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Show C-2 The Park Record Wed/Thurs/Fri, September 19-21, 2018 ‘Thriller’ spreads Halloween chills COURTESY OF ODYSSEY DANCE THEATRE Odyssey Dance Theatre’s Halloween production of “Thriller,” which celebrates its 23rd anniversary, returns for a three-weekend run at the Egyptian Theatre. The show opens Friday at the Egyptian COURTESY OF ODYSSEY DANCE THEATRE SCOTT IWASAKI The Park Record The rhythmic and comedic “Jason Jam” is a trademark highlight of “Thriller.” For the past 23 years, Odyssey Dance Theatre’s annual Halloween celebration “Thriller,” which opens a three-weekend run at the Egyptian Theatre Friday night, has captured the thrills and chills of things that go bump in the night. Some of the thrills in the award-winning repertory dance macabre are funny, like the number “Jason Jam,” which showcases hockey-masked mass murderers rhythmically dancing with machetes and chainsaws. Other chills are more serious like the balletic “Salem’s Mass” that sees condemned witches Derryl Yeager, Odyssey Dance Theatre artistic director conjure their revenge on a judgmental holy man. Then there are the pieces, such as the funky “Curse of the Mummy” and clumsy “Frankenstein & Frankenstein” pas de deux, that pay twisted homage to the classic Universal Studios monster flicks. “‘Thriller’ is all part of the Halloween spirit,” said Derryl Yeager, Odyssey Dance Theatre artistic director. “That means we also have pieces that are inspired by slasher films.” Scarecrows terrorize teens in “Children of the Corn,” and murderous dolls from “Child’s www PARK RECORD .com PURCHASE TWO TAPAS & THE THIRD IS FREE • Valid on third tapas of equal or lesser value • Max of three coupons per table please • Meat & Cheese plate excluded from offer • An 18% tip will be added to the bill before the discount. • Not valid with any other offer • Dine-in only please • Please present coupon Valid thru September 30th, 2018 710BodegaParkCity.com • 710 Main Street, Park City • 435.649.6979 NOW OPEN DAILY AT 5PM! • Closed Sundays 2 FOR 1 ENTREES WITH APPETIZER PURCHASE • Valid on second entrèe of equal or lesser value • An 18% tip will be added to the bill before the discount. • Max of three coupons per table please • Not valid with any other offer • Dine-in only please • Please present coupon Valid thru September 30th, 2018 BuonaVitaParkCity.com • 804 Main Street, Park City • 435.649.1336 COURTESY OF ODYSSEY DANCE THEATRE The opening number to “Thriller” is an all-out zombie stomp, created by Odyssey Dance Theatre Artistic Director Derryl Yeager. Play” menace the audience with “Chucky.” This year’s performances will resurrect “The Grudge,” an atmospheric work based on the Japanese ghost film franchise, Yeager said. Kiana Little portrays the vengeful spirit in that number, he said. “We haven’t performed ‘The Grudge’ for a few years, and Kiana is perfect for the role,” Yeager said. “She is an amazing dancer, and she has long black hair and can really embody the ghost.” Of course “Thriller” wouldn’t be the same without the namesake opening number, danced to the Michael Jackson hit. “For some reason, people like watching zombies dance,” Yeager said with a laugh. Then there’s “River of Blood Dance,” which is a spoof on the award-winning Irish tap and step dance production, “Riverdance.” In “River of Blood Dance,” the Irish dancers become targets in a shooting gallery, Yeager said. Love. Truth. Hair. They have to know what they’re doing, and they have to do it well...” “The dancers work hard to get this piece to work,” he said. “They learn the real Irish step and tap dance technique, which is very difficult, and then we add a dark and funny twist.” Another technically challenging piece is the aforementioned “Frankenstein & Frankenstein,” a work that is based on a ballet pas de deux. “It takes strength to pull this off, because the guy has to be able to move in an ungraceful an clunky way, but execute the lifts accurately,” Yeager said. “And the woman who plays the Bride of Frankenstein needs to be very limber.” The challenge is finding the right people to dance the roles. “It takes a lot of work to get the couples ready,” Yeager said. “It’s so difficult that when we bring in new dancers, we spend a whole day just practicing the partnering elements.” After the couples get that down, they can start adding the characterizations, according to Yeager. Please see ‘Thriller,’ C-4 Hair never H takes a vacation. There’s no holiday from looking great. Going away is no time to take a break from looking and feeling brilliant. In fact, the opposite is true. From a quick cut, to eyelash extensions, to a full day of pampering, give us a call. And while drop-ins are welcome, we’d love the chance to schedule your appointment. (435) 655-2680 1811 Sidewinder Dr. Park City, UT 84060 www.oohlalahairparkcity.com |