The Rocky Horror Picture Show Halloween Ball 2023 Featuring the original 1975 film
Written by Richard O’Brien and Jim Sharman Directed by Jim Sharman
Hosted by Peaches LePoz
Thursday, October 26 to Saturday, October 28
Watch an iconic clip to add to the antici…pation
“Give yourself over to absolute pleasure. Don’t dream it, be it… ”
MONTREAL, September 2023- Celebrating 25 years, the ultimate interactive cult film experience, The Rocky Horror Picture Show Halloween Ball returns to the gorgeous Cinéma Impérial in the heart of Quartier des spectacles for six uninhibited shows. This is the only Montreal event presenting the original film with audience participation. Forty-eight years after its initial release, The Rocky Horror Picture Show remains relevant with themes of non-judgmental inclusivity and tolerance. Running from October 26 to 28, tickets to this year’s long-running event are on sale starting September 28.
This 2023 Halloween edition goes back to the essence of early The Rocky Horror Picture Show screenings, there is no shadowcast. Moviegoers dress up as their favourite characters or any other playful outfit (encouraged but not compulsory); enjoy an eccentric costume contest; join in the Time Warp dance; shout out hilarious call backs to immortal lines in the film; and throw amusing stuff at each other in a beautiful, vintage movie palace. There is a new MC this year guiding the crowd; the fabulous, talented and awarded Peaches LePoz (Jordan Arseneault).
The film’s timeless message of acceptance—it is okay to be different—draws people who are attracted to the unusual, to daring, and to campy fun. This satire of traditional gender roles fosters tolerance towards each other, from every viewpoint.
For LePoz (Arseneault), The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a totally unique cinematic experience. “Staying close to its roots, it is akin to watching an underground rock opera,” she said. “I want attendees to have the irreplaceable, shudder-inducing sensation of being part of a subcultural ritual. It’s the maximalist version of when, as a teenager, you could go over to your friend’s to watch a movie that your parents wouldn’t let you see. It really is the ‘time warp’, again. Also, I love Susan Sarandon.”
In these isolating, working remotely times, society feels the need to defeat the dehumanising, and disconnecting impact of technology. The Rocky Horror Picture Show Halloween Ball is in a shared space where filmgoers are free to open their minds, get out of their comfort zones and express themselves, together. It is a tactile, visceral experience in joyful celebration.
This rock musical classic is the most popular cult movie of all time. It has a huge fan base and runs in theatres all over the world. In the film, engaged sweethearts Brad (Barry Bostwick)
and Janet (Susan Sarandon), stuck with a flat tire during a dark and 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 is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters celebrating an annual convention, including a rocking biker (Meat Loaf) and a creepy butler (Richard O’Brien). Through elaborate dances and songs, Frank-N-Furter unveils his latest lab creation: a muscle man named Rocky. The night’s misadventures cause Brad and Janet to question everything they’ve known about themselves, each other, love and lust. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a loving homage to notable B movie sci-fi and horror genres with an irresistible rock n roll score; a hysterical, mad ride that no audience ever forgets.
Newbies to the event (Rocky virgins) are welcomed with open arms. What are some things a first-time viewer should expect at The Rocky Horror Picture Show Halloween Ball? Keep an eye out for wacky props that pair up with legendary scenes. People get creative with their props but there are a few rules; the Imperial Cinema (and others around the world where the film is shown) no longer allows rice for the wedding scene because it’s so hard to clean up. For the rain scene people use squirt guns, and then newspapers are pulled out to cover heads. Filmgoers wave glow sticks or hold up lighters during “There’s a Light”.
Everyone attending is there to have a good time in a safe space for self-expression. One final message from long time film projectionist Johnny O, “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 returns: Thurs. October 26 only, students with a valid student ID will get $5 off the ticket price.
“Time is fleeting… ” tickets on sale starting September 28
The Rocky Horror Picture Show Halloween Ball
Thur. Oct. 26, Fri. Oct. 27, Sat. Oct. 28 at 7pm and 11pm Cinéma Impérial, 1430 Rue de Bleury Tickets can be purchased from the official website www.RockyHorrorMtl.com or at the Cinema Imperial box office from 5pm, on show nights only
$21.95 in advance/$24.95 at the door For information: info@RockyHorrorMtl.com
Keep an eye out for upcoming contests on Facebook and Instagram: Linktr.ee/RockyHorrorMTL
Cinema Imperial is accessible to those with limited mobility
Peaches LePoz (Jordan Arseneault) is an awarded activist, workshop facilitator, writer and performer in the Montreal queer scene, known for disgracing the stages of many a queer cabaret in his 15 years as a drag artist and emcee. Often incorporating improvisation, humour, song and cello in performance pieces inspired by subaltern pop music, opera, personal history, social injustice and politics, Peaches seeks to share moments of emotional or psychic transformation with her audience.
MONTREAL – One expert says entry-level pay under the tentative deal between Air Canada and its pilots could be a stumbling block ahead of a union vote on the agreement.
Under their current contract, pilots earn far less in their first four years at the company before enjoying a big wage increase starting in year five.
The Air Line Pilots Association had been pushing to scrap the so-called “fixed rate” provision entirely.
But according to a copy of the contract summary obtained by The Canadian Press, the proposed deal announced Sunday would merely cut the four-year period of lower pay to two years.
John Gradek, who teaches aviation management at McGill University, says as many as 2,000 of Air Canada’s roughly 5,200 active pilots may earn entry-level wages following a recent hiring surge.
After the airline averted a strike this week, Gradek says the failure to ditch the pay grade restrictions could prompt pushback from rank-and-file flight crew and jeopardize the deal, which is up for a vote next month.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2024.
ROME (AP) — Salvatore “Totò” Schillaci, the Italy striker who was top scorer at its home World Cup in 1990, has died. He was 59.
Schillaci had been hospitalized in Palermo following treatment for colon cancer.
The Palermo Civico hospital said in a statement that Schillacci died on Wednesday morning after being admitted 11 days ago.
Schillaci scored six goals for Italy during the 1990 World Cup. He came on as a substitute during Italy’s opener against Austria, scored in a 1-0 victory, and went on to earn the Golden Boot awarded to the tournament’s top scorer. He only scored one other goal for Italy in his career.
Italian soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina announced that a minute of silence would be held in memory of Schillaci before all games in the country for the rest of the week.
“The uncontrollable celebrations, in which his face was the symbol of shared joy, will remain forever part of Italian soccer (history),” Gravina said. “Totò was a great player, a symbol of tenacious desire and redemption. … His soccer was full of passion. And that fearless spirit made everyone appreciate him and will make him immortal.”
Schillaci also won the Golden Ball award at the 1990 World Cup as the tournament’s top player ahead of Lothar Matthaus and Diego Maradona.
Schillaci played for Messina, Juventus, Inter Milan and Japanese team Jubilo Iwata during his club career.
“You made an entire nation dream during the Magical Nights of Italia ’90,” Inter said on its social media channels.
West Germany won the 1990 World Cup, beating Argentina in the final, while Italy beat England for third place with a winning penalty kick from Schillaci.
Roberto Baggio, who scored Italy’s opening goal in the third-place match, wrote on Instagram, “Ciao my dear friend.”
Having been born and raised in Palermo, the Palermo soccer team announced that it would hold a public viewing of Schillaci at its Renzo Barbera stadium ahead of the funeral, the Gazzetta dello Sport reported.
French soccer player Wissam Ben Yedder will stay free ahead of his trial on charges of sexual assault while intoxicated, one of his lawyers told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Marie Roumiantseva said Ben Yedder will remain under strict judicial supervision after a woman filed a lawsuit for sexual assault earlier this month.
The 34-year-old Ben Yedder, a prolific striker in the French league, was briefly detained then released after the alleged incident in his car on the French Riviera. Ben Yedder had been stopped by police after he first refused to do so. He was then put in a jail cell.
After he was summoned to appear in court on Oct. 15 and placed under judicial supervision, the Nice prosecutor’s office appealed the decision not to remand the player in custody. The investigative chamber of the Court of Appeal of Aix-en-Provence did not grant this request and kept Ben Yedder under judicial supervision.
Ben Yedder attended a hearing Tuesday during which he offered to go to rehab. He has admitted he drove while under the influence of alcohol but has denied any sexual assault.
In a separate legal case last year, Ben Yedder was charged with “rape, attempted rape and sexual assault” over another alleged incident in the south of France.
Ben Yedder has been without a club since his contract with Monaco expired at the end of last season.
