Culture vultures will find plenty to keep them on the edge of their seats in this historic performing arts venue with a ghostly secret.
Stars from the world of ballet, opera and musical theatre regularly tread the boards of Salt Lake City’s Capitol Theatre. Some say they share the stage with the ghost of a young usher, killed in a backstage fire in 1947. True or not, this historic building has been the setting for many dramatic encounters since it opened its doors in 1913.The Orpheum Theatre, as it was then known, was designed by Gustave Albert Lansburgh, the famous American architect who made his name with a string of luxury cinemas and theatres. The ornate façade studded with statues is one of the building’s most cherished features, along with the original marble floors and staircases. During the 1920s it was converted into a cinema, and it was not until its purchase by Salt Lake County in the 1970s that it reverted to its former use. Now this architectural gem occupies its rightful place on the National Register of Historic Places.The theatre is part of the Salt Lake County Center for the Arts and is the headquarters of Ballet West, which often performs old favourites like Cinderella and The Nutcracker. It also houses the Utah Opera and the Children’s Dance Theatre. As a venue for Broadway Across America, it regularly hosts large-scale productions of hit musicals such as Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera. Regional auditions for popular TV talent shows such as So You Think You Can Dance are open to the public, while the theatre audiences of the future are wooed by musical versions of animated films and other special events geared towards a younger crowd.The Capitol Theatre is in Temple Square in the city centre and tickets for all performances can be purchased in advance online. Street parking is free on weekday evenings and all day at weekends, and the theatre is also well served by public transport.
