Accessibility for Families
Research has shown that music contributes greatly to children’s brain development, focus, attention span, and discipline. We encourage your young ones participate as soon as you feel they are able. Below is information to make your attendance as comfortable and easy as possible. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
TICKETS
Tickets for Masterworks, Pops, Opera, and Special Events are available for children 5 years and older. All children need their own ticket. Babies in arms are NOT allowed during these performances.
Family Series concerts, however, are available for children of all ages. If they are not occupying their own seat they do NOT need a ticket for Family concerts.
All tickets can be purchased online, over the phone, or in person and can be downloaded through our USUO APP so you won’t have to manage physical tickets.
If you are attending a Masterworks, Pops, Opera, or Special performance and aren’t sure of your children’s capacity to sit quietly or for long periods of time, please request or choose a seat on the aisle so you can get up as needed without disturbing other patrons. Concert halls and live theatres are designed to allow sound to carry.
SEAT HEIGHTS
Seat cushions are limited but available at guest services counter at both Maurice Abravanel Hall and Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre.
PARKING
The closest place to park, when going to a symphony concert at Maurice Abravanel Hall is the Plaza Hotel. It is $4 per hour- $20 per event (depending on how many events are happening downtown) and is located at 112 West South Temple.
The closest place to park when going to an opera performance at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre is the 170 South Main Garage. Despite its name, the entrance is at 32 West 200 South, just to the east of the JQL Capitol Theatre. It is $4 for the first hour and $2 for each additional hour.
The most affordable parking option is City Creek, across the street from Maurice Abravanel Hall on West Temple and just 1.5 blocks from the JQL Capitol Theatre. It is $4 an hour but the first two hours are free. The UTA Trax blue and green lines both stop directly in front of Abravanel Hall and less than a block from the JQL Capitol Theatre. Kids ride free.
https://www.rideuta.com/Rider-Info/Accessibility/Accessible-UTA
https://www.rideuta.com/fares-and-passes/current-fares
During our summer concert series at Deer Valley, parking can be up to ¼ mile from the venue, so bring a wagon/stroller (all allowed in the venue, see additional information below) and plenty of snacks.
TRAFFIC & EVENTS DOWNTOWN
If you have purchased tickets prior to 24/hrs before an event, you will receive a pre-concert email with information on how busy traffic might be because of additional events happening downtown as well as full details on pre-concert activities and when the doors open.
STROLLERS & BAG CHECKS
During FAMILY performances at Maurice Abravanel Hall, your stroller may be checked under the stair case, located in the main lobby. We do have a coat check that can check bags/umbrellas/small items. We are not liable for items checked but are happy to keep them in an area watched by ushers during the performance.
Performances at the JQL Capitol Theatre do not have stroller checks available as all are 5 and older performances, but you can check bags/coats at the patron services counter.
At Deer Valley Resort, you are welcome to bring strollers/wagons/coolers of any size to any area in general admission however they will be checked for alcohol. We ask you to break down all strollers and wagons or park them against the perimeter fence. If you have seats in reserved section, please check your stroller, wagon or larger coolers at the chair check just before you enter the venue on the plaza.
HOW LONG ARE PERFORMANCES?
Family concerts are 45-60 minutes in length.
Masterworks, Pops, and Special concerts range from 90-120 minutes with intermissions.
Operas run from 120-180 minutes with 1-2 intermissions.
LATE SEATING & RE-ENTERING CONCERTS
During Family concerts at Maurice Abravanel Hall, you are free to come and go as needed.
During Masterworks, Pops, Opera, and and performances, ushers will let you enter at an appropriate point between movements. Sometimes this is longer than others, depending on the program.
Meanwhile there are monitors in the lobby and you are welcome to watch/listen until the time allowed to enter.
If the next movement is particularly long, you are welcome to sit in the back few rows, provided we aren’t sold out, until you can go to your seat.
NUERODIVERGENT CHILDREN
We have weighted lap pads that weigh about 8 lbs and are available to check out at patron services/coat check area for children or adults to use during the concert.
We have fidget items available at all venues that make little to no noise for children to use during the concert. These are available at the patron services counter or ask any volunteer/usher for them.
If you need a quiet place during FAMILY performances at Maurice Abravanel Hall, our First Tier Room–a larger room one floor above the main floor with large golden doors—is available. This room is open during family concerts for breastfeeding and any patron that needs a quiet place away from the crowds (the concert is available on a screen in the room so the music is not missed). Some families also are comfortable sitting on the benches in the lobby and watching the big screens from there.
SOUND LEVELS
Our performances in Maurice Abravanel Hall and the JQL Capitol Theatre are designed to carry sound to every seat really well. If the performance is too loud, we have headphones and ear plugs for any child to use/borrow during a performance.
At Deer Valley, we have headphones and earplugs available as needed as well, but you if you go to the top (south) of the hill, you have a dampened experience if you need it.
RESTROOMS & DIAPER CHANGING STATIONS
At Maurice Abravanel Hall, restrooms are available on each floor. Family restrooms are available on the main floor just south of the elevators.
Diaper changing stations are currently not available at Abravanel Hall, but there are counters in each bathroom available. We are working on adding changing stations.
There are step stools for children to reach the counters in the large restrooms on the ticket office level.
At the JQL Capitol Theatre, restrooms are available on each floor. Accessible stalls are available in each restroom. Family/non-gendered restrooms are available in the long hallway under the staircase in the west side of the lobby. Diaper changing stations are available in the women’s restrooms.
At Deer Valley Resort’s Snow Park Amphitheater, restrooms are available on each floor of the Snow Park Lodge as well as inside the venue on the hill in nice trailers. Family/accessible restrooms are available in the trailers as well. Diaper changing stations are available in the women’s restrooms in the lodge.
BREASTFEEDING/PUMPING AREAS
During FAMILY performances at Maurice Abravanel Hall, patrons are free to breastfeed wherever they are comfortable, but if you would like a more secluded area, the First Tier Room–located one floor above the main lobby—is available. Access is through the elevator to floor 1, exit to the right and go through the large gold doors. This room is open during family concerts and has the concert on a screen for users to continue to enjoy the concert.
No babes in arms are allowed during performances other than our FAMILY series.
If you need a space during other performances in any venue, we have family restrooms available that provide a larger private space.
PRE-CONCERT ACTIVITIES
During our Masterwork and Opera performances, there is a Pre-Concert Chat 45 minutes before the start of symphony concerts and an Opera Prelude one hour before the start of operas. This is not catered toward younger children, but older children might enjoy the insight to the concert by guests, staff, and musicians.
For Family and Pops concerts, there are pre-performance activities in the lobby that include crafts, photo ops, interactive activities, and performances. The details to these are listed online on the concert-specific page with performance details.
Our Family concerts are curated to include a lobby full of things to do before the show, so please come early and enjoy activities suitable for everyone 3 and older.
CONCERT ETIQUETTE
You might notice some particular conventions around applause. One particular tradition in the concert hall has been for audience members hold their applause for the end of a multi-movement work rather than applauding after each section. This particular practice originated in the early 20th century—in Germany, some scholars think—and became tradition in many concert halls.
However, we encourage audience members to show their appreciation of the music whenever they are moved to do so. If you are enjoying yourself, let our artists know it! You might even join in the operatic tradition of shouting Bravo! Brava! or Bravi!
If you or your children need to move regularly, stand, or like to take breaks, please choose a seat on the aisle so that you can be free to exit and enter without disturbing other patrons. You may be held briefly for an appropriate place to re-enter the performance.
During our outdoor concerts you and your children are welcome to stand, sit, dance around and be as free as you’d like as long as they aren’t throwing balls/Frisbees on the concert hill. We ask that your children remain with you and you do not allow them to play unsupervised in open areas
ARE MY KIDS READY?
We purposefully create performances in our FAMILY series that are more interactive, employ engaging guest artists, and are close to 45-60 minutes in length. We hope that these are just the beginning of your attendance and that you continue to bring your kids of all ages to more and more performances as they get older.
To prepare them or see if they are ready, these are great articles!
Kids at the Symphony? A How To Guide! – Neo Classical (insidethearts.com)
Top tips for taking your kids to the opera – Mom Blog Society
Everything you need to know about taking your kids to the opera – Utah Opera
WE WANT MORE!
We are glad that you had fun, and we want you to come back! Check out our Family Series and some of our Specials for opportunities to be more involved, participate, or get discounted tickets on more events.
We welcome your suggestions to make our performances as inclusive as possible.