Broadway in Utah Moves Forward with New Theater and New Season

The construction of downtown Salt Lake City's new performing arts center, the George S. and Delores Dore Eccles Theater, is moving along briskly.

The theater will serve as the region's premier entertainment venue, hosting first-run touring Broadway shows, major concerts, and comedy acts while providing an additional venue for local arts organizations. The theater will attract the biggest and best Broadway productions to the Salt Lake City market much sooner and at a wider range of ticket prices to make Broadway more affordable to all Utahns.

"The excitement for this great new facility continues to build as it takes shape in the eart of downtown," said Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker. "The Eccles Theater is poised to elevate an already thriving cultural scene and bring additional activity and vibrancy to our city in both new arts opportunities and economic enhancement."

The first show to be announced for the Eccles Theater, slated to open in the fall of 2016, is a return engagement of Disney's THE LION KING, coming in spring 2017.

"We are excited to have THE LION KING be a part of our first Broadway season at the Eccles," said Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams. "This show is a Utah favorite and a fantastic example of the award-winning entertainment that patrons can expect from the Eccles Theater."

MagicSpace Entertainment, Inc. and Salt Lake County Center for the Arts (CFA) have signed a 10-year agreement to move the Broadway series to the Eccles Theater. This agreement creates an exciting new partnership for entertainment offerings in the region, and specifically in the Eccles Theater, located at 151 South Main Street.

"The goal of this agreement between MagicSpace and CFA is to maximize the number of shows in the new Eccles Theater and generate the most activity and excitement possible for the entire downtown," said Phil Jordan, Director of the Center for the Arts.

Magicspace Entertainment recently announced its upcoming 2015-2016 season, it's last before the opening of the Eccles Theater.

The season will feature: two time Tony Award® winner, Disney's NEWSIES; 2014 Best Musical Tony Award® winner, A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER; two time Tony Award® winner, 42nd STREET; twelve time Tony Award® winner, THE PRODUCERS; and the record-breaking smash hit, MOTOWN THE MUSICAL.

"Our 25th anniversary season is one of the most exciting line-ups in our long history of bringing national tours of Broadway musicals to Salt Lake," said Broadway Across America-Utah President John Ballard. "Season tickets holders will enjoy an extraordinary season of Broadway and will also be first in line to secure seats at the spectacular new George S. and Delores Dore Eccles Theater."

Season add-ons include the beloved classic, RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER, and return engagements of MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMAS, RAIN - A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES, and A KURT BESTOR CHRISTMAS.

Current season ticket holders can renew their season subscription now. New season ticket orders will begin on Friday, May 1 at 9 am. Packages start at $199.75. Only season ticket packages for the 2015-2016 season are being sold at this time. Single tickets will be made available at a later date.

To learn more about the Eccles Theater and Broadway in Utah, visit www.ecclestheater.com and www.broadwayinutah.com.

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