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South Valley Riverton Journal

Egyptian Theater

Sep 29, 2016 03:22PM ● By Bryan Scott

The Egyptian Theatre in Park City has a lot to celebrate in the upcoming weeks.  

On October 10 at 8 p.m., The Egyptian will host the band Firefall to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Park City Performances calling The Egyptian home. Park City Performances has provided programming for the longtime community staple since 1981. 

Firefall has toured with some of the biggest names in the business: Fleetwood Mac, The Band, The Beach Boys, Kenny Loggins, Journey, Heart, Electric Light Orchestra and the Marshall Tucker Band. With a performing span that has lasted more than 40 years, Firefall has some serious credentials under its belt including three certified gold albums, two platinum albums and 11 chart-topping singles. The band’s biggest hit, “You are the Woman” has been played on commercial radio more than seven million times.

Leading up to the 35th anniversary, The Egyptian will feature “Thriller” by Odyssey Dance Theatre.  “Thriller” is a ghoulish annual tradition that will help set that Halloween mood with its mystifying and mesmerizing dance of monsters and maniacs. 

The Egyptian will also be celebrating its 90th birthday with a performance with local sensation Kurt Bestor. That’s right! That’s 90 years of providing thrilling live entertainment to the tourists and locals who love Park City and the arts. 

Then, from Jan. 4 to Jan. 8, The Egyptian will host American pop culture icon Village People. 

But perhaps the greatest accomplishment of The Egyptian is the fact that the world-renowned and unparalleled Sundance Film Festival has held its marquee events at The Egyptian since Sundance rebranded back in 1985. During the days of the film festival, The Egyptian marquee and sign becomes the most photographed sign in the world. 

The Egyptian, as a performance venue, has existed in many variations in the area since the building and opening of the Park City Opera House in the late 1800s. But, a fire leveled the theatre in 1898, along with most of the town. 

In 1922, a new theatre was built on the site of what was called the Dewey Theatre. Influenced by the recent discovery of King Tut’s tomb, The Egyptian Theatre opened on Christmas Day, 1926. Supervised by an Egyptologist, The Egyptian Theatre was adorned with lotus leaf motifs, scarabs, hieroglyphics and Egyptian symbols of life and happiness. Park City was once again flush with a first class showplace, this time for films and live performances.

During the next several decades, the theatre underwent several cycles of demise and rebirth. But like the majestic phoenix of legend, the theatre was reborn from the ashes of tragedy to provide the community a gathering place for high quality, social, intimate, if not slightly irreverent, live entertainment options for all.

Every week, the theatre fills the stage with wonders to behold ranging from comedies, to live music, to community events and dance performances. The Egyptian helps to make a night out in Park City unforgettable. 

“The Egyptian Theatre is a community asset dedicated to enriching lives through the performing arts,” The Egyptian mission statement reads. And, enriched it has. 

Upcoming acts of note include the Blind Boys of Alabama, British Invasion, Gary Lewis & The Playboys, Robert Earl Keen, The 2017 Sundance Film Festival and Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone.

Details about upcoming shows, times, events and pricing can be found at http://www.egyptiantheatrecompany.org/ or call
435-649-9371.
  The Egyptian is proudly located in historic Park City at 328 Main Street.