AGP Executive Report

Sundance Shift: The festival’s first Boulder edition runs Jan. 21–31, 2027, and its cheapest ticket packages sold out within minutes as passes went on sale. Salt Lake City Plans: Smith Entertainment Group and city leaders unveiled updated plans for a downtown sports and entertainment district, offering a fresh look at the proposed makeover. Native Arts: Nearly 50 artists took part in the Natural History Museum of Utah’s 14th annual Indigenous Art Market and Festival, with performances, demonstrations and films celebrating Native traditions. Southern Utah Shows: Cirque Ma’Ceo brings horses, aerial acts and live music to Cedar City for its final weekend. On Stage: A Utah play about an excommunicated gay Latter-day Saint returns, exploring faith, family and acceptance. Local Makers: Draper hatmaker Avree Eveson created custom designs for Garth Brooks’ touring crew during the singer’s recent Salt Lake City run.

Downtown Development: Smith Entertainment Group and Salt Lake City leaders unveiled updated plans for a downtown sports and entertainment district, drawing hope and questions from Japantown. Campus Arts: BYU’s College of Fine Arts and Communication marked its centennial with performances, exhibits and the opening of a new Arts Building. Film: Provo’s FilmQuest will launch an inaugural market Oct. 27–29, connecting genre filmmakers with buyers and distributors. Theater: Plan-B Theatre’s “Facing East,” about faith, family and acceptance after a gay Latter-day Saint’s death, returns for its 20th anniversary, with original cast member Jay Perry in a new role. Festival Shift: Sundance passes are on sale as the festival prepares to leave Park City for Boulder. Winter Events: Tickets are on sale for The Snow League’s Park City debut Jan. 21–23, featuring elite snowboard and freeski competition and free fan programming. Local Film: “Will Ski 4 Food,” a documentary about Ogden ski-film cameraman Gary Nate and freestyle skiing’s pioneers, premieres Oct. 16.

Sundance Shift: Passes for the 2027 Sundance Film Festival go on sale Thursday, ahead of the lineup announcement. The festival’s first Boulder edition runs Jan. 21–31, ending its 45-year run in Park City. Downtown Plans: New renderings offer a closer look at Smith Entertainment Group’s proposed Salt Lake City sports and entertainment district. Evermore Update: Utah author Brandon Sanderson is buying the fantasy park, but says the deal does not mean it will reopen. Stage & Screen: Utah State University’s feminist satire reworks an ancient Greek comedy, while Utah Opera’s “Zorro” continues at Capitol Theatre through Oct. 18. Local Spotlight: Four Utah performers are competing on “The Voice,” adding homegrown talent to the national TV lineup.

Downtown Entertainment: Smith Entertainment Group has unveiled the first renderings of a multibillion-dollar Salt Lake City district linking the Delta Center and City Creek Center, with plans for sports, culture, entertainment and conventions across three blocks. Evermore Update: Utah author Brandon Sanderson is buying the former Pleasant Grove park site, but says its buildings are too deteriorated to reopen and he doesn’t plan to run a theme park. Utah on ‘The Voice’: Four locals are competing this season; Herriman singer Johnnie Kapua earned chair turns from Kelly Clarkson and Queen Latifah, and hopes to sing at a BYU football game. Music for a Cause: Nerd HQ’s inaugural benefit concert at Salt Lake City’s Capitol Theatre raised more than $100,000 for mental health care, enough to fund over 500 therapy sessions. On Utah Stages: A new review takes in three local productions: PYGmalion Theatre Company’s Witch, Salt Lake Acting Company’s Very Like A Whale and Westminster University’s Chance Operations.

Live Arts: Utah Opera’s production of Zorro runs through Oct. 18 at Capitol Theatre, while a new review spotlights three Salt Lake-area theater productions, including works by PYGmalion Theatre Company and Salt Lake Acting Company. Books & Authors: John Green brought his Hollywood, Ending tour to Salt Lake City, with Brandon Sanderson joining him at West High. Four Utah contestants are also making a mark on NBC’s The Voice. Local Finds: Mount Pleasant’s CuriosiTea Bookshop plans an Oct. 31 opening in a restored historic building, with books, tea and space for artists; Lehi’s Nocturnal Nook offers horror and dark fiction year-round. Coming Up: The Tabernacle Choir will perform during Thursday’s opening ceremony for the first U.S. G20 Interfaith Forum at Salt Lake City’s Historic Tabernacle. Provo’s first Utah Valley Christkindlmarkt is set for Dec. 10–12, with local makers, music and German-inspired food.

Utah on ‘The Voice’: Four Utah singers are heading into the Battle rounds, the state’s strongest showing on the show in years. Bluffdale’s Cade Mower has emerged as an early front-runner after turning all four coaches’ chairs. Public Art: Salt Lake City’s 9th and 9th Whale Fest celebrated Jiyoun Lee-Lodge’s new mural on the beloved “Out of the Blue” sculpture. At Spiral Jetty, a University of Utah Museum of Fine Arts gathering invited visitors to connect with Robert Smithson’s landmark earthwork and its landscape. Dance and Opera: Civic Ballet performers bring “Dracula” to the stage Oct. 23–24, while Utah Opera’s Utah premiere of Héctor Armienta’s “Zorro” runs at the Capitol Theatre through Oct. 18. Sundance’s Next Chapter: As the festival prepares to move to Boulder, Sundance is offering Utah residents an online ticket deal, and Park City is looking to create another festival. A BYU graduate also won the Audience Choice Award at the Orem Film Festival.

Action Sports: Park City’s X Games League team is building a local fan base ahead of its 2027 debut, with general manager Sharalee Hazen hoping fans will have a “home team” to cheer for. Dance: Cache Valley Civic Ballet brings Dracula to Logan’s Ellen Eccles Theatre Oct. 23–24, paired with Under the Bed. Music & Culture: Salt Lake pianist Anna Maxwell, who taught herself to play despite congenital hand differences, has joined the University of Utah’s Piano Performance Program. Luz de las Naciones, a free celebration of Latin American music and dance, returns to Salt Lake City Nov. 13–14; tickets go on sale Oct. 13. Live Shows: Geordie Greep canceled his Salt Lake City concert amid a sexual misconduct allegation; he denies the accusation and called the incident a misunderstanding. Utah Arts: Utah Opera’s Zorro is at Capitol Theatre through Oct. 18, while a BYU graduate recently won the Audience Choice Award at the Orem Film Festival.

Utah Art: Powder Mountain’s 8,000-acre sculpture park is bringing land art into a new setting, with installations spread across the northern Utah ski resort. Local Film: BYU graduate Mira Plummer won the Orem Film Festival’s Audience Choice Award for her short, “A Love Letter to My Parents.” Utah Talent: Four Utah singers are competing on “The Voice,” while Iam Tongi returned to a big stage to sing the national anthem at BYU’s game. Park City’s Film Future: With Sundance moving to Boulder in 2027, Park City Film is weighing how to keep independent movies and community screenings thriving locally. Onscreen and Onstage: Free Salt Lake City screenings of Utah filmmaker Abby Ellis’ Great Salt Lake documentary are drawing attention to the lake’s decline; Utah Opera’s “Zorro” is at the Capitol Theatre through Oct. 18. Tour Change: Geordie Greep canceled five U.S. dates, including Salt Lake City and Boise, after a misconduct allegation he has denied.

Utah on ‘The Voice’: Four Utah singers are heading into the Battles on Season 30, including Bluffdale’s Cade Mower, an early front-runner who won over all four coaches. Park City’s Film Future: As Sundance prepares to leave Utah for Boulder, local nonprofit Park City Film is weighing ways to build on the festival’s legacy and keep independent movies thriving in town. Sundance Online: Utah residents can get 20% off online passes and ticket packages for the 2027 festival, with screenings available from home. Onscreen and Onstage: Utah filmmaker Abby Ellis’s documentary “The Lake” explores the shrinking Great Salt Lake and possible health risks from dust; Utah Opera also presented the state premiere of Héctor Armienta’s “Zorro.” Live Music: Former Black Midi frontman Geordie Greep canceled his Salt Lake City stop amid a sexual assault allegation.

Live Music: British rocker Geordie Greep canceled Salt Lake City and Boise shows amid a sexual assault allegation. He addressed the incident onstage but has not issued a formal statement. Fall Events: North Logan’s free Pumpkin Walk returns Oct. 15-17 and 19-20 at Elk Ridge Park, with local displays built around an “All American Pumpkins” theme. Film & Festivals: Filmmaker brought My Name Is Ringo to a Provo festival stop, while the 2027 Sundance Film Festival’s move to Boulder has prompted discounted tickets for Utahns. Stage & Screen: Utah Opera presented the state premiere of Héctor Armienta’s Zorro at Capitol Theatre, and Garth Brooks kicked off his tour at the Delta Center to an enthusiastic Utah crowd. Salt Lake Entertainment: Ryan Smith is asking residents what would give a proposed downtown entertainment district a stronger local feel.

Live Music: Former Black Midi frontman Geordie Greep canceled his Salt Lake City tour stop after a sexual misconduct allegation surfaced; he denied assault and described the incident as a misunderstanding. Film: Utah filmmaker Jon Peter Lewis brought his futuristic short, My Name Is Ringo, to Provo’s FilmQuest festival. Sundance: The festival’s 2027 edition is set for Boulder, ending its long Park City run; Utah residents were offered discounted tickets. Stage: Utah Opera presented the state premiere of Héctor Armienta’s Zorro at Capitol Theatre. Local Spotlight: Garth Brooks opened his tour at the Delta Center, drawing a warm review for the show and the Utah fans.

Live Music: Former Black Midi frontman Geordie Greep has canceled his Salt Lake City and other U.S. tour dates after sexual misconduct allegations; he denies rape and described the Vancouver incident as a misunderstanding. Family Arts: St. George Children’s Museum opens a hands-on space exhibit today, featuring a lunar lander and Mission Control activities. Local Culture: Utah Opera’s Utah premiere of Zorro begins today at Capitol Theatre, with performances through Oct. 18. Arts Education: BYU celebrates 100 years of fine arts in the Intermountain West tonight at its new Arts Building, which houses art, design, theater and media arts programs. Books and Community: Utah groups are expanding access to challenged titles through a mobile library and the Read Between the Bans program. Festival Weekend: Grantsville’s Utah Honey Harvest Festival wraps up today with local vendors, beekeeping demonstrations and live fiddling.

Campus Arts: BYU’s new Arts Building opens its doors for a Saturday celebration marking 100 years of fine arts education; the college now serves about 3,300 students. Opera: Utah Opera’s Utah premiere of Héctor Armienta’s Zorro opens today at Capitol Theatre and runs through Oct. 18. Live Music: Garth Brooks kicked off his Delta Center tour with a show that reviewers say captured the “magic” of his Utah fans. Sundance: The festival’s first year in Boulder is drawing attention to lodging costs, while Utahns can get discounted tickets. Local Creators: JuniperMoon Artisan Market in Paradise celebrates its first anniversary with work from about 30 local makers and a growing calendar of events. USU Eastern’s annual Fall Sing is set for Oct. 13 in Price.

Utah Production: Craig Ferguson and Megyn Price are starring in Quitters, an eight-episode addiction dramedy now filming in Utah. Saturday Arts: Springdale’s inaugural Zion Canyon Art Festival invites visitors to explore galleries, meet artists and catch live music; Park City Film is also hosting a free family screening of The Sheep Detectives. Utah on TV: Utah keeps supplying Dancing With the Stars pros—six of this season’s 16 grew up in the state—and The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City teases a Lisa Barlow-Meredith Marks diss track. Live Music: Garth Brooks kicked off his Delta Center run with a crowd-pleasing show, praising Utah fans’ singalong spirit. Downtown Vision: Ryan Smith’s survey found Salt Lake City residents want more music venues, food options and late-night gathering spots. Sundance Shift: The festival’s 2027 debut in Boulder is a major change for Utah film fans, who can get discounted tickets.

Salt Lake City Entertainment: Ryan Smith is asking residents what would give a proposed downtown entertainment district a “strong local vibe.” Local Film: Park City filmmaker J.J. Gerber is previewing The Life We Leave, a documentary about human composting, ahead of the inaugural Park City Film Festival. Live Music: Ogden’s free Interfaith Concert moves to the Historic Fourth Ward Meetinghouse Sunday, with organizers emphasizing local performers. Arts & Culture: Kimball Art Center’s Art Night highlights arts education, while UMFA launches Land Art Week with a talk by artist Lita Albuquerque. Festival News: The 2027 Sundance Film Festival will be held in Boulder, and Utah residents can get discounted tickets. Día de los Muertos events are also planned in Ogden, Salt Lake City, Park City and St. George.

Utah Events: Día de los Muertos celebrations are coming to Ogden, Salt Lake City, Park City, St. George and other communities, with music, dance and cultural activities. Visual Arts: The Utah Museum of Fine Arts launched its first Land Art Week, celebrating the state’s landscape-art legacy with a talk by artist Lita Albuquerque. Live Music: Def Leppard, Goo Goo Dolls and The Struts bring their 2027 tour to Salt Lake City’s Delta Center on March 31; general ticket sales start Oct. 16. Sundance: As the festival prepares for its first year in Boulder, Utahns are being offered discounted tickets. Onstage and Onscreen: Utah Opera’s new season pairs classic and contemporary stories, while Orem’s second annual film festival puts independent movies in the spotlight.