The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is not just a movie, it is an experience.
That is the premise behind the Leeds Center for the Arts board members’ decision to screen the movie locally this weekend.
Although Lexington’s Kentucky Theatre often screens “Rocky¿Horror” in honor of Halloween, the board members thought it would be fun to bring the movie to Winchester.
“It’s developed a cult following. Since it’s developed a following, we thought we might try it here for Halloween for adults,” board secretary Jae Alexander said.
Downtown Halloween Main-ia provides a trick-or-treating option for children, and the “Thriller” flash mob provides an activity for teens, but there were no activities aimed at adults, Alexander said.
“The show is in the audience. The audience often shouts back at the screen, they bring prop bags, and they often come in costume. That’s the fun of the show,” Alexander said.
Screenings will be tonight at 11:59 and Saturday at 8 p.m. The movie is rated “R” and Alexander cautioned that it may not be suitable for children.
In previous years, the Leeds Center has screened other well known Halloween or ghost-themed movies, including “Ghostbusters,” “Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man” and “Nosferatu,” the original Dracula movie.
Alexander and other board members hope the screening will be a success, and become an annual Halloween event.
The Leeds Center also will show a short play, “Chillers,” targeted at children after Halloween Main-ia Wednesday, Oct. 31. The downtown trick-or-treating will be from 6 to 8 p.m. “Chillers” is based on the “Thriller” music video and is written and directed by local playwright Ronnie Payton.
Several shows and performances are planned for the coming months at Leeds, Alexander said. Payton is working on staging a local production of “Rocky Horror” in the spring, and the popular local version of “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” staged in the summer may be brought to the Leeds Center.
Problems with the heating and air conditioning system have limited events at the Leeds Center since the spring, but the theater is back in working order, Alexander said.
“We’ve been planning our programming and pulling things together,” Alexander said.
The board also is considering screening a series of contemporary classic movies, like “E.T.,” and special Christmas programming is in the planning stages.
Updates can be found on the Leeds Center’s Facebook page, or by visiting www.leedscenter.org.
The Leeds Center for the Arts is located on Main Street in downtown Winchester.
