The Virginia Theatre is showing a special screening of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” on Saturday at 7 p.m. in celebration of its 50th anniversary.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is a musical comedy horror film that follows an innocent young couple as they enter the world of an alien cross-dresser mad scientist, Dr. Frank-N-Furter, in Tim Curry’s film debut. Harshly criticized when it was first released, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is now screened across the country annually around Halloween.
The screening will feature a live shadow cast who will act out the story in front of the screen. Hosting the event will be Jess Schlipf in their drag persona, “Spank Knightly.”
“I would advise anybody coming for the first time to just have fun with it,” Schlipf said. “A shadow cast is like the most camp thing ever. It’s watching the show in front of the movie, and people can make it as dumb or as accurate as they can.”
While in rehearsal, director Rick Vessel shouts out obscenities and callouts that have become a part of screening traditions across the world.
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“If you’ve never seen ‘Rocky Horror’ before, you’ve got to keep in mind, it’s a lot to take in,” Vessel said. “Shadow casting has definitely kept the show alive, but I think the underlying message of the movie, also, of self-expression.”
Before the screening, the theatre will host other activities, including a trivia contest and a costume contest, both with prizes. The first 100 patrons will also receive goodie bags before the show.
Clad in leather pumps, Dylan Holt is taking on the role of the mad scientist and “Sweet Transvestite,” Dr. Frank-N-Furter.
“Tim Curry’s shoes are comfortable, but hard to fill,” Holt said. “It’s a queer classic, and I just want to put my own spin on it and do it justice.”
According to Holt, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show’s” themes of self expression and inclusion of different gender expressions have made it a classic for the LGBTQ community.
“It’s just an immediate safe space where you can be yourself and be free and express yourself without judgment,” Holt said. “And those are becoming fewer and fewer these days. It keeps people celebrating queerness while keeping this tradition alive.”
Tickets are available on the Virginia Theatre website for $7.
“It’s a bad movie, but it’s also not bad because a lot of queer people and weirdos really identify with it,” Schlipf said. “That’s what created this legacy.”
