The Downeast Shadowcast Ensemble will bring its shadowcast performance of "Rocky Horror Picture Show" to College of the Atlantic’s Gates Auditorium for three free showings on Halloween weekend, October 30th and 31st. This marks the fourth consecutive year the local ensemble presents the cult classic, offering Bar Harbor residents and students a free community event designed to celebrate the spooky season and honor the legacy of the late Tim Curry.
Performances are scheduled for Friday, Oct. 30, at 9 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 31, at 6:30 and 9 p.m. While admission is free, reservations are required due to the auditorium's capacity. Audience members can purchase goodie bags to enhance participation during the show. The Ensemble, comprised of local bartenders, lobstermen, schoolteachers, and college students, performs alongside a screening of the classic film. Beverley Guay, director for this year's production, noted that the performances are intended to "fill a gap in LGBTQ+ community spaces" within the Downeast region, recognizing the film's significant impact on queer culture.
The Downeast Shadowcast Ensemble has a four-year history of performing in various local venues, including the 1932 Criterion Theatre and the Trenton Grange. Most recently, the group traveled to Bucksport’s Alamo Theatre for the town’s annual Ghostport event. Guay, who devoted her life to performing arts and studied theater at College of the Atlantic, also serves on the board of Acadia Community Theatre and the Summer Festival of the Arts (SFOA). She conveyed that the community's strong support for this work has been encouraging, particularly given broader challenges faced by queer media.
Beyond traditional lip-syncing and staging, the Ensemble integrates choreography into their performances, bringing the film's musical numbers to life. Isabella Wellman-Webster, a lifelong island local and professional dancer, serves as producer and choreographer for the group. Wellman-Webster applies her expertise to teach locals, some new to dance, how to perform routines for the show's musical sequences. The ensemble has also expanded its repertoire beyond "Rocky Horror," creating shadowcast performances for "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" and "Clue," which feature their unique choreographic approach.
Molly Dillon, a lifelong island resident, College of the Atlantic student, and gardener at the Bar Harbor Farm, acts in and produces the shadowcast. Dillon highlighted the diverse experience levels within the cast, noting the presence of both "Rocky veterans and people who are completely new to the idea of a shadowcast." She emphasized the event's role in fostering community connection, especially at a time when, as she put it, community and connection are often prioritized less than profit. The College of the Atlantic has opened Gates Auditorium for these free community screenings, marking a new location for this annual island tradition.
