Immersive experience attracts sell-out crowd for some Halloween fun

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It was astounding, and madness took its toll. But the audience listened closely, took a jump to the left, and a step to the right at Rhine Hall Events last weekend as they enjoyed an interactive rendition of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

The inaugural Halloween event filled Rhine Hall with a sell-out crowd, many of whom who happily dressed for the occasion, either mimicking their favorite on-screen characters or coming up with their own goth or campy costumes to join in the fun.

Billed as "The Immersive Experience," the evening didn't disappoint, as the entire venue was transformed into "Dr. Frank's" castle. Each room featured a vignette with cast members acting out snippets of the film or interacting with guests. It was there that patrons snatched up toilet paper, party hats, newspaper, and other props to be used while watching and interacting with the film, which was screened during dinner.

While the movie played in the background, the actors filled the roles on stage. And the audience enjoyed a four-course meal, including sourdough biscuits with raspberry jam, creamy Italian sausage soup, meatloaf with garlic herb mashed potatoes and green beans, and a blueberry cheesecake cannoli on a bed of cotton candy. The menu might seem a bit odd, but each dish was designed to reflect the themes and scenes in the movie.

The production was directed by Amanda Duncan, who has had past success as an actress and director with Kokomo Civic Theatre. And Heard Catering handled the dinner. Given the turnout at the event, Rhine Hall is considering making it an annual production.

Rhine Hall CEO Gary Rhinebarger was ecstatic about the event, which turned out to be the biggest success the new venue has seen in its first year of operations.

"This was our biggest event yet, and it was a huge success thanks to (event coordinator) Neona Burton’s hard work and dedication," Rhinebarger stated. "The production was top-notch. Amanda Duncan and her cast absolutely nailed it. The design and decor were stunning, and the performances were electrifying. We can’t wait to collaborate with them again."

Kokomo Civic Theatre and Curtain Call Children's Theatre were identified as the recipients of a portion of the proceeds from the event, as Rhine Hall Events pairs nonprofits with each of its in-house generated productions.

For more information about Rhine Hall Events, visit www.rhinehallevents.com. For additional photos from this event, visit www.kokomolantern.com, the Rhine Hall Facebook page, or the Lantern's Facebook page or group.