When the Murray Theater’s marquee lights flickered back to life, it wasn’t just the building that was reborn—it was a community landmark regaining its voice. At the center of it all stands Katie Lindquist, the theater’s new manager, who guided the grand reopening and now faces the challenge of shaping its future.

“I started out as the cultural arts assistant when Lori was here,” Lindquist recalled. “When Lori Edmunds retired, the city decided to separate the theater from cultural arts. We still work together under Parks and Recreation, but now the theater is its own organization.”

New Murray Theater Manager Katie Lindquist. (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals)

 For Lindquist, the reopening was as much about rekindling memories as it was about curtain calls. “The biggest thing was just hearing people’s memories when they walked through the doors,” she said. “They’d say, ‘This is where I went as a child.’ Hearing their stories about how they enjoyed the space before—it just made it really real to me.”

She described the outpouring of emotion from longtime residents as “a love letter to Murray itself.” Although not a native of the city, Lindquist said she quickly sensed something special about it. “I didn’t grow up in Murray, but you can just tell—people don’t leave. If they do, they come back. There are so many multi-generational families here, and it’s what makes me love working here. Murray has its own power, its own water, its own identity. There’s a strong sense of belonging.”

Opening weekend went smoother than Lindquist expected, despite some last-minute hires. “We were still hiring staff the week of the show,” she said. “A lot of them came from the amphitheater, so they knew Murray City, but we were still finding out what systems we even had. They were so quick to learn.”

Lindquist’s journey to managing the historic venue began in a less glamorous setting. “My background has always been in parks and recreation,” she said. “I started as a part-timer in South Jordan pulling weeds for Parks and then got involved with arts and events.”

New Murray Theater Manager Katie Lindquist prepares to welcome visitors. (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals)

Now that the ribbon has been cut, Lindquist’s attention turns to programming. “There was a plan on paper of the kinds of things we could do,” she explained, “but now that we’re in the space, we’ve had to reassess.”

She hopes to balance affordability with variety. “We really need a place where you don’t have to take out a second mortgage to take your family,” she said. “We’re figuring it out. We’re adjusting, trying to find where we fit.”

That balance includes keeping popular tribute bands while expanding to other acts. “Right now, it’s heavy on tribute bands, but I don’t want it to always be that,” she said. “We’ll try things out and see if they work. If there’s good feedback, great. If not, we’ll scale back.”

While Lindquist has authority over programming, she emphasized collaboration. “Ultimately… the arts board is very involved…with the mission and vision, and the mayor’s office.”

She described brainstorming sessions with city leaders and arts groups to “see what the community wants.” “Everyone knows it’s going to take some time to see where our niche is—how we can serve the community while also bringing in new things.”

Lindquist envisions the Murray Theater as more than an entertainment venue. “I really want it to be a place for learning,” she said. “We’ve talked about connecting with high schools and the University of Utah to teach students how to run a show—from writing a script to managing lighting and props.”

She also hopes to establish consistent programming. “We’ve been talking to a few comedians and local organizations about possible residencies,” she said. “I’d love for people to be able to look at the calendar and know there’s something consistent each month.”

While the 2026 schedule remains under wraps—“I haven’t really released too much yet,” she noted—Lindquist said the community can expect more concerts, local bands and accessible family programming.

For her, the theater’s reopening is just the beginning. “Murray’s changing, but at its core, it still has that love and respect for its past,” Lindquist said. “That’s what I want this theater to represent—honoring where we’ve been while opening the doors to where we can go next.”