October at the RIO
BC Queers love the Rio Theatre! Here’s the lineup for the next few weeks. Also, the Rocky Horror Picture Show will be showing nightly from October 24 with two showings on Halloween (click here for info). And Dandy will be hosting A Chainsaw Masquerade Immersive Drag Show on October 24 (click here for info).
The Rio Theatre Burlesque & Variety Show
Local luminary April O’Peel has curated a show full of wonder sure to dazzle and delight our fun loving audience! The theme is NO THEME! That’s right! These talented performers will each be performing one act of their choosing! What act will they decide to bring to The Rio Theatre Burlesque and Variety Show!? Find out on Saturday, October 18th as these stars align for one night only!
Saturday, October 18
Doors 8:00 pm | Show 9:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.
Save $10 with Early Bird pricing available till October 1st at the stroke of midnight!
General Admission $30 + s/c | $35 + s/c at the door
VIP tickets (Rows 1-3, centre section) $40+ s/c
Squad Pass (Group of Four Tickets – online only) $100+ s/c
Buy Tickets HERE!
With Featured Performances By:
Angora Phobia | Arabella Boop | The Cryptids | Flora Fancy | Gnarleigh
Grace Galore | Honey Bee | Heavy Duty Dance Collective
Mosco Moonshine | Sensi Kat | Terry Brennan
Hosted by Miss Kiss
Broadway Barbara LIVE!
Stage legend.
Social media sensation (@BroadwayBarbaraOfficial).
Subtly understated international entertainment titan.
Broadway Barbara makes her triumphant return to the Rio Theatre following a string of raucous, sold-out performances in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Provincetown!
For this special performance, revel in the glorious excess of the spooky season as Barbara unleashes a jumbo-sized trash bag’s worth of tricks and treats: unique interpretations of Broadway tunes, ribald show biz tales, her legendary Fosse dance moves, and a tasteful assortment of tooth-chattering Halloween surprises.
Do not miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bask in the eerie glow of Barbara’s unique talents, when she levitates the roof of one of Vancouver’s premiere destinations for live theatre, comedy, and music!
Broadway Barbara at the Rio – skip this show, and you better wear soft shoes… because you’ll be kicking yourself for the rest of your days!
Sunday, October 19
Doors 7:30 pm | Event 8:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.
Tickets HERE
Fans, critics, passersby, and professional rivals all agree: Barbara Dixon is a creative force — passionate, headstrong, and occasionally frightening. She possesses a bucket of unforgettable tunes, a large rolling suitcase full of unbelievable stories, and the unquenchable thirst to perform.
Connect on Instagram @BroadwayBarbaraOfficial
Connect on Twitter @BroadwayBarbaraOfficial
Connect on TikTok @BroadwayBarbaraOfficial
Bif Naked LIVE
Bif Naked is a force of nature. A poet, a fighter, and a rock ‘n’ roll icon, she’s spent her career rewriting the rules, smashing barriers, and inspiring generations with her unapologetic voice and fearless authenticity. BIF NAKED is the definitive documentary on the life and career of one of Canada’s most unique and enduring artists.
The Rio Theatre is thrilled to welcome this outstanding Canadian icon for the Canadian Theatrical Premiere of the documentary, followed by an intimate acoustic performance and Q&A. Bif is a bona-fide Vancouver legend, and there’s nowhere better than on our #EastVan stage for a once in a lifetime chance to celebrate the artist, and her indelible career.
With unprecedented access and Bif’s signature raw honesty, filmmaker Pollyanna Hardwicke-Brown‘s documentary captures the early years of being targeted by pimps, sexual assault, battles with cancer, stroke, kidney failure and the challenges she faced being a pioneer in the male dominated rock music industry, all the while living by example to young women everywhere, her punk rock ethos, and her enduring influence on Canadian music culture is a part of her significant legacy.
Tuesday, November 4
Doors 6:30 pm | Show 7:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.
Tickets HERE
Born in secret in India, adopted by American missionaries, and raised in Canada, Bif’s journey has been anything but typical. She found her voice in the underground punk scene of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, quickly rising to prominence with her raw, emotionally charged lyrics and undeniable stage presence. As she ascended to rock stardom, she became a symbol of empowerment, a beacon for misfits, and an outspoken advocate for causes close to her heart. But her story isn’t just about fame. It’s about survival. Bif has faced and overcome extraordinary challenges—cancer, addiction, sexual assault, and a brutal music industry that often sought to silence her. Yet, through it all, she remained unbreakable, turning her pain into poetry and her struggles into anthems. Told through exclusive interviews, rare archival footage, and anthemic performances, BIF NAKED is a deep dive into the life of a woman who has lived and loved fearlessly. It’s about the cost of authenticity, the power of perseverance, and the undeniable impact of an artist who continues to define and redefine herself. With Bif Naked, George Stroumboulopoulos, Doug Fury, Chiko Misomali, Peter Karroll.
This is Bif Naked—unfiltered, unstoppable, and louder than ever.