Houston – 50 years after it first became a quirky cultural sensation, the Pet Rock is back—but this time, it’s live on stage. A Rock Story, a new play written and directed by Davis Gordon Gilbert, brings to life the unexpected, six-month moment in 1975 when Americans collectively fell in love with…a rock.
The show follows the unlikely journey of Gary Dahl, played by actor Jackson Kimbrough. Dahl is the man behind the fad that sold over a million “pets” and made him a millionaire in months. Kimbrough stars as Dahl, diving into the role of a dreamer whose bizarre idea—marketed with witty instructions and packed in a cardboard “pet carrier”—became an overnight sensation.
The play mixes humor and heart with a dose of nostalgia, resonating with both those who remember the original craze and a new generation learning about it for the first time. A Rock’s Story opens Thursday at MATCH and runs through Sunday.
And yes—you can still buy a Pet Rock today. We found some reviews on Amazon of those who spent $29.99 plus tax for a rock.