By Khalida Sarwari
America’s love affair with television game shows can be traced back to the 1950s, and this week the Retro Dome will unveil a musical comedy celebrating that bygone era.
The musical, titled Thanks For Playing … The Game Show Show!, premieres Oct. 5. Penned by Shannon, Scott and Stephen Guggenheim, the musical is a nostalgic glimpse into the classic game shows of postwar America in the 1950s and ’60s. The show promises “a witty, scandal-filled script, audience participation, unpredictable contestants and fabulous prizes” as it explores the combination of the excitement of live TV game shows with the scandal of the 1950s rigged quiz show investigations.
“The show is very fast-paced, full of scandal and has great music–a homage to the quiz shows of the 1950s and early 1960s,” said co-creator and director Scott Guggenheim. “That was great for us when trying to bring to life that era when TV was so new and technology was so new.”
The Game Show Show will especially appeal to those who have enjoyed shows such as What’s My Line, Price is Right, Queen for a Day, Beat the Clock, I’ve Got a Secret and The Match Game. There are elements of all those game shows in the new musical.
The production features Broadway veterans and world renowned opera artists, according to Guggenheim.
When the show was workshopped last spring, it was voted a standout new work by the Silicon Valley Small Venue Theatre Awards for its lyrics, hosts, original music, audience participation, contestants, models and prizes.
The show performs Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Patrons interested in participating are encouraged to get their tickets early and ask for a Nielsen seat.
Tickets, on sale for $44 for performances through Nov. 18, are available by phone at 408.404.7711, online at www.TheRetro Dome.com or at the Retro Dome, 1694 Saratoga Ave. in San Jose.
Discounts are available for seniors, students, children and members of the military. Additionally, discounts are available for groups of 10 or more and student rush tickets can be purchased at the door one hour before show time.
An extension of the show is planned for December, with a rewriting of the script to include a Christmas theme.
