Photo Flash: Hale Centre Theatre Hosts Topping Out, Naming Celebration

Hale Centre Theatre, Utah's professional family theatre, hosted a topping out celebration to thank more than 200 construction workers, engineers, architects and other partners for their extraordinary work on the new Sandy City theatre. At the event, The Hale announced that the 130,000 square-foot building will be called the Mountain America Performing Arts Centre. Scroll down for photos!

"Hale Centre Theatre is such an important part of the Utah community and we are proud to place our name and theirs side by side in Sandy City," said Sterling Nielsen, president and CEO of Mountain America Credit Union. "The theatre has uplifted our employees and communities over the years and now will become an integral part of our Mountain America family. We look forward to the 2017 season and the grand opening of the new Hale Centre Theatre at the Mountain America Performing Arts Centre, with great anticipation."

Mountain America Credit Union has been an important partner to Hale Centre Theatre for several years and will soon share a parking lot in Sandy City. The performing arts centre is a real wonder that extends 70-feet underground and 100-feet above ground to house two stages, a new, 467-seat, Jewel Box Stage and a new, state-of-the-art, 900-seat Centre Stage.

"We are thrilled to partner with our friends and neighbors at Mountain America Credit Union," said Mark Dietlein, president of Hale Centre Theatre. "Over the past year, The Hale has emerged thanks to an incredible group of laborers, architects, engineers and other construction partners who have dedicated tens of thousands of man hours to the project. The new theatre, which is filled with one-of-a-kind stage technology, lush accommodations and free covered parking, is simply a response to the many requests of our patrons, artisans and local community."

The topping out ceremony is a traditional Scandinavian rite that celebrates a safe and successful construction project. Prior to hoisting the beam up, an evergreen tree is mounted to "appease the tree-dwelling spirits displaced in its construction," according to Layton Construction. Throughout the week, members of Sandy City, community dignitaries and Hale Centre Theatre employees were invited to sign their names on the beam. The beam, 16 feet long and more than 660 pounds, marks the end of all major concrete and steel work.

More than 100 laborers worked on this project daily removing 72,400 cubic yards of dirt, placing 9,200 cubic yards of concrete, 1,800 tons of structural steel and 1,700 tons of reinforcing steel. The project lays the way for an unrivaled theatrical engine, growing to present more than 700 performances annually between the two stages.

"It has been a pleasure to work on this unique and towering project in Sandy City," said Layton Construction Executive Vice President, Jeff Beecher. "The Hale is a community icon and this project doesn't shy away from that fact. It is filled with technology and innovation that will astound every visitor."

Sandy City, Mayor Tom Dolan added, "The new Mountain American Performing Arts Centre will be the crown jewel of Sandy City's new 1,100-acre Cairns City Center. Our development will have a rich urban night life for our residents and future visitors. It's exciting to see the progress of the theater and the surrounding development."

The Hale officially unveiled the Mountain America Credit Union 2017 entertainment season this past spring, which will start at HCT's current West Valley City location, and then transition to Sandy City in Sept. 2017, with the first performance in the horseshoe shaped, Jewel Box Stage. The first show on the Centre Stage will be in Nov. 2017.

To donate, visit donate.hct.org. 2017 season tickets and individual tickets are on sale now. For ticket information call 801-984-9000, go to www.hct.org, or visit the box office at 3333 S. Decker Lake Drive in West Valley City.

To post a comment, you must register and login.