Premiere theatrical concert of Alex Boyé's hip-hop infused musical The King of New York, with the Dreamspire Orchestra, at the Eccles Theater.
Alex Boyé brings his new concert musical, The King of New York, to the Eccles Theater on Friday, November 6, 2026. It's a premiere theatrical production, and Boyé isn't doing it alone—he'll be joined on stage by the Dreamspire Orchestra, conducted by Blake Sharette.
The King of New York is an original work Boyé wrote around the lives of five Black pioneers whose stories crossed paths with the early Latter-day Saint movement in nineteenth-century America: Samuel D. Chambers, Isaac Lewis Manning, Gobo Fango, Kwaku Walker Lewis, and William McCary. The show centers on Joseph Smith's 1844 presidential campaign and his proposal to end slavery through compensated emancipation. Boyé describes it as a musical conversation and a reckoning that gives voice to stories often left out of history books.
As for the sound, it's a bold fusion of hip-hop, rap, cinematic visuals, dance, and theatrical storytelling. Boyé says the whole thing was sparked when he appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and the host asked, "Are there black people in the Mormon Church? I find that hard to believe." Boyé took that as a sign that millions felt the same and set out to spotlight the untold voices of Black pioneers whose faith and resilience helped shape the American West.
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The performance is at Delta Hall within the Eccles Theater, 131 S Main Street in Salt Lake City. It starts at 7:30 PM, with doors opening at 6:30 PM, and it's recommended for ages 8 and up.
