A brand-new state-of-the-art special events and exhibition center, Premier Exhibitions Fifth Avenue (417 Fifth Avenue, between 37th and 38th Streets) debuts beginning Saturday with Saturday Night Live: The Exhibition.
Celebrating the 40th anniversary year of NBC’s iconic late night show, there’ll be “backstage and foundational elements” from the show’s history, including photos, video, scripts, and props and set pieces from 30 Rock’s Studio 8H fans can interact with to tell fans the story of this pioneering TV show that never lost its cutting-edge and unpredictably – not to mention controversy, which the show seem to constantly stir up.
SNL gave birth to dozens of megastars who made it an American cultural phenomenon. The roster includes Fred Armisen, Dan Aykroyd, Vanessa Bayer, John Belushi, Beck Bennett, Aidy Bryant, Dana Carvey, Chevy Chase, Michael Che, Ethel Cleghorne, Billy Cyrstal, Jane Curtin, Rachel Drach, Nora Dunn, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Farley, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Will Forte, Al Franken, Janeane Garofalo, Bill Hader, Darrell Hammond, Phil Hartman, Jan Hooks, Victoria Jackson, Taran Killam, Jon Lovitz, Tim Meadows, Dennis Miller, Tracy Morgan, Garrett Morris, Bobby Moynihan, Eddie Murphy, Bill Murray, Mike Myers, Kevin Nealon, Laraine Newman, Chen Olen, Chris Parnell, Nasim Pedrad, Jay Pharoah, Joe Piscopo, Amy Poehler, Colin Quinn, Gilda Radner, Maya Rudolph, Andy Samberg, Adam Sandler, Horatio Sanz, Rob Schneider, Molly Shannon, David Spade, Jason Sudeikis, Kenan Thompson, and Kristen Wiiig.
SNL: The Exhibition features a wealth of iconic elements from every era of the show’s history starting with the first script.Fans begin the journey in a recreation of the NBC theater lobby and follow behind-the-scenes the week-long creative process from executive producer Lorne Michaels’ office to script read-throughs, scenic design, hair and makeup, wardrobe, split-second machinations of the control room, and appearances by musical guests. The week-long creative process unfolds into raucous and edge-of-the-seat comedy, sometimes ripped right out of the headlines.
SNL has won 40 Emmy Awards and is the most nominated show in Emmy history. Though the cast has changed season to season, the heart of what has made SNL a cultural phenomenon for several generations has remained constant: razor-sharp wit, biting satire, an irreverent and unpredictable approach to comedy, along with top-of-the-chart recording legends and up-to-the-minute hot guest hosts.
Tickets are $29, and available at www.SNLtheexhibition.com, where you can find more information including exhibit hours.
Ellis Nassour is an Ole Miss alum and noted arts journalist and author who recently donated an ever-growing exhibition of performing arts history to the University of Mississippi. He is the author of the best-selling Patsy Cline biography, Honky Tonk Angel, as well as the hit musical revue, Always, Patsy Cline.
