King James at PTC

I have been a sports fan for almost all of my life and I have seen first-hand how the collective experience of cheering for a team can connect people so, needless to say, I have been anticipating PTC's production of King James ever since the 2025-2026 season was announced. I finally had the chance to see it last night and I really loved it! Matt (Eli Mayer) and Shawn (Khiry Walker) first meet during LeBron James' rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Matt is trying to sell the remaining games in the season package he has had with his father for decades in order to pay off some debts. Shawn hears about the tickets from a mutual friend and meets Matt at the wine bar where he works because he promised himself he would start going to games once he had some disposable income. Even though they are very different people with different backgrounds and goals for the future, they become close friends over their shared love of the Cavaliers and LeBron James. The ups and downs of their friendship seem to mimic the trajectory of James' career from his decision to take his talents to South Beach in 2010 to his return to Cleveland in 2014 and, finally, to his dramatic win over the Golden State Warriors for the Championship in 2016. Their discussions about the team often become the catalyst for more poignant and sometimes contentious conversations about love, loss, disappointment, success, failure, economic status, and race. Through it all, the two of them bond as they risk their emotional well-being on the outcome of an athletic competition (this line got a huge laugh) and to say that I could relate would be an understatement! I found the message that sports can bring people together to be incredibly moving because, even though my dad and I sometimes disagreed, we always found common ground in our love for hockey! Both Mayer and Walker are very compelling (my attention never wavered in a play that is very dialogue-heavy) and their performances are entirely believable because they have the easy back-and-forth rhythm that two people who have been friends for more than a decade would have. The more intimate Meldrum Theatre is perfect for this piece because it feels like you are right there in the bar overhearing a conversation between two fans after a game. The sets and costumes (I loved the #23 jerseys) are simple but effective and I loved the use of a buzzer at the end of each scene (the play is structured like a basketball game with four "quarters" and a "halftime" between the second and third). Finally, there are a lot of fun references that Cavs fans and basketball fans in general will pick up on but I think the subject is accessible to everyone because it is ultimately about friendship. I highly recommend this production with the caveat that it does contain strong language. The run continues in the Meldrum Theatre through April 4 (go here for tickets).

Ben-Hur

There are just some movies that demand to be seen on the big screen and, in my opinion, Ben-Hur is one of them (I also put Lawrence of Arabia in this category because I always fall asleep when I watch it at home but when I see it on the big screen I am riveted). I was able to see this epic movie as it was meant to be seen yesterday afternoon as part of the Fathom's Big Screen Classics series and it was absolutely exhilarating!  Messala (Stephen Boyd) returns home to Jerusalem as the new Roman tribune and has a joyous reunion with his childhood friend Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston), a wealthy and influential prince.  Messala asks Judah to help quell the rebellion that is brewing in Jerusalem but they soon quarrel when Judah refuses to spy on his people.  During a military parade, a tile falls from Judah's house injuring the new governor and Judah, his mother Miriam (Martha Scott), and his sister Tirzah (Cathy Donnell) are arrested. Wanting to curry favor with the governor, Messala condemns him as a galley slave and imprisons his family so Judah vows to return and exact vengeance.  After several years, a Roman consul named Quitus Arrius (Jack Hawkins) is assigned to Judah's ship and notices his will to live.  Arrius has Judah's chains unlocked just before a battle which allows him to escape from the sinking ship as well as rescue him.  In gratitude, Arrius takes Judah to Rome where he learns to drive a chariot and soon becomes a champion.  Eventually, Judah returns to Jerusalem and challenges Messala to an epic chariot race.  A parallel story involves the birth, ministry, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ and two brief but meaningful encounters between them allow Judah to forgive the Romans for what they have done to him and his family.  This movie is a spectacle in every sense of the word with a scope and grandeur that makes seeing it on the big screen an incredible experience!  It had the biggest budget of any movie up to that point with thousands of extras, horses, and costumes and a crew of 200 who built over 300 sets.  It was the highest grossing movie of 1959 and won 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for William Wyler, and Best Actor for Charlton Heston.  I think the message is a bit heavy-handed and the final 30 minutes are strangely anticlimactic, despite the subject matter, after the build-up to the chariot race.  However, the runtime is worth it for this race alone because it is one of the most intense action sequences ever filmed (and it definitely holds up after more than 60 years).  I also really enjoyed the naval battle and Judah's subsequent escape from the sinking ship as well as the battle of wills between Judah and Arrius when the latter orders the slaves to row faster and faster.  I had a lot of fun seeing this with a big crowd of cinephiles and I highly recommend getting a ticket while it is back in theaters (go here for the remaining dates and times).

Father of the Bride at Parker Theatre

I love the 1950 movie Father of the Bride starring Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor (I also love the 1991 remake with Steve Martin and Kimberly Williams) so I was really looking forward to Caroline Francke's stage adaptation of Edward Streeter's novel (which inspired the movie) at Parker Theatre last night. It is incredibly funny and heartwarming! Kay Banks (Emma Widfeldt) turns her household upside down when she casually announces to her family, including her father Stanley (Michael Hohl), her mother Ellie (Hillary McChesney), and her brothers Ben (Truman Schipper) and Tommy (Jago Parker), that she is engaged to Buckley Dunstan (Brock Harris). Kay says that she wants a small wedding but it soon spirals out of control and Buckley is plagued with nerves and Stanley is stressed by the cost (and by the thought of losing his daughter). Mayhem ensues until Kay is able to calm Buckley down and convince her father that she is no longer a child and is ready to leave the nest. I was laughing out loud through the whole show, especially in a scene in which Stanley's secretary Miss Bellamy (Catherine Bohman) dramatically resigns in frustration when every member of the family secretly adds to the guest list and a scene in which the eccentric and flamboyant caterer Mr. Missoula (Lorin Bruns) tries to get Stanley to pick a wedding cake. I also loved the physical comedy as the caterers (Bruns and Brian Douros), florist (Nathan Chelf), dressmaker (Juliet Wendels), and furniture movers (Mitchell Wardell and Tara Berrett) cause pandemonium in the Banks house as the maid Delilah (Luana Parkes) tries to clean and the family tries to get ready one hour before the wedding. The entire cast does a great job but Hohl really carries the show! He is hilariously overwrought as the size and cost of the wedding keep increasing but he is also gives an emotional performance as an overprotective father struggling to adapt to his daughter's transition to adulthood (the scene before they leave for the wedding is especially poignant). All of the action takes place in one location, the Banks's living and dining room, and I was really impressed by the attention to detail with glimpses of other rooms as characters exit to the wings. I also loved the addition of props as the house becomes inundated by wedding preparations and presents. The period costumes are gorgeous (I really like the 1950s silhouette), particularly the tuxedos and dresses for the wedding, and there is a fun detail involving Kay's shoes so pay attention! This is a delightful show and fans of the movies are sure to love it (go here for tickets). Performances are on Fridays and Saturdays through May 2.

Hadestown at the Eccles

I love the musical Hadestown so, even though I just saw the Teen Edition two weeks ago, I was thrilled to be able to see the Broadway touring production again last night at the Eccles. I really enjoyed some of the subtle changes in characterization from the original. Orpheus (Jose Contreras) is a poor boy with the gift of music who dreams of the world as it could be. Eurydice (Hawa Kamara) is a hungry girl who has only experienced the world as it is. She falls in love with Orpheus when he promises her a song that will bring back spring after Hades (Nickolaus Colon) calls Persephone (Namisa Mdlalose Bizana) back to him early. But times are hard and Eurydice is lured to the underworld by Hades in exchange for food. Orpheus travels there to rescue her when she is trapped in a cycle of endless work and desperation and Hades allows him to leave with her after hearing his song but the Fates (Gia Keddy, Miriam Navarrette, and Jayna Westcoatt) intervene and Orpheus is ultimately plagued by doubt. However, Hermes (Rudy Foster) reminds us that, even though the song is a sad one, we must keep singing it if we want to change the outcome. The music in this show is amazing and the performances from this cast definitely do it justice! Foster is quite the character as Hermes and I laughed out loud every time he milked the crowd in "Road to Hell" and "Way Down Hadestown." Bizana is a hoot as Persephone and she really leans into the physical comedy in "Livin' It Up On Top" and "Our Lady of the Underground" but she can really sing the blues and I loved her emotional performance of "How Long?" with Colon. He has an amazing baritone voice and that, combined with an imposing physicality, makes his Hades very menacing. His phrasing is a little bit different and he uses a reverb in "Why We Build the Wall" that makes it even more intimidating (I always get goosebumps in this song). Keddy, Navarrette, and Wescoatt reminded me of a gospel choir because their vocals are so powerful in "When the Chips Are Down," "Nothing Changes," and "Word to the Wise." The way they harmonize in "Doubt Comes In" gave me chills! Contreras has a beautiful voice and I actually liked it more than Reeve Carney's (he originated the role on Broadway). His renditions of "If It's True" and "Epic III" brought tears to my eyes! I loved every performance but Kamara's was my favorite. Her Eurydice is incredibly defiant in "Any Way the Wind Blows" (this is my favorite song in the show and I loved this interpretation) and guarded in "Come Home With Me" and "Wedding Song" so when she shows vulnerability in "Flowers" (another favorite song) it is absolutely devastating. The choreography and staging are iconic, especially for "Chant," because the way the Workers Chorus (Jonice Bernard, Bryan Chan, Ryaan Farhadi, Erin McMillen, and Joe Rumi) is incorporated mimics a factory assembly line, and "Wait For Me (Reprise)," because the journey through the underworld is conveyed through dramatic lighting (I have seen this performed with large ensembles lately and I was surprised by how moving I found the simpler choreography). This musical is up there with Hamilton and Les Miserables for me so it was an incredible experience to see it again and I highly recommend it! There are five performance left in the run at the Eccles Theatre (go here for tickets).

Mammoth vs. Oilers

When I was a teenager I loved the Edmonton Oilers (I was a huge fan of Wayne Gretzky) and I used to watch every game with my dad.  I still enjoy following them because Connor McDavid is such a great player so I specifically chose to see the Utah Mammoth play them last night with my sister.  I was very excited for this game and it was so much fun when Alex Kerfoot scored in the middle of the first period on a really pretty drop pass from Sean Durzi!  The Oilers tied it up with a goal from Jack Roslovic to end the period 1-1.  Then the second period was absolutely wild!  Zach Hyman took a high sticking penalty to put the Mammoth on the power play.  Matthew Savoie scored a short-handed goal for Edmonton but then 35 seconds later Lawson Crouse scored a power play goal to tie it up.  It was so exciting and I loved seeing our new player MacKenzie Weegar get the assist.  Before the crowd had even taken their seats again after the celebration, Connor McDavid scored eight seconds later and I have to admit that it was a pretty goal (it was his 400th career goal).  Roslovic got his second goal of the game to end the second period up 4-2. Karel Vejmelka was replaced by Vitek Vanecek in goal to start the third period and he stopped all ten shots from the Oilers but it was really frustrating to watch the Mammoth because they lost all momentum.  I thought they had some good chances but they were not aggressive enough on offense and were often very sloppy in the neutral zone.  Utah pulled Vanecek in the final minutes and McDavid got the empty-netter to give Edmonton the 5-2 win.  It was a disappointing loss because we are in the hunt for a playoff spot (Utah is currently three points ahead of Nashville) but I had a lot of fun with my sister.  I still can hardly believe that SLC has an NHL team!