Are you looking for an on-campus event to get you in the Halloween spirit? Then look no further, and attend the annual ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ screening hosted by WLOY Radio, The Spectrum Experience, and for the first time, The Evergreen Players.
To celebrate over a decade of this tradition, The Evergreen Players have introduced a shadow cast to go along with the movie screening. Hosted at McManus Theater on Oct. 30 at 7 p.m., this new element of the annual event brings a new twist to keep things fresh, along with giveaways and a costume contest.
Caitlin Cottrill ‘26, who is playing the character Columbia, says ‘Rocky Horror’ has been important to them from a young age.
“I started going in middle school with my grandpa because he is a huge fan, and I’ve gone to shadow casts on Halloween. It’s been a big part of my life,” Cottrill said.
Another shadow cast member, Milo Gloria ‘29, will be playing the criminologist. They also have a special place in their heart for ‘Rocky Horror,’ as they mentioned it being a queer classic and a special experience to them while working with the shadow cast. They also explained the concept of a shadow cast.
“A shadow cast is when the actors act out a movie while it is being projected on a screen behind them. It’s usually more interactive and allows the audience to experience the show in a new way,” Gloria said.
Gloria also expressed their love for the cast and their hard work.
“I love seeing my cast mates really becoming the character they’re mirroring on screen. It’s harder to get a real feel for it since it’s not a full-blown production, but you’re also able to see the actors on stage acting out in front of you,” Gloria said.
One of the biggest highlights of this event is the costume contest, where costumes are encouraged to both get into the Halloween spirit, and potentially win a prize. There will be a first, second, and third place prize for each contestant who places in their category. In previous years, prizes included a ‘Rocky Horror’ turntable, Starbucks gift cards, themed games related to the movie, and other various prizes.
The ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ event is a chance to celebrate the show’s 50th anniversary on Loyola’s campus with an interactive show and costume competition. But, it’s also a great way to see Loyola’s amount of creativity and talent when it comes to costumes and performance through the Evergreen Players. For this year, the shadow cast is sure to provide a refreshing and memorable experience of this event.
Cottrill encourages all attendees to come out and show out during the screening.
“You can sing along, yell out, get up and dance. It’s about being yourself and having a good time,” Cottrill said.
Come and support the cast, along with WLOY and The Spectrum Experience. For more information on upcoming events, see @wloy_radio and @spectrumexperience_lum on Instagram. You can also register for the event here on The Bridge.
