Onyx breaks boundaries with live acts, plays, improv and 'Rocky Horror Picture Show'

jim miller/viewMichael Lehrer performs during improv night. Onyx managers said the comedy night, which features Second City actors, is one of the most popular at the theater, 953 E. Sahara Ave. Advertisement

It's the only community art space in town where morbidity, the macabre and the risqué are almost a prerequisite to any production -- but when a theater is housed inside of a clothing, leather and fetish store like The Rack, bursting the bonds of conventionality is almost to be expected.

At The Onyx, 953 E. Sahara Ave., patrons can see an absurdist production, scripted nudity, fetish plays, variety acts, musicals and improv. Owner Michael Morse opened the theater almost two years ago after becoming disgusted with the state of community theater in the city.

"There wasn't a stage for artists," Morse said. "That bothered me. There are so many talented actors, musicians, magicians, comedians and writers and directors in this city who were stuck. So, we opened our own theater."

Past productions have included a musical rendition of "300," "Sordid Lives," an operatic clown comedy routine secretly performed by Cirque du Soleil cast members, a screening of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" twice a month and Wednesday night Improv with The S.E.T. ( Student Experimental Theater).

Improv night consists of three skits, acted out by S.E.T. students and actual Second City actors.

"The Second City guys are very popular here," artistic director John Beane said. "We usually have a pretty big crowd on Wednesday nights."

Beane, founder of the Insurgo Theater Movement, came on board at The Onyx last summer in hopes that his direction might help spread the venue's mission statement.

"We want to present socially progressive, bold and beautiful work," Beane said. "We want a venue for theater artists in Vegas, both on and off the Strip, to present daring work in a setting that embraces the danger in that. We also want to offer audiences an opportunity to view this type of work and recognize the beauty that is there."

The venue's current theatrical production is Stanislaus Witkiewicz's absurdist classic "The Water Hen," now through Feb. 9. "Rocky Horror" is presented by local theater troupe Divine Decadence and plays at 11 p.m. the first and third Saturday of every month. S.E.T. is presented by the Second City Training Center at 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Admission prices are between $5 and $15.

"Some of the stuff that we do is fun, some is kooky, but it's all in the interest of art and bettering ourselves," Morse said.

For more information, visit www.onyxtheatre.com.