LOGAN – In addition to its main-stage productions for the 2023 season, Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre also has a heavy schedule of extra entertainment planned for its audiences this year.
Those additional events will lead off with the The Pianists, an unpredictable annual event mixing classic music with comedy. This concert is slated for 1 p.m. on July 1.
Next up is the Late Night Cabaret, an opportunity to see the Festival Opera’s stars let their hair down in a variety show of their favorite songs.
That audience-favorite event is slated for 11 p.m. on July 13, 20 and 27 at Café Sabor. Different performances are scheduled on each of those nights, with food and beverages available for purchase.
Café Sabor is located at 600 West Center Street.
The Michael Ballam Vocal Competition is scheduled in the midst of the UFOMT season on July 18 and 24.
The world-class opera competition will host more than 20 extraordinarily talented vocalists vying for top honors with the audience helping to select the winner.
The semi-finals will be held at 1 p.m. on July 18 in the Utah Theatre, followed by the final competition at 7:30 p.m. on July 24.
Also on July 18, the UFOMT Workshop will present a performance of The King of Pangaea, a musical with book, music and lyrics by Martin Storrow.
That staging, at 7:30 p.m. in the Utah Theatre, is free, but due to limited seating patrons are advised to reserve their seats well in advance.
The UFOMT events line-up will continue with a two-night stand of Sentimental Journey at 7:30 p.m. on July 25 and 25 in the Ellen Eccles Theatre.
The concert will feature soloist Michael Corvino and the Festival Opera’s singers, dancers and orchestra performing a tribute to the music of Elton John, Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin, Nat “King” Cole and other legendary performers.
The Sentimental Journey concert will be preceded each night by a gala five-star catered dinner and dance at 4:30 p.m. in the Carousel Ballroom of the Bullen Center.
Next comes Amor Y Fuego, starring mezzo-soprano Audrey Babcock and guitarist Andrés Vadin on July 31 at 7:30 p.m. in the Utah Theatre.
Following up on last season’s Beyond Carmen, the duo will again blend their incomparable talents in pursuit of love and fire on a moonlit night.
On Aug. 2, the Festival Opera’s orchestra and soloists will join the American Festival Chorus to present Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem.
The oratorio was composed by Britten to commemorate the rebirth of the Coventry Cathedral from the ashes of the Blitz following World War II.
It will be conducted by Dr. Craig Jessop at 7:30 p.m. in the Daines Concert Hall on the campus of Utah State University.
Finally, a school edition of Les Misérables will be performed by the student participants of the High School Musical Theatre Awards competition from across the state.
Les Misérables will be staged in the Utah Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 12 to 19.
Tickets for the aforementioned events with the exception of War Requiem can be obtained by calling 800-262-0074 or by visiting www.utahfestival.org
Tickets for War Requiem can be obtained by calling 435-797-8022 or visiting www.cca.usu.edu.