As I write this week’s column, y’all must be shivering with antici … pation over what to do during the Halloween season. Align yourself with the cultured queer, and check out the all-drag artist production of Rocky Horror being held at Oilcan Harry’s for the next three Thursdays in October. Fourth Street staple Cupcake takes the director’s chair, with Riotfair host Riotgirl on choreo – plus a cast of drag faves such as Lady Grackle, Cheeki Khant, Harlow, and Selma Bawdy.
First introduced to Rocky as a tween, director Cupcake recalls trips from hometown Temple, Texas, to Austin for midnight shadow-cast screenings as well as performing in productions herself at San Marcos’ Texas State University. “The director, Jay Jennings, created an entirely different world than the movie (all based on the zodiac and time travel),” she relates over email, “and it was just so cool to see the cult classic reimagined and it working SO well.” In that same vein, this Austin-area Rocky Horror performance is set in the 1990s rather than the Seventies, with heavy club kid fashion influences. Cupcake also says they revisited many “taboo” subjects in the original movie’s script in order to update its content for 2024.
“[What] was, ‘taboo’ then isn’t so much now,” she explains, “and that pendulum swings the other way as well.” This production aims to find new boundaries to push while addressing the more cringe issues in Rocky’s text and also reinventing the action to suit the Oilcan stage. While she can rattle off several challenges that the venue’s setting imposed, Cupcake praises Oilcan’s solid tech crew, who are well-versed in theatre production, as well as the bar’s sound and lighting system fit for the kings and queens who perform there. “[We] knew there would be challenges coming into this,” she says, “and luckily Oilcan’s has been very receptive and flexible to our ideas.”
When putting together the show, Cupcake says that the cast being mostly trans was a happy accident. “We knew we wanted to be as inclusive as possible and that we would be performing in a queer space,” she recalls, “but everyone who is in the cast got the roles because they were the best at auditions.” However, in the wake of such a phenomenon, she hopes to carry that great LGBTQ talent through to future projects – such as, she ponders, an all-drag Steel Magnolias? Only time will tell.
For fans interested in catching this drag-tastic reimagining of a camp classic, there are three ticket price levels: front row, general sitting, and general standing. Also be aware that the production includes strobe lights, smoke machines, and *gulp* vocal audience participation. Anyone in this year’s audience will hopefully be getting a first look at a future tradition. “[Our] idea is that this whole Rocky Horror/Halloween/Queer party won’t just be a one-time thing,” Cupcake explains. “[We] would like to produce the show EVERY year for Halloween, because Austin doesn’t have a recurring Queer Halloween event, and it’s about time we change that.”
Queer Film Theory 101: Movie Monsters
Thursday 17, the Highball
Celebrate your favorite queer-coded creatures of the night alongside the four “professors” presenting on their own entries in the queer cinema catagory.
The Terrible Twos Second Birthday Bash
Friday 18, Burning Hand Tattoos
Queer-owned tattoo shop Burning Hands hits their second spin around the sun and they want to party with y’all about it. Enjoy free Caribbean Latino food by Nyam Sunshine Cuisine; drinks via Nomadic Beerworks, Carabuena Tequila, and Tito’s; a charity raffle with free tattoo prizes; and much more.
Subculture Swap
Friday 18, Double Trouble
Just when you thought shopping a scarily sweet selection of bone, chainmail, tarot, vintage, and more vendors was all you got outta this swap. Embry Officially hosts a drag show featuring Arinna Dior Heys, Basura, and Riotgirl (hey! She’s in this week’s column featured event!).
Bat City Witch Pageant
Friday 18, Elysium
Which witch is The Witch? That’s what the competitors in Shock Therapy’s pageant aim to be, with hosts Munster Mash and Bubu sending drag hopefuls through categories like potions & pumpkin presentation to prove they’ve got the broom to be Bat City’s witch supreme.
Freaky Fabulous
Friday 18, Cheer Up Charlies
For you and all your forever “boos,” this Moxie-hosted drag show dedicated to the horror-themed doll line Monster High features not only performances by talented ghoul-school sweethearts, but also themed giveaways. I’ve heard tell Moxie’s offering a Wednesday Addams doll, but you’ll have to scare up your Friday to find out.
The Pilates Apothecary Grand Opening
Saturday 19, Calyx Wellness Space
Yoga and pilates teacher Ashley Weber opens her new pilates studio with a day of – what else? – wellness-related activities. Those include a free yoga/pilates mat class, tarot readings, herbal cocktails, vegan refreshments, bracelet making, and more.
Whiplash ATX
Saturday 19, 4211 Todd Lane
Wa-pah! That’s the sound of the whip – striking in you the urge to enjoy darkwave tunes, aerial stunts, and pole performances featuring performances from Patriarchy (L.A.), LatexLucifer (L.A.), Llora (DTX), and local hero Tears of Eros. Hit up the post-Whiplash healing sesh at Chess Club on Wednesday, Oct. 23, where you can catch Berlin’s own Kris Baha, dual coast DJ Normal Bias (NYC/ATL), and Austin’s Auragraph spinning darkwave/goth/EBM.
Halloween Pop!
Saturday 19, Top Drawer Thrift
Get in the car, witch; we’re shopping local queer vendors and artists at this Eastside Pop-up, the Little Gay Shop, Weird City Sisters ATX, and Top Drawer curated market.
Reverie’s Third Birthday Party
Saturday 19, Reverie Books
She grew up so fast *sniff, sniff* and by she I mean Reverie Books shop cat Stormy, who is a big-girl feline now. So to has the little queer-owned bookstore brave three years in buisness, and they’re celebrating with free gifts and staggered sales throughout their b-day.
Roadside Ready
Sunday 20, Kind Clinic Koenig
A collab between Asian Family Support Services Austin, Queer Black Women Alliance, and Pride in Black ATX, this workshop teaches hands-on lessons in basic car maintenance skills so “you leave fully confident to not only do it yourself, but also to teach it to someone else you love.” RSVP to attend.
Sad Girls Only Six Year Anniversary
Monday 21, Swan Dive
Six years of tears, fears, and beautiful queers culminate in a prom-themed party. Pretty Nail Gang pops up as well as Sean Peters Photography manning a photo booth, plus cake, karaoke, and hosts Ruby Knight and Louisianna Purchase holding court over a lineup of super-sad stars. It’s enough to make ya cry.
27 Club
Tuesday 22, Rain on 4th
Real curse or simple superstition, the sheer number of superstars who left this mortal coil at 27 does surprise one. Host Tangelo curates a drag cast of 27-year-olds to celebrate that fateful age, although whether they make it out alive is yet to be determined. “Bring your white lighters and an offering for the dead celebrities memorial altar,” the host advises.
LGBTQIA2+ Online Seeking Safety Support Group
Wednesday 23, virtual
Courtesy of Family Eldercare’s Rainbow Connections ATX is this bi-weekly space for queer adults looking to “share, support each other, and learning coping skills.” Preregistration is required, but joining is free.
Nightmare on North Loop
Wednesday 23, Double Trouble
Cool ghoul Owie hosts this Halloween horror night with a monster mash-up of drag talent, including Brigitte Bandit, Lawrie Bird, Sinful Purchase, and Sir Maxim.
Glamp-Glamp: Dreams & Nightmares
Thursday 24, Lynny’s
She’s back! Returning from a summer slumber is queer performance open mic Glamp-Glamp, where you, too, can watch your friends and community do cool art. This month’s theme calls for the ephemeral, but I call for you to bring your dogs so I can pet them in between performing acts.
Trick 4 Treat: a T4T Social
Thursday 24, Cheer Up Charlies
Per the flier copy, this event is for “anyone who identifies with transhood seeking trans connections of all types.” So if that includes you – it sure includes me! – then head on over to this Testo Junkies hosted party where there’ll be pumpkin painting, a ring toss, flash tattoos, tarot readings, tooth gems, slime, and tunes spun DJ Lavender Thug.
Queer Trivia: Ghouls, Gays, and Theys
Thursday 24, Wanderlust Wine Shady
Aira Juliet and the Little Gay Shop host a trivia night that’s for the ghouls! Compete in six rounds of creepy questions with “a special round dedicated to Twilight, Interview with a Vampire, and True Blood – because we know you’ve been practicing your brooding stares and undead charm,” as Aira writes. Plus pop-ups from TLGS and the Q Austin.
This article appears in October 18 • 2024.
