Peery’s Egyptian Theater hosting variety show celebrating its 100-year history
OGDEN — One of downtown Ogden’s most venerable buildings will resume the yearlong celebration of its centennial anniversary with a special one-night-only show next month.
Peery’s Egyptian Theater is slated to host a variety show featuring dance, music, film and the spoken word on Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. Tickets are currently on sale at the theater box office and online for $15.
Kassi Bybee, general manager of the Peery’s Egyptian Theater and the adjoining Ogden Eccles Conference Center, told the Standard-Examiner that the event is an ideal opportunity for theater regulars and first-timers alike to enjoy all the historic building has to offer.
“If it has been decades or it has been years or you never have (visited the theater), step in through the doors,” Bybee said. “Get a taste of history and realize what a beautiful, architectural, gorgeous, historic theater you have here in your community.”
The night will feature appearances by artists and performers who have graced the theater’s stage over the years. Odyssey Dance Theatre, Ogden Musical Theatre, the Celtic Beat Dancers and Imagine Ballet Theatre will all be represented.
Past productions like “Aida” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” will be highlighted during the show.
The theater’s “Mighty Wurlitzer” organ also will provide music during the screening of an as yet unannounced silent short film.
Additionally, Bybee says attendees will be treated to a preview reading from an original adaptation of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.” The full Dracula stage play, adapted and directed by Jennifer Westfall, will run at the theater from Oct. 17-20.
“Really, what we want people to see and experience is all the variety, all the different things they can experience at this theater,” Bybee said of the show lineup. “People need to realize the variety that they have here in the arts.”
An exhibit chronicling the 100-year history of Peery’s Egyptian Theater, which opened in June, also will be accessible in the building’s gallery on the evening of the variety show.
“I just feel this wonderful sense of gratitude that I get to have stewardship over this theater for this short period of time, because there’s so many people in the community who have made their mark,” added Bybee. “It’s really a theater that has been sustainable for these 100 years because of the community, the engagement and the partnerships that have come together to not only build the theater in the first place, but then to restore it back in 1997 and make sure that it was here for future generations.”
For more information on the event or to buy tickets, go to https://www.ogdenpet.com/events/2024/pet-variety-show.