Zombies, skeletons take their final bows as ‘Thriller’ closes for good

For nearly 20 years, some of Halloween’s most popular characters have danced their way across the Tuacahn stage and become a tradition highlighting the spookiest time of year.

But now, even the undead are ready to rest in peace as Odyssey Dance Theatre’s production of Thriller dons the iconic costumes one final time.

“It’s been a great run,” says Derryl Yeager, founder of Odyssey Dance Theatre and the production of Thriller. “We’ve done great things and it’s been exciting, but it feels like it’s time to let someone else carry the flame.”

The conclusion, marked by Yeager’s retirement and the closing of Odyssey Dance Theatre as a whole, is not something fans are ready to embrace; but those who love this show best are excited for a chance to witness the company’s spooky swan song.

“I figured, if we’re going down, let’s go down in flames,”

Cierra Melling has been a fan of Thriller since her first exposure to the production roughly 10 years ago.

“I just started going with my family and I loved it,” Melling says. “It was something my parents did for us every year at Halloween.”

The family tradition began when Melling was in her teens. Now, at age 24, she estimates seeing the show 10 times or more, calling both she and her mother

“superfans.”

“It’s fun to see the same routines that we look forward to every year, but we also love seeing the changes they make,” Melling says. “I just love the overall feel of the production. It’s very family friendly. Spooky, but not too scary. And I love the humor in it.”

Not surprisingly, Melling was “so sad!” to hear this would be the last year.

“It’s disappointing that we can’t keep our family tradition going, but I was glad to know in advance that this would be the last year so we can plan one last hurrah,” she says.

For Yeager, a major part of the joy he’s found in two decades behind this project, comes from the many stories he hears about dance-averse patrons who are dragged to the production by a family member, and end up loving the show.

“It’s just the icing on the cake to hear people in the audience laughing so hard,” Yeager says. “People really love the humor. It’s so few and far between to find a dance performance that is of such high quality and also humorous.”

Although it’s hard for current fans to believe, the humor — and even the idea for a Halloween dance show — wasn’t always greeted with such enthusiasm. In fact, it came very close to not happening at all.

“We started off with four performances at Kingsbury Hall (in Salt Lake City), in 2000 or 2001,” Yeager says. “About four days before we were set to open the guy who owned the theater called me and said, ‘we’ve only sold a few tickets. You should think about cancelling.’”

But Yeager said he really felt like they were building something special, so he leaned into the uncertainty just to see where things would go.

“I figured, if we’re going down, let’s go down in flames,” he says.

In the end, they sold about 300 tickets, and the response was really strong. Within three years they were selling out performances of Thriller at Kingsbury Hall.

In 2003 Yeager and his dancers brought the ghosts and ghouls to Southern Utah, casting a spooky shadow at Tuacahn and starting a tradition that brings many fans back year after year.

“It’s a long process to let it all go, but it will be great to see what the next chapter of life brings.”

“It started with a handful of Tuacahn shows and blossomed into a full week,” Yeager says. “Thriller has really become like our company’s ‘Nutcracker’. It’s the season that provides the funds for us to operate the rest of the year.”

Over time, fans have developed a love for certain aspects of the show, whether it is The Lost Boys, Salem’s Mass, the tongue-in-cheek Cuts Like a Knife featuring Lorena Bobbitt, or a piece highlighting the lead character from Friday the 13th known as Jason Jam.

“It’s one of the most iconic parts of the show,” Yeager says of Jason Jam. “You have these three Jasons dancing with ice picks and machetes and it’s clear there is one who didn’t quite graduate from Jason School. The kids just laugh their heads off at this because we’ve all known this guy; someone at the back of the class.”

Another highlight for Yeager, that he plans to include this year, is a twist on the highly acclaimed River Dance, known as the River of Blood Dance, where the dancers are systematically picked off by an off-stage sniper, while those remaining keep dancing like their lives depend on it.

Melling is here for it all. In particular, she loves to see the pre-show zombies wandering around the audience.

“That part is so entertaining for me,” Melling says.

She also loves the beautifully haunting Bride of Frankenstein and the upbeat ‘Dem Bones — a black light skeleton piece.

“It’s sad, but at the same time, it feels like the right thing to do,” Yeager says of the final run. “It’s a long process to let it all go, but it will be great to see what the next chapter of life brings.”

Melling isn’t sure what she’ll do next year in place of this beloved tradition, but in the meantime, she’s anxious to see what the cast of Thriller has in store.

“I’m hoping there is something extra to sign off, something to recognize it’s the final season,” Melling says.

Find out for yourself during the final season of Thriller at Tuacahn this fall. Tickets are on sale now at www.tuacahn.org or by calling 652-3300.