A Decade of Stage Lights and Summer Nights: Beverley Center Marks 10 Years in Cedar City

Ten years ago, the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts opened its doors on the campus of Southern Utah University, stitching together theaters, galleries, and green spaces into a single, walkable hub for the arts in Cedar City.

 

This June, SUU, the Utah Shakespeare Festival, and community partners are celebrating that milestone with a special Beverley Center Anniversary Celebration, Friday June 26th from 10:00am-8:00pm. The weekend lineup features free outdoor concerts, open galleries, family activities, and ticketed USF performances that invite everyone to experience the campus in a fresh way.

 

Since 2016, the Beverley Center has transformed summer in Cedar City. The Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre, the Eileen and Allen Anes Studio Theatre, the Southern Utah Museum of Art, and beautifully landscaped plazas have turned a once-quiet corner of campus into a lively gathering place on performance nights. Locals and visitors arrive early to stroll the grounds, listen to live preshow music, and take photos beneath the glowing marquee lights.

 

The 10-year celebration leans into that atmosphere. Guests can expect live music on the lawn, special tours and talks that share behind-the-scenes stories from the Center’s early days, and extended hours at the Southern Utah Museum of Art so families can wander through current exhibitions between events. Food trucks and nearby downtown restaurants round out the experience, making it easy to turn a single show into a full night out.

 

For many Cedar City residents, the Beverley Center has become part of their family story—first dates on the plaza, kids’ first theater experiences, or annual traditions built around Shakespeare, musicals, and summer festivals. SUU leaders note that the complex has also helped attract students who want a campus where the arts feel central to everyday life, not tucked away.

 

Local businesses have benefited, too. A steady stream of festivalgoers and museum visitors has brought more foot traffic to Main Street shops, hotels, and eateries, reinforcing Cedar City’s identity as both a college town and a cultural destination.

 

With its first decade now complete, the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts is looking ahead to the next ten years of performances, exhibitions, and community events. The anniversary festivities are a simple but meaningful invitation: come walk the pathways, listen to the music, and remember how much can happen when a community chooses to invest in art, education, and shared experiences. To learn more visit SUU Events Website https://events.suu.edu