Freaks, weirdos, and general deviants packed into Hyatt’s Centennial II-IV late Saturday night for a special Dragon Con edition of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. The 1975 cult classic is infamous for its raucous midnight screenings. The plot is simple. Dr. Frank-N-Furter, played by Tim Curry, kicks off the movie’s plot by inviting a young couple into his mysterious mansion after their car breaks down on a country road one stormy night. The unassuming Brad and Janet, without alternatives, take shelter and experience an unforgettable night of campy antics. Over the past 50 years, a culture of audience participation has arisen, featuring character cosplays, shouts at the screen, and whimsical props.
Atlanta-based LDOD has hosted weekly screenings at the Plaza Theatre since 2000. LDOD features a volunteer shadowcast with actors performing on-stage as the movie itself screens behind them. The action on-screen and on-stage is remarkably synchronous, and the performances are elaborate. The same cast tends to perform each week with periodic shifts over time as actors step in and out of roles.
Given its passion for the quirky, Dragon Con seems a likely fit for something like Rocky Horror. And lo–the convention has partnered with LDOD to show Rocky Horror Picture Show for the past 23 years. The convention space allows for a larger-scale production than is possible at the weekly Plaza showings. The event has always been well-attended, but Curry’s recent passing attracted a larger audience to Rocky Horror than Dragon Con has ever seen before.
Daily Dragon spoke with several attendees about their Rocky Horror takes. Rod Young has seen the film countless times. “I stopped counting at 67,” he recalls. The friendly, silly environment fosters community, and this has been his experience at screenings across the country. Eddie Valdez and Ava Wright are attending for the very first time. Expectations for the film itself are modest, but they hope that the full experience is as unforgettable as people say. They were brought by their friend Brandon, who himself was introduced to the movie as a teenager. He recalls seeing it with his sister, cousin, and parents at the Plaza many years ago. “It was certainly an enlightening experience,” remembers Brandon, “but something that ultimately brought us a little closer together.”
Within the ballroom, attendees move chairs to make space for the clamoring con-goers in line outside. Cole Eisner patiently aided this reporter in squeezing in a few more seats and then graciously answered a bevy of questions. Eisner hails from Virginia Beach and has never seen an LDOD production of Rocky Horror Picture Show before. In fact, he has only seen the film on streaming. As a fan of theatre, Eisner is enthusiastic to witness the live experience for the very first time.
As the movie opened, the crowd chants began. They did not stop until almost two hours later as the credits rolled. Spoons were thrown. Newspapers were whipped out. Dancing, singing, shouting, until the audience had completely exhausted itself. Rocky Horror Picture Show is not only a Dragon Con staple, but an American pop culture fixture.
LDOD hosts Rocky Horror Picture Show screenings at Atlanta’s Plaza Theatre every Friday night at 11PM.
