AGP Executive Report

Utah Arts & Culture: Promontory Foundation handed out a record $500,000 to 45 Wasatch Back nonprofits, including major support for arts, culture, education, and services like People’s Health Clinic. Music & Community: Murray nurse Luiz Meneghin brings opera to patients three times a week, turning classical singing into a healing routine. Local Entertainment Picks: This week’s Utah Valley calendar spotlights Brotherhood the Cinematic Musical at the Covey Center, plus Festival Latinoamericano in Provo and more museum and concert events. Sports on the Utah Radar: The Utah Royals are looking to fix a defensive slide ahead of a Pride rematch after conceding goals in recent matches. Streaming & TV: Peacock’s September lineup includes “The Paper” (season 2) and “The Traitors: New Blood,” among other new releases. College Football Watch: USC’s Week 0 opener featured a breakout from freshman Trent Mosley as the Trojans rolled past San Jose State.

Utah Royals: Utah heads into a Pride rematch with Orlando after a defensive skid—no shots on target in the last meeting helped the Royals earn a 1-0 win, but they’ve since conceded in every match, including a 4-2 loss to San Diego. Utah Sports & Rivalries: Real Salt Lake returns to Colorado to reclaim the Rocky Mountain Cup and snap a long MLS winless stretch after Leagues Cup disappointment. Utah Arts & Film: Utah Theatre is set to host a Hitchcock-themed film fest in September, spotlighting the director’s best leading men. Music & Pop Culture: Kacey Musgraves paused her Boston show when part of her stage caught fire during “Golden Hour,” then joked her way through the moment. Local Entertainment Industry: Orem-based creative exec Pierce Thiot, who worked at Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort, died at 40; Reynolds called him a “shining light” of creativity and kindness. Sports Business: The re-formed Pac-12 is planning a “flex” schedule to boost College Football Playoff chances.

Utah Tech University Performing Arts: The newly renovated America First Performing Arts Center (formerly Cox Auditorium) is set for a 7:30 p.m. ribbon-cutting tonight, funded by a $5M America First donation plus state and local support, with a star-studded “Raise the Curtain” opening featuring pianist William Joseph, Madilyn Paige, Travis Garland and guest Derek Hough. Park City Music & Food: Park City Song Summit kicked off Aug. 27 at The Marquis with a chef-led morning and performances from local Rising Artists; events run through Saturday. Utah Arts Spotlight: Salt Lake organist Kenneth Udy headlines the Tabernacle Organ Virtuoso Performance Series Friday at 7:30 p.m. (free, in person). Film & Culture: Review roundup says Ridley Scott’s “The Dog Stars” doesn’t fully live up to its promise, despite strong source material and craft. Sports & Entertainment: UNLV volleyball launches the Players Era Tournament Aug. 29-30 at T-Mobile Arena; meanwhile, Utah’s own sports scene keeps buzzing with local coverage and big-name matchups. Community Events: Logan postponed Pioneer Day fireworks due to severe weather, moving the Heroes Tribute concert indoors. Remembering: Creative exec Pierce Thiot, known for Maximum Effort work including “Will It Beard,” died at 40.

Utah Olympic Park Fundraiser: Park City’s Christian Center is hosting “Hike for Hunger” Sept. 12 (noon–6 p.m.) at Utah Olympic Park, with zip lines, alpine slide, ropes courses, live music, a meal, and a Hike for Hunger T-shirt—tickets are $25 (individual) or $75 (family up to five), plus optional bobsled add-ons. Local Arts & Culture: The LDS Church’s Salt Lake Temple is set to reopen to the public for six months starting April 5 after major renovations, with CNN getting a rare preview of what visitors can expect. Music & Touring: The War & Treaty will release the “Country Baptism” EP Sept. 4 and hit a fall headlining run that includes Utah among other major stops. Concert Buzz: Motley Crue’s reunion-era show review highlights a strong set list and a high-energy performance at Blossom Music Center. Pop Culture: “RHOSLC” alum Jen Shah has completed her federal prison sentence, telling The Hollywood Reporter she feels “blessed” and “free.” Community Health: Joyce University’s Draper campus hosted a Summer Community Health Fair featuring a Teddy Bear Clinic for 120 kids to make first checkups feel less intimidating. Pageantry: Justus Kelley made Miss USA history as the first married woman and first mother to win the crown.

Police Oversight: Utah lawmakers are watching a national backlash over license plate reader misuse, with Georgia cases prompting a new state senator-led push to curb abuses and tighten rules. Film & Festivals: Logan’s Utah Theatre is set to host a September Alfred Hitchcock “leading men” film fest featuring Cary Grant and James Stewart classics. Music Buzz: Goose’s surprise backyard set in Boulder ended when police shut it down—fans still get the story, and the band rolls into Utah’s Twilight Concert Series Aug. 29. Community Arts: Helper’s 32nd annual Helper Arts Festival returns as a volunteer-powered celebration of human creativity, music, film screenings, and local vendors. Utah Culture & Outdoors: Pixar’s “Cars” reportedly drew inspiration from southern Utah scenery, including Bryce Canyon and Scenic Byway 12. Food & Travel: Michelin’s first-ever Southwest guide spotlights New Mexico restaurants, while Salt Lake City’s Monte earns a star. Local Impact: Mayors launch the “Love Your Watershed” challenge to keep Jordan River storm drains clean.

Utah Arts & Community: Park City Education Foundation says its Bright Futures program expanded to support 233 first-generation students in grades 9-12, more than doubling participation after adding a full-time counselor inside Park City High School. Local Entertainment & Music: Kamelot is out with “Sanctuary,” the final single ahead of its “Dark Asylum” album and a world tour kickoff. Tech + Entertainment: Crumbl and Minecraft team up for a one-week, character-licensed dessert run starting Aug. 31. Sports Spotlight: “Survivor 51” is officially in motion with 21 new castaways for the $1 million prize, premiering Sept. 23 on CBS. Utah Business/Infrastructure: Comcast breaks ground on a Kamas-and-Francis network expansion bringing multi-gigabit symmetrical internet and smart home services to nearly 2,400 homes and businesses. Outdoor/Travel: Powder Haven at Powder Mountain highlights the growing trend of private ski access, with members getting thousands of acres reserved and limited units.

Theater & Arts: Pioneer Theatre Company is postponing its season opener after a sprinkler mishap flooded parts of the Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre; the production of “John Proctor Is the Villain” will instead open Sept. 11 at the Westminster Performing Arts Center. TV Buzz: Hulu released the Season 5 trailer for “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” teasing “low blows” and “unforgivable” drama ahead of a Sept. 10 premiere. Music & Pop Culture: R&B singer Ravyn Lenae postponed her North American tour, but will still play three European festival dates; Salt Lake City’s Rockwell at The Complex is listed among the affected stops. Utah Community & Outdoors: Natural History Museum of Utah celebrated the National Park Service’s 110th birthday with “Tunes on the Terrace,” featuring live music by Basin & Grange and partner booths. Local Sports: BYU wrapped preseason camp with the defense turning heads, while UNM added Mercer to its 2026-27 men’s schedule for Dec. 15. Utah Events: Cache County approved out-of-cycle funding requests totaling $425,000 for the American West Heritage Center and USU’s Caine School of the Arts.

Local Film & TV: Ogden is getting a big-screen moment as “Marshals” (a “Yellowstone” spinoff) films an episode, including a dramatic car-explosion scene at a city parking garage. Utah Music Spotlight: A sold-out Noah Kahan show is getting a rave review, with the takeaway that Utah now has another stadium-ready option for major touring artists. Community Events: Southern Utah’s fall calendar is packed, with highlights like Hurricane Peach Days (Sept. 3–5) and Kanab’s Little Hollywood Wild West Fest (Sept. 10–12). Arts & Culture: Park City’s Song Summit is back with added free community events, and a new art installation is planned for Sugar House to spotlight neighborhood connections. Pop Culture: “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” season 5 trailer leans hard into #MomTok drama as tensions and public scrutiny escalate. Music Releases: Sylvan Esso drops “On & On,” the third single from their upcoming album “Ow ∞.”

Dolly Parton in Utah: Utah joined the national mourning for country icon Dolly Parton, with Gov. Spencer Cox ordering flags at state facilities lowered through Sept. 1. Parton’s legacy is also landing locally through her Imagination Library, with Utah partner Operation Literacy pushing to expand free books for kids. Park City Music & Wellness: The Park City Song Summit returns with free community events, including a civility-focused discussion featuring Ben McAdams and UVU professor Greg Jackson. Film & Festival Buzz: Murray’s ZepFest (Aug. 31–Sept. 5) blends indie film, live music, and workshops at the renovated Murray Theater. Sports Spotlight: Utah wrapped fall camp injury-free for the most part under new head coach Morgan Scalley ahead of the Sept. 3 opener vs. Idaho. Reality TV Watch: Bravo’s Andy Cohen says new “Real Housewives” cities are chosen for being “not obvious,” pointing to Salt Lake City as a recent example. Local Libraries & Culture: Provo City Library confirmed an LGBTQ children’s book (“Pride Is Love”) is kept shelved and easily accessible for young readers, not displayed. Utah Arts Funding: Promontory Foundation awarded $500,000 in grants to Park City and Summit County nonprofits, with a big share supporting arts, culture, and education.

Sundance 2027 (Colorado): Sundance organizers shared the Boulder debut plan—world premieres Jan. 21–26, gala Jan. 22, online screenings Jan. 28–31, and awards Jan. 29—plus Hotel Boulderado as the festival hub and volunteer sign-ups opening Monday for about 2,000 helpers. Utah Pride Halloween: The Utah Pride Center’s HalloQueen Ball returns Oct. 31 at the Salt Lake Masonic Temple with drag bingo, live DJs, and a $1,500 costume prize; proceeds support year-round LGBTQIA+ programs. Noah Kahan (Utah + UK): The Last of the Bugs tour adds a Wembley Stadium date (July 24) and Kahan’s North America run continues tonight at America First Field in Sandy. Music Spotlight (Park City): Jim James released “Lost Child,” the next single from his solo album Wowed Out, with a Park City Song Summit acoustic set planned for release day. Utah Arts/Business: Utah luxury blanket brand Minky Couture keeps expanding its “everywhere” status through major partnerships and a massive social following. Legal/Entertainment (Utah shoot): Former child actor Raquel Lee Bolleau sued Disney over alleged on-set sexual abuse during the Utah production of The Poof Point, and her attorneys are also pushing back on courtroom camera coverage in related cases.

Disney Lawsuit: Former child star Raquel Lee Bolleau sued Disney, alleging a Disney employee sexually assaulted her when she was 14 during the 2001 TV movie “The Poof Point,” and that studio staff failed to intervene. Utah Sports Business: Salt Lake City jumped to No. 12 on a Sports Business Journal ranking of best sports business cities, citing the Utah Mammoth, Utah Talons, LOVB Salt Lake, and the U.S. Biathlon move to Soldier Hollow. Real Salt Lake: RSL extended rookie forward Sergi Solans through 2030, keeping the club’s 2026 scoring spark in place as he heads into a Leagues Cup quarterfinal vs. Leon. Park City Arts: Art on the Trails turned McLeod Creek Trail into an open-air gallery with live music, dance, visual art, and Indigenous performances. Local Entertainment Picks: Mountain Mixer crowned Dos Olas Cantina’s Adriel Danan with a $1,000 prize, while KSL Sports’ Game Night Live spotlights American Fork vs. Timpview on Aug. 28. Community & Culture: “Celebration of the Ages” at Tracy Aviary marked National Seniors Day with music, birds, and senior-focused resources.

Utah Film & TV: Utah Film Commission says Utah approved three new productions for incentives, including an eighth season of “The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch,” plus a new untitled feature—projected at $9.3M in economic impact and 100+ jobs across six counties. Music: ZZ Top resumed its Big One Tour after drummer Frank Beard’s death, with the band keeping the focus on the music as they introduced replacement drummer Michael Monahan. Legal/Entertainment Safety: Former child star Raquel Lee Bolleau sued Disney, alleging repeated sexual abuse by a Disney employee during “The Poof Point” filming in Salt Lake City when she was 14, and claims Disney failed to protect her. Arts & Culture: Exploring Music on WFMT gets a new host—Peter van de Graaff—as the classical program continues its weekly themed format. Local Outdoors/Design: Utah State’s Outdoor Recreation Archive keeps growing, now topping 1,000 brands and adding more audio-visual materials.

Utah Tourism: A new University of Utah report says Utah’s tourism economy hit a record $13.7B in visitor spending in 2025, generating $1.6B in direct state and local tax revenue and supporting about a tenth of jobs statewide. Local Arts & Events: Salt Lake City’s Grid City Music Fest is set up for a mostly car-light weekend, with free admission and 80+ bands across nine stages, plus transit options for getting around town. Music Spotlight (Utah): Park City’s Brandon Flowers released his country-leaning solo album Thrasher, drawing on his Nephi roots and featuring major Nashville players. Performing Arts: Orem’s SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre hosts the 21st annual Dancing Under the Stars, with Utah performers and the Full Circle Boys among the featured acts. Community & Culture: Springville’s Springville Museum of Art highlights a mother-son quilting show, proving the “hobby” label doesn’t fit when the work tells real stories. Public Safety: Severe storms in Ogden caused flooding, downed power lines, and temporary suspensions of downtown events. Entertainment Lawsuit: Former child star Raquel Lee Bolleau alleges Disney negligence after claiming repeated on-set sexual abuse during the 2001 film The Poof Point while filming in Utah.

Music & Live Shows: ZZ Top is back onstage after the death of longtime drummer Frank Beard, resuming “The Big One!” tour dates that had been canceled in Salt Lake City and Colorado Springs; Michael Monahan filled in behind the kit for the Austin return. Local Arts: Salt Lake City’s Sugar House is getting a new seven-piece public art installation, “The People in Your Neighborhood,” with works by Jeremy Morgan and Brooke Smart planned for Fairmont Park and nearby streets. Utah 2034 & Youth Sports: Utah 2034 announced it’s funding the Utah Youth Sports Giving Day, a Sept. 12–26 push aiming to raise $3 million to help underserved kids get into sports. Sports Streaming/TV: A full rundown of what’s on the air this week includes Little League World Series coverage, plus major preseason and soccer matchups. Entertainment Streaming: Peacock’s September lineup spotlights genre staples like Dracula, Creature From the Black Lagoon, and the full Twilight film series. Film/TV Industry Buzz: A new lawsuit from former child actor Raquel Lee alleges sexual assault and cover-up by a Disney employee during a Utah production. Community Climbing: Alta’s 13th Annual Climbing Festival drew dozens of climbers while also honoring recent tragedy and renewing safety reminders.

Utah Arts & Community: Sugar House is getting a new public art moment. Salt Lake City officials say a seven-piece installation, “The People in Your Neighborhood,” will be placed across Fairmont Park and nearby streets as part of a park renovation. Olympics & Youth Sports: Utah 2034 launched its first community impact program, backing Utah Youth Sports Giving Day with a goal of raising $3 million to help make youth sports more accessible statewide. Music & Local Culture: Park City Song Summit returns Aug. 27-29 with expanded free community events at Library Field, including a free 5K led by chef Gregory Gourdet and daily mindful sessions plus free live music. Sports (Utah teams): The Utah Royals fell 4-2 to San Diego, with Mina Tanaka scoring twice to become the club’s all-time leading scorer; Real Salt Lake also lost 2-1 to Orlando City. BYU Football: BYU is rolling out LaVell Edwards Stadium upgrades for 2026, including a renovated home locker room and more premium seating for recruiting visits. Climbing & Safety: The Salt Lake Climbers Alliance held its 13th annual Alta festival, with leaders urging safer decision-making after a 16-year-old death days earlier. Entertainment Headlines: A former child actor, Raquel Lee, filed a lawsuit alleging Disney negligence in on-set sexual abuse during “The Poof Point.”

Local Events Roundup: Utah Valley and Northern Utah both publish “places to go” calendars for Aug. 22-30, with highlights like Provo’s WHOSE LIVE ANYWAY? improv run (Aug. 27-28) and Orem’s Diamond Rio concert (Aug. 24), plus ongoing farmers market stops. Community & Arts: Logan’s Heroes Tribute lands Aug. 28 at Riverwoods Conference Center, featuring speaker Jennie Taylor and performer Cole Hartley. Music & Tours: Kacey Musgraves kicks off her Middle of Nowhere Tour with bold disco-themed staging, while Signs Of The Swarm plans a cover of Rob Zombie’s “Dragula” (debut Aug. 24) with special guests. Festivals & Outdoors: Tickets are on sale for the 12th annual Joe’s Valley Bouldering Festival (Oct. 1-4, 2026), mixing climbing clinics, live music, rodeo events, and trail work. Sports Entertainment: Real Salt Lake pushes into Leagues Cup with a “Denver takeover” ticket offer for fans heading to Colorado.