accessAtlanta

Ghouls and goblins don't normally emerge until the autumnal chill of Halloween. But with all the monstrous activity taking place in Atlanta over the next few weeks, it seems like Halloween has come a little early this year. From macabre art shows to touring musicals and sideshows, here's a look at some events that are worth leaving the crypt or laboratory for.

Lucas Godfrey (ENLARGE)
Along with gory movies, Splatter Cinema events at the Plaza Theatre include festivities in the lobby as pivotal scenes are re-created.
Courtesy of Full Moon Horror Roadshow (ENLARGE)
Charles Band, horror filmmaker, will bring puppets, props and other creations to the Plaza Theatre.
DavidAllenStudio.com (ENLARGE)
David Hess stars in the Broadway version of 'Sweeney Todd' at the Fox Theatre.
(ENLARGE)
'Zombie Romance: The Weirdo Art of Rod Whigham' at the Rabbit-Hole Gallery features works such as 'Little Cindy.'
MOST POPULAR STORIES Police: Jeffrey Donovan arrested, suspected of DUI Report: Abdul's return to 'American Idol' doubtful Beastie Boy Adam Yauch has 'very treatable' cancer Fallon's '7th Floor West' is a silly, soapy treat Chris Brown apologizes for Rihanna beating
EMAIL THIS PRINT THIS MOST POPULAR
RELATED LINKS: • Summer Entertainment Guide • Find something less frightening to do

ROCK AND ROLL MONSTER BASH

Taking place at the city's only remaining drive-in theater, the Monster Bash features hot rods, burlesque performances and other retro-kitschy fun. During the day, bands such as Black Mona Lisa, monster rockers the Spectremen, Van Halen tribute act Van Heineken and a reunited Super X-13 (one of Atlanta's most beloved glam acts of the '90s) awaken the dead with their heavy riffs.

Hosted by the cast of the Silver Scream Spook Show, the day's festivities also include titillating vaudeville performances by Blast-Off Burlesque, resurrected automobile shows from the likes of the Reanimators Car Club and Dead Ends Hearse Club, and various other carnival-like attractions and vendors. One of the highlights of the day is the Miss Monster Bash contest, where femme fatales showcase their talents, which can range from song-and-dance routines to piercing demonstrations.

The main attraction is the double feature of vintage horror films, which do battle on the big screen once the sun goes down. This year features one of the grandest monsters ever to crush a city battling an equally gigantic robotic version of himself in "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla." And if cheesy '70s horror flicks featuring gratuitous female nudity and inane plotlines are more your thing, then you're likely to find the Spanish film "The Werewolf vs. Vampire Woman" to be fangtastic.

• THE 411: $15. Gates open at noon; music begins at 2 p.m.; movies begin at dusk. June 1. Starlight Six Drive-In Theatre, 2000 Moreland Ave. S.E., Atlanta. 404-627-5786; www.rockandrollmonsterbash.com, www.starlightdrivein.com.

MACABRE MOVIES

• Silver Scream Spook Show: The fiendishly friendly Professor Morte (Shane Morton) is host for this horror show the last Saturday of each month at the appropriately retro Plaza Theatre. Along with his sidekick Retch (freelance writer and AJC contributor Jon Waterhouse), members of Blast-Off Burlesque and an assortment of other miscreants, Morte outfits the theater and lobby with homemade props that lend themselves to the theme of each month's classic horror or sci-fi film.

With a kid-friendly matinee as well as a nighttime show for grown-ups, the Spook Show precedes each film with a vaudevillian stage show done on an Ed Wood-like budget. The mostly improvised slapstick, which has included impromptu costume contests and other crowd interaction, is followed by films like "Plan 9 From Outer Space," the original "House of Wax" and most recently "13 Ghosts," with special attention given to details such as 3-D glasses and other vintage gimmicks.

In lieu of a May Spook Show, Morte and his crew are hosts for this weekend's Monster Bash. But they'll be back at the Plaza in June with "Forbidden Planet."

• THE 411: $10; $6 matinee; free for children ages 12 and younger. 1 and 10 p.m. the last Saturday of the month. The Plaza Theatre, 1049 Ponce de Leon Ave., Poncey Highland. 404-873-1939, www.silverscreamspookshow.com.

• Splatter Cinema: A spinoff of the Spook Show and October's Atlanta Horror Fest, this new monthly event specializes in grindhouse gore and schlocky slasher flicks. In addition to showing movies like "Suspiria," "The Thing" and "The Hills Have Eyes," the Splatter crew also re-creates a pivotal scene from each film in the lobby, where willing victims can be photographed in the act of killing or being slaughtered. June's offering will be the 1985 zombie spoof "The Return of the Living Dead," in which the undead party their way to brain feasts.

• THE 411: $9. 9 p.m. June 10. The Plaza Theatre, 1049 Ponce de Leon Ave., Poncey Highland. 404-873-1939; www.myspace.com/splattercinema, www.plazaatlanta.com.

• Shriek Theatre: Specializing in underground horror flicks, Shriek Theatre offers obscure films in a casual setting. For a small entry donation, you not only get to see the monthly movies, but also consume as much beer and snacks as you like. June's offering takes on a freak show theme with a double feature of "Freaks," the 1932 film about sideshow performers exacting a gruesome revenge on the carnival's stars, and the '90s sci-fi comedy "Freaked." Carnival-inspired snacks like cotton candy and Cracker Jack will be available.

• THE 411: $10 suggested donation. 8 p.m. June 27. Doogallery, 205 Holtzclaw St., Unit I & J, Cabbagetown. www.shriektheatre.com, www.doogallery.com.

THRILLING THEATER

• "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street": Before Tim Burton's big-screen adaptation starring Johnny Depp, this Broadway musical recounted the urban legend of a 19th century British barber who goes on a murderous rampage through Fleet Street. While the film stayed pretty true to its source, the stage show offers a few more musical numbers. And it will be interesting to see how those cannibalistic meat pies are made without the luxury of film editing and special effects. With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, the stage production made its Atlanta debut May 27 and continues through June 1.

• THE 411: $24-$55. 8 p.m. May 29-30; 2 and 8 p.m. May 31; 1 and 6:30 p.m. June 1. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Midtown. 404-881-2100; www.sweeneytoddtour.com, www.foxtheatre.org.

• "Song of the Living Dead": This world premiere production from Dad's Garage is a simple musical love story. That is until brain-craving zombies attack the recently engaged lovebirds. With dysfunctional supporting characters and songs about eating flesh, there are likely to be some gut-busting moments. For those who want to get more involved, unsuspecting audience members will have the opportunity to become zombies themselves and take part in the show. And there will be discounted admission for those who arrive looking like they just crawled from their graves.

• THE 411: $10-$25. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays. June 6-July 5. Dad's Garage Theatre (Mainstage), 280 Elizabeth St., Suite C-101, Inman Park. 404-523-3141, www.dadsgarage.com.

• "Charles Band's Full Moon Horror Road Show": Best known for the "Puppet Master" series, underground horror filmmaker Charles Band takes his show on the road for this third annual event. When he comes to Atlanta, he'll bring puppets, props and monstrous creations, some of which will be part of the show while others will be auctioned off along with original art. Other attractions include film clips from upcoming releases such as "Gingerdead Man II: The Passion of the Crust" and sideshow acts, some of which will involve audience participation.

• THE 411: $20. 8 p.m. June 14. The Plaza Theatre, 1049 Ponce de Leon Ave., Poncey Highland. 404-873-1939; www.fullmoondirect.com, www.plazaatlanta.com.

VIRULENT VISUAL ARTS

• "Zombie Romance: The Weirdo Art of Rod Whigham": The local comic book artist takes viewers on a journey through the life of a little girl zombie. The story features images that are cadaverously cute, interspersed with images of bikini-clad girls with machine guns, hot rod zombies and other undead delights.

• THE 411: Free. 4-7 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays or by appointment through June 22. The Rabbit-Hole Gallery, 195 Arizona Ave. L/W, Candler Park. 404-550-6136, www.therabbitholegallery.com.

• "Monster Mayhem": Featuring works by Shane Morton, Dave Cook, Dirk Hays and others, this group show opens appropriately on Friday, June 13. From classics like Dracula, Frankenstein's monster and Lon Chaney's fanged Professor from 1927's "London After Midnight" to zombies, aliens and other freaks, there are sure to be plenty of fiendish finds in the gallery. And who knows what those corn dogs at the opening party will actually be made of?

• THE 411: Free. Opening reception 7-11 p.m. June 13. Through June 28. 5-8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays or by appointment. The Gallery at East Atlanta Tattoo, 1188-B Glenwood Ave., East Atlanta. 404-226-2279, www.lowbrowgalleryatlanta.com.