variety show

noun

|Updated on: 4 Aug 2018

Definition of variety show

: a theatrical entertainment of successive separate performances (as of songs, dances, skits, and acrobatic feats)

Recent Examples of variety show from the Web

The Body Political Team StarFox presents a burlesque and variety show exploring stories of the body as well as topics as gender, racial justice, age, weight/body type, mental health, sexuality and bodily autonomy.

— SFChronicle.com, "Theater capsule reviews and listings, week of June 24," 22 June 2018
But based on past events, WeezyAna Fest will be a hip-hop variety show with several local faves such as Big Freedia and the Hot Boyz, plus international powerhouses such as Drake, Gucci Mane, and 2 Chainz.

— doug maccash, NOLA.com, "The 4th Lil' WeezyAna Fest fires up on Aug. 25," 25 Apr. 2018
Trapp recently came off the road from a tour with Oates' Good Road Band and continues to host Trapped Above Ground, a music variety show held every Wednesday at Acme Feed & Seed in Nashville and webcast on AcmeRadioLive.com.

— gary graff, Billboard, "Nashville Guitar Ace Guthrie Trapp Premieres 'Life After Dark' Album With All-Star Cast," 7 Mar. 2018
Resistance Cabaret foolsFURY Factory Festival presents UMO Ensemble performing a cabaret/variety show centered around the theme of political resistance. 7 p.m. Thurs. and Sat.

— SFChronicle.com, "Theater capsule reviews and listings, week of July 8," 5 July 2018
A week earlier, the Beatles made its U.S. television debut on the popular variety show, and Sullivan invited the musicians back the following week for a repeat performance.

— matt schudel, Washington Post, "Marty Allen, fuzzy-haired member of popular 1960s comedy duo Allen & Rossi, dies at 95," 13 Feb. 2018
Angling and sand-castle building contests are slated for children tomorrow, along with a variety show, night street dancing and the second phase of a talent contest which started today.

— sandiegouniontribune.com, "July 2, 1966: Ocean Beach Pier Dedicated," 2 July 2018
Sitting Bull became famous after the battle through his role in Buffalo Bill Cody’s variety show Buffalo Bill’s Wild West.

— olivia b. waxman, Time, "The True Story Behind Woman Walks Ahead," 29 June 2018
The Academy at Civic Theatre is putting on variety shows June 23 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Performers range from 6 to 19 years old.

— hannah kirby, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "New Berlin Farmers Market gets new home," 18 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'variety show.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.