Fans of the cult classic film American Pie scrambled for tickets as star Thomas Ian Nicholas announced a special trivia night in the Hunter region. The event, set for Wednesday night at Kahibah Sports Club, sold out rapidly, leaving a lengthy waitlist of disappointed hopefuls.
From Silver Screen to Trivia Host
The actor, best known for playing Kevin Myers in the iconic franchise, has carved out a unique side hustle while on tour. Nicholas hosts themed trivia nights dedicated to the movies, which have proven a massive hit in the UK and are now gaining traction in Australia and the US. The Kahibah event filled up in roughly 24 hours, a fact that humbled the star.
"I heard the Newcastle trivia night got booked out in, like, 24 hours, with a wait-list. I'm very grateful for the excitement around that," Nicholas said during a brief break before a soundcheck in Tamworth on Monday night.
Music, Movies and Australian Roots
Nicholas is currently in Australia primarily for music, not movies. He is fronting the Thomas Nicholas Band, which is supporting US pop-punk group Wheatus on a tour marking the 25th anniversary of their hit Teenage Dirtbag. That song dominated the Australian ARIA Charts for four weeks straight in 2000.
This visit marks his fourth tour Down Under in just 11 months, driven partly by strong family connections. Nicholas revealed his grandmother was born in Fremantle and his great-grandmother in Hobart. He even made a surprising historical claim: "You may have heard, my great great grandfather was Ned Kelly's uncle. Legit."
His band previously sold out a show at Newcastle's Hamilton Station Hotel in February last year, which included a screening and Q&A session.
Club Braces for a Fun Night
Back at Kahibah Sports Club, marketing and events manager Alexandra Dezius has been inundated with calls and emails from people desperate for tickets. The club partnered with booking agency EAO Entertainment to secure the unique event as part of an effort to expand its live music and entertainment offerings.
"Obviously we jumped at the chance," Dezius said. "People have been begging for tickets but it has sold out. We're trying to fit in as many as we can." She anticipates a lively atmosphere, expecting many to turn up at the club regardless to soak in the buzz of the event.
For Nicholas, the trivia nights are a passion project. He incorporates multimedia clips from across the film franchise and taps into the beloved soundtrack. As the demand in Kahibah shows, for fans in the Hunter, this is one event they definitely didn't want to miss.
