Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the movie theatre, SHOWGIRLS struck again…

Ahh Showgirls … You can see it a dozen times, and still marvel at just how colossal a cinematic experience it is. Standing above its camp peers for actually trying to be an earnest, quality studio film, Showgirls is basically one scene after another of head-slapping “I can’t believe she actually did that” / “I can’t believe he actually wrote that” / “I can’t believe this movie exists” moments. Incredibly ridiculous lines slapped between stretches of gratuitous, generally unflattering nudity, thoroughly saturated in color and gloss, Showgirls really is more experience than film: a favorite silly carnival ride to be ridden with friends who never get tired of it either.

A crowd of proud devotees showed up last Friday, braving the rain and ready to shout along to their favorite lines (a particular roof-raiser: “Bitch, I’m tellin’ you the TRUTH!”). And in honor of their sacrifice (it was raining hard, and some drove down from L.A. - TRUE enthusiasts of the midnight movie, if I do say so myself), we gave them quite a show (check out photos here!).

In keeping with the strippin’-in-Vegas theme of the evening, we started off with a few choice scenes from Carmen Electra Aerobic Striptease: Vegas Strip. Fantastic stuff! It ended up being a raffle prize, and judging from the audience reaction to the winning number being called, truly the Grand Prize of the evening - wherever it is, I hope it’s being put to good use.

Then came a live pre-show, courtesy of Shannon and Whitton!

These dancers and die-hard Showgirls fans incorporated signature dance moves from the film into a choreographed dance set to David Bowie’s “I’m Afraid of Americans,” a song featured (and danced poorly to) in the movie. Thanks Shannon and Whitton!! You brought the house down, and added some spice and glitz to a movie overflowing with both.

Then it was Showgirls - and that sort of speaks for itself.  What a blast that was - we couldn’t have asked for a more enthusiastic, rowdy crowd!   Thanks to everyone who came out!

Thanks also to Craig Duffy and Pink Cow Photography for the great photos!