If you haven’t caught it yet, this weekend will be your last chance to catch local theater company BooTown’s live rendition of the 90’s cult-classic movie Empire Records as Damn the Man. The show, which, for those of you who aren’t familiar with the original movie, is about a “coming-to-age-in-a-record-store tale” about a group of unique misfits who are united by a cause.
The performance of Damn the Man will be at Houston’s first independent record store, Cactus Music, which is obviously fitting (and so “meta”), and should make for a unique performance. I can just imagine the theater company using the setting to their advantage, and all the antics that would ensue.
BooTown has already performed this show at two other venues; the first weekend was at Rudyard’s, and the second was at Big Star Bar. They are rounding out the performance with a bang this weekend at Cactus Music, and I would assume they’ve saved the best for last.
The show is not just some verbatim re-enactment of Empire Records, however. Director Emily Hynds has chosen to take this performance in a different direction than the movie, by depicting a more realistic approach to the situation and ending. It would be safe to assume that things don’t necessarily end “happily-ever-after.”
There will be two showings this weekend of Damn the Man; one will be on Friday at 8pm, and the closing showings will be Saturday at 8pm and 10pm. Tickets are “pay-what-you-want” and can be purchased at the door. For more information, visit BooTown’s website.
