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Date: 8/3/2021
SOUTH HADLEY – Tower Theater is preparing for its first special live event since pandemic restrictions have lifted.
Director of Development for Tower Theater Stacey Velez said the theater has been known to host special events “every once in a while” prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously she said the theater had hosted a “special tea” when the “Downton Abbey” movie premiered, used to show “Rockey Horror Picture Show” events, and has hosted variety shows and environmental film festivals.
Now, Mike Lemme is returning to the theater for the second time in his career to perform a live comedy show. Velez said Lemme contacted the theater in hopes of doing another live show now that pandemic restrictions had been lifted.
Lemme described the show as “completely different than any show I’ve ever done.” He explained that the show varies from his usual stand-up style, and is more of a “solo-show, it’s more theatrical.” He said, “It still has jokes, and still has a stand up element. I would describe it as a play more than standup.”
He said the content of the show revolved around the feelings one has when moving out of somewhere. “The basic theme of the show is moving out of my apartment. It revolves around some of the feelings and thoughts when you move, memories you have of being in that place and possibly looking forward,” he said.
Lemme said he was inspired to write the show during the pandemic. “The show itself is not about the pandemic, but the pandemic definitely inspired me to write the show,” he said. Lemme, who grew up in Chicopee and now lives in New York City, went on to explain the pandemic had caused him to re-evaluate the route he was taking with regard to marketing himself in the comedy world.
“The pandemic opened my eyes to trying to pursue doing my own thing ... instead of trying to keep getting into these comedy clubs,” he said. “Ideally, taking my own path if that works out. If this show becomes more and more successful I’ll get into the comedy clubs.”
Lemme will perform his live show at Tower Theater on 19 College St. in the Village Commons on three separate dates, Aug. 20, Aug. 21 and Aug. 22. The Aug. 20 and Aug. 21 shows will start at 9:30 p.m. with doors opening at 9 p.m. The Aug. 22 show will begin at 11 a.m. with doors opening at 10:30 a.m. A free continental brunch will be served prior to the Aug. 22 show, and beer and wine will be available for purchase at the Aug. 20 and 21 shows. The theater is asking those in attendance to be “fully vaccinated.”
Lemme echoed the sentiment for safety and said, “I hope anyone who attends is fully vaccinated, masks on if we have to do that. Safety first.”
Tickets for the event cost $10.50 per person and can be bought online at https://towertheater.com/ or in person at the theater. Velez said if there are still tickets available prior to the show they will be available for purchase the day of the event. However, she said the theater is still operating at 50 percent capacity and they “don’t expect to have to add seats for this kind of event.”