Queer for Fear Live!

Name: Queer for Fear Live!
Start: 2025-10-15T19:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-10-15T21:00:00-05:00
Location: 209 W North St, Normal, IL, United States, Illinois 61761

Schedule

Wed Oct 15 2025 at 07:00 pm to 09:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

209 W North St, Normal, IL, United States, Illinois 61761 | Normal, IL

Author Dr. Heather O. Petrocelli and drag performer Peaches Christ, the alter ego of filmmaker Joshua Grannell, present “Queer for Fear Live!”, a 90-minute edutainment program created to engage communities in thought-provoking conversations about queer friendship, culture and queer love for horror.
This discussion blends scholarly analysis with live performance in a mix of academic insights, personal anecdotes, queer friendship, audience participation and drag performance. While highlighting the key themes from Dr. Petrocelli’s debut book, “Queer for Fear: Horror Film and the Queer Spectator,” the discussion will facilitate a better understanding of the queer relationship to horror film and the role of drag artists in galvanizing queer community.
Live show admission is free and open to the community.
Copies of Dr. Petrocelli’s book will be available for purchase.
And join us the next night - Thursday 10/16 - for a screening of Joshua Grannell's film, "All About Evil."

About Dr. Heather O. Petrocelli:
Heather O. Petrocelli, PhD, is an award-winning film critic, writer and researcher employing transdisciplinary methods across film studies, queer theory and public history to highlight and engage with visible queer stories and experiences.
With a life-long love of horror and film, Dr. Petrocelli’s scholarly foundation informed her debut, best-selling book “Queer for Fear: Horror Film and the Queer Spectator”. Available for purchase through the University of Chicago Press, “Queer for Fear” establishes ways in which the horror genre is experienced and understood by the queer audience with original survey date and theoretically framed examination.

About Joshua Grannell/Peaches Christ:
Peaches Christ, the alter ego of Joshua Grannell, is a filmmaker, event producer, podcaster and cult leader. Films and events produced by Peaches Christ have featured film and drag icons including John Waters, Elvira (her drag mother), Tim Curry, Bruce Campbell, Pam Grier and more. Peaches has appeared in many films and television shows during her career including “Milk, I Am Divine,” “Diary Of A Teenage Girl,” “Mansfield 66/67,” “Tura!,” “Scream Queen: My Nightmare On Elm Street,” “You Don’t Nomi” and more.
In partnership with conductor Edwin Outwater, Peaches creates symphony events playing prestigious venues including London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Notable drag children include Bob the Drag Queen and Jinkx Monsoon.
Joshua Grannell is a filmmaker, writer and director. Feature film by Grannell, “All About Evil,” stars Natasha Lyonne, Thomas Dekker, Cassandra Peterson, Mink Stole, and Peaches Christ herself.
As Co-owner of Into the Dark Production Company, Grannell produces immersive horror theatre with David Flower, including the popular Terror Vault show at the historic San Francisco Mint building.

Queer for Fear Live! is sponsored by the Harold K. Sage Foundation, Illinois State University Foundation Fund, Department of Psychology, Queer Coalition, School of Theater, Dance and Film and the Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program.