The long awaited grand opening is just around the corner! On August 28, 2026, the newly renovated America First Performing Arts Center will have its celebratory debut. At 9 a.m. there will be the ribbon cutting ceremony. It includes a reception, light refreshments, and tours of the building. That evening at 7:30 p.m. will be Raise the Curtain: An Opening Night Celebration. It will be a concert and a celebration for the new center. The concert will feature artists William Joseph, Madilyn Paige, and Travis Garland, with special guest Derek Hough. Tickets for the concert may be purchased here.
America First Credit Union has contributed $5 million to the project, which is also supported by state and local funding, resulting in the venue being renamed the America First Performing Arts Center. The theatre space inside is now called the Cox Grand Theatre. A new 4,000-square-foot rehearsal space and ballroom is also included. The updated venue will provide enhanced experiences for audiences and performers alike, serving as the home for the Southwest Symphony, Southern Utah Heritage Choir, and Utah Tech University’s performing arts programs.
The facility’s size increased by 26,000 square feet for a total of 62,000 square feet. The renovations boosted seating capacity from 1,189 to 1,308 with the addition of a new second-floor balcony and a redesigned seating layout with center aisles. The additional seats are important but the layout of the seating is the real bonus. Notice there are now aisles! Getting to and from your seat will be much more convenient now. Speaking of getting in and out of your seat, there are modernized public restrooms. There are also additional new dressing rooms for performers.
We will be having a plethora of events at the new building so be sure to keep an eye out! For those interested in using the renovated performing space in the future, requests can be made by contacting event services.
By Allyson Twitchell, Marketing Coordinator for the College of the Arts
