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Have a Rocky Horror Halloween

By Loren Keller

Leave the hot dogs at home.

Most everything else you’ll need to party with Brad, Janet and Dr. Frank-N-Furter — including pen lights, toast, rubber gloves, playing cards and confetti — will be included in the $15 admission price for the Englert Theatre’s midnight showing of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” on Halloween.

The 1975 play-along cult classic starring Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon will be presented by Riff Raff Theater, the group of wiseguys who’ve built a steady following mocking bad movies in a live theater setting a la Mystery Science Theatre 3000.

“I think a lot of people agree that Rocky Horror is the spiritual predecessor to Mystery Science Theatre,” says Riff Raff Theater’s Chris Hanel, who was in attendance when the Englert last presented the film ten years ago.

But his time around it’s all about audience participation, which generally involves singing, dancing, backtalking to the screen and the occasional thrown object.

“Normally we’re up front with microphones and this time we’re going to be sitting in the back row with no mics and letting the audience go,” Hanel says.

For anyone who wants brush up on Rocky Horror history and trivia before then, there are plenty of resources to tap. Visit the exhaustively detailed “Rocky Horror Picture Show” fan club web site, read director Jim Sharman’s recently published memoir Blood & Tinsel or catch the original documentary “Midnight Movies” showing this month on the Starz channel.

Audiences are encouraged to have a good time at the Englert screening, which will include a Halloween costume contest, sans processed meat products.

“PLEASE do not bring hot dogs, water or any other props that may damage the historic theatre,” the Englert advises in a promotional e-mail. “Thanks for your help in preserving this landmark building.”

Tickets are available online, by calling (319) 688-2653 or at the Englert Box Office, 221 E. Washington St.