Pioneer Theatre Company: The Rocky Horror Show
Over the nearly 50 years since its premiere, the 1975 film The Rocky Horror Picture Show has become virtually the definition of a "cult film," still inspiring sold-out screenings of audiences ready to sing along, hurl things at the screen or do the Time Warp again. But before the movie, there was The Rocky Horror Show—the 1973 London theatrical production of writer/composer Richard O'Brien's lively, campy send-up of 1950s B-movies. It was fun, of course, but also groundbreaking in centering a self-identified "sweet transvestite" as one of the main characters. And unfortunately, in 2023, that still feels like an act of creative daring.
This season, Pioneer Theatre Company takes it up a notch from its "concert version" presentations of The Rocky Horror Show in 2014 and 2015, offering a full-fledged production of the beloved musical. Longtime fans and "virgins" alike will experience the story of engaged normies Brad and Janet, who stumble upon the castle/workshop of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, and learn of his plan to bring to life a hunky man called Rocky. Performances will feature several local celebrities rotating in the role of the Narrator, including journalist Randall Carlisle, former Utah State Senator Steve Urquhart, and City Weekly's own Babs De Lay. Prop kits are available for pre-purchase; only those approved items will be permitted in the show, so no do-it-yourself projectiles.
The Rocky Horror Show runs at the Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre (300 S. 1400 East) Oct. 20 – 31, including a 10 p.m. Halloween night performance. Tickets are $55 - $79 advance; visit pioneertheatre.org for tickets and additional event information. (Scott Renshaw)
The Friends Experience
Approaching 30 years since its premiere in 1994, the NBC sitcom Friends spent 10 years near the top of the ratings, becoming a Gen X touchstone for late-20-something/early 30-something life and making stars of its six principal cast members. It was the kind of show that lent itself to a personal attachment to the characters, and a popularity that has lingered through cable reruns and streaming services. That's the kind of nostalgia that lends itself to a touring exhibition like The Friends Experience, which allows visitors to immerse themselves in the world where Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Joey, Ross and Chander lived and loved.
Several re-created sets from the original show comprise the bulk of the exhibition, including Joey and Chandler's bachelor apartment, Rachel and Monica's kitchen (with the iconic purple entry door), the Central Perk coffee shop with its overstuffed orange couch and the fountain where the six friends frolicked through the opening credits to the tune of The Rembrandts' "I'll Be There For You," all of which provide great photo opportunities. You even get a chance to help "pivot" Ross's couch on a narrow stairway, and check out a display of familiar props and costumes before exiting through a special gift shop with exclusive Friends products.
The Friends Experience comes to The Gateway (16 N. Rio Grande St.) for "The One in Salt Lake City" from Oct. 20 – Jan. 28, 2024, with operating hours Wednesday – Sunday. Timed-entry tickets begin at $26.50; visit thefriendsexperience.com/saltlakecity for tickets and additional event information. (SR)
SALT Dance: Radio Silence
In 2021, when Kingsbury Hall first reopened after its pandemic closure, one of its first commissions was SALT Dance's The Invitation, an immersive experience designed for small groups of spectators to move to different locations throughout the building, including elevators and dressing rooms. That production had a 1930s theme, which director/co-choreographer Amy Gunter and SALT Dance used as the starting point for a larger-scale proscenium production titled Radio Silence. "It felt like an interesting parallel," Gunter said about the time setting. "Everything that was tumultuous then is tumultuous now."
That idea of tumult carries into a thematic through-line involving weather as a metaphor for emotional state, something that Gunter identified in many of the vintage songs that are used as a soundtrack for the production. "Reading newspapers articles from the time, with storms in the Dust Bowl, it would be dark for an entire day. [The songs of the era would] often use storms to describe bad things that were about to happen," Gunter said, "and sunshine and rainbows for hope." Those ideas become part of a show which—while not a literal narrative—focuses on a storytelling component through the faces of the dancers and the lyrics to the songs; as Gunter notes, "Radio was such a massive part of entertainment for the time, it was a way to share the environment for the scenes."
SALT Dance presents Radio Silence at Kingsbury Hall (1395 E. Presidents Circle) for two performances, Oct. 20 – 21 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 - $48, plus discounts for University of Utah students. Visit utahpresents.org for tickets and additional event information. (SR)
Jonathan Van Ness: Fun & Slutty
More than 20 years since its debut, the Queer Eye franchise has cast a long cultural shadow, including Ted Allen's long run as a Food Network personality, and Carson Kressley's recurring role as commentator for beauty pageants. So it was no surprise when Netflix revived the Queer Eye brand—with five gay men providing life advice for some unfortunate heterosexual Cinderella project—and brought in a new team of experts, including grooming guru/hairstylist Jonathan Van Ness, for a show that has won four consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Structured Reality Program.
Not surprisingly, a charismatic fellow like Van Ness has parlayed his visibility from the series to a multimedia presence, including two best-selling books (the memoir Over the Top: My Story and the essay collection Love That Story: Observations from a Gorgeously Queer Life), the popular podcast Getting Curious and a current tour that is taking him through the U.S. and to the U.K. and Europe. Fun & Slutty is a solo evening with Van Ness that combines personal storytelling, improvisation and stand-up comedy. "I think this is my strongest work," Van Ness told Canada's IN Magazine in July 2023. "I hope that [audiences] get to take away that they get to experience joy on their own terms. Like, we get to define what joy and what comedy is for us."
Jonathan Van Ness's Fun & Slutty tour visits the Delta Hall of the Eccles Theater (131 S. Main St.) on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 - $45; visit arttix.org to purchase tickets and for additional event information. (SR)