Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre (UFOMT) is an opera company based in Logan, Utah. The company performs six fully staged works with orchestra in repertory every July and August at the Ellen Eccles Theatre and the Utah Theatre. The works performed range from operas to operettas to musicals. Singers, performers, technicians and orchestra come from all over the United States, including artists from Broadway and the Metropolitan Opera.
Founding The company was founded in 1992 by operatic tenor Michael Ballam, a music professor at Utah State University, and a native of Logan. Besides being director of the company, he has also sung lead roles in many productions over the years.
Naughty Marietta by Victor Herbert was the first work performed by the company in 1993, along with Puccini's La Bohème and a double bill of Trial By Jury and The Impresario. Up through the 2000 season, there were three works in repertory. This increased to four in 2001, with productions of The Barber of Seville, South Pacific, Naughty Marietta and Susannah. In addition to the main stage productions, Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre offers many concerts and educational courses, including performances from The American Festival Chorus, conducted by Craig Jessop.
The Dansante
The offices, scene and costume shops of the company are in the Dansante building, a former dance hall. The Dansante also has a Recital Hall, as well as rehearsal rooms and practice rooms.
The Utah Theatre
In 2007 UFOMT purchased the Utah Theatre, and took on a renovation of that facility, which was completed in June 2016. This addition to the company allowed for 2-3 smaller works to be performed, as well as showings of classic and silent films. The premiere performance at the Utah Theatre was Moose Charlap and Jule Styne's Peter Pan, starring Michael Ballam as Captain Hook and Adam T. Biner as Peter Pan.
Opera by Children Opera by Children is an educational outreach program run by Pamela Gee which has provided training for teachers and in-class mentoring for over 75,000 children to create their own operas in a classroom setting. Opera by Children is used by teachers throughout Utah and many western states unity, self-discovery and enthusiasm for learning in their classrooms. There is no cost to Utah teachers as their expenses are covered by state grants except for a small fee for materials and their attendance at an Opera by Children training workshop, after which they are then eligible for participation in the full year-long program.
Conservatory UFOMT also has a Youth Conservatory for children ranging from 8–18 years old to learn about all aspects of performing in musical theatre. Classes include acting, dance and singing which are taught by musical theatre professionals. During the Festival Season, the Conservatory hosts a week-long musical theatre intensive camp called Broadway Bound. In 2014, the program had to split the camp into Junior and Seniors due to growing membership. The Conservatory director is Stefan Espinosa.
Academy During each Festival Season, UFOMT offers adult education courses relating to the productions that are being performed. The program is run by Vanessa Ballam. Michael Ballam offers a week-long Opera and Musical Theatre seminar where he dissects each show, looking at its history, as well as other works by that particular composer. Highlights of the Academy include the Presto Change-O(ver) class where patrons come after a matinee performance and see the technical crew change the sets from one show to another in less than an hour; managing director Gary Griffin's cooking classes; the Late Night Cabarets where Festival artists perform under the stars in an outdoor, intimate setting; the Artist's Pallet class that brings in local artist, Kent Wallis to paint a landscape in two hours time.
The Academy also offers Literary Seminars each Wednesday-Friday morning of the season, where directors, performers and designers come in to talk about their experiences that lead them to UFOMT as well as their processes in creating their roles in the productions.
Past instructors include Michael Ballam, Vanessa Ballam, Stefan Espinosa, Phillip R. Lowe, Patti Johnson, Kevin Nakatani, Valerie Rachelle, Maggie L. Harrer, Kent Wallis, Larry Winborg, Paula Fowler, Yancey Quick, Craig Jessop, Jared Rounds, Roni Stein, Jack Shouse, Nathan Buonviri, Vanessa Schukis, Kathy Johnson, Kathleen Lane, and Sheldon Harnick.
Utah High School Musical Theatre Awards Beginning in 2011, UFOMT entered into the National High School Musical Theatre Awards program. This program is designed to recognize excellence in Musical Theatre in high schools throughout the country. During the school year, representatives from UFOMT travel across the state to adjudicate high school productions. Nominated schools and artists perform and winners are announced at an awards ceremony. The winners of Best Actress and Best Actor are sent to New York City to participate in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, or the Jimmy's, founded by James L. Neederlander. The students make their Broadway debuts at the Minskoff Theatre, current home of The Lion King.
Awards include: Best Musical, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Cameo, Best Director, Best Choreography, Best Ensemble, Best Orchestra, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Technical Crew, and student awards in Choreography, Costume Design, Set Design and Lighting Design.
Past winners *indicates Jimmy Awards finalist Best MusicalBest ActorBest ActressBest Supporting ActorBest Supporting Actress2011West Side Story West Jordan High SchoolAaron Wilcox - Tevye Fiddler on the Roof
Legacy Prep High SchoolTaylor Nefcy - Babe The Pajama Game
St. Joseph Catholic High SchoolJace Mitchell - Riff West Side Story
West Jordan High SchoolLauren Sidwell - Martha White Christmas
Logan High School2012Aida Hillcrest High SchoolPeter Lambert - Bobby Child Crazy For You
Alta High SchoolMalia Morley - Aida Aida
Hillcrest High SchoolBrock Damjanovich - Bella Zangler Crazy For You
Alta High SchoolKatie Francis - Queen Aggravaine Once Upon a Mattress
Logan High School2013Into the Woods Ogden High SchoolStirling Brenna - The Baker Into the Woods
Ogden High SchoolSierra Dew - Eponine Les Misérables
Lone Peak High School Abram Rice - Javert Les Misérables
Lone Peak High SchoolArianna Stucki - The Witch Into the Woods
Ogden High School2014Aida Woods Cross High SchoolMatthew Richards - Percy Blakeney* The Scarlet Pimpernel
Northridge High SchoolAitana Alapa - Aida Aida
Woods Cross High SchoolNoah Dixon - Lord Farquaad Shrek, the Musical
Lehi High SchoolSummer Sloan - Amneris Aida
Woods Cross High School2015The Wedding Singer Northridge High SchoolJordan Kirkham - Robbie Hart The Wedding Singer
Northridge High SchoolAbby Watts - Mary Poppins Mary Poppins
Woods Cross High SchoolJaxson Dayton - Sky Masterson Guys & Dolls
Lone Peak High SchoolAshley Coombs - Penelope Pennywise Urinetown
Lehi High School2016The Little Mermaid Uintah High SchoolAngel Martinez - Gomez Addams The Addams Family
Clearfield High SchoolHannah Romney - Brenda Strong Catch Me If You Can
Salt Lake School for the Performing ArtsBen Engel - Officer Lockstock Urinetown
Skyline High SchoolJessica Lewis - Velma Kelly Chicago
The DaVinci Academy
Production history *indicates UFOMT debut +Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre Production HistoryYearYear performed at Utah Festival OperaWork Composer & LyricistLang.Language of libretto used at Utah Festival OperaYearYear work premieredConductorDirectorChoreographerDesignersFirst name listed is scenic designer, second name is costume designer, third name is lighting designerNotable Singers/Performers1993Naughty MariettaHerbertEnglish1910Barbara SilversteinVince LiottaKathy WardKeith Brumley Kathleen Grossman
Ben WilsonMichael Ballam Marla Berg
Nathan Gunn
Amy Kendell1993La BohèmePucciniItalian1896Henry HoltMatthew LataAllan Trumpler Kathleen Grossman
Ben WilsonStephen Wall Sharon Davis
Donn Everette
Verenia Lind
Vanessa Ballam*1993Trial by JuryGilbert & SullivanEnglish1875Charles PrinceWilliam FarlowJeffrey Beercroft Ben WilsonJohn Hansen Nathan Gunn
Gene Scheer
James Miller1993The ImpresarioMozartGerman1786Charles PrinceWilliam FarlowKathleen Grossman Ben WilsonGene Scheer Patricia Swasey
Susan Deauvono
John Shuffle1994Die FledermausStraussGerman1874Henry HoltVince LiottaPeter Dean Beck Patricia Johnson
Nicholas CavallaroSusan Deauvono Michael Ballam
Mary Shearer
James Miller
John Brandsetter1994FannyRomeEnglish1954Ward HolmquistFrancis J. CullinanKathy WardKeith Brumley Karen Ledger
Nicholas CavallaroPeggy Joyce Brian Steele
Michael Phillip Davis
Brannon Hall-Garcia1994Madama ButterflyPucciniItalian1904Barbara SilversteinMatthew LataWally Coburg Steven Horak
Nicholas CavallaroRichard Nickol Sharon Davis
Cassandra McConnell
Nicola DiToro1995The Magic FluteMozartEnglish1791Barbara SilversteinVincent LiottaR. Keith Brumley Baker Smith
Nicholas CavallaroCurt Peterson Tod Fitzpatrick
Anna Vikre
Diane Thueson1995La TraviataVerdiItalian1853Henry HoltMatthew LataCarey Wong Patti Johnson
Nicholas CavallaroJennifer Casey Cabot Michael Philip Davis
Bryan Davis
Grant Youngblood1995She Loves MeBock & HarnickEnglish1963Ward HolmquistFrancis J. CullinanKathy WardWilliam Forrester Baker Smith
Nicholas CavallaroSuzan Hanson Michael Ballam
Joy Hermalyn
Brannon-Hall Garcia1996Don PasqualeDonizettiEnglish1843Barbara SilversteinDavid GatelyTony Fanning Helen Rodgers
Nicholas CavallaroThomas Hammons Marlin Miller
Anna Vikre
Grant Youngblood1996The Girl of the Golden WestPucciniItalian1910Ward HolmquistVincent LiottaR. Keith Brumley Baker Smith
Nicholas CavallaroKaron Poston-Sullivan Brian Montgomery
Arnold Rawls
Alberto Sanchez19961776EdwardsEnglish1969Mark FerrellFrancis J. CullinanKathy WardWilliam Forrester Baker Smith
Nicholas CavallaroMichael Ballam Joy Hermalyn
Shawn Roy
Daryl Henriksen
Jonathan Hays1997The Merry WidowLehárEnglish1905Henry HoltDorothy DannerDorothy DannerJohn Conklin Zack Brown
Nicholas CavallaroSuzan Deauvono Michael Ballam
Sharon Davis
Marlin Miller1997GreenwillowLoesserEnglish1960Karen Keltner*Vincent LiottaKathy WardBill Forrester Barbara Bush
Nicholas CavallaroChad McAlester Carol Chickering
Brannon Hall-Garcia
Michael Ballam1997ToscaPucciniItalian1899Fiona ContinoThor SteingraberErcole Sormani Emily Dunn
Nicholas CavallaroKatherine Luna Richard Sanchez
Brian Montgomery
Gregory Keil1997The Coyote TalesMallicone & HarnickEnglish1997Henry MalliconeSheldon HarnickGregory Keil David Mayfield
Lorie Jarrett1998I PagliacciLeoncavalloItalian1892Michael SingherRobert DarlingNicholas CavallaroRichard Sanchez Rebecca Ravenshaw
Carlos Serrano
Melvin Lowery1998Gianni SchicchiPucciniEnglish1918Michael SingherRobert DarlingNicholas CavallaroMichael Ballam Jamie Baer
Richard Crawley1998I Do! I Do!Schmidt & JonesEnglish1966Karen KeltnerDorothy DannerDorothy DannerDennis Hassan Baker Smith
Nicholas CavallaroMichael Ballam Suzan Hanson1998The Pirates of PenzanceGilbert & SullivanEnglish1879Gerald SteichenDavid GatelyDavid GatelyWilliam Pitkin John Lehmeyer
Nicholas CavallaroAlberto Sanchez Jamie Baer
Bart Williams1999CarouselRodgers & HammersteinEnglish1945Karen KeltnerDorothy DannerDorothy DannerKaren Iverson Baker Smith
Nicholas CavallaroMichael Ballam Suzan Hanson
Joy Hermalyn
Nancy Shade1999The Student PrinceRombergEnglish1924Robert HendersonJack ShouseCarolyn ShouseMichael Anania Patti Johnson
Jean-Louise England
Nicholas CavallaroKevin Hill Pamela Hinchman
John Atkins
Tausha Bunker Torrez1999The Tales of HoffmannOffenbachFrench1881Gerald SteichenJacobo KaufmannKathy WardDennis Hassan Hill Reihs-Gromes
Pablo GuzzmanGerard Powers Allison Charney
Franco Pomponi