Shelby Parker stepped into theater 13 at Regal Butler Town Center Cinema with an orange top and friendship bracelets adorning her wrists. She sat between a woman wearing a sparkly dress and a girl who had on an Eras Tour T-shirt and skirt. With her Pepsi and popcorn in hand, Parker zipped up her Eras Tour jacket and settled in.
The UF sophomore was ready to spend her Friday night celebrating the latest Taylor Swift album drop, “The Life of a Showgirl.”
Thousands of Swifties swarmed movie theaters for the three-day showing of “Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl.”
“It was worth it to get to hear about Taylor’s process and thoughts behind each song,” said Parker, a 19-year-old UF applied physiology and kinesiology student. “Taylor has such a creative mind that it’s so interesting to see how involved she is in all aspects of her work.”
Parker is one of thousands of Swifties who swarmed movie theaters for the three-day showing of “Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl.” The 90-minute experience included a behind-the-scenes look at the “The Fate of Ophelia” music video and an interview with Swift sharing the inspirations and meanings behind each song.
Swift topped the charts as the No. 1 release in North American box office last weekend, with domestic sales totaling over $33 million. Mike Sprague, deputy general manager at Regal Butler Town Center, said the theater was sold out on Friday and Sunday with showings almost every hour. It saw a slight dip in sales Saturday, which Sprague attributed to the UF football game.
“We’re doing very well, and we love the Taylor Swift crowd,” Sprague said. “They’re always so enthusiastic and dressed up.”
Laurelle Griffin, a 30-year-old UF development coordinator, said she considers herself a big Swiftie, having attended the Eras Tour twice and owning a collection of Swift vinyls and cardigans.
“Instead of just listening to it alone in your room, you get to squeal over all the little lyrics,” Griffin said. “There are references to her life and different songs. You’re with a room full of people who get it.”
Many of Swift’s albums and tours have been accompanied by a concert film, which takes fans through a deep dive of the production and songwriting process behind her discography. Swift’s last venture into movie theaters was the “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” film, which notably encouraged moviegoers to sing and dance through the movie.
Keira Moran, a 20-year-old UF marketing junior and the president of UF’s Taylor Swift Society, watched the promotional film and said she was most excited to hear the context behind each song because they each touch on different topics.
Moran, a fan of many different music styles, said she was curious to learn more about the use of samples, including from George Michael’s 1987 track “Father Figure,” and the production of this album.
“It’s so cool that Taylor is at the size where she can sell out not only stadiums but whole movie theaters for a weekend event, where basically all she’s doing is sitting down and explaining the songs,” Moran said.
As the leader of UF’s official Swiftie student group, Moran helped host events across Gainesville celebrating the album release. That included a collaboration with the UF volleyball team for a Swift-themed game and events at local businesses.
“We really wanted to do something special for the album,” Moran said, adding that she had been a Swift fan since 7 years old. “I’ve made a whole-day event out of it. … I really wanted to channel that energy and give people that environment.”
Emily Moreno is a contributing writer for The Alligator. Contact her at emilymoreno@ufl.edu.
