Over the 4th of July weekend, my family and I will be going to the Gaslight Theatre to see the latest show called The Freedom League. The Gaslight Theatre shows are lighthearted musicals filled with jokes that parody well known movies/characters.
For those new to the area, planning a trip to Tucson, or who live in the area and have never seen a show, here are some of the reasons why you should give it a try.
The Popcorn
Every table receives an unlimited amount of popcorn, which is included in the price of admission. Yes, I said it - popcorn. And notice it’s the first item on my list 😉 I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s some of the best popcorn I’ve ever eaten.
Besides the popcorn, you can also order a variety of food from the menu, like hot dogs, pizza, soda, and milkshakes, just to name a few. I’m partial to the milkshakes 😉 Who am I kidding? I’m partial to ice cream and popcorn in general.
Fun for All Ages
My son had probably just turned 3 years old when we took him to his first show. We weren’t sure how he’d do, but he did pretty well sitting through the main show…..I think largely because audience interaction is encouraged, from clapping, to singing, to booing the villains.
The main show has an intermission, which is a nice break. Once the main show is over, there is another intermission, and then the performers come back on stage, usually to perform skits from certain themes like Hee Haw. This is usually when my son loses it and is ready to leave. But before I had my son, I loved sticking around for this part. And I’m sure there will come a day when he will like it, too.
The Entertainment
The shows spoof western movies like The Lone Ranger, sci fi movies like Star Wars, and superhero movies like the Avengers. My son really likes superheroes right now, so I think he’ll like The Freedom League 😊 My favorite part of the show are the songs that the performers sing - they’ll sing 70s music like Abba’s Dancing Queen to country music. As for the performers themselves? They are excellent.
Know Before You Go
Even though there are several showtimes throughout the week, the shows still sell out very quickly, especially the holiday performances. So if you have family in town, or know that you can only go during a certain day and time, you will need to make reservations way in advance. Additionally, because we now take our son with us, we like to go to the early showtimes, and the early showtimes also sell out quickly.
If you, or someone you’re with, are celebrating a special occasion (like a birthday, or anniversary, or traveling from another city), let your server know as soon as possible, and at the end of the show, a performer will announce your name and a waiter or waitress will hand you a free ice cream or sundae 😊 They will also ask those who have served in the military to stand up, so the audience can recognize them for their service.
The theatre also has a series of concerts. My parents really enjoy the mariachi performances - I haven’t been able to attend a performance yet, though, because they are on Monday nights and weeknights are difficult for us, especially because the theatre isn’t close to us.
The theatre has recently opened a separate location called The Gaslight Music Hall, in Oro Valley. They have concerts like Beach Blanket Be-Bop, which I’d love to see. I hope to see a concert there sometime soon.
But in the meantime, I’m looking forward to seeing The Freedom League!
Now who’s ready for some popcorn?