We’re celebrating the life and talent of the hilarious, fabulous, one-of-a-kind Catherine O’Hara (1954-2026). Experience some of O’Hara’s most iconic turns on the big screen, including her trio of unforgettable characters from the holy trinity of Christopher Guest mockumentaries. Plus, you’re invited to join us for an after party in our Crystal Ballroom, hosted by immersive event curators, Identical Cousins.
Catherine O’Hara Tribute
Home for the Holidays (all of them!)
August 23rd | Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theatre
Identical Cousins returns to the Crystal Ballroom / Somerville Theatre with a multimedia, omni-holiday spectacle celebrating the oeuvre of the hilarious, fabulous, one-of-a-kind Catherine O’Hara (1954-2026). Catherine O’Hara Tribute: Home for the Holidays (all of them!) is a Crystal Ballroom evening both deeply reverential and delightfully irreverent, capping off a weekend screening all-time great films in her comedy canon.
The world lost this hothouse genius and high-wire fashionista far too soon. We invite a cortège of her adoring mourners to flock to this variety show-cum-costume party, simply chockablock with music, comedy, dancing, drag, puppets, and hilarity. It’s impossible to imagine another Christmas, Halloween, or Purim without O’Hara — so we decided to mainline an entire year of holidays with her in this Sunday 8/23 ballroom extravaganza, to emotionally prepare.
Get habilimented in your finest, high-camp-iest CO’H drag. Category is: Delia Deetz realness, Lola Heatherton disco chic, the nosebleed heights of Moira Rose headgear, Sally’s nightmare garb, or any classic character you can reimagine. We’ll have a dance party break with Uncertain.FM / ex-Red Sox / ex-Patriots / current-Bruins DJ TJ Connolly before the entire audience is invited to attempt “scene karaoke,” where you do all the line readings — whether you’d like to redecorate an L.L. Bean hellscape as Beetlejuice’s Delia and Otho, “fold in the cheese” in a Schitt’s Creek cozy cooking corner, or drunkenly broadcast intimate medical details across a Chinese restaurant as Waiting for Guffman’s Sheila Albertson.
The whole congregation is invited to sip Herb Ertlinger Fruit Wine-inspired signature cocktails, and inhabit an old-timey sexy xmas special with comedy host Keira Horowitz, bewigged chanteuses Noell Dorsey and Hayley Thompson-King, and middle-aged men helper-dancers. One Very Special Guest will be drag burlesque artist Celia Smokinbutts as avant-garde sculptor / unwilling city transplant Delia Deetznbuttz. And everyone will sing along to a touching “Kiss at the End of the Rainbow” with an all-star band: Red Sox organist Josh Kantor, Somergloom / SEA’s Stephen LoVerme, BUFF and Lobby Guac’s George Luke, Julee Cruise Director’s Slamz Slusser and Identical Cousins Emily Arkin & Bridget Duggan before we all pop Christmas pills with 8 minutes to safely stumble to the door.
The variety show serves as the grand finale to a weekend-long mini-film festival in 35mm at the Somerville Theatre.
So quit pettifogging, home alone like a timorous grinagog — nay, a disgruntled pelican! — and snatch a ticket before this dirigible has ascended. Event proceeds donated to cancer research.
After party tickets are available here and at the box office.