About this Event
About/History
The Lord of Misrule is an ancient Christmas tradition dating back to Christmas’ origins as Saturnalia. A beggar is crowned the Lord of Misrule to preside over drunken mobs and Christmas parties. The Lord of Misrule would often make demands of local gentry (usually more food or booze) and if the gentry failed to meet the demands; the Lord of Misrule would incite a riot against the gentry, destroying property and threatening violence. Basically, forced Christmas Charity. We’ve taken this ancient Christmas practice and devised a new kind of play. Raucous Christmas absurdity, for the betterment of the community. Instead of paying for a ticket, the audience donates money to Our Unsheltered Relatives during the play to change the way the actors perform their scenes.
First produced in 2019, The Lord of Misrule has become an SLC Christmas Tradition, growing each year. The first production of The Lord of Misrule was created to assist the Road Home during the closure of their downtown shelter. Each year, The Lord of Misrule serves as a fun, interactive way to give to those who are most in need this holiday season.
Story Summary
Televangelist Lucas Karol, Heals the "sick," performs "exorcisms," but most importantly, collects donations from his followers for these miracles on his daytime TV show, Scriptures Unscripted. Then, during Pastor Karol Presents: A Christmas Carol, a rowdy mob hijacks the show and the Pastor, his wife, and his special guests are forced to obey the orders of the Lord of Misrule who is leading the mob while performing their Christmas pageant.
The Audience can change the play in various ways by making donations to Our Unsheltered Relatives. The show’s program will have a list of challenges for the actors an audience member can order. As more and more of these challenges are piled onto the characters, more of their real personalities rise to the surface. Will Pastor Karol’s church survive this hostile yuletide takeover?
Where/When
Tickets:
Tickets are optional
$0: General Admission$10: General Admission and Stocking pack with throwable items, noise makers, and treats
The Beehive, 666 South State Street, Salt Lake CityThursday, December 19th at 7pm
About Lords of Misrule Theatre Company
Lords of Misrule Theatre Co formed unofficially in 2019 with the closure of The Road Home shelter in downtown Salt Lake City. A group of friends from the Salt Lake Community College theatre program got together and devised a unique show based on mutual-aid and community support. The show was called The Lord of Misrule and it pioneered the donation based theater model they continue to use today. Instead of buying a ticket, the audience donates money to a charitable cause or community aid group to change how the actors have to perform the show. Lords of Misrule shows have raised money for The Road Home, Our Unsheltered Relatives, The U of U Pr*son Education Project, AAMP Utah, and Save The Kids Group.
Lords of Misrule are part of AAMP Utah, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting alternative arts and music with a focus on access. The theater company holds no-cost improv and acting classes every Saturday from 2-4pm at Mark of the Beastro.
AAMP Utah
AAMP stands for Alternative Arts and Music Program. Their mission is to improve arts access by providing free or no-cost resources and classes to Utah’s independent performance artists. They have a special focus on alternative art and communities who are underrepresented.
AAMP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aamputah/
AAMP Website: https://www.aamputah.org/
Supporting The 2nd and 2nd Coalition
Donations collected during the play will benefit The 2nd and 2nd Coalition. A Multi-organizational coalition that includes First United Methodist Church, Unsheltered Utah, Our Unsheltered Relatives (OURs), and other groups working to keep our unsheltered friends warm and safe on especially cold nights in Salt Lake City.
Information Website: https://unshelteredutah.org/
Suggested In-Kind Donation Items to bring
- Tarps
- Tents
- Camping supplies
- winter clothing,
- Blankets
- sleeping bags
- Gloves
- hand warmers
- Socks (new in package)
- Underwear (new in package)
- Diapers
Contact
For more information about the play, promotional photos, schedule interviews, or provide press coverage please contact:
RJ Walker
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
666 S State St, 666 South State Street, Salt Lake City, United States
USD 0.00 to USD 12.51
