Thrilling disco dance moves and cherished Bee Gees hits from the 1970s make "Saturday Night Fever" a stylish, spectacular musical coming to Texarkana's Perot Theatre for a Saturday, Feb. 27 performance at 7:30 p.m.
The touring show tells the story of Tony Manero, made famous on the big screen by superstar actor John Travolta back in 1977. The musical is based on that classic movie. Manero is a young man from Brooklyn who has the fancy moves to be a disco great, dancing to hits like "Stayin' Alive," "You Should be Dancing" and "How Deep is Your Love."
It falls to English actor Matthew Baker to play Tony on this "Saturday Night Fever" tour across the country. "Tony is just this average guy living in Bay Ridge in Brooklyn," says the actor, "living for the weekend."
Although Tony is doing his best to move up at a hardware store job, he doesn't know what's in store for his future there, Baker said. His dreams are with disco, however, where he flashes his talents.
"He has that special spark on the dance floor," Baker said. And it's on the dance floor that he meets Stephanie, who walks into his life and shares that passion for dancing. At first, explains the actor, we believe he's just attracted to her looks, but he's also attracted to her dancing and that she takes it just as seriously as he does.
Baker explains that she's also moved on to Manhattan. "What entices him is that she's actually done something with her life," he said. He immediately wants to pursue her when he sees her. Their chemistry is sparked by a passion for the music.
"That's where they find that connection," Baker said.
Meanwhile, Tony's friends are comfortable with their lives in Brooklyn, but Tony believes there's something bigger and better out there for him, Baker said. Along the way, we also meet Annette, with whom Tony has some romantic history.
"Eventually, we go to the disco, which is like heaven," Baker said. Expect to see a series of disco numbers up on stage, with electrifying dance moves that people will recognize from the iconic movie but also updated for a modern audience. Says the actor about the choreography, "There's a new flavor, as well."
For Tony, the "Saturday Night Fever" story has him ride a big wave, a "definite mix of emotions," as Baker puts it. "It's a constant roller coaster of emotions." The actor relates to the passion his character has and the feeling of striving to get somewhere.
In the Bee Gees music, Baker sees the bedrock of this show. "I believe that's what stood the test of time," he said, noting it's music that inspires people to "clap your hands and tap your feet." The music has lasted through the decades since the film appeared.
This "Saturday Night Fever" tour travels the country until May, said Baker, who's observed that the show appeals to different demographic groups. The audience is a mix, he says.
"What I think is interesting is we have three types of audience," Baker said. There are the hardcore musical fans, the audience that remembers the famous movie from back in the 1970s and the general public who loves the Bee Gees music.
He says that ability to reach different audiences with a musical is something rare. "It has something for everyone, and that's a wonderful thing," Baker said.
Now based in New York, Baker's theater credits include "Sweeney Todd," "Ripper the Musical," "Hair," "Mary Poppins" and "Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular."
The "Saturday Night Fever" show is part of the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council's Perot Theatre Series. Next up after this musical is ballet, with a performance by Houston Ballet II on Saturday, April 2.
(Tickets: $55, $45 and $35. Half-priced student discounts in the balcony. More info and ticket purchase: TRAHC.org or 903-792-4992.)