The Rocky Horror Picture Show with RKO Army LIVE!

Event Description

The Rocky Horror Picture Show with RKO Army LIVE! brings one of cinema’s most enduring cult classics to the Garde Arts Center in New London on Sunday, October 18. The 1975 musical comedy-horror film returns to the big screen with a live shadow cast, audience participation, costumes, and plenty of opportunities to sing, shout, and become part of the action.

Presented as part of the Garde’s Real Movie Palace Experience, the screening combines 4K digital projection and surround sound with the theatrical antics of RKO Army, a performance troupe specializing in bringing The Rocky Horror Picture Show to life.

This is not an ordinary night at the movies. Audience members are encouraged to dress as their favorite characters, call out familiar lines, and participate in the film’s most memorable moments. Every ticket includes a bag of props designed to help newcomers and longtime fans join the fun.

The Cult Classic That Refuses to Grow Old

When The Rocky Horror Picture Show premiered in 1975, it was hardly an immediate mainstream success. Adapted from Richard O’Brien’s stage musical The Rocky Horror Show, the film initially struggled to find an audience before becoming a phenomenon through late-night screenings and word of mouth.

The story begins with Brad Majors and Janet Weiss, a newly engaged couple whose car breaks down during a storm. Seeking help, they arrive at a mysterious castle inhabited by an eccentric collection of characters led by Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a flamboyant scientist with some decidedly unusual experiments underway.

What follows is a collision of science fiction, horror parody, rock music, and outrageous comedy.

The film stars Tim Curry in his career-defining role as Frank-N-Furter, alongside Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Richard O’Brien, and Meat Loaf.

Its soundtrack includes enduring favorites such as Time Warp, Sweet Transvestite, Science Fiction/Double Feature, and Hot Patootie – Bless My Soul.

Over the decades, the film has developed a devoted following, becoming synonymous with midnight movies, elaborate costumes, audience callbacks, and an unusually interactive moviegoing experience.

RKO Army Brings the Film to Life

One of the defining traditions of Rocky Horror screenings is the shadow cast, a group of performers who act out the film’s scenes in front of the screen while the original movie plays behind them.

For the Garde screening, RKO Army takes on that role.

The troupe recreates characters, costumes, choreography, and comic moments from the film, transforming a movie screening into a hybrid of cinema and live theater.

Unlike a conventional stage production, the performers generally do not replace the movie’s original dialogue or soundtrack. Instead, they synchronize their movements with the action on screen, adding physical comedy, visual gags, and opportunities for audience interaction.

The result is a communal experience in which the boundaries between performers and spectators become part of the entertainment.

For anyone who has only watched The Rocky Horror Picture Show at home, seeing it with a live shadow cast offers an entirely different perspective on the film’s appeal.

Costumes, Callbacks, and Audience Participation

Audience participation has been central to The Rocky Horror Picture Show for decades.

Fans traditionally shout responses to familiar dialogue, dance during musical numbers, and use props at particular moments throughout the movie.

At the Garde, every ticket includes an audience participation prop bag containing items associated with scenes in the film.

The bag includes a newspaper, noisemaker, glove, toilet paper, party hat, cardboard toast, paper plate, sponge, cardboard hot dog, and three playing cards.

Each item has a specific moment in the film when it can be used, from Janet’s rainy arrival at the castle to the Transylvanians’ unusual celebrations.

Costumes are encouraged, whether that means a full recreation of a favorite character or simply dressing for the occasion.

First-time attendees are welcome, too. In Rocky Horror tradition, newcomers are affectionately known as virgins, and discovering the audience rituals is part of the experience.

Guests should use the provided props and follow the venue’s participation guidelines rather than bringing unapproved items from home.

A Cult Movie in a Historic Movie Palace

The Garde Arts Center provides an especially fitting setting for a film whose reputation was built in movie theaters.

Opened in 1926, the historic Garde Theatre has been a New London landmark for a century. Its ornate interior and restored architectural details recall the era when going to the movies was an occasion in itself.

The theater’s modern projection and sound systems bring contemporary presentation quality to that historic setting.

For The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the combination of a large screen, live performers, and an enthusiastic audience makes the Garde’s movie-palace atmosphere part of the attraction.

The October screening also falls during the theater’s centennial season, adding another dimension to an evening celebrating a film that has remained a theatrical favorite for more than 50 years.

Tickets and What to Know Before You Go

The screening begins at 7 p.m. on Sunday, October 18. The film runs approximately 100 minutes, although the live presentation and audience activities may extend the total event time.

Tickets are $26 plus applicable fees and include a participation prop bag.

The film is rated R and contains mature themes, sexual content, and language. It is intended for mature audiences.

The Garde offers free weekend street parking on State Street and surrounding downtown streets, along with several nearby public lots. Paid parking is available at the Cornish Parking Garage on Governor Winthrop Boulevard.

To purchase tickets, click the Event Ticketing link below.