Just a sweet transvestite from… DeKalb?

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” will be screened tonight at 8 p.m. at the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St..

The interactive cinematic and theatrical event will feature a live shadow cast that will act out the scenes of the movie in front of a big screen. Under the name of “A Powerful and Irrational Mouthwash,” the cast began doing the show in February. Having returning this season in September, they have a scheduled show for November in addition to tonight’s performance.

“What we do is play the movie on the big screen and then we’re in costume and we have props and we act it out in front of the screen. There are certain scenes like the Time Warp where everyone dances with us,” said Nicole Schulz, who plays Magenta in the shadow crew.

In addition to dancing, audience members are encouraged to dress up, and shout out “call-out lines,” Schulz said. Although some props are encouraged, according to the Egyptian Theatre website, lighters, candles, large water guns, toast, hot dogs and prunes will not be allowed.

People who are unfamiliar with the film or are seeing it for the first time are more than welcome to come see the film without any obligation of participation.

“It’s not like we force you to participate,” Schulz said. “If you don’t know any call out lines you can just sit there. No one’s going to pick on you or anything if you don’t dress up.”

Fidel Reardon, the director of A Powerful and Irrational Mouthwash, said a large and diverse attendance can be expected.

“It’s all ages,” Reardon said. “I’ve seen people who are 14 come to the show, and I’ve seen people in their 80s. People really come out of the woodwork to see the show.”

In addition, Reardon said tonight’s performance will be a special one, featuring cast members from “Completely Crazy,” who put on an annual “Rocky Horror” performance at the Egyptian prior to Reardon’s cast.

The 1975 film stars Tim Curry as a transvestite scientist who antagonizes a young heterosexual couple played by Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick. A popular musical, it parodies sci-fi and horror movies.

Because of the movie’s dominant themes of bisexuality and transvestism, many regard the film as a positive force in bringing bisexuality and homosexuality into popular culture. Others accuse the show of perpetuating stereotypes.

“What’s great about “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is that it’s all about challenging gender norms and what’s appropriate for male and females and challenging the characters in the movie as well people who are watching what norms are for sexuality,” said Molly B. Holmes, director of the NIU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center. “I think that any time, as well as the LGBT community is concerned, that people are challenged to think differently, it’s a good thing because we’re such a binary society.”

Regarding Tim Curry’s character’s promiscuous nature, Holmes said it’s important to keep in mind that this is not emblematic of the community.

“I think where it’s a little tricky is when heterosexual people look at it as ‘okay, that is what an example of what being gay is, that’s what a transsexual or a transvestite is,’ because they’re such diversity within lesbian gay bisexual that you can’t just look at one thing,” Holmes said.