Onyx Theatre (Las Vegas, NV)
Insurgo Theater Movement presents Cannibal! The Musical. Based on the true story of Alferd Packer, the only man in American history to be convicted of cannibalism, this catchy, outrageously funny musical was written by Trey Parker, who would later find fame as the creator of TV's South Park.
Event summary prepared by the Goldstar Editorial Team.
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The show was great. I loved the DVD, but seeing it live was even better!
The people at the Onyx Theater really know what they're doing, and it's a great intimate venue. I'll be going back for certain to see more things there. Hell, I might end up going back this weekend to see the show again!
The show was funny and great value considering the tickets were only $10. Perhaps just a little too long (over 2 hours which includes a 15 minute intermission) but it was nice that it was in a small theatre. The cast had a great time and that made the show fun
Seemed to flow like Spamalot in some ways. It was truly funny at times and creatively directed.
The Onyx Theatre is a premiere 96-seat theatrical facility in the heart of Las Vegas.
Cannibal! The Musical is the true story of the only person convicted of cannibalism in America - Alferd Packer (according to Colorado lore) The sole survivor of an ill-fated trip to the Colorado Territory, he tells his side of the harrowing tale to news reporter Polly Pry as he awaits his execution. And his story goes like this: While searching for gold and love in the Colorado Territory, he and his companions lost their way and resorted to unthinkable horrors, including toe-tapping songs!
Originally a student of music, director Trey Parker transferred from the prestigious Berklee School of Music to Colorado University at Boulder to study film, and it was there he gave birth to his twisted brainchild "Alferd Packer: The Musical". Parker not only wrote, produced, directed and played the leading role in the film, he also wrote the songs and collaborated on the score.
The film began as a three minute fake trailer made for an advanced film production class and, as a joke the director said he was going to make the actual film. "People kept asking 'Where's the movie?" says Parker "The response was so positive, we decided we'd do it"
Together with fellow students Matt Stone, Jason McHugh and Ian Hardin (average age 23) they formed the Avenging Conscience Inc production company and raised $75,000 from private investors, friends and family by the day they needed to start shooting. They employed fellow students as cast members and took parts in the film themselves each stepping into each others shoes behind the camera when necessary. From conception to being in the can the film took around twelve months.
When Troma picked up the film in 1996, they realized that few people outside of Colorado had ever heard of Alferd Packer, so they re-released it under the name, Cannibal! The Musical.
Insurgo Theater Movement is a dedicated ensemble that presents the works of international, classic, and avant-garde authors as well as maintaining a rigorous exploration of their own independent theatrical form.