General Information

Government Type

Interlocal

Entity

Utah Performing Arts Center Agency

Public Body

Board of Directors

Notice Information

Add Notice to Calendar

Notice Title

UPACA Board of Director meeting minutes (Draft, unapproved minutes)

Notice Type(s)

Meeting

Event Start Date & Time

April 23, 2026 09:00 AM

Event End Date & Time

April 23, 2026 10:00 AM

Description/Agenda

Meeting of the UPACA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Thursday April 23, 2026, 9:00am O.C. Tanner Lounge - Eccles Theatre w/Cisco WebEx option Attendees: Sarah Dibble Lata, Matt Castillo, Ross Romero, Helen Langan, Danny Walz, Dee-Dee Darby-Duffin, Taylee Foulger, David Hallock, Cate Kizerian, Jacque Jones, Rachel Otto, Angela Vanderwell, Jim Martin, Robin Chalhoub, Katie Riggs-Hansen Roll call and Introductions: Ms. Darby-Duffin called the meeting to order at 9:03am. Welcome: Ms. Darby-Duffin welcomed all. Review public comments: No public comments. Approval of minutes: February 19, 2026 Ms. Romero moved the request to approve the minutes. Mr. Walz moved to second. Unanimously approved. UPACA Food & Beverage Sub-Committee recommendation: Tin Angel Restaurant - DeeDee Darby-Duffin, Helen Langan, Danny Walz Ms. Vanderwall provided the Board with background information regarding a letter of request submitted by Tin Angel. Ms. Langan, Ms. Darby-Duffin, and Mr. Walz reviewed the correspondence outlining Tin Angel's concerns and requests. The subcommittee offered the following recommendations in support of Tin Angel's continued operation as the restaurant at Eccles: a $5,000 waiver of past due commission to offset revenue losses incurred during the October internet outage; assistance with the $3,000 patio encroachment fee during the upcoming summer closure (July 14 through August 19, applicable to summer 2026 only); and coverage of $2,000 per month in fixed operating costs during theater closures exceeding 30 days. These recommendations were contingent upon Tin Angel providing detailed documentation of fixed expenses to the subcommittee, as well as the continuation of consistent lunch service Tuesday through Friday for the remainder of their contract beginning September 1. It was emphasized that the reinstatement and sustained provision of lunch service is a priority, and that failure to maintain this offering would result in termination of the agreement. The subcommittee presented these recommendations to the full Board for discussion. During the open discussion Mr. Walz noted that the overarching objective is for the restaurant to maintain continuous service, including lunch hours, in order to increase public access to the space and encourage attendance at performances and events. The proposed support is intended to position Tin Angel for success in resuming and sustaining regular lunch operations. It was further suggested that marketing support be explored to enhance visibility, promote programming, and increase patronage beyond scheduled show times. Board members also recommended consideration of various marketing strategies to strengthen outreach and engagement efforts. Due to time constraints, it was recommended that these ideas and follow-up actions be referred to Arts and Culture staff for further review and implementation. Mr. Romero moved the request to approve Food & Beverage Subcommittee recommendations. Mr. Walz moved to second. Unanimously approved. Eccles Theater Technical Outreach (ETTO)2025 Program Highlights - David Hallock, Cate Kizerian Mr. Hallock and Ms. Kizerian delivered a presentation outlining the ETTO program from 2025. Over the past year, 14 ETTO experiences were conducted, drawing a total attendance of 219 participants-an increase from 175 in 2024. Training sessions included: Intro to IP Networking for Live Production; Intro to Sound and Intro to Lighting at Park City High School; Intro to Entertainment Networking at Weber State University and the University of Utah; Journey from Page to Stage with Life of Pi; Live Audio at Salt Lake Community College; Exploring the Role of Company Manager with Wicked; A Day in the Life of a Sound Engineer; a Wardrobe Masterclass with & Juliet; a Costume Masterclass with Some Like It Hot; and Live Digital Audio Consoles Fundamentals Parts 1 and 2. A central goal of the ETTO program is to build and strengthen partnerships. In support of this objective, our technical instructors engaged with advanced theater classes at Park City High School. In the third quarter a wardrobe masterclass provided students with close-up access to professional costumes, and a two-day, in-depth audio masterclass focusing on large format digital console usage. With the return of the Olympic Games in 2034, there is a growing need to expand the talent pipeline capable of supporting large-scale productions and events. To that end, the program aims to broaden its offerings through panel discussions focused on emerging trends and key topics in technical theater, while continuing to deliver proven, high-interest courses. Broadway-related programming continues to generate strong engagement, reflecting sustained interest in large-scale productions. Additional focus areas include providing practical stage management experience, particularly in navigating challenges and maintaining seamless show operations. We have been collaborating with Weber State University, the University of Utah, Salt Lake Community College, and Brigham Young University, and are actively working to expand these partnerships. As an example of growing interest, three university professors recently attended in response to the work and initiatives currently underway. The most recent ETTO event, held in April 2026, featured The Phantom of the Opera, a production notable for its high demand in audio effects. The program will continue to schedule ETTO trainings throughout the year. Those interested in attending are encouraged to contact Ms. Kizerian or Mr. Hallock for further information. Mr. Castillo noted that Mr. Hallock, Ms. Kizerian and their colleague's participation in the ETTO program is in addition to their professional responsibilities managing live theater productions. He expressed his gratitude to Ms. Vanderwell and Mr. Hallock for establishing this program. Eccles Theater 2025 Year End Annual Report - Matt Castillo, Angela Vanderwell Ms. Vanderwell delivered a comprehensive presentation summarizing the 2025 season. Broadway at the Eccles featured eight season titles across 129 performances, drawing 258,220 attendees and resulting in 277,576 tickets sold. The series welcomed 13,167 new patrons and achieved an occupancy rate of 88.49%. Live at the Eccles included 29 titles and 41 performances, with attendance reaching 63,725, total ticket sales of 71,022, 13,695 new patrons, and an occupancy rate of 74.49%. The Arts for All engagement initiative demonstrated strong performance. Broadway at the Eccles issued 1,313 tickets, with 1,260 attendees, reflecting a 96% utilization rate-an increase from 92% in 2024-across eight performances. Live at the Eccles issued 429 tickets, with 404 attendees, achieving a 94% utilization rate, up from 62% in 2024, across 22 performances. Live at the Eccles hosted fewer performances this season, which will be reflected in our overall revenue. This decrease in programming was primarily due to an increase in Broadway engagements, as well as a temporary closure for carpet installation. Community activation events, offered free and open to the public from June through November 2025, drew total attendance of 6,113, an increase from 4,985 in the prior year. Participation included 63 artists and groups, up from 50 in 2024. Patron Services contributed 21,088 volunteer hours at the Eccles in 2025. The launch of the Eccles Usher Program successfully engaged arts-focused volunteers with limited availability and is expected to continue expanding into 2026. Additionally, Delta Hall hosted the Annual Season Kickoff event, providing a memorable experience for Patron Services staff. The Board reviewed the unaudited 2025 Eccles building operating budget report, as well as the unaudited Utah Performing Arts Center Agency net operating income distribution to owners' report. Annual activity reports for both Building and Site operations reflected positive outcomes. The Regent Street Black Box experienced a 10% increase over 2024, indicating continued progress. Additional performances in Delta Hall totaled 10 events with 22,952 tickets issued, compared to four events and 13,549 tickets in 2024. 2025 was an outstanding year for site, and we continue to make steady progress in a positive direction. Ticket sales are highly concentrated along the Wasatch Front, with 91% of tickets sold in this region. The four leading counties are Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, and Utah County. The National Ticket Sales Map provided the Board with a comprehensive snapshot of sales distribution across the United States. Ms. Vanderwell noted a decline in ticket sales from Arizona, though the underlying cause of this decrease remains unclear. Total attendance in Delta Hall for 2025 was 340,327, compared to 415,966 in 2024, 300,166 in 2023, and 363,688 in 2022. Overall building attendance reached 342,317 in 2025, compared to 418,794 in 2024, 300,673 in 2023, and 363,501 in 2022. Attendance at the Regent Street Black Box totaled 7,217 in 2025, compared to 6,338 in 2024 and 8,802 in 2023. Total site attendance for 2025 was 18,418, compared to 18,181 in 2024 and 13,614 in 2023. Overall, we are maintaining cost discipline while continuing to grow revenue. The floor was opened for questions, comments, and discussion, and all inquiries were addressed. Current Budget and Activity Reports - Sarah Dibble Mr. Castillo noted that, due to time constraints, the reports had been distributed in advance of the meeting, and the presentation would be omitted. He then invited questions from the Board; none were raised. Director's Updates, Salt Lake County Arts & Culture and Ecles Theater - Matt Castillo, Angela Vanderwell Mr. Castillo and Mrs. Vanderwell advise the Board of a few events coming up in the near future. Meeting adjourned at 9:59am. Next Meeting: June 18, 2026 2026 Meeting Schedule All meetings start at 9:00am and are held in the O.C. Tanner Lounge at the Eccles Theater with a Web-Ex option. (Dates, times, locations subject to change. Additional meetings may be added) a. February 19 b. April 23 c. June 18 d. August 20 e. October 22 f. December 10

Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA)

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations (including auxiliary communicative aids and services) during this meeting should notify Angela Vanderwell at avanderwell@slco.org.

Notice of Electronic or Telephone Participation

Cisco Webex Website Address: https://slco.webex.com/slco/j.php?MTID=m1c92ee3bbfa071efe56af9cebd01e947 Or Call In Phone Numbers Tap to join from a mobile device (attendees only) +1-213-306-3065,,24980051563## United States Toll (Los Angeles +1-602-666-0783,,24980051563## United States Toll (Phoenix) Global call-in numbers Meeting Number: Meeting number (access code): 2498 005 1563 Password: Meeting password: igWpWK4UM54

Meeting Information

Meeting Location

Eccles Theater- O.C. Tanner Lounge
131 So. Main Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
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Contact Name

Angela Vanderwell

Contact Email

avanderwell@slco.org

Contact Phone

(385)468-2524

Notice Posting Details

Notice Posted On

April 23, 2026 02:59 PM

Notice Last Edited On

April 23, 2026 02:59 PM

Audio File Address

Audio File Location

https://slco.webex.com/slco/ldr.php?RCID=253a9b6a1646b182360377d306fbad5c

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