In the heart of the Quartier des spectacles, the stage is set, the costumes are ready, and the legendary Cinéma Impérial awaits. The Rocky Horror Picture Show Halloween Ball is back, celebrating its 25th anniversary with a bang!
From October 26th to 28th, join the fun for a spine-tingling, interactive experience that pays homage to the cult classic that’s been thrilling audiences for nearly half a century.
Picture this: the original 1975 film, written by Richard O’Brien and Jim Sharman, takes center stage at the majestic Cinéma Impérial.
The host for this thrilling event is none other than the fabulous Peaches LePoz (Jordan Arseneault), an award-winning activist, performer, and workshop facilitator in Montreal’s vibrant queer scene.
Experience the Time Warp:
This year’s Halloween edition will transport you back to the essence of early Rocky Horror screenings. No shadowcast, just pure unadulterated fun!
Dress up as your favorite character or simply come as you are – creativity knows no bounds at this ball. Participate in the eccentric costume contest, join the Time Warp dance, and shout out hilarious call-backs to the film’s immortal lines. Expect flying props and uproarious laughter in the vintage movie palace.
But what makes the Rocky Horror Picture Show truly timeless is its message of acceptance. It’s okay to be different, and this satire of traditional gender roles encourages tolerance and self-expression, no matter who you are.
Immersive Cinematic Ritual:
For Peaches LePoz, the Rocky Horror Picture Show is a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience that will transport you back to the exhilaration of your teenage years. It’s the ultimate subcultural ritual, a maximalist version of watching a forbidden film with friends.
As Peaches puts it:
“It’s the ‘time warp,’ again….Also, I love Susan Sarandon.“
In a world dominated by technology and isolation, the Rocky Horror Picture Show Halloween Ball provides a shared space for you to break free from the mundane and express yourself with abandon.
It’s a tactile, visceral experience that celebrates joy, freedom, and acceptance.
A Cult Classic Like No Other:
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is the most popular cult movie of all time, and for good reason.
Engaged sweethearts Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon), stuck with a flat tire on a stormy night, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry) an alien cross-dressing scientist with a manic genius and insatiable libido.
As their innocence unravels, they meet a houseful of wild characters celebrating an annual convention, including a rocking biker and a creepy butler. Through elaborate dances and songs, Frank-N-Furter unveils his latest creation: a muscle man named Rocky.
The night’s misadventures cause Brad and Janet to question everything they’ve known about themselves, love, and lust.
I got the chance to interview the fabulous host for this 2023 edition , Peaches LePoz (Jordan Arseneault)
For Rocky “Virgins“, what do you think is the most surprising aspect of the whole event?
Well… The Rocky Horror Picture Show (RHPS) is an immersive and interactive event, taken to campy extremes in this screening experience. Whether you’re an RHPS die-hard, a virgin, or any open-minded spectator, you’ll hopefully leave the theater recognizing that the real absurdity is in our day-to-day lives, where bodily pleasure is only ever experienced in private, or even, guiltily.
In our current times, how important or relevant is The Rocky Horror Picture Show
experience in promoting values of inclusivity and tolerance?
One of RHPS’s superpowers comes from its glorious social commentary, which is
communicated in the genre of sci-fi and horror. What prejudices do you still hold that prevent you from living fully? What is there to lose by singing, or dancing, or watching a movie with a person who is queer, trans, old or not-the-kind-of-body-you-like or has-a-boring-job or who is not like you?
We need these gathering places to remember that all our prejudices can literally be checked at the door whenever we want to.
As an MC and hosting the costume contest… will your own costume be inspired by one of the characters or be something original?
I have the responsibility of living up to the MC’ing standards of Jackie Jett, Plastik Patrik, and Tranna Wintour, which are big platforms to fill.
Thus to upstage everybody and not be tagged in a “who wore is better?” diptych, I will absolutely be making something original that may even change from one night to the next!
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Thanks to Peaches LePoz for taking the time to answer my questions.
Embrace the Experience:
First-timers, or “Rocky virgins,” are welcomed with open arms.
Expect wacky props that pair up with legendary scenes, like squirt guns for the rain scene, and glow sticks for “There’s a Light.” Everyone is there to have a blast in a safe space for self-expression.
Johnny O, a long-time film projectionist, has a simple message: “Get silly—go all in on this experience in whatever way feels fun for you. Dance, laugh, yell, wear something fabulous, and channel your inner Rocky Horror character. See you at the Picture Show!“
Student Night Special:
On Thursday, October 26th, students with a valid student ID get a $5 discount on their tickets. Don’t miss out on this special deal!
“Time is fleeting…” Get Your Tickets:
The Rocky Horror Picture Show Halloween Ball runs from Thursday, October 26 to Saturday, October 28, with two showtimes at 7pm and 11pm each day.
Tickets are on sale starting September 28 and can be purchased from the official website, www.RockyHorrorMtl.com, or at the Cinéma Impérial box office on show nights only.
Don’t miss your chance to revel in the madness, the music, and the magic of The Rocky Horror Picture Show Halloween Ball.
It’s a celebration of acceptance, a journey of self-discovery, and an unforgettable night of rock ‘n roll, science fiction, and horror that you’ll cherish forever.
Come as you are, or as anyone you’d like to be – just remember, “Don’t dream it, be it!”