Staged By The Bell

Live Episdes of Saved By the Bell (No, Really)

HELD OVER THROUGH NOVEMBER!

Everyone remembers the 1990’s Saturday morning television show “Saved By the Bell” for its ridiculously delivered messages, over-the-top characters, and comedic dialogue that only a laugh track could love. The stars of the show went on to suck in such equally unimpressive projects as Showgirls, Beverly Hills 90210 and the worst season of NYPD Blue ever! Clearly it’s a body of work lacking the merit that would deserve homage.

This is why The Institution Theatre feels that there is no better source material than Saved By The Bell for a full blown stage production with all the characters, dialogue, joy, laughter and life lessons completely and accurately in tact. Directed by Tom Booker, the man who has written and directed such theatrical extravaganzas as  “MANSON: The Musical”, “Patty, Patty, BANG! BANG! – The Patty Hearst Musical”, “Up With Puberty!” and “You, Me and LSD!” in the camp-tastic tradition of his previous hit Los Angeles stage adaptation of “Valley of the Dolls” (A stage adaptation of the 1968 film that eventually went to Off Broadway) as well as the Off-Broadway and Los Angeles run of “The Real Live Brady Bunch” in which he played Bobby.

The cast of “Staged By The Bell” features: Patrick Daniels as Zach Morris, Lauren Forman as Kelly Kapowski , Bryan Cruz as A.C. Slater, Ellana Kelter as Jessie Spano, Bryan Roberts as Samuel ‘Screech’ Powers, Espie Randolph as Lisa Turtle, and Terrill Fischer as Principal Belding.

Preceding “Staged By The Bell” will be an original live game show called “The Game Show” in which four lucky contestants will be selected from the audience and will get the opportunity to play fun games like and “Sing For Your Supper”, “High School Soap Opera” and “The Final Countdown” and win fabulous prizes donated by local Austin merchants. Esther’s Follies cast member, Ted Meredith will host“The Game Show” as fellow Esther’s Follies cast member Natalie Holmes plays the Sassy Spokesmodel.

The inaugural run of “Staged By The Bell” will focus on the episode “Jesse’s Song” in which Elizabeth Berkley’s character overambitious nature gets her hooked on caffeine pills. Later performances will tackle other memorable episodes from the SBTB oeuvre. “Staged By The Bell” will be performed on Sunday evenings at 8 p.m. on August 2nd, August 9th, August 16th and August 23rd. At  The United States Art Authority at The Spider House, 2906 Fruth Street, Austin, TX. Tickets cost $10. Buy tickets here: http://www.theinstitutiontheatre.com/shows/staged-by-the-bell/

Upcoming Episodes

"Jessie's Song" (aka "I'm So Excited....)

Sunday, September 20th at 8 p.m.

Sunday, October 4th at 8 p.m.

Jessie is under pressure with Mr. Dewey's geometry midterm coming up, National Honor Society and Student Council Meetings taking up her time, and a very important audition for her singing group, Hot Sundae (Remember their music video?), on the horizon. What is a girl supposed to do? Especially if she wants to get into Stanford. Why, start popping Keep-A-Lert pills, of course! Jessie ignores Slater's warning that the pills are hazardous to her health and soon finds herself flying high in a caffeine fueled world where she's so excited, she's so excited, she's so...

"The Zack Tapes"

Sunday, October 18th at 8 p.m.

Sunday, October 25th at 8 p.m.

Sunday, November 1st at 8 p.m.

Zack loves Kelly. But Kelly doesn't always love Zack. With the Sweetheart Dance looming, Zack needs to get Kelly to love him in a hurry or she may go to the Sweetheart Dance with Slater. Luckily Zack learns about subliminal advertising in class and realizes that it could be used to trick Kelly into going to the dance with him. The plan works, for a little while. But when everyone else at Bayside eventually catches on, they decide to play a joke on Zack which leads to the closest thing to a Zombie invasion that you will ever see at Bayside High.

"The Prom"

Sunday, November 8th at 8 p.m.

Sunday, November 15th at 8 p.m.

Sunday, November 22nd at 8 p.m.

With the prom coming up everyone needs to pick a partner. When Kelly chooses Zack over Slater, for Zack, it seems to good to be true. Which it turns out to be. As Kelly is excitedly making plans to buy her first prom dress, she is informed by her father that world peace has broken out and that he was laid off of his job at the Defense Plant. Kelly, being the kind-hearted high school girl that she is, gives the money that her father had given her to buy a dress for the prom, back to her father to help out her family. Alas, Kelly and Zach don't end up going to the prom together....or do they?