As you’ve probably heard by now, the Alamo Drafthouse is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. We’ve already had two waves of programming come our way, each with a range of exciting goodies for Drafthouse fans new and old. After the Robocop anniversary, it had to be difficult to think up exciting options for wave three, but the team nailed it as usual.
The next set of events will kick off in September with a Josie and the Pussycats reunion. That reunion will not only include post-screening appearances by Rachel Leigh Cook, Gabriel Mann, Missi Pyle, and co-writer/directors Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfront, but will also be a celebration for something in addition to the Drafthouse’s 20th. Since the band’s getting back together for this special occasion, Mondo thought it was a good time to do a reissue of the original motion picture soundtrack. On vinyl. For the first time.
In addition to the Pussycats coming out to play, SYFY and Alamo Drafthouse will be partnering for the SYFY25 Screening Series. If classic genre flicks are your jam, you definitely don’t want to miss these events. If you need an idea of what they’ll be offering, their first event shows everything they’re about and more. In early September you can join other genre fans and head out to a screening of Close Encounters of the Third Kind at the base of Devil’s Tower National Monument.
Last but certainly not least, you can join Ash and company for another SYFY25 screening, this time of Evil Dead 2. The classic B-Movie is turning 30, and to celebrate you’re going to head to the middle of nowhere in the dark for a screening. If you survive, you’ll receive a copy of Bruce Campbell’s newest book Hail to the Chin.
You can check out all of the details for this insane lineup in the press release below.
Austin, TX --- August 18, 2017 --- A truly rockin’ cast reunion of one of this century’s most fun cult films. An on-location birthday party for Steven Spielberg’s monumental science-fiction classic. And perhaps the funniest horror film ever made, screened in the woods… with Bruce Campbell. The third wave of Alamo Drafthouse’s year-long cycle of ‘Alamo20’ anniversary events is here, providing die-hard fans across the country with three can’t-miss cinematic spectacles.
On September 26th in Los Angeles, Alamo Drafthouse and Birth.Movies.Death. are celebrating MONDO’s new vinyl reissue of the JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS original motion picture soundtrack by staging an epic reunion screening tailor-made for superfans of the smart, funny and legitimately rocking 2001 film. The film will unspool at LA’s famed Ace Hotel, with a freewheeling post-screening conversation with stars Rachael Leigh Cook, Gabriel Mann and Missi Pyle, and co-writer/directors Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan. Plus, before the film, Kay Hanley of Letters To Cleo, the original voice of Josie, will perform Josie and the Pussycats songs live.
“Re-issuing the soundtrack to JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS has been a holy grail for us,” says Mo Shafeek, Record Label Manager at Mondo / Death Waltz. “Even though the band doesn't technically exist, it falls on our list of essential debut albums and deserves to be treated as such. It is an absolute honor to reissue it on vinyl for the first time ever.”
Next, SYFY and Alamo Drafthouse are partnering to present the SYFY25 Screening Series, a fun-filled retrospective of genre classics to celebrate the network’s upcoming 25th anniversary. Featuring the best entertainment from all corners of the genre, SYFY25 is a nostalgic celebration of the people, moments and milestones that have shaped the science-fiction universe over the last 25 years and beyond.
For the first SYFY25 / Alamo20 event, pack up your wood paneled station wagons and prepare to roll out to the rugged wilderness of Wyoming. This September 2nd, SYFY and Alamo Drafthouse are teaming up for a one-night-only campout celebration of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND at the base of Devil’s Tower National Monument.
“We staged this event long ago, but fan demand helped bring this back in 2017,” explains Alamo Drafthouse V.P. of Special Events, Henri Mazza. “Like Roy Neary, we’ve always felt Devil’s Tower calling, reminding us of something important. With the anniversary and the gorgeous new restoration, we knew it was time to head out there again alongside our partners at SYFY. ”
To celebrate the fortieth anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s classic, the film has been restored and remastered in 4K resolution by Sony Pictures and will be returning to the big screen in the United States and Canada. The Director’s Cut will receive an exclusive one-week engagement in theaters across the country starting September 1st.
Finally, on September 14th in Austin, TX, rev your chainsaw hands for a very special SYFY25 presentation of director Sam Raimi’s slapstick splatter symphony, EVIL DEAD 2. To properly celebrate the definitive cabin-in-the-woods film’s thirtieth anniversary, SYFY and Alamo Drafthouse are bringing attendees deep into the dark and scary woods for this outdoor screening. None other than the one and only Necronom-icon Bruce Campbell will be live, in person, and without a doubt undeniably groovy. Via Austin’s BookPeople, attendees who survive this once-in-a-lifetime brush with demonic forces and America’s greatest leading chin will get a copy of Bruce’s new book, “Hail to the Chin.”
“We first hosted Bruce back in 1999 for a triple feature of the EVIL DEAD films. Bruce even shot parts of his documentary FANALYSIS that evening. Since the early days, his films, his characters, and his personality have been a major part of what defines Alamo Drafthouse,” says Alamo Drafthouse founder and CEO Tim League. “We are honored -- and maybe a bit terrified -- to be heading back to the woods to celebrate our twentieth anniversary with Ash himself.”
Tickets to JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND at Devil’s Tower and EVIL DEAD 2 with Bruce Campbell are on sale now via alamo20.com.
ALAMO 20 PROGRAMMING | THIRD WAVE
JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS REUNION
Filmmakers Harry Elfont & Deborah Kaplan and stars Rachael Leigh Cook, Gabriel Mann & Missi Pyle in person + a live set by the original voice of Josie, Kay Hanley of Letters To Cleo!
When: September 26, 2017
Where: Ace Hotel, Los Angeles CA
To celebrate Mondo’s new vinyl edition of the JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS soundtrack, we’re getting the band back together for the reunion of your slumber party dreams. On the big screen, it’s the smartest, sassiest comedy of the early ‘00s. In person, it’s the film’s brilliant co-directors/writers Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan, along with Josie and Alan M. themselves, stars Rachael Leigh Cook, Gabriel Mann and Missi Pyle -- plus a special appearance by singer Kay Hanley of Letters To Cleo, the original voice of Josie. Before the movie, Kay and her band will *actually* rock the house with a set of Josie and the Pussycats songs. And, after the credits roll that night, the whole gang will be live on stage answering your burning questions. Guaranteed to be a totally jerkin’ night. Cat ears optional, but entirely encouraged. Presented by Alamo Drafthouse, Mondo, and Birth.Movies.Death.
Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday, August 18th at acehotel.com/calendar/losangeles.
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND at DEVIL’S TOWER
SYFY25 SCREENING SERIES
40th Anniversary Screening!
When: September 2, 2017
Where: Devil’s Tower, WY
As part of SYFY25 Screening Series, Alamo Drafthouse and SYFY are celebrating the 40th anniversary 4K re-release of Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi stunner with an out-of-this-world screening event of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS. Working with Sony Pictures and Birth.Movies.Death, we’ve secured a location that means something, a location that’s important: Wyoming’s own Devil’s Tower, the iconic rock formation central to the film. It’s a cinematic encounter guaranteed to be almost as mind-blowing as actually making extraterrestrial contact. Featuring mashed potato sculpting, drones dressed as alien spacecraft, and other special surprises of the third kind too classified to reveal here. With camping available nearby and even old fashioned campfire gathering after the movie where we’ll swap UFO stories and watch the skies together.
For more details on the CLOSE ENCOUNTERS 4K re-release by Sony Pictures, visit closeencountersmovie.com.
EVIL DEAD II 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION… IN THE WOODS! With BRUCE CAMPBELL!
SYFY25 SCREENING SERIES
The chin himself, Bruce Campbell live in person!
When: September 14, 2017
Where: The Woods, Austin TX
This September, Alamo Drafthouse and SYFY are celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of EVIL DEAD 2 with an unforgettable, nerve-shatteringly immersive night at the movies. We’re screening Sam Raimi’s masterpiece in real creepy old woods just outside of Austin with Ash himself, Bruce Campbell, live and in-person. Tickets include a copy of his latest book via Austin’s BookPeople, “Hail to the Chin,” with a chance to get it signed by the King himself -- plus other gory-good surprises. It’s guaranteed to be a party like none other you’ll attend in this lifetime… or even the next. “Groovy” doesn’t even begin to cover it.
For tickets, the latest programming details, and more visit alamo20.com
20th Anniversary Merch - mondotees.com/collections/alamo-20