After the year we just had, everybody needs a little vacation. And Capital Region audiences will soon have just that when Saturday Night Live legend Chevy Chase swings through Albany’s Palace Theatre to host a live Q&A and screening of his holiday classic, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
Audiences will first get to screen the 1989 movie, which stars Chase, reprising his role as Clark Griswold, from National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983) and National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985), acting opposite comedy heavyweights such as Beverly D’Angelo (Ellen Griswold) and Randy Quaid (Cousin Eddie). The film tells the tale of the Griswold’s family Christmas at home, which of course, involves much hilarity, physical comedy and many quotable lines. (Notably, the movie was written by John Hughes.)
Following the screening, audiences will then get to do a live Q&A with Chase, who will share stories from his career and the making of Christmas Vacation, as well as the many other classic movies and television programs he’s starred in throughout his career.
The three-time Emmy-winning Chase, who got his big break during the classic ’70s era of Saturday Night Live, became one of the most sought after comedy movie stars of the ’80s, starring in staples such as Caddyshack (1980), Fletch (1985) and Three Amigos! (1986). Chase also memorably appears in the MTV video, opposite Paul Simon, in the songwriter’s 1986 single “You Can Call Me Al.”
Later on in his career, Chase successfully returned to the small screen, making memorable cameos in shows such as Chuck and Family Guy, before doing an 85-episode turn on Community, which introduced him to a whole new generation of fans.
Tickets to the event, which takes place on December 15 at 7:30pm, go on sale this Friday, October 29, at 10am. For more information, go to the Palace Theatre’s website.
