Returning to bring some Christmas cheer, the RiffTrax boys will be providing a festive commentary track for the holiday turkey Santa Claus Conquers the Martians at the Athena Grand, 1008 E. State St.
In association with NCM Fathom and IGN, this event will be RiffTrax’s first ever big screen holiday season event since “RiffTrax Live: Christmas Shorts-Stravaganza” in 2009 with Weird Al Yankovic.
Rick Frame, general manager of the Athena Grand, said the event will draw in a lot of local fans, as these screenings seem to have a strong attendance rate each time.
“Our RiffTrax events always do extremely well,” Frame said. “We attract a large local group and there is a possibility of selling out. We have a lot of hardcore Mystery Science Theater fans in Athens that come to each one of the events without fail.”
RiffTrax, an offset of Mystery Science Theater 3000, which features Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett, provides comedy commentary tracks on popular and not so popular film favorites. Their last event, Night of the Living Dead, screened around Halloween.
“The RiffTrax screenings are similar each time in that the men of Mystery Science Theater riff a cult classic film,” Frame said. “We feel that our customers will enjoy the holiday theme of this RiffTrax.”
This event will be broadcasted live at more than 570 theaters across the country. Tickets can be bought at the Athena Grand and NCM Fathom websites, as well as at the box office.
Michelle Portillo, senior manager of PR & Communications for NCM Fathom, also hopes audience members enjoy the commentary during these festive times.
“Kris Kringle vs. Martians is the perfect riff-fodder and we can’t wait to see what the RiffTrax guys have in store for this live, big screen event,” said Shelly Maxwell, executive vice president of NCM Fathom in a press release. “One thing’s for sure, all fans should expect to have their stockings filled with laughs.”
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