The Party Never Stops with the Uncaged New Year's Eve Bash

Get Uncaged with the Alamo's 2020 New Year's bash ... virtual, of course

If you can’t go to the party, the party will come to you. Or rather, to your 8-bit avatar as the Alamo Drafthouse boots 2020 out the door with its virtual UnCaged New Year's Eve Bash, a night of simulated cinema, song, mayhem, and general digital merriment.

After a year of social distancing and limited screenings, Alamo founder and Executive Chairman, and self-described "elastic introvert" Tim League said, “It's a nice break from banking, finance, that kind of stuff, to plan an event."

However, he credited Rachel Walker, Head of Programming and Creative for Alamo Drafthouse LA, and Executive Coordinator Ahbra Perry for putting this virtual Hogmanay together. Before the pandemic lockdown, Walker was an expert on escape rooms and experiential events, but with those kind of in-person encounters off the table she’d started researching virtual replacements, experimenting with over 100 systems to see which would work best for the Drafthouse. Meanwhile Perry has overseen the rollout of Alamo on Demand, the Drafthouse’s new VOD platform, as well as organizing streaming watch parties.

"Earlier this month, Rachel and Ahbra teamed up and worked on the premiere of Adam Egypt Mortimer's Archenemy," League explained. They used the screening platform, in conjunction with online interactive systems, to create a virtual version of the lobby at the Alamo South Lamar (the chain’s unofficial mothership venue), as well a digital Highball bar, "and it was a blast,” said League. “It really felt like I was hanging out with friends."

With so much of the technical work done, and a virtual South Lamar already constructed, the stage was set to use this environment for New Year, bringing together the Alamo faithful and old friends for a virtual 8-bit party. Attendees will build their own avatar, and then spend the night exploring this simulated cinema.

For VIP attendees, there will be a special screening of neocult classic Mandy, featuring Nic Cage on a turbo-charged revenge path against acid-blasted religious cultists and BDSM bikers. Comedian, actor, podcaster, and “number one Cheddar Goblin fan” Henry Zebrowski will be joined by the film’s bizarre breakout puppet star/product placement expert for a live commentary track of Panos Cosmatos’ mindwarping psychedelic revenge horror, and afterwards the duo will be lurking in one of the karaoke rooms, delivering scathing insult comedy to guests. League said to expect "a slightly surly Cheddar goblin who has views about goblins' treatment in cinema."

However, it’s not all Mandy, all the time. League said, "The party has touches of Cheddar Goblin, touches of Mandy, but there's music, magicians, karaoke. It's a party." Electro diabolo marching band across from the River Styx Itchy-O will be snaking their way through the night after debuting their new documentary Sypherlot. Plus, unlike most festivals where noise bleed between stages is an old nemesis, there’ll be no interrupting rockers from the crypt Drac and the Swamp Rats.

Yet not all decorum is being abandoned. This is New Year’s Eve, so your finest and even fancy dress is suggested. If that sounds a little too much effort in the year of Zoom calls in your sweatpants, League said, "You could be top-up fancy dress. You can roll up at this party in your underwear and nobody would know."

Alamo Drafthouse and Legion M present the 2020 Uncaged New Year's Eve Bash, Dec. 31-Jan. 1, 8pm-3am. Tickets $25-$400 at www.shop.legionm.com.