The Statler's Grand Ballroom in downtown Dallas is set to host a special screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with the cult musical performed live alongside the film by Dallas-based shadow cast Los Bastardos. At-door pricing is $35, with VIP lounge seating available for two people.
The screening pairs two distinct pieces of North Texas performance history under one roof. The event will bring Rocky Horror's characters, choreography and energy into the ballroom at 1914 Commerce St., with Los Bastardos performing the film live alongside the screening. CultureMap Dallas lists the event. The ballroom itself carries serious architectural pedigree: it originally opened in January 1956 as The Statler Hilton at a cost of $16 million, billed at the time as the first modern American hotel, complete with innovations like guestroom televisions, elevator music and a rooftop heliport, according to the Statler Dallas's own history page.
A Restored Mid-Century Landmark Gets a New Act
The 19-story downtown landmark sat vacant for 16 years before a three-year, $255 million historic restoration brought it back in October 2017, as detailed by PaperCity Magazine.
The ballroom stage has hosted serious star power over the decades. Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Michael Jackson all performed there in the building's original era, according to PaperCity Magazine. The venue reopened in 2017.
Los Bastardos' Long Run in Dallas Midnight Movies
The Inwood Theatre has hosted a monthly Rocky Horror shadow cast since 1998, according to Preston Hollow People. Los Bastardos is a Dallas-based shadow cast. Last October, the group shared a stage with original Rocky Horror star Barry Bostwick, who portrayed Brad Majors in the 1975 film, during a 50th-anniversary screening tour stop at the Majestic Theatre, according to the AT&T Performing Arts Center.
A Film That Refuses to Leave Theaters
The Rocky Horror Picture Show had its U.S. premiere in 1975 and remains in continuous limited release, holding the record as the longest-running theatrical release in film history. The event listing mentions a bag of props for audience participation.
The screening also arrives months after the passing of Tim Curry, whose performance as Dr. Frank-N-Furter helped launch the film into an international phenomenon. Curry, who played the role in the film, died in August at age 80, as Hoodline previously reported.
Doors open for the show inside a ballroom built for spectacle, where a Hollywood legend's songbook once echoed off the same walls.
