the mommy avenger

If you’re like me, you live for a good spooky season tradition. The pumpkin patches, the haunted houses, the horror movie marathons—yes, yes, and YES. But this year, I’m adding something completely new (and honestly, so perfect) to my Halloween lineup: Utah Opera’s brand new production of The Shining.

Yes, that Shining. Jack, Wendy, Danny, the Overlook Hotel—it’s all there, but this time told through the soaring, spine-chilling power of opera. And if you think opera is all powdered wigs and ancient languages, think again. This one’s sung in English, with a score by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Paul Moravec and a libretto by Mark Campbell. It’s modern, it’s gripping, and it promises to get under your skin in all the best ways.

Here’s the setup (as if you didn’t already know): Jack Torrance takes a winter caretaker job at the remote Overlook Hotel, thinking it’ll be the fresh start his family needs. But instead of peace and quiet, the hotel’s sinister forces pull Jack into madness, threatening everyone he loves. It’s isolation, unraveling, and haunting terror—perfectly timed for October chills.

And speaking of chills—guess where it’s playing? Utah’s very own Capitol Theatre. If you’re a local, you’ve probably heard the whispers: it’s supposedly haunted. So, yes, you’re basically getting a double feature. The Shining… in a haunted opera house. You can’t plan Halloween vibes better than that.

Performance dates:

• Saturday, October 11, 7:30 PM
• Monday, October 13, 7:00 PM
• Wednesday, October 15, 7:00 PM
• Friday, October 17, 7:30 PM
• Sunday, October 19, 2:00 PM

Runtime: about 2 hours. Content warning: this one’s for mature audiences (language, violence, and intense themes).

Why is this a must for your Halloween season? Because nothing beats live performance when it comes to atmosphere. The music will literally crawl into your bones, the story will keep you on edge, and the theatre itself might just make you glance over your shoulder. Forget haunted houses that hire teenagers with fake chainsaws—this is real art colliding with real scares.

So grab your tickets, pick a date, and let’s add The Shining to our October traditions. I’ll see you in the haunted halls of the Capitol Theatre!