The Park City Institute

Presents

View From Above

Sometimes, a little distance is all you need to see things in a brand new way. For astronaut Terry Virts, his newfound perspective was from the International Space Station (ISS), where he installed the Cupola module, granting an unprecedented 360-degree view from the station. When he later became the commander of the ISS, he made good use of the Cupola, taking more photographs than any astronaut who came before him. Many of those images were later used in the National Geographic book View From Above and IMAX film A Beautiful Planet, but to hear Virts tell it, no photo can capture the perfect shade of blue from a sunrise viewed from outer space.

Theater

The Eccles Center is the largest theater in Park City, Utah with 1,269 seats. It is home to Park City Institute's Main Stage Season from October through April each year, presenting a broad range of world-class performing arts from international dance companies to Broadway icons to beloved author/humorists to virtuosos in a host of musical styles from Chamber Music to rock'n'roll.

Health and Safety

The Park City Institute and the Park City School District have taken measures to assure the health and safety of our patrons, staff, and performers. We are constantly adjusting our COVID protocols based on the recommendations of the CDC, directives of local and state health departments. Permanent changes include, updated HVAC, touch-less restrooms faucets, electronic ticketing, electronic programs, enhanced cleaning, and all volunteers and staff to be fully vaccinated. Based on guidance, we adjust the capacity of the theater and reserve empty seats between ticketed groups.

Currently, we are limiting attendance to our main stage series to 50% of the house and ask that all patrons arrive at the theater wearing a mask and keep it on at all times while in the building. Once in the theater, patrons are free to move to the back of the house or the balcony where there is more space between groups. If you don’t feel well, have a cough or a fever we ask that you remain home.

Terry Virts

Colonel (ret) Terry Virts served in the US Air Force as a fighter pilot, test pilot, and NASA astronaut. In February 2010, he made his first spaceflight as pilot of the Space Shuttle Endeavor during mission STS-130. His next launch was onboard the Russian Soyuz TMA-15M in November 2014 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Most recently, Virts served as commander of the International Space Station during 200 consecutive days in space—one of the longest continuous space missions of any NASA astronaut.

He recently directed his first film, One More Orbit—a full-length documentary chronicling the 2019 mission in which he broke the world record for any aircraft circumnavigating the planet over the North and South poles. Virts also appeared in the 2016 IMAX film A Beautiful Planet, a breathtaking portrait of Earth from space that features stunning footage—much of it shot by Virts while aboard (and outside) the International Space Station—of our magnificent blue planet and humanity's impact on it.

Virts has taken more photos from space than any other astronaut. His photography, which provides incredible aerial views of Earth and the vast space that surrounds it, is featured in the National Geographic book View From Above, released in October 2017. His following book, How to Astronaut, was released in 2020.

Virts is a graduate of the US Air Force Academy, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Harvard Business School. As one of only four astronauts to have piloted a Space Shuttle, flown a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, performed spacewalks, and commanded the ISS, he has a unique perspective to share.

You can learn more about Ami, her latest film Shaba, her work and causes at https://www.amivitale.com/

The 2021-22 Main Stage Series is made possible with the generous support from the following individuals and organizations:

John & Jean Yablonski, Shawn Fojtik, Rachel and Robert Alday, Holly Etlin & Andrew Krieger, the KTC Fund, Robin Hauser, Terry Homer & Ann Marie Horner, Cole Sport, PBS Utah, The Park City Community Foundation, and the Utah Division of Arts & Museums