Park City has a much different early history than most other Utah towns. Whereas most cities were deliberately settled in the interest of spreading Mormonism, Park City rose up in the mid-to-late 1800s as a rough-and-tumble, and oft very successful mining town. It's risen and fallen numerous times -first as a victim to pandemic fires (three times!), and then finally to the slow death of its mining industry, rendering it an official ghost town in the 1960s! Rekindled again by ski tourism, Park City is now the host of the world-famous Sundance Film Festival. Through it all, the Egyptian theater company has been there!
Built in the late 1880s, the original Opera House was built after $30,000 was raised. Not ten years later, it was utterly demolished by fire -in 1898. It was soon replaced by the Dewey Theater on the very same site. But that, too, would see its demise -this time with its roof breaking under the weight of a record snowfall. But then in 1922, the modern Egyptian Theater rose on the same site and opened in 1926. Despite an occasional name change, this has been in operation since then, maintaining its cultural offerings even during WWII and Park City's listing as a ghost town. Today it is the offical home of the Park City Performances, and hosts many drama, musical, and other special events.