Haven is shivering with Antici……PATION to present Science Fiction / Double Feature: A Rocky Horror Picture Party, an immersive Halloween experience that brings to life in vivid technicolor the world of the cult-classic film, directed by Haven’s Artistic Director Ian Damont Martin. The over-the-top party takes place Saturday, October 30 & Sunday October 31, 2021 at 9 pm at Haven’s resident home, The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. Tickets and VIP packages are currently available at havenchi.org. Haven membership packages are also available for purchase.
Performers featured in Haven’s “Science Fiction / Double Feature: A Rocky Horror Picture Party” include (clockwise from top) Parker Guidry, Helena Handbasket, SVMROPE, Alison Zhao, Safire Chicago, Mateo Gutierrez, Travis Fiero, Vanda LaRose, Aurora Gozmic and Romona Slick.
Just a jump to the left and you will find Rocky Horror-themed performances by some of Chicago’s drag royalty, including Ramona Slick, Travis Fiero, Vanda LaRose and Aurora Gozmic, with DJ Ca$h Era and Bonita Appleblunt spinning the tracks. Enjoy shadowcast performances by Parker Guidry as Dr. Frank N. Furter, Sam Boeck as Rocky, Desiree Gonzalez as Janet, Steven Schaffer as Brad, Adhana Reid as Magenta and Maddison Denault as Columbia. Titillating burlesque and captivating pole dancing weave throughout the performances, with appearances from Helena Handbasket, Mateo Gutierrez and Alison Zhao, never giving you a chance to catch your breath. If that’s not enough, you might also catch a special performance from the iconic belly dancers of Safire Chicago or a gut-wrenching contortionist act from SVMROPE.
Hot Patootie! As you dive deeper into our rose-tinted world, you will find a vendor fair, nail art, flash tattoos, tarot readings, a vintage Polaroid photo booth, and oh so much more devilish fun! Bring your best look and you could walk away with a cash prize and the crown for “Best Dressed.”
Artistic Director Ian Damont Martin comments, “Haven is moving into a space that is more than the expectation of audiences sitting quietly in a room to witness performance. We are much more interested in creating the space for artists to craft and curate an experience. Any good piece of theatre is an experience, an event. We’ve been continually curious about this aspect of our work. This project is a natural outcome of that programmatic focus. Many of us, especially as former theatre kids, remember our first Rocky Horror. With Science Fiction / Double Feature, Haven invokes our collective relationship with the cult-classic film and invites you to step into that world this Halloween weekend.”
Please note: The Den requires proof of vaccination for all guests, staff and performers and adheres to all CDC, state and local safety guidelines. Additionally, masking is required for all guests during performances. For the most current information on The Den’s COVID guidelines, visit thedentheatre.com/covid19-policy.
About the Director
Ian Damont Martin (he/they) is a writer/director by passion and a creative executive by trade. Ian is the Artistic Director of Haven Chicago, and the executive director of Inclusion & Belonging at the Art Institute of Chicago. Ian has worked with a number of arts and cultural institutions, including Enrich Chicago: a collaborative of arts, culture and funding institutions collectively engaging in the work of anti-racist and racial equity organizing. In 2016, he was awarded the Joyce Foundation-funded artistic producing apprenticeship at Goodman Theatre. Selected directing credits include Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus, Twelfth Night and The Tempest; an adaptation of The Ridiculous Darkness by Wolfram Lotz for Sideshow Theatre; The Toilet by Amiri Baraka for Haven Chicago; a reading of The America Play by Susan Lori-Parks for Goodman Theatre. Ian is originally from Cincinnati, OH and gives love and gratitude to the people who helped shape the person he is today. iandamontmartin.com
About Haven
MISSION
We embolden visionary artists to practice and hone their craft by providing an equitable haven of opportunity for the creation of innovative performance, theatre and media arts.
VALUES
Centering our artists, audiences and the work, Haven Chicago commits to the following values:
People First –We honor people for their stories, talents, contributions and spirit of collaboration by creating a safe and equitable working environment.
Inclusion – We aim to be accessible to all. As an anti-racist, multicultural institution, we value diversity, equity and inclusion.
Accountability – We cultivate trust and accountability to our community and mission through clear communication and intention.
Mentorship – We foster mentorship as a way of giving back to the community and carve pathways for the next generation of artists.