Was the most historic moment at Shreveport’s iconic Strand Theatre not a classical ballet or a dramatic play, but a comedian with an accordion? As Shreveport celebrates the Strand’s 100th anniversary, we’re taking a look back at the night the historic stagfe was taken over by the king of musical parody, “Weird Al” Yankovic. While the Strang is a monument to timeless masterpieces, Al’s performance was a hilarious, bizarre, and unforgettable break from the norm.
It was only in 2022, when the Strand was already 97 years old, that “Weird Al” transformed the grand stage for an audience that was a little less posh than those audiences watching Broadway budget productions in 1925. That night’s set list was full of Yankovic’s best original material, songs like Close but No Cigar, UHF, First World Problems, and Nature Trail to Hell. Fun fact: That wasn’t the only time, or the first time “Weird Al” has been to the Strand. Back in 2000, Shreveport was graced with two “Weird Al” concerts at the Strand.
In its century standing in downtown Shreveport, the Strand has proved its greatest strength has been its ability to change with time. When the Strand opened its doors for the first time, the stage was reserved for the plays of old, operas, and orchestras. Over the years, The Strand has seen 100s of concerts from a wide variety of artists that might showcase what was popular at the time or artists that make you say, “those guys played in Shreveport?”…