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City Cast Salt Lake

Shelby Hintze

This is not the week for outdoor activities, with high heat in the Salt Lake Valley. So stay inside and catch some local theater. From professional to volunteer, there is no shortage of talent and entertainment just around the corner.

When it comes to the Utah theater scene, the Hale family has had an outsized influence. Ruth and Nathan started with a 99-person theater in Glendale, California in the 1940s, which has transformed into two theaters in Utah, with capacity for more than 1,500 theater-goers, combined.

 combines professional-quality sets, costumes, and performances with an intimate, in-the-round stage that places every audience member close to the action. The nonprofit theater presents a year-round season of musicals, family favorites, and classic plays, earning a reputation for spectacular production values and immersive storytelling.

 entertained audiences for 35 years as Hale Center Theater Orem. The company moved in 2025 to a state-of-the-art performing arts center on the doTERRA campus in Pleasant Grove. Each season features Broadway musicals, classic plays, comedies, youth productions, and educational programming.

Since opening in Murray 1989, the Desert Star Playhouse has become known for its original, family-friendly musical parodies that spoof everything from blockbuster movies and Broadway hits to television shows and pop culture. Desert Star puts a melodramatic twist on familiar stories, encouraging audiences to cheer the hero, boo the villain, and expect plenty of improvisation and Utah-specific jokes along the way.

The Draper Historic Theatre has been a cornerstone of the south Salt Lake Valley arts scene since 1938, when it opened as The Pearl, a neighborhood movie house. In its early days, audiences enjoyed vaudeville performances before feature films, and the theater quickly became a gathering place for the growing community.

Today, the nonprofit Draper Historic Theatre produces affordable, family-friendly musicals, comedies, and youth productions while offering opportunities for performers, technicians, and volunteers of all ages. 

Local Theater Recommendations in Utah

Hot Local Theater to Cool You Off

Keep It Local

Sign up for Keep It Local from City Cast Salt Lake

To go or not to go, that is the question.

Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the three hour drive from Salt Lake City

Or to remember it’s a world-class theater event in our own backyard

And by attending, participating in a 65-year tradition.

Thanks to my 11th grade AP Lit teacher for the extra credit for every line of the Hamlet soliloquy we memorized. And I thought I’d never use that again …

 is in full-swing in Cedar City, at Southern Utah University. Over the course of the summer and fall, actors and crews from around the world will put on productions for over 100,000 people! Add in an elevation climb and you have the perfect outdoor (and indoor) theater weather, in the mid 70s and 80s.

Founder Fred C. Adams began the festival in 1961 after joining the faculty at SUU and seeing the number of tourists who came to the area for state and national parks. Why not capitalize on a semi-captive audience?

Even if you don’t have tickets to a show, you can still participate in a free performance each night before the curtain rises. The Greenshow is a free, 30-minute outdoor performance presented before evening productions. 

Conceived by Barbara Adams, Fred's wife, the Greenshow recreates the festive atmosphere of Elizabethan theater with live music, dancing, storytelling, comedy, and audience participation on the lawn outside the theaters. The Greenshow is open to everyone and has become one of the festival's most beloved traditions.

A Guide to Utah's Shakespeare Festival 2026

Road-tripping for Shakespeare

Terina Ria

According to Redfin, Salt Lake City is the most 

, with Sugar House earning a special shout out for its local businesses. Sounds like a great excuse to spend a day exploring. Here’s a guide to what to eat and do in Sugar House.

 the SLC brewing operation), this restaurant is still locally owned! When the weather’s warm, grab a seat on their patio and order fried pickles for the table.

Morning, afternoon, or evening enjoy some seriously scrumptious sandos. They’re closed Mondays and Tuesdays, though, so don’t come then. My personal fave is the chopped cheese (which is like a chopped-up cheeseburger on a hoagie).

Come for the burgers, and stay for the shakes. Hot tip: Order your milkshake without a lid. You’ll get two to three more inches of cold, creamy goodness.

Salt Lake’s own “School of Rock,” this nonprofit provides music opportunities to youth through affordable access to instruments, recording equipment, and music lessons. Adults can take lessons, too (the first one’s free)!

A rad skateboard/vinyl record shop that’s been a long-time staple in the Sugar House neighborhood. After grabbing a cool new record and tuning up your board, head to Fairmont skatepark. Salt Lake City recently released the final design for 

The go-to shop in Sugar House for vintage and costumes for more than 30 years!

According to Redfin, Salt Lake City is the most neighborly city in the country, with Sugar House earning a special shout out for its local businesses. Sounds like a great excuse to spend a day exploring. Here’s a guide to what to eat and do in Sugar House.

Visit These Sugar House Businesses

Everything to know about Salt Lake City neighborhoods: Where to go, eat, shop, drink, and more.

Salt Lake Neighborhood Guides

Neighborhood Guides

Salt Lake City just unveiled the design for a new, $2 million playground at Liberty Park. It will be an all-abilities park! But what does that actually mean? I asked SLC’s ADA coordinator, Ashley Lichtle.

“Removing any physical barriers makes a park ADA-compliant. But removing physical barriers doesn’t provide opportunities for active participation or social inclusion. This is where inclusive design comes into play (pun intended)!”

According to the 7 Principles of Inclusive Playground Design,* everyone should feel included, smart, independent, safe, active, and comfortable in a play area. Let’s take thrill as an example: Your thrill might be a zip line, mine might be climbing a dirt mound. An all-abilities playground allows for people of all ages and abilities to get their kicks.

Fun fact: These were co-developed by Utah State University.

$2 million of the $85 million parks bond passed by SLC voters is being applied to a new playground in Liberty Park. The park is 

, like a Chill Zone, Challenge Zone, and Thrill Zone. All-abilities elements include sensory gardens, a zipline with full-body support, wheelchair-accessible spin carousels, caregiver accommodations, and Braille and American Sign Language incorporation.

The new Liberty Park playground won’t break ground before 2025. In the meantime, find cheap thrills at some 

: Bickley Park in South Salt Lake, Draper City Park, Sierra Newbold Playground in West Jordan, and Magna Regional Park. 

Salt Lake’s ADA office wants to know what your neighborhood park needs to be inclusive? Email 

Salt Lake Plans for Inclusive Park Thrills

Salt Lake Parks

Whether it's off-leash dog parks, pickleball courts, pools or playgrounds, we are ranking the best parks in the valley, from Herriman to Salt Lake City, and everywhere in between.

Every Park SLC: Visiting All 511 Parks in Salt Lake County

Every Park SLC

Think of this as your Hey Salt Lake community bulletin board: A dedicated space for volunteer opportunities, resources, fundraisers, and other ways to help your neighbors.

Salt Lake County Animal Services is over max capacity of dogs. If you or someone you know is looking to 

, consider adopting. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 on North Temple between State Street and 600 W. in Salt Lake City. Eight artists will be paid a $1,500 commission. Apply by Friday, Aug. 9.

See plans for the brand new park housing this installation and daylighting City Creek on the Folsom Trail at our 801 Day party! 

Is your blood type O+? It’s in demand at the University of Utah hospital and Huntsman Cancer Institute. Donate blood locally at 

. It only takes about 35 minutes, and your blood stays in our community.

 for Ogden or SLC Twilight, a U of U game, or the Craft Lake City DIY Festival this summer. Ride for free, and you won’t need a designated driver!

Call for SLC Artists

Hidden Waters Call For Artists

Salt Lake City volunteering opportunities, donation drives, and more.

Help Your Salt Lake Neighbors

Help Your Neighbors

Tan France is one of Salt Lake’s most famous, and perhaps most gracious residents. The fashion icon, designer, entrepreneur, and TV personality has lived here for the past two decades, so we just had to get 

 on all things Salt Lake City. Here are just a few of the many places and attributes he can’t get enough of: 

“Oh, it's not a rapid-fire, I'm gonna have to give you two or three. 

, actually, is my favorite. But I’m often at 

 because my son’s favorite thing is their waffles with berries.”

“Gosh, that’s a tough one. I’m going to say 

. She was my former business partner and we created a brand together called Rachel Parcell. She's an influencer and she created a clothing brand that I think is really chic.

 cookies. I only found out a year ago that the dude who owns it [...] lives in Utah, and I do love a Crumbl cookie.”

. To get to the top, it takes about three hours and it’s gorgeous. I don’t think a lot of people know about it. So you don’t pass many people on there, and that’s so nice.”

“I love how kind people are. A lot of people assume that with me being in Utah, that I get a lot of abuse. The reason why I live here is nobody's ever said anything homophobic or racist to me.

“Almost every month I will get somebody saying something disgusting to me, anywhere else. That has never happened here, and that's why I love this place so much. That makes me feel really good about myself. And I know that some people have experienced terrible hate here. But for me personally, I've been treated beautifully, and way before I became Tan France.”

Plus, Tan France rates the Jazz rebrand!

Tan France, the fashion icon, designer, entrepreneur, and TV personality has lived here for the past two decades, so we just had to get France’s recommendations on all things Salt Lake City. Check out just a few of the many places and attributes he can’t get enough of.

Rapid-Fire Thoughts With Tan France, ‘Queer Eye’ Star and Salt Laker

Make Salt Lake City better, one neighbor at a time. Find volunteering opportunities, ways to get involved and give back, and more.

City Cast Salt Lake's Community Spotlight

Community Spotlight

 here at City Cast Salt Lake (and patiently crossing our fingers for 

 that ends Monday, April 29). Whether city or county, libraries are a treasure trove of resources. And we’re not just talking books here.

You can get free seeds to use for gardening. They operate on an honor system, so only take what you need and donate seeds when you can.

 or in-person. There are seven locations of the city library that offer seeds: Main, Marmalade, Day-Riverside, Sprague, Glendale, Chapman, and Anderson-Foothill. Additionally, they’re 

 on the last Saturday of the month through September.

: The seed library generally runs from March-April at select locations, but they have sporadic events 

. Both the city and county libraries have creative offerings. Take advantage of their sewing machines or virtual reality equipment. Some other things you can find are 3D printers, sound booths for audio production, laser cutting, bike repair (tools and manuals), robotics, and Cricut machines 

 at SLC library are designed especially for caregivers of those with memory issues, like Alzheimer's or dementia. The kits include things like books, activities, fidget toys, and CDs to spark conversation and stimulate memories.

 at various library locations around the valley. Anyone under the age of 17 can use it for free or discounted admission to places like Clark Planetarium, UMOCA, the Natural History Museum, and more! If you get four stamps, you’ll get invited to the ZAP Summer Passport Celebration on Aug. 23 at Wheeler Farm.

? The SLC Main Library is an official passport application acceptance facility. It’s a first-come, first-served situation, so keep that in mind. If you need a photo, they can take one for $10; otherwise, bring your own.

 has items like telescopes, tablets, and GoPros that you can borrow with your library card.

Did we miss anything?

Whether city or county, libraries are a treasure trove of resources. And we’re not just talking books here.

Make the Most of Your Salt Lake Library Card

How To Make the Most of Your Salt Lake Library Card

Tips and tricks for living your best Salt Lake City life, by locals, for locals.

Salt Lake Life Hacks

Few people go as hard for parades as Shireen Ghorbani. We had the former County Councilmember on City Cast Salt Lake for part one of our Summer Entertainment Guide. Listen to the episode for a hilarious mascot story, as well as the do’s and don’ts of throwing candy, and the perfect song for 

. Below, you’ll find the best parades to check out: 

“I do recommend Sandy. It’s in the evening, and if I’m remembering correctly, it’s a loop. They typically have music, it’s cute, and cozy, and charming. It's just a nice setup, there’s a lot of lawn space you can be out on.” -Shireen

“A fantastic parade, great for so many reasons, but it also feels wild in a way that some of the other ones don’t. Wild unbridled exuberance. The music's great, people are just having a great time. Main Street in Magna is darling. And I don’t think a lot of people have experienced it. If you go, make sure you get on Main.” -Shireen

“Last year, the Heritage Festival finally brought back the horse parade after 15 years. They have like 100 horses, a true horse parade, and everyone gets all dressed up. Also, great for families. That’s in September, which some people still consider summer, and those people are me.” - City Cast Salt Lake host Ali Vallarta

This was my family’s tradition growing up because my mom was born and raised in Murray. She walked, or rather baton twirled, in the parade when she attended Murray High School. For me, it was a thrill as a kid to run out in the middle of State Street, and almost get hit by a giant paper mache castle, for a single piece of taffy. Or sheepishly wave at Miss Murray/Miss South Jordan/Miss Taylorsville ... or cheer on the Murray High School band (of course). Shout out to my Uncle Randy who always got up extra early to save our spot (which we considered prime real estate) right between the McDonald’s and (former) Einstein Bagels.

Few people go as hard for parades as Shireen Ghorbani. The former County Councilmember shares her picks for the best parades to check out in the Salt Lake Valley.

Best Parades in Salt Lake This Summer

The Best Parades in Salt Lake This Summer

Summer’s finally here. Here's how to make the most of it in Salt Lake City.

Salt Lake Summer Guide

Summer Guide

The Sundance Film Festival is Jan. 19-29, and nobody knows how to Sundance like former staffers. Fortunately, our City Cast Salt Lake podcast host Ali Vallarta is one! We gathered her tips for a stress-free, local festival experience.

How do you do Sundance on a shoestring budget?


“If you have a Utah ID, you can attend a handful of 

, including some of the Best of Fest award-winners on the last weekend. Also, if you don’t want to spend money gambling on movies that aren’t reviewed yet, wait until the second-half of the Festival to see the sure-fire, buzzy ones. And don’t watch Netflix, Hulu, etc. produced movies because they will be on streaming soon after the festival wraps!”


“Don’t drive. If you go to Park City, go once. Take the bus from Salt Lake and around Park City (their bus system is excellent), and browse Main Street. Watch movies in Salt Lake at the Rose Wagner or the Broadway.

“Don’t try to get into parties. The festival-sanctioned events aren’t going to be that hot, and waiting in line for a glitzy party is time wasted. Follow the movies with small budgets and big hearts. If the website contact is the director’s Gmail address, see it!”


“Watch shorts. The short films tend to disappear after the festival, so now is your chance to see them. Great stories can be told in just minutes; and shorts packages deliver 5-10 delights in one sitting. Also, shorts sometimes secure funding to become full-length, so you can see the seed of a future feature.

“E-waitlist movies. Didn’t get tickets to something? If you use the easy waitlist function on 

, you will probably get in on the lottery! Tons of seats are held for press and all-access badges, so a sold-out Sundance movie isn’t actually.”

Want more hot tips? Listen to our episode of

3 Questions With Former Sundance Staffer Ali Vallarta

What Salt Lake City celebrities, public figures and key citizens have to say about living here.

entertainment

Hot Local Theater to Cool You Off

Road-tripping for Shakespeare

Visit These Sugar House Businesses

Latest articles

Hot Local Theater to Cool You Off

Road-tripping for Shakespeare

Visit These Sugar House Businesses

Salt Lake Plans for Inclusive Park Thrills

Hidden Waters Call For Artists

Rapid-Fire Thoughts With Tan France, ‘Queer Eye’ Star and Salt Laker

How To Make the Most of Your Salt Lake Library Card

Latest articles

Salt Lake Plans for Inclusive Park Thrills

Hidden Waters Call For Artists

Rapid-Fire Thoughts With Tan France, ‘Queer Eye’ Star and Salt Laker

How To Make the Most of Your Salt Lake Library Card

The Best Parades in Salt Lake This Summer

3 Questions With Former Sundance Staffer Ali Vallarta