You might think of January as a dead, dull month in Utah, but in reality there are a lot of exciting sports, arts, music, film and theater events this month, including the Sundance Film Festival, one of the most exciting Utah entertainment events of the year.
The list keeps evolving, so check back for more events as the month progresses.
Note: While we do our best to make sure all details are accurate, please contact the venue or visit their website before attending an event to make sure times, dates and prices are correct.
1. Jazz Basketball
Christian Petersen, Getty Images
A Jazz game can be an excellent diversion for a winter's night, and because of the compressed NBA schedule, the Jazz have a whopping twelve home games in January. Click on the link for the full season Jazz schedule, plus TV info and links to buy tickets.
Energy Solutions Arena
301 West South Temple
801-467-8499
800-888-8499
Tickets $8-$162; see website for specials
2. 'The Game's Afoot' at Hale Centre Theatre
Marsha Maxwell
A Utah premiere by Tony Award winning author Ken Ludwig - a murder mystery comedy set 1936 in a country mansion on the Connecticut River. Is it the Inspector, the actor, the fiance, the sweet young thing or the aged mother? Sherlock Holmes to the rescue!
December 31, 2011 – February 4, 2012
Monday-Saturday 7:30 p.m.
Saturday Matinees at 12:30 and 4 p.m.
No performance Jan. 2 and no 12:30 performance Jan. 7
Adults $24 or $26
Children $15 or $16
No children under five permitted
3. University of Utah Men's Basketball
Courtesy University of Utah
The Runnin' Utes have eight Pac-12 games in January:
Thursday, Jan. 5 vs. Washington State, 7 p.m.Saturday, Jan. 7 vs. Washington, 12:00 p.m. (Fox Sports)
Thursday, Jan. 12 @ Stanford, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 14 @ California, 8:30 p.m. (CSN CA)
Thursday, Jan. 19 vs. Arizona, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 21 vs. Arizona State, 3 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 26 @ UCLA, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 28 @ USC, 9 p.m. (Prime)
All times MT
All games on ESPN 700 radio
Jon M. Huntsman Center
1825 East South Campus Drive at the University of Utah
801-581-UTIX
Tickets $5-$25, see website or call for specials
4. Maverik Center: Zac Brown, Brad Paisley, Monster Truck Nationals
Courtesy BradPaisley.com
What goes better together than country music and monster trucks? The Maverik Center's got both in January:
- Monster Truck Winternationals - Friday, Jan. 6, 7:30 p.m., and Saturday Jan. 7, 2 and 7:30 p.m. ($8-$28). Monster Truck Winternationals features side by side monster truck racing plus car crushing freestyle competition, and a death-defying motorcycle jump by "Big Ed" Beckley.
- Zac Brown Band - Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, 7:30 p.m. ($46-$64.50). After an eventful year on the charts and on the road, GRAMMY-Award winning Zac Brown Band has proven that "overnight success" can be years in the making.
- Brad Paisley - Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, 7:30 p.m. ($41.75-$61.75). Brad Paisley is a consummate singer, songwriter, guitarist and entertainer. He has placed 20 singles at the top of the charts, the latest a duet with Carrie Underwood, "Remind Me."
5. Utah Symphony: Tchaikovsky and Broadway
Photo by Digital Vision
The Utah Symphony present two terrific concerts in January:
- Friday and Saturday, Jan. 6-7, 8 p.m.: Conductor Andrey Boreyko and pianist Conrad Tao present "The Enchanted Lake" by Liadov, "Piano Concerto No. 1" by Tchaikovsky, and "Symphony No. 5" by Shostakovich.
- Friday and Saturday, Jan. 13-14, 8 p.m.: Conductor Jerry Steichen presents "Bravo Broadway," a night of singing and dancing inspired by the legendary Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Featuring the music of Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, and George Gershwin.
Abravanel Hall
123 W. South Temple
801-355-ARTS (2787)
1-888-451-ARTS (2787)
Tickets $17-$65
6. Free Film Screening: Miss Evers' Boys
Courtesy The Grand Theatre
Miss Evers' Boys presents the true story of the US Government's 1932 Tuskeegee syphilis experiments, in which a group of black test subjects were allowed to die, despite a cure having been developed. Starring Alfre Woodard and Laurence Fishburne.
Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
The Grand Theatre at Salt Lake Community College
1575 S. State St.
801-957-3322
7. Kingsbury Hall: Mythbusters, Jim Gaffigan and More
Kingsbury Hall has a terrific lineup of performances for all tastes in January 2012, including comedy, music and drama and a little scientific weirdness.
- "Mythbusters: Behind the Myths" - Wednesday, Jan. ll, 2012, 7:30 p.m. ($35-$125). The "live stage show starring Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage, co-hosts of the Emmy-nominated Discovery series "MythBusters," promises to be an unexpected evening of on-stage experiments, audience participation, rocking video and behind-the-scenes stories.
- Jim Gaffigan: "The America Tour" - Friday, Jan. 13, 2012, 8 p.m. ($38.75-$48.75). Gaffigan's clever, relatable style has made him one of the top five most successful touring comedians in the country today.
- Niel Berg's "100 Years of Broadway" - Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012, 7:30 p.m. ($19.50-$29.50). "100 Years of Broadway" recreates your favorite moments from some of the best shows of the century, including "Phantom of the Opera," "South Pacific," "Guys and Dolls," and "My Fair Lady."
- Mike Birbiglia: "My Girlfriend's Boyfriend" - Friday, Jan. 20, 2012 ($17.50-$32.50). On this hilarious and painfully honest journey, Mike shares a lifetime of romantic blunders and miscues that most adults would spend a lifetime trying to forget.
- C. S. Lewis' "The Screwtape Letters" - Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, 4 and 8 p.m. ($29-$89). The Screwtape Letters is a smart, provocative and wickedly funny theatrical adaptation of the C.S. Lewis novel about spiritual warfare from a demon’s point of view.
1395 E. Presidents Circle
801-581-7100
8. University of Utah Gymnastics
Courtesy University of Utah
Even with 11 freshmen and sophomores on its 2012 roster, the Utah gymnastics team was picked to finish fifth in the nation in a coaches' preseason poll. Here's their January schedule, beginning with a big Pac-12 meet against #1 ranked UCLA:
Sunday, Jan. 8 @ UCLA, 1 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 13 vs. Utah State, 7 p.m. (ABC-4)
Friday, Jan. 27 vs. Brigham Young, 7 p.m. (ABC-4)
All times MT
Jon M. Huntsman Center
1825 East South Campus Drive at the University of Utah
801-581-UTIX
Tickets $3-$20, or find free general admission passes at Fanzz stores, gymnastics clubs and other locations.
9. X-Dance Action Sports Film Festival
Courtesy X-Dance Action Sports Film Festival
Launched in 2001, X-DANCE showcases the year’s top action sport films, followed by post-screening Q&A’s with filmmakers and athletes. X-DANCE also features open forum panels with athletes, filmmakers, industry figures and icons from the action sports world, plus special screenings, parties and awards. The festival takes place earlier this year than in years past, before instead of during the Sundance Film Festival.
Thursday, Jan. 12-Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012
Screenings and parties at The Depot
400 W. South Temple
10. Otter Exhibit at Living Planet Aquarium
Courtesy Living Planet Aquarium
The Living Planet Aquarium debuts a new exhibit of North American River Otters beginning Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012.
Living Planet Aquarium
725 E. 10600 S.
801-355-3474
Monday-Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Adults $9; Seniors, Students and Military $8; Children 3-17 $7; 2 and under free