Diamond Tooth Gerties Gambling Hall will be screening The Rocky Horror Dawson Show on Feb. 24 and inviting members of the public to get onstage and lip sync
The Rocky Horror Dawson Show (also known as The Rocky Horror Picture Show) is coming to Dawson City! Hosted by the Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC) Feb. 24 at Diamond Tooth Gerties, members of the public are invited to come out, dress up and enjoy a screening of the 1975 cult classic musical, and anyone brave enough is even invited to get up onstage to lip sync along with the movie.
“It’s very much an audience participation film and has a history of people liking to dress up and show off, which are all things people like to do in Dawson,” said Dan Sokolowski, Film Festival Producer at KIAC. “We thought it would be a good fit.”
Screening The Rocky Horror Dawson Show is something KIAC has wanted to do for a few years, according to Sokolowski. When the idea first came up, the screening fees were much higher and the location-vetting process was more complicated, so it was ultimately shelved until this year. While Sokolowski admits he isn’t much of a dress-up person himself, he understands the special allure this movie has,and knows it is something that can be a smash hit in Dawson City.
“Certainly you can see the energy of the audience,” he said. “The Gerties space is very large, so people can get up and dance and do all sorts of things.”
The Rocky Horror Dawson Show will serve as KIAC’s community casino fundraising event for this year’s Dawson City Film Fest.
“Being a larger venue and allowing us to do a few different things than we could do at our own venue, it’s a good opportunity for us and for any non-profits throughout the season,” Sokolowski said of Diamond Tooth Gerties. “It’s a good thing the casino does for the community.”
Patrons can attend to watch, dance and engage in the crowd-participation aspects of the movie for a small fee at the door (pay what you can, with a suggestion of $10). However, those who wish to take it a step further can sign up to lip sync in an allocated space in front of the screen, as the movie plays, and the more commitment to character, the better.
“If people want to actually get out of the audience and get onstage and have people see them and extrovert themselves, we’d love them to do it,” Sokolowski said. Those interested in performing can contact Sokolowski directly at [email protected]. Spots on the stage will be limited to one performer or group of performers per song, so don’t delay.
Known for its over-the-top abundance of audience-participation moments, The Rocky Horror Dawson Show is certainly in line with Dawson City’s fun-loving attitude.
“I’d just love to see a packed Gerties and a lot of people letting some steam off and having some fun after the long winter,” said Sokolowski. “It’s still a couple weeks before the Thaw di Gras Spring Carnival, so maybe some people can get some early spring thaw-out.”
To keep up with KIAC’s news and events, visit kiac.ca
