Renaissance Theatre brings three classic films to the big screen for spooky season

MANSFIELD – From psychological suspense and silent-era horror to a Halloween night cult classic, the Renaissance Theatre is bringing three very different movie experiences to the big screen this October.

The Renaissance’s Spooky Season film lineup begins Thursday, October 1 with a free screening of The Silence of the Lambs as part of Ohio Goes to the Movies™, a Signature Event of America 250-Ohio. Halloween weekend will bring the 1922 silent horror landmark Nosferatu, accompanied live on the Renaissance’s Mighty Wurlitzer Organ, followed the next night by The Rocky Horror Picture Show, featuring audience participation and a special Tim Curry-themed costume contest honoring the late actor.

Audiences can experience one of cinema’s most acclaimed psychological thrillers on the big screen when The Silence of the Lambs comes to the Renaissance as part of Ohio Goes to the Movies™ (OGTTM), a statewide celebration of Ohio’s rich connections to the film industry.

A Signature Event of America 250-Ohio, Ohio Goes to the Movies™ runs from mid-February through October 2026, offering approximately 250 days of screenings in cities and towns across the state. The celebration showcases Ohioans—including actors, directors, writers and composers—as well as Ohio locations and topics represented on screen. Films range from Hollywood blockbusters and independent films to rare archival footage and contemporary works, highlighting the many ways Ohio has contributed to American filmmaking.

The Silence of the Lambs has its own connections to the Buckeye State. The film includes the fictional town of Belvedere, Ohio, and used the real-world Bellaire Bridge in Bellaire, Ohio, as a visual backdrop when FBI trainee Clarice Starling travels into town. Actor Ted Levine, whose chilling performance as Jame Gumb, also known as “Buffalo Bill,” became one of the film’s most memorable roles, was born in Bellaire.

Admission to The Silence of the Lambs is free, but advance ticket reservations are required.

On Halloween Eve, the Renaissance will turn back the clock more than a century for a screening of F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu, the groundbreaking 1922 silent film that helped define horror on screen for generations to come.

Acclaimed organist Jay Spencer will accompany the film live on the Renaissance Theatre’s historic Mighty Wurlitzer Organ, pairing the eerie imagery of Murnau’s vampire masterpiece with the dramatic power and atmosphere of live theatre organ music.

The Mighty Wurlitzer has a cinematic history of its own. Originally installed in the Warner Brothers Vitaphone studios in 1929 and later owned by Hollywood actor Joseph Kearns, the instrument eventually made its way to the Renaissance Theatre in 1985. Today, it remains a treasured part of the theatre’s artistic history.

The combination offers audiences a chance to experience silent film much as moviegoers did during the golden age of the movie palace, when live musical accompaniment was an essential part of going to the movies.

The ticket also unlocks a special Halloween weekend bonus. Guests who attend Nosferatu can bring their ticket back to the Renaissance the following night for free admission to The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Those who have already purchased a Rocky Horror ticket can instead present their Nosferatu ticket for a free popcorn.

Tickets for Nosferatu start at $10.

Halloween night gets a little stranger when The Rocky Horror Picture Show returns to the Renaissance for a late-night screening filled with costumes, callbacks, dancing, and audience participation.

This year’s screening will also pay tribute to the late Tim Curry, whose performance as Dr. Frank-N-Furter helped make the film a cultural phenomenon. Audiences are invited to take part in a Tim Curry-themed costume contest, celebrating characters and looks from throughout the actor’s career, with prizes awarded to winning costumes.

The cult classic invites audiences to do much more than sit quietly and watch. Fans can sing along, shout their favorite lines, dance the “Time Warp,” and fully embrace the wonderfully strange world of Dr. Frank-N-Furter and his eccentric creations.

For those who want the full interactive experience, approved prop bags are available as an add-on with admission for a total price of $16.66. Prop bags may be picked up at Will Call before the screening. To help protect the historic Renaissance Theatre while keeping the interactive tradition alive, audiences are asked not to bring their own props from home.

Guests who attend Nosferatu on October 30 may present their ticket for free admission to The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Guests who already have a Rocky Horror ticket can present their Nosferatu ticket for a free popcorn instead.

Whether it is a first trip to the Frankenstein place or an annual Halloween tradition, audiences are encouraged to grab their friends, dress up, and prepare to participate.

Tickets to The Rocky Horror Picture Show are $6.66, or $16.66 with an official prop bag.

Tickets and reservations for these Spooky Season film events are available at rentickets.org, by calling the Renaissance Box Office at 419-522-2726, or by visiting the theatre at 138 Park Avenue West, Mansfield. The Box Office is open Tuesday through Friday from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for Renaissance events and programming. Businesses and organizations interested in supporting the Renaissance while connecting with audiences throughout North Central Ohio may contact Grace Riegel, Development & Executive Affairs Coordinator, at 419-522-2726, ext. 203 or grace@mansfieldtickets.com for more information.