Park City Performing Arts Center Presents - Love. Janis February 16
PARK CITY, UT – An “unabashed celebration” according to USA Today, the rock and roll musical LOVE, JANIS fills The Eccles Center on Saturday, February 16. Part concert, part intimate portrayal, this soulful tribute to legendary singer Janis Joplin comes to Park City for one night only.
Inspired by the bestselling book of the same name by Laura Joplin, LOVE, JANIS tells the 1960s blues-rocker’s story through her letters and songs. An exhausting script and score requires three actresses (Katrina Chester, Mary Bridget Davies and Marisa Ryan) to portray the icon.
Adapted and directed by Randal Myler (It Ain’t Nothing But the Blues, Hank Williams: Lost Highway), the story is told in Joplin’s own words, borrowed from letters and interviews. The show begins just as Joplin gets her start in the industry, leaving her Texas hometown to make it in San Francisco. As her career takes off, monologues are woven together with her smash hits, including “Piece of My Heart,” “Get it While You Can,” “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Ball and Chain” and “Mercedes Benz.” The audience is swept along an inspirational and touching rock and roll ride, seeing the human side of Joplin’s rise to stardom as well as her tragic decline.
Critics tout the play for its authenticity, energy and arresting music. “Phenomenal! Unbelievable! A rockin’ good time,” raves WCBS-FM New York. And San Diego’s Union Tribune writes, “Myler and company avoid the pitfalls of self-indulgent nostalgia, campy impersonation, and exploitive sentiment. Joplin truly lives again… in this affectionate and completely appealing LOVE, JANIS.”
PCPAF executive director Teri Orr, who first caught the LOVE, JANIS show at the beginning of its Broadway run, has been trying to bring the musical to Park City for years. “This show is nothing short of incredible,” says Orr, “It takes you back to the ’60s and ’70s and you’d swear Janis Joplin was right there on stage performing and telling you her life story.”
As the San Francisco Chronicle writes, “LOVE, JANIS grabs a piece of our hearts.”
Show Details: The musical theater performance LOVE, JANIS runs in Park City for one night only on Saturday, February 16. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. at The George S. and Dolores Doré at Eccles Center for the Performing Arts (1750 Kearns Blvd., Park City). Tickets range from $18 - $65 (as with all regular season performances, children 12 & under are half price and seniors receive a 20-percent discount). Tickets are $5 in Section C for Summit County students (K-12).
Tickets and information are available at The Eccles Center box office, 435-655-3114 or www.parkcitytickets.com.
