Join us on March 31st, for an extravagant night of ballroom history in celebration of Trans Day of Visibility! To start the night off, we have Frank Simon’s 1968 trailblazing documentary, The Queen, followed by a very special exhibition ball presented by Van Vogue Jam. We’ll be ending the night with Jennie Livingston’s, Paris is Burning, making it the essential ballroom double bill. You do not want to miss this, darling!

“A gutsy, funny… really very moving documentary.”
– Roger Ebert, The Chicago Sun-Times

“Simon’s movie is…extraordinary because it captures so much, doubling as a time capsule of a generation’s innocence and fashion-forward sophistication. You can tell why it functioned as a template for many future gender nonconforming people looking for some sort of pre-internet guide through the confusing maze of sexuality and gender.”
– Jerry Portwood, Rolling Stone

“The pageant is riveting, but what is most memorable is the dignity of the participants: their frank conversations about the new possibilities of gender reassignment surgery, their tales of small-town life, and their various misadventures at the draft board.”
– Lynn Yeager, Vogue

Tuesday, March 31
The Queen
Doors 6:30 pm | Event 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Approx. 8:30 pm – Exhibition ball presented by Van Vogue Jam

Paris Is Burning
Doors 8:30 pm | Event 9:00 pm *Start time is approximate.

Go balls to the wall and experience them all with one sweet ticket HERE!

Single film tickets for The Queen + Exhibition Ball, HERE
Single film tickets for Exhibition Ball + Paris Is Burning, HERE

THE QUEEN (Frank Simon, 1968 / 68 mins / NR) More than 40 years before RuPaul’s Drag Race, this ground-breaking documentary about the 1967 Miss All-American Camp Beauty Pageant introduced audiences to the world of competitive drag. The film takes us backstage to kiki with the contestants as they rehearse, throw shade, and transform into their drag personas in the lead-up to the big event. Organized by LGBTQ icon and activist Flawless Sabrina, the competition boasted a star-studded panel of judges including Andy Warhol, Larry Rivers, and Terry Southern.. But perhaps most memorable is an epic diatribe calling out the pageant’s bias delivered by Crystal LaBeija, who would go on to form the influential House of LaBeija, heavily featured in Paris Is Burning (1990). A vibrant piece of queer history, The Queen can now be seen in full resplendence thanks to a new restoration from the original camera negative.

PARIS IS BURNING (Jennie Livingston, 1991 / 78 mins / NR) Where does voguing come from, and what, exactly, is throwing shade? This landmark documentary provides a vibrant snapshot of the 1980s through the eyes of New York City’s African American and Latinx Harlem drag-ball scene. Made over seven years, PARIS IS BURNING offers an intimate portrait of rival fashion “houses,” from fierce contests for trophies to house mothers offering sustenance in a world rampant with homophobia, transphobia, racism, AIDS, and poverty. Featuring legendary voguers, drag queens, and trans women — including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey, and Venus Xtravaganza. Paris Is Burning brings it, celebrating the joy of movement, the force of eloquence, and the draw of community.

*Must me 18+ w/ ID for entry. Must be 19+ w/ID for bar service.
*Rio Theatre Groupons and passes are not accepted for this event.
*We recommend purchasing your tickets in advance at www.riotheatretickets.ca. If a screening or live event is not sold out, the remaining tickets will be available for in-person purchase at the Rio Theatre’s box office prior to showtime (subject to availability).
*Our box office is typically open 30 minutes before showtime. All seating is General Admission; please arrive 20-30 minutes prior to showtime to ensure great seats, and time for treats at concession.

*All Rio Theatre tickets are final sale. No refunds, transfers or exchanges.