Home > Organization Directory > Organization Detail

• SHARE
• Tell A Friend
• Feedback

• Tell-a-friend
• Official Website
• Add to My Favorites

Empress Theatre

The Empress Theatre opened in 1916 originally as a Burlesque show for the local miners at Kennecott. In 1917 it began showing silent movies. The theater remained open as a movie theater through at least 1930. Stephen Barker, a historian-writer, purchased the Empress Theatre and Gem Theatre, and in 1978 began renovating them as part of a Magna City restoration project. Barker hoped to reopen the Empress Theatre for live performances and art films in January or February 1979, but apparently his plans never came to fruition. In 2006 the Oquirrh Hills Performing Arts Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing culture and education to the Magna community and surrounding areas, leased the Empress Theatre building and continues renovation of the historic structure. The theatre reopened on 4 November 2006 with "Forever Plaid," a traditional favorite.

• At-a-
  Glance

  • Contact Info

    Empress Theatre

    9104 West 2700 South
    Magna, UT 84044

    Phone: (801) 347-7373

    Official Website

• Current &
  Upcoming Events

  • Current Events

    There are no current events available for this organization at this time.

  • Upcoming Events

    08/06/10- 08/21/10	High School Musical Jr. Empress Theatre High School Musical Jr. Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre August 6-August 21, 2010 Based on Disney's hit movie filmed at East High School, Disney's High School Musical Junior brings all your favorite characters to life on stage. With a plot described by the author and numerous critics as a modern adaptation of Romeo & Juliet, High School Musical Junior is a story about two high school juniors from rival cliques ? Troy Bolton, captain of the basketball team, and Gabriella Montez, a beautiful and shy transfer student who excels in math and science....
    09/10/10- 10/16/10	Damn Yankees Empress Theatre Damn Yankees Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre September 10-October 16, 2010 This classic play based on the novel The year the Yankees Lost the Pennant is one audiences of this theatre have frequently requested.
    11/05/10- 11/27/10	Little Women Empress Theatre Little Women Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre November 5-November 27, 2010 This musical retelling of the Louisa May Alcott novel starred Sutton Foster and Maureen McGovern on Broadway.

• Past
  Events

  • Past Events

    06/11/10- 07/23/10	Annie Empress Theatre Annie Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre June 11-July 23, 2010 This Wasatch front favorite tells the story of Little Orphan Annie and Daddy Warbucks during the depression of the 1930's. It features classic songs such as "Tomorrow," "Little Girls," "You're Never Fully Dressed without a Smile," and many others. The Empress' production features Fallon Memmot as Daddy Warbucks. The directors have chosen to double cast Annie and the Orphans and features Reeve Sikalis and Melina Wrathall as Annie on alternating evenings, with Anna Liddell and Alina Colver as...
    04/30/10- 05/29/10	Nunsense Empress Theatre Nunsense Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre April 30-May 29, 2010 Nunsense was the winner of four Outer Critics Circle Awards including Best Off Broadway Musical in its original New York production. The show is a fund raiser put on by the Little Sisters of Hoboken to raise money to bury sisters accidently poisoned by the convent cook, Sister Julia (Child of God). The show is a zany musical variety show featuring toe tapping tunes and audience participation!
    03/05/10- 04/10/10	Footloose Empress Theatre Footloose Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre March 5-April 10, 2010 One of the most explosive movie musicals in recent memory bursts onto the live stage with exhilarating results. When Ren and his mother move from Chicago to a small farming town, Ren is prepared for the inevitable adjustment period at his new high school. What he isn't prepared for are the rigorous local edicts, including a ban on dancing instituted by the local preacher, determined to exercise the control over the town's youth that he cannot command in his own home. When the reverend's...
    03/05/10- 04/10/10	Annie Empress Theatre Annie Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre March 5-April 10, 2010 This musical retelling of the little orphan Annie comic strip has become one of the Wasatch front's most often performed shows. On April 15, 16, 17, the Empress will continue its tradition of presenting a one act play festival written by local High School students.
    01/22/10- 01/13/10	The Odd Couple Empress Theatre The Odd Couple Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre January 22-January 13, 2010 The Neil Simon classic comedy The Odd Couple will open the Empress theatre’s 2010 season. This uproarious comedy will open on January 22nd and run through February 13th. Performances will be on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm at the theatre located in Historic Downtown Magna. Neil Simon’s box office hit, The Odd Couple, traces the lives of the infamously mismatched roommates: Felix Ungar, a neurotic fusspot news writer, and Oscar Madison, a slovenly sports...
    01/22/10- 02/13/10	The Odd Couple Empress Theatre The Odd Couple Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre January 22-February 13, 2010 This Neil Simon classic is an audience favorite. The Show tells the story of Oscar and Felix and their trials and tribulations as they start a new life as single men.
    12/04/09- 12/22/09	We Need A Little Christmas Empress Theatre We Need A Little Christmas Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre December 4-December 22, 2009 You are invited to come and experience a show like no other. The excitement and joy of the Holiday spills over the edge of the stage to capture an exciting moment through music, song and dance.
    10/16/09- 11/16/09	Little Shop of Horrors Empress Theatre Little Shop of Horrors Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre October 16-November 16, 2009 The show Little Shop of Horrors is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman. The musical made its debut off-Broadway in 1982 and included a Book and Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Lyrics by Alan Menken. The show tells the story of Seymour and Audrey, two down on their luck residents of Skid Row, and the way their life is turned around when Seymour 'finds' a strange and exotic plant. The Empress' show is directed by Dr....
    09/11/09- 10/02/09	Arsenic and Old Lace Empress Theatre Arsenic and Old Lace Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre September 11-October 2, 2009 The next show in the Empress Theatre's 2009 season is the regional favorite Arsenic and Old Lace. The play is the story of the eccentric Brewster family of Brooklyn, New York. It centers around an extremely helpful pair of sisters, who send lonely old men on their way with a special mix of elderberry wine. The family also includes Teddy, who suffers delusions that he is Theodore Roosevelt and that the Panama Canal runs through the cellar of his home. The locks he digs become convenient...
    07/31/09- 08/31/09	Once Upon a Mattress Empress Theatre Once Upon a Mattress Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre July 31-August 31, 2009 The Empress Theatre announces its upcoming production of Once upon a Mattress. This production is directed by Nanny McKenzie, with musical direction by Amy Jenkins and choreography by Wendy Brown. Once upon a Mattress tells the story of the princess and the pea and was originally produced on Broadway in 1956 starring a young Carol Burnett as the Princess of the title; in 1995 it was revived starring Sarah Jessica Parker, in the same role. Disney brought the show back in 2005 this...
    07/10/09- 07/18/09	Oz Empress Theatre Oz Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre July 10-July 18, 2009 This musical version of the timeless Wizard of Oz tale has been adapted into a dazzling musical with a book by Tim Kelly and lyrics and music by Bill Francouer. The familiar story follows Dorothy and Toto in the magical Land of Oz. When Dorothy's house squashes the Wicked Witch of the East, she is ecstatically thanked by the liberated Munchkins and given permission to wear the witch's powerful silver slippers. From there, Baum's lovable characters, rubber-legged Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion...
    05/29/09- 06/29/09	See How They Run Empress Theatre See How They Run Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre May 29-June 29, 2009 This door slamming farce is set in 1943 in the living room of the Vicarage at the fictitious village of Merton-cum-Middlewick. The story revolves around Penelope Toop, former actress and now wife of the local vicar, The Reverend Lionel Toop, and the comings and going of the local parishioners. The first to arrive is Miss Skillon, a churchgoer of the parish and the local busybody, arrives on bicycle to gossip with the vicar and to complain about the latest 'outrages' that Penelope has caused....
    05/01/09- 05/18/09	Big Bad Musical Empress Theatre Big Bad Musical Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre May 1-May 18, 2009 This encore production is a musical that's fun for the whole family and tells the story of the biggest trial in the fairy-tale world! The notorious Big Bad Wolf is being slapped with a class-action lawsuit by storybooks of quirky characters who want to get even: Little Red Riding Hood, her Grandmother, the Three Little Pigs and the Shepherd in charge of the Boy Who Cried Wolf. With Sydney Grimm as the commentator on live court TV, the two greatest legal minds in the Enchanted Forest, the...
    04/10/09- 04/18/09	One Act Festival Empress Theatre One Act Festival Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre April 10-April 18, 2009 Avg. Event Rating (1.0 Stars): The Empress Theatre is pleased to announce the second annual One Act. The single acts chosen were selected from student written work from the One Act Play Competition at The Utah Theatre Association's annual conference held this year at Weber State University. The plays include: Sky Blue-Pink w/ Purple Polka Dots: Written by Amanda Maire Massengale from Lehi High School and directed by Cory Larsen. A young girl has a birthday that she will not forget. She is given the...
    02/27/09- 03/30/09	Guys and Dolls Empress Theatre Guys and Dolls Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre February 27-March 30, 2009 Set in Damon Runyon's mythical New York City, this oddball romantic comedy is considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy. It soars with the spirit of Broadway as it introduces us to a cast of vivid characters who have become legends in the canon: Sarah Brown, the upright but uptight 'mission doll,' out to reform the evildoers of Time Square; Sky Masterson, the slick, high-rolling gambler who woos her on a bet and ends up falling in love; Adelaide, the chronically ill nightclub...
    01/23/09- 02/09/09	Taming of the Shrew Empress Theatre Taming of the Shrew Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre January 23-February 9, 2009 Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew tells the story of the two unmarried daughters of a wealthy Italian merchant. While daughter Bianca is genteel and popular, daughter Kate is foul-tempered and strong-willed. No one dares to marry Kate, until Petruchio arrives in Padua and tries his hand at courtship. The Empress' production will feature a few twists and turns guaranteed to add a new appreciation of this show to Utah audiences. In this production the role of Katherine is played by Emily...
    12/01/08- 12/22/08	Babes in Toyland Empress Theatre Babes in Toyland Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre December 1-December 22, 2008 The Empress Theatre, located in Historic downtown Magna, is ready to open their Christmas production of Babes in Toyland. This new version of the classic operetta is written by Eva Barnett, with music and lyrics by Trent Oliphant. The classic tale of Alan, Jan, Contrary Mary, Tom-Tom, and the villainous Barnaby is sure to bring a feeling of delight to children of all ages. The Empress' production is directed by Nolan Mitchell with Musical direction by Trent Oliphant. The cast...
    12/01/08- 12/22/08	The Workshop - Trouble at the Pole Empress Theatre The Workshop - Trouble at the Pole Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre December 1-December 22, 2008 The holidays don't always go off without a hitch. Come see the Empress Theatre's production of The Workshop - Trouble at the Pole.
    10/24/08- 11/17/08	Wait Until Dark Empress Theatre Wait Until Dark Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre October 24-November 17, 2008 Come see Frederick Knott's suspenseful thriller Wait Until Dark as it is presented by the Empress Theatre. Wait Until Dark first opened in 1966 for an extremely successful 374-performance run, before becoming a feature film starring Audrey Hepburn. This show truly is a classic thriller. Sam Henderson is a photographer. Sam and his wife, Susy, live in a basement apartment. Sam's responsibilities require that he be involved in frequent photography trips, often to far away...
    08/29/08- 10/06/08	Seussical the Musical Empress Theatre Seussical the Musical Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre August 29-October 6, 2008 Avg. Event Rating (5.0 Stars): The Empress Theatre presents Seussical the Musical. Don't miss this zany adaptation of Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who. Along with other classic characters, The Cat in the Hat guides the audience through the delightfully fantastic world of all things Seuss. Fun for the whole family, make sure you make it down to the Empress for a night of non-stop musical entertainment.
    07/11/08- 08/11/08	Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Empress Theatre Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre July 11-August 11, 2008 The Empress Theatre presents Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Set in Oregon in 1850, this is the charming and hilarious story of seven lonely Pontipee brothers. Adam is the oldest and the story begins as he goes to town looking for a bride. He comes across Milly working in a restaurant and convinces her to be his bride. Milly's ecstasy quickly sours when she finds she is also to take care of Adam's six unkempt, burly brothers. Deciding to make the marriage work, Milly sets a plan into...
    06/19/08- 06/23/08	Children's Theatre Empress Theatre Children's Theatre Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre June 19-June 23, 2008 Kids of all ages will delight in these performances geared specially toward them. Come young, come older, this is ultimately for the young at heart!
    05/09/08- 06/09/08	The Foreigner Empress Theatre The Foreigner Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre May 9-June 9, 2008 Make sure you don't miss this hilarious romp and prepare yourself for a night of memorable laughs. The Foreigner has more twists and turns in it than a tormented pretzel!
    03/07/08- 04/14/08	Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Empress Theatre Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Presented by Empress Theatre at Empress Theatre March 7-April 14, 2008 Make sure you don't miss the most amazing, colorful and brilliant performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. One of the Wasatch Front's favorite musicals, The Empress Theatre presents 'Joseph' is its next show in the 2008 season. There will be two matinees on March 29th and April 12th, both will begin at 3:00pm. Additionally, the April 5th performance will begin at 8pm to allow audience members to attend LDS General Conference.

• Media
  Reviews

  • Media Reviews

    There are currently no media reviews for this organization.

• Member
  Reviews

  • Member Reviews

    • Event Name: Guys and Dolls
      "Awesome"
      Comment posted by: Jeremy from west valley city, Feb 09, 2009
      

      Show is gonna be awesome!!! come and see it!!!

      All reviews/comments and complete event details

      Show is gonna be awesome!!! come and see it!!!

      All reviews/comments and complete event details

    • Event Name: One Act Festival
      "An original."
      Comment posted by: Megan Chase from Herriman, Utah, Jan 22, 2009
      

      It's funny what comes up when you Google yourself. I have to say, although Rabbit Hole is a far--far superior play, I hadn't hear of the plot or even read it until several months after I wrote the... Expand

      All reviews/comments and complete event details

      It's funny what comes up when you Google yourself. I have to say, although Rabbit Hole is a far--far superior play, I hadn't hear of the plot or even read it until several months after I wrote the Causalities. My greatest fear is that I will get into a car accident and cause someone's death. That fear first prompted me to start piecing together my silly little one act. Collapse

      All reviews/comments and complete event details

    • Event Name: Seussical the Musical
      "Amazing musical"
      Review posted by: Fortius from South Jordan, UT USA, Sep 11, 2008
      

      The actors did a very good job and the play was very entertaining!! The stage area was well used, music sounded great, and the acting was superb. Definitely suggest seeing this play.

      All reviews/comments and complete event details

      The actors did a very good job and the play was very entertaining!! The stage area was well used, music sounded great, and the acting was superb. Definitely suggest seeing this play.

      All reviews/comments and complete event details

    • Event Name: One Act Festival
      "Original?"
      Comment posted by: Anonymous from South Jordan, Utah, Sep 03, 2008
      

      Was it just me, or was "The Casualties" almost parallel to the pullitzer prize winning play "Rabbit Hole". If you are unsure, read it sometime. The similarities are quite suprising.

      All reviews/comments and complete event details

      Was it just me, or was "The Casualties" almost parallel to the pullitzer prize winning play "Rabbit Hole". If you are unsure, read it sometime. The similarities are quite suprising.

      All reviews/comments and complete event details

    • Event Name: One Act Festival
      "Surprisingly Delightful"
      Review posted by: Tad Wimmer from Magna, UT, Apr 20, 2008
      

      While these four one act plays, all written by local high school students, lack the polish that comes from experience and from working with a show until it progresses to a hit, they are surprisingly... Expand

      All reviews/comments and complete event details

      While these four one act plays, all written by local high school students, lack the polish that comes from experience and from working with a show until it progresses to a hit, they are surprisingly well written and performed. The series consists of three comedies and one drama. The first of the quartet is a fairy tale search for a missing princess, If the Shoe Fits by Chelsea King, West Jordan High. Second a study in communication called Miscommunication by Gabriel Spencer, Hillcrest. The last is a look at Alzheimers, Unforgetable by Eva Terra Nova, Olympus. All performed surprisingly well. By far the best of the series is The Casualties by Megan Chase of Riverton High School. Examining the grief, guilt, and recrimination of a hit and run driver and the victim's sister, show find themselves stuck in an elevator. The performance of this amazing drama brought tears to my eyes. The Casualties by itself is worth the drive to Magna. Collapse

      All reviews/comments and complete event details