CULVER CITY, Calif.—Fans of the BDSM-themed Fifty Shades of Grey can now experience a staged parody of the popular and controversial book. 50 Shades! The Musical - The Original Parody is now open at the Kirk Douglas Theater in Culver City, California, having just arrived in the City of Angels after successful runs in Chicago, New York, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and lots of other stops.
Running through March 30, it's billed as "a laugh-out-loud night of fun." And it's also something to soothe the cravings of Fifty Shades fans who can't wait until the movie adaptation of the book comes out in 2015.
In a release issued to promote the Culver City production, the producers explain, "50 Shades! The Musical opens with a ladies book club deciding to read Fifty Shades of Grey. Through their interpretation of the novel, the audience is led on a hilarious roller coaster ride of this unlikely bestseller. The show is full of dance numbers, 11 original songs and a live band backing the performance. Original songs include They Get Nasty, I Don’t Make Love and There’s a Hole Inside of Me."
In a recent review, The Hollywood Reporter Myron Meisel described the current production as "neither more nor less than sustained silliness," but concluded, "It’s already a hit, a triumph of savvy tomfoolery hitched to a branding juggernaut. If it shamelessly recycles a lot of its own jokes over even such a brief length, it also never stops pile-driving its amiably potty-mouth naughtiness to mechanically funny yet satisfying effect. A few left at intermission, while those who remained shed tears from laughter."
Produced by Marshall Cordell, Al Samuels and Emily Dorezas, and directed by Albert Samuels, the cast includes Eileen Patterson, Jack Boice, Glennis McCarthy, Tiffany Dissette, Sheila O’Connor, Nick Semar, BJ Gruber, Datus Puryear and Caroline Reader.
WHAT: 50 Shades! The Musical - The Original Parody
WHEN: Now through March 30
WHERE: Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232
PARKING: Free parking available at Culver City Hall across Culver Blvd from the rear of the theater. Entrance on Duquesne.
SCHEDULE: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 5 and 9 p.m.; Sundays at 1 and 6:30 p.m.
PRICES: Tickets start at $30; VIP Red Room experience available at select performances including cast meet and greet
TICKETS: In person – Center Theatre Group box office at the Ahmanson Theatre, at the Music Center in downtown Los Angeles or at the Kirk Douglas Theatre box office 2 hours prior to performances
Phone – (213) 972-4488(213) 972-4488
Online – Tickets and information at 50ShadesMusical.com
