St. George Musical Theater plans to build new theater, renovate old Cinema 6 for community arts

Mar 31, 2024, 6:00 PM | Updated: 6:16 pm

A rendering shows what the new St. George Musical Theater building could look like. The theater is ...

A rendering shows what the new St. George Musical Theater building could look like. The theater is expanding its footprint in St. George with a new theater and the renovation of an old movie theater that will be home to a performing arts campus. (St. George Musical Theater)

(St. George Musical Theater)

ST. GEORGE — Most Utahns are likely familiar with Hollywood’s infatuation with southern Utah at this point.

Kevin Costner recently filmed his Western epic “Horizon: An American Saga” in St. George and fell in love with the area so much that he’s opening Territory Film Studios near the St. George Airport.

What people outside of the region might not be as acquainted with is the passion of the local arts scene.

St. George Musical Theater has been around for over 25 years, making it the oldest community theater in southern Utah. Surprisingly, it has never owned a venue of its own and has hosted its productions in the St. George Opera House, which was built all the way back in 1875.

But that is set to change.

“If anybody visits St. George, they know we are definitely an arts community,” said Bruce Bennett, president and artistic director of St. George Musical Theater.

Bennett said the city approached the theater about two parcels on South Main Street in an “underdeveloped” area of the town.

Bennett said the city approached the theater about two parcels on South Main Street in an “underdeveloped” area of the town.

“We think there’s a lot of room for the redevelopment of that area, and we want to be the catalyst for that redevelopment,” Bennett said. “We see this as a major initiative to create an arts district south of downtown.”

Read the full story and more from Logan Stefanich on KSl.com.

Related stories

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

University of Utah students Jenae Watts, 19, Brendan Matern, 18, and Olive Nelson, 20, from left, w...

Jason Swensen, Deseret News

Why is Education Secretary Linda McMahon giving university presidents ‘homework’?

Just days before the start of a new academic year at most U.S. colleges, Education Secretary Linda McMahon is issuing a "call to action" to university presidents and board members.

22 hours ago

United Way of Salt Lake and other volunteers packed over 7,400 backpacks for students in need on Th...

Madi Vollmer, KSL

United Way packs thousands of backpacks as back-to-school need reaches record high

United Way of Salt Lake and other volunteers packed over 7,400 backpacks for students in need on Thursday.

2 days ago

Levi’s Stadium during San Francisco 49ers training camp at the SAP Performance Facility, in Santa...

Neil J Kanatt, Reuters

Levi Strauss reveals cybersecurity breach amid wider wave of attacks

Levi Strauss on Friday disclosed a recent cybersecurity ​incident in which an unauthorized third party gained access to the company's systems.

2 days ago

Caden West, Jaxson Horner and Myles West. The three best friends embarked on a journey in the sky o...

Kaitlyn Hart, EastIdahoNews.com

A celebration for an Idaho pilot ended in tragedy. Here’s how you can help

Three best friends embarked on a journey in the Idaho sky on Saturday night to celebrate one's new pilot license, but it ended in tragedy.

2 days ago

A Sikorsky Skycrane approaches to refill as crews fight the Widemouth 2 Fire east of Fillmore, Utah...

Becky Bruce

Pilot, crewmember killed in helicopter crash while fighting Widemouth 2 fire

National fire officials said the pilot and crew member died as a result of the helicopter crash near Richfield Friday.

2 days ago

Back -to-school merchandise fills the seasonal section of a store as Utah families prepare for the ...

Matt Gephardt and Sloan Schrage, KSL

Back-to-school bargains: Same supply list cost over twice as much depending where we shopped

The KSL Investigators shopped the back-to-school sections at Walmart, Target, Smith's, Dollar General and Amazon to see where we pay more and where they pay less.

2 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Whether you are chasing pristine beaches, fresh raspberry shakes, or endless water sports, this spo...

Bear Lake

Road trip ready: How Bear Lake became the go-to destination for Western U.S. travelers

Whether you are chasing pristine beaches, fresh raspberry shakes, or endless water sports, this sponsored guide—brought to you in partnership with Bear Lake —uncovers everything you need to plan the ultimate getaway.

How Harper Clinic's IOP is changing the face of mental health treatment in Utah....

Harper Clinic

A new standard of care: How Harper Clinic’s IOP is changing the face of mental health treatment in Utah

As demand for mental health care continues to rise across Utah County, Orem's Harper Clinic says it is trying to close the gap with a more comprehensive approach to mental health treatment.

The weight of depression is real. Many people spend years fighting it, adjusting medications, manag...

Harper Clinic

Breaking free from depression: How Harper Clinic’s TMS Therapy can help

Breaking free from depression: How Harper Clinic's TMS Therapy can help.

mental health...

Andrew Adams, KSL

Library discussions bring men’s mental health to the surface

Therapists say it’s common for men to repress things like trauma, grief, stress and anxiety. Now, a new weekly series of discussions aims to help men bring it all to the surface.

...

Bear Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau

Cozy up in Bear Lake: Discover the magic of a winter getaway

SALT LAKE CITY – The holiday season shines brightest when time slows down and loved ones gather. Gifts, decorations and festive music come and go, but shared experiences tend to last much longer. Research supports that idea. Dr. Theresa E. DiDonato told Psychology Today that vacations can strengthen relationships by creating meaningful time away from daily […]

...

Harper Clinic

Rewriting the path to healing: Inside Harper Clinic’s whole-person mental health model

OREM — A few decades ago, you’d have had a hard time finding a doctor to treat both your mind and body; And a century ago, you’d have been hard-pressed to find a doctor to treat your mind at all. Today, medical professionals are understanding more and more the undeniable connection between the body and […]

St. George Musical Theater plans to build new theater, renovate old Cinema 6 for community arts