Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Any screening of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” has the ability to make it instantly feel like Halloween, but when it’s shown on the exact holiday, there’s no more authentic way to celebrate, especially when actual cast members are in attendance.

Granted, this particular “Original Cast Spooktacular!” Tour edition struck the bittersweet note of being the first since the passing of the iconic Tim Curry, yet it was nonetheless a joyful affair where so many costumes of Dr. Frank-N-Furter roamed around the landmark Chicago Theatre, it felt like he was at least symbolically in attendance.

It turns out Barry Bostwick (Brad Majors), Nell Campbell (Columbia) and Patricia Quinn (Magenta), all legends in their own right, did indeed appear in the flesh for a moderated conversation, frequently saluting their “don’t dream it, be it” co-star, fellow late great Meat Loaf and peeling back the curtain on making “a different set of jaws.”

Campbell also judged a zany costume contest that brought out a boatload of extremely creative participants, naturally including various characters from Richard O’Brien’s brilliantly bonkers stage musical turned cult, camp and queer classic of the silver screen.

It resulted in a four-way tie on this particular night, and a little later, the assorted personalities leapt to life in vibrant 4k restoration above them, based off last year’s 50th anniversary re-release.

Given the amount of late-night showings, sing-a-longs, shadow casts and accompanying prop bags for literally half a century, the sci-fi comedy chronicling “when a newly engaged couple’s car breaks down on a rainy night, they wind up in the creepy castle of Dr. Frank-N-Furter” needed no introduction.

Instead, multiple generations of appreciators went directly into reciting practically every line of dialogue on his quest to “Make You A Man” at full volume, often adding their own insane interpretations along the way, while local live actors faithfully mirrored what was happening below the projector and Campbell made a tap dance cameo.

The reaction to the kitschy, glammy and contagious songs was even more colossal, such as “Science Fiction/Double Feature,” “Dammit Janet,” “The Time Warp,” “Sweet Transvestite,” “Hot Patootie – Bless My Soul,” now commonly known as “Whatever Happened To Saturday Night,” and “Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me.”

The entire totally over-the-top troupe wound up “Super Heroes” by the end of the wonderfully wacky and wild affair, solidifying “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” as a perennial favorite with the added firsthand bonus of some fearlessly funny men and women who helped make it happen.

For additional information on “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” visit ScottStander.com/Rocky.

For a list of upcoming Live Nation shows, visit LiveNation.com.

Upcoming shows at the Chicago Theatre include “Blade Runner” Live (Nov. 4); Joey Diaz (Nov. 5); Bert Kreischer (Nov. 6-7); Ron White (Nov. 8); Nikki Glaser (Nov. 13-15); Little Big Town (Nov. 19); Nurse John (Nov. 20); George Lopez (Nov. 21); Wilco (Dec. 4-5); Lord Huron (Dec. 8-9); Brett Eldredge (Dec. 10-11); Straight No Chaser (Dec. 12) and Seth Meyers (Jan. 16). For additional details, visit TheChicagoTheatre.com.

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