Pete Holmes
Pete Holmes boasts the persona of an everyday kinda guy, albeit an everyday kinda guy who's both talented and versatile. Consider him a kind of Everyman who seems to excel in practically every medium into which he ventures. A comedian, actor, author, producer and podcaster, he created and starred in HBO's comedy series Crashing as well as the TBS late-night, Conan O'Brien-produced talk show The Pete Holmes Show. In addition, he's known as a popular podcaster, the star of five stand-up comedy specials—Impregnated with Wonder (2011), Nice Try, The Devil (2013), Faces and Sounds (2016), Dirty Clean (2018), and I Am Not For Everyone (2023)—and a contributor to multiple episodes of The Simpsons.
Onstage, his casual observational approach can encompass subjects both major and mundane, all delivered with a decidedly self-effacing point of view. His routines might range from a discussion about a relative's silly mispronunciation of celebrity names to the common mistake people make at parties when expressing their over-the-top enthusiasm as if they're mimicking a McDonalds commercial ("I'm lovin' it!"). His humor is clearly contagious, because oftentimes Holmes finds himself cracking up almost as much as his audience. And why not? He clearly embraces the freedom to be funny.
Pete Holmes performs a 21+ show at Wiseguys Gateway (190 S. 400 West) Thursday, Jan. 30 @ 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. and Friday – Saturday Jan. 31 & Feb. 1 @ 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets cost $35, and certain performances are sold out. Visit wiseguyscomedy.com to purchase tickets and for additional event information. (Lee Zimmerman)
Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company: Re-Mix
The appeal of a premiere is obvious: It's a unique experience to be there when a work is seen for the first time. But long before the advent of "remix" culture, there has been plenty of excitement to be found in how existing work can be re-interpreted. Maybe it's to explore different venue or geographical restrictions, maybe it's a way to add more contemporary context, maybe it's just about the human beings on a stage being different interpreters—but if you understand the concept of performing arts at all, you know that you're never stepping in the same river twice.
Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company embraces that notion with this winter's Re-Mix performance, a showcase of three previously-produced works which will all come with some degree of a fresh perspective. Raja Feather Kelly's 2023 piece Scenes for an Ending was originally staged on at the Jeanne Wagner Theater, but now gets the more intimate setting of the Rose Wagner Center's Black Box. Choreographer jo Blake's 2022 work coincidental coincidences., originally a three-dancer piece, now features six dancers, as well as a film component. And Kellie St. Pierre's The Rate We Change brings its use of a human-powered rotating platform to RWDC for the first time after being presented locally by other companies.
RWDC's Re-Mix visits the Rose Wagner Center Black Box (138 W. 300 South) for full-evening performances Jan. 30 – 31 and Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m., with tickets $20 Thursday and $35 Friday – Saturday. An abbreviated "Moving Parts" sensory-friendly family performance is also offered Saturday, Feb. 1 at 1 p.m., tickets $10. Visit saltlakecountyarts.org. (Scott Renshaw)
Charles Ross: One-Man Star Wars® Trilogy
There are any number of people worldwide whose unabashed love for Star Wars borders on cult-like fanaticism. Nevertheless, many of those folks fear coming out, due to being branded as geeks, weirdos or all-round oddballs. Happily then, those of us who offer homage to The Force can take comfort in knowing we have a champion in the multi-talented actor, reenactor and performer Charles Ross. Like us, he's a devoted fan—so devoted, in fact, that he's reportedly seen the original Star Wars trilogy 400 times.
So, he turned that obvious obsession into a tidy career, courtesy of an internationally-renowned touring performance that touts "1 man, 3 films and 60 hilarious minutes." Recreating his beloved space saga sans costumes, sets or props, this Canadian performer has catapulted to international fame by recreating all the major characters from his beloved franchise for more than 20 years through a combination of his deft acting ability and his somewhat childlike fascination. It's hardly surprising that he's won accolades and appreciation of audiences on London's West End, Lucasfilms itself and, perhaps most importantly, his mom! Then again, who wouldn't admire such due diligence and devotion. Given the troubles and turbulence that plague our world these days, even a momentary escape into a galaxy far, far away is worth the respite. We suspect wise old Yoda would likely agree.
Charles Ross performs his One-Man Star Wars® Trilogy at Peery's Egyptian Theater (2415 Washington Blvd., Ogden) on Friday, Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25-$59 plus taxes and fees at onstageogden.org. (LZ)