The Gaslight Theatre has been entertaining Tucson since November of 1977 - and it is still one of Tucson’s most beloved entertainment destinations!
It all started as the brainchild of Tony Terry, a UA student, who rounded up a gang of his friends and headed to Alaska one summer, where the group formed their own drama troupe. They apparently missed the desert sunshine, though, because they headed back to Tucson the following autumn and began operating the infant Gaslight Theatre out of an old red barn in Trail Dust Town on Tanque Verde Road. Soon, The Gaslight began to outgrow the old red barn. After moving twice, The Gaslight Theatre finally ended up at their current location in 1990 where they renovated the building and added on Little Anthony’s Diner.
Since the beginning, Gaslight Theatre has charmed Tucson with hilarious melodrama spoofs for the entire family. Featuring both old and new popular songs, performances by a talented cast, a delicious diner-style menu, and free popcorn on every table, The Gaslight Theatre will have you and your kids doubled over with laughter.
The Gaslight Theatre sits on the corner of Broadway and Kolb at 7010 E Broadway Boulevard in East Tucson.
Box office hours are 10:00am to 8:00pm daily.
Other than for shows, The Gaslight Theatre is generally not open to the public.
The vast majority of The Gaslight Theatre’s shows are their own hilarious spoofs of popular movies. Typically, the Gaslight has 5 mainstage melodrama shows per year. You can check out the current show here and upcoming shows here.
The Gaslight also puts on a themed concert almost every Monday night of the year. Whether you love the music of the 50's or you just can’t get enough of mariachi music, Gaslight will have a concert for you. See the line-up of upcoming concerts here.
An adult show ticket is $27.00 before tax, but The Gaslight Theatre offers discounts for children ($15.00 for ages 2-12), seniors ($25.00), students ($25.00), and members of our military ($25.00). Season tickets are also available - see six shows for the price of five!
A typical adult ticket for a Monday night concert is $27.00, but, again, The Gaslight offers discounts!
Lap-sitting babies (under 2) are always free
The Gaslight Theatre sits in a paved parking lot of over 200 parking spaces. You should always be able to find a spot.
The Gaslight Theatre, like the rest of Tucson, is typically pretty casual, but you are also welcome to dress up.
You should bring cash or your credit card along with your phone/camera. The Gaslight has several photo cutouts of past and present characters in front of the theatre. Fun photo opps for the whole family!
You can take photos, but flash photography and video are not permitted during performances.
Yes.
SHOW SUMMARY
Mild mannered student Billy Baker is just like any other student at Excelsior Junior College until a science experiment goes terribly wrong. When he is bitten by a genetically altered spider, Billy assumes powers and abilities he never dreamed of, but now he faces a difficult choice! Should he remain an average college student or use his new powers to help the imperiled citizens of Center City? Also, he must decide if his superpowers will help him get noticed by the lovely new student, Mary Lou. Will Billy defeat the dastardly Gremlin and his criminal associates and will Spider Guy find true love with Mary Lou? Find out as the Gaslight Theatre swings into action with its musical spoof….The Incredible Spider Guy!
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
The Gaslight Theatre is such a lively, unique venue. It's no surprise that almost all of the shows sell out! You and your family will enjoy cheering for the heroes and booing the villains in these humorous, interactive, musical shows.
Spider Guy's talented cast of nine is highly versatile on stage, but the creativity of the "behind the scenes" artistry (sets, musical arrangements, costuming) is equally stellar. We also love the live music that kicks off and concludes each performance. Pro Tip: The lyrics for the pre-show music are in the newspaper on your table so you can sing along!
Highlights:
SHOW TIMES:
Get your tickets today! Call 520-886-9428 or visit The Gaslight Theatre box office.
No.
Yes! Little Anthony’s Diner sits in the same building as The Gaslight Theatre. You can even enter the theatre through the diner! This fun 50s-themed diner is completely family-friendly. You can relax and enjoy a well-priced classic American sandwich, salad, or pizza while your kids play in the Little Anthony’s vintage arcade area.
Browse the full Little Anthony’s menu here.
The Gaslight has you covered! During the show, you will be able to order delicious diner favorites from one of The Gaslight’s friendly wait-staff. From sandwiches and pizzas to milkshakes and pie slices (a la mode), you will never need to go hungry at The Gaslight. Ordering is not obligatory, but it definitely adds to the experience.
Note that The Gaslight Theatre supplies all tables with complimentary popcorn throughout the entire show!
We’re glad you asked! At Little Anthony’s Diner and The Gaslight Theatre, you can order Grandma Tony’s Pizza, which comes in three different sizes. Prices range from $14 to $21, with eleven unlimited toppings. Gluten-free and cauliflower crust options are also available.
Absolutely! Your server is working hard to bring you beverages and menu items throughout the show. Be sure to leave a gratuity after the show. 15% to 20% is customary, but more is certainly welcome.
Every show is family-friendly! Kids love the melodrama shows and really get into yay-ing for the good guy and boo-ing for the bad guy. Kids are even welcome to come in costume. Feel free to stick around after curtain call to get a photo with the cast too.
*Note that mainstage shows are approximately two hours in length so it may be a bit long for a toddler to sit through.
With themes ranging from superheroes to Frankenstein, you may wonder if the shows at Gaslight Theatre have frightening components. All of the shows do have a villain (or, in most cases, a team of villains), but they are "playfully bad" (they frequently sing and dance alongside the good guys!). Most children will enjoy booing for the bad guys and celebrating along with the heroes. The shows always conclude with a happy ending!
No. Walking will be minimal and the space is not very big. Plus, a stroller might be difficult to fit around some of the tables in the theatre.
Yes. The bathrooms are a tight squeeze.
Yes! The Gaslight Theatre is available for special events, meetings, and presentations.
Yes! You can follow The Gaslight Theatre on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.
The TucsonTopia editorial team thinks that there is no place in Tucson quite like The Gaslight Theatre. At Gaslight, you can enjoy an old-fashioned evening that includes a lovable cast, excellent sets, creative music that makes you want to sing along, free popcorn, and a dinner theatre style experience. As an audience member, you can't help but smile until your cheeks hurt all throughout the show!
We are particularly grateful that The Gaslight Theatre has remained solidly in the family-friendly category from day one, thanks to the leadership and vision of Tony Terry. We'd love to see this dream live on in the coming decade, steering clear of adult jokes and stage selections. In that same vein, we'd love for the costume team to keep modesty in mind as we've noticed a slow trend toward shorter skirts and lower necklines.
That's about it. Get your tickets quick and have a blast!
