, ranging from seventh to 12th grades, will watch the play on various dates through HCT’s Student Mati... Hundreds of students were treated Wednesday to Hale Centre Theatre’s production of Harper Lee’s American masterpiece, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” at the ... -
Utah Rep stages a lively and seductive ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’
In the title character in “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” John Kander and Fred Ebb brought another strong woman character to the American musical stage. Spider Woman and her alter ego, Aurora, followed in the tradition of Sally Bowles in “Cabaret” and Velma and Roxie in “Chicago” as dynamic women not cu... In the title character in “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” John Kander and Fred Ebb brought another strong woman character to the American musical stage. S... -
Plenty of salty satire but too much bitterness on this ‘Dinner’ theater menu
“I know this meal is about your brilliant success, but it’s my statement, my creation like Frankenstein’s monster,” Paige tells her husband, Lars, as “Dinner” gets under way. Wasatch Theatre Company is giving Moira Buffini’s dark British comedy its regional premiere in a production that tries its ha... “I know this meal is about your brilliant success, but it’s my statement, my creation like Frankenstein’s monster,” Paige tells her husband, Lars, as ... -
Salt Lake theater company unveils ‘Silent Sky,’ another ‘Hidden Figures’ story
Lauren Gunderson’s play “Silent Sky,” opening this week in a regional premiere at Pygmalion Productions, seems grounded in the cultural zeitgeist as it tells a sweeping, starlit story about another hidden figure in science. “Sky” is based on the groundbreaking discoveries of Henrietta Leavitt and he... Lauren Gunderson’s play “Silent Sky,” opening this week in a regional premiere at Pygmalion Productions, seems grounded in the cultural zeitgeist as i... -
A new home, same universal questions, author Sandra Cisneros to read in Salt Lake City
After Sandra Cisneros returned from a trip to Bosnia earlier this month, she was reeling. The memories of the trip to the war-ravaged country where she once lived — the country where her dearest friend, Jasna Karaula, was for a time missing — were wrenching. Somehow seeing the dizzying effects of y... After Sandra Cisneros returned from a trip to Bosnia earlier this month, she was reeling. The memories of the trip to the war-ravaged country where sh... -
‘Word of mouth’ paying dividends for SALT Contemporary Dance
SALT Contemporary Dance, a classically trained company with a persuasive artistic vision, premieres three contemporary works and revives an audience favorite April 28-29 at the Infinity Event Center in downtown Salt Lake. SALT closes its fourth season with a loyal fan base and growing repertoire pro... SALT Contemporary Dance, a classically trained company with a persuasive artistic vision, premieres three contemporary works and revives an audience f...
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Julian Lennon honors his mom, the environment in new book for children
Julian Lennon is looking to nurture a new generation’s commitment to the environment, with a little help from a white feather. The firstborn son of the late John Lennon is co-author of “Touch the Earth,” a picture book for kids as young as 3 about the world’s water problems, from polluted oceans to ... Julian Lennon is looking to nurture a new generation’s commitment to the environment, with a little help from a white feather. The firstborn son of th... -
People Productions exits with a thoughtful and eloquent ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’
It seems fitting that People Productions is singing its swan song with the regional premiere of August Wilson’s classic play, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” In his Century Cycle of plays, Wilson set out to chronicle the African-American experience in 20th-century America, and for the past 17 years, soo... It seems fitting that People Productions is singing its swan song with the regional premiere of August Wilson’s classic play, “Ma Rainey’s Black Botto... -
Photos and video: For those living with Parkinson’s disease, a chance to get up and boogie
The physical, social and cognitive benefits of dancing will be in the disco spotlight Saturday as Grey Matters Dance for Parkinson’s Utah holds its second annual year-end performance, this year with a ’70s theme. Grey Matters: Dance for Parkinson’s Utah started as a community service and research c... The physical, social and cognitive benefits of dancing will be in the disco spotlight Saturday as Grey Matters Dance for Parkinson’s Utah holds its se... -
Salt Lake Acting Co.’s ‘Hand to God’ mixes bawdy humor with insights about human loss, longing
Sometimes the way you do something is more important than what you do. Take Salt Lake Acting Company’s regional premiere of Robert Askins’ raucous, irreverent black comedy, “Hand to God,” for example. You can approach the play from different angles. You can turn it into a stage version of a horror f... Sometimes the way you do something is more important than what you do. Take Salt Lake Acting Company’s regional premiere of Robert Askins’ raucous, ir... -
Public art series concludes with installation of 18 permanent sculptures
If you haven’t been downtown since work ended Friday, the streets might look at little different than you’re used to. And it’s not a glitch in the Matrix. It’s the permanent installation of 18 large-scale scupltures, part of the Flying Objects public art series by the Salt Lake City Art Program in p... If you haven’t been downtown since work ended Friday, the streets might look at little different than you’re used to. And it’s not a glitch in the Mat... -
Utah’s Terry Tempest Williams to teach at Harvard
Utah writer Terry Tempest Williams has been appointed writer-in-residence at the Harvard Divinity School. “Humbled by the support, honored to be able to work with such remarkable people,” Williams wrote in a Facebook post Wednesday morning announcing her appointment for the 2017-18 academic year. “T... Utah writer Terry Tempest Williams has been appointed writer-in-residence at the Harvard Divinity School. “Humbled by the support, honored to be able ...
