Pictured: Co-Curator, Director, and FACE/OFF actor Dina Walters.

Neo-Futurist alumnae Rachel Claff and Dina Walters have announced partial casting and line-up for IT CAME FROM…THE NEO-FUTURARIUM XII: Dawn of the Neo-Futurarium!

The 12th annual staged readings series will highlight four of the best worst film scripts of all time, brought to life by past and present Neo-Futurists and guest artists. The four-weekend event will feature a different film each weekend and includes the Nicholas Cage and John Travolta classic FACE/OFF.

IT CAME FROM…THE NEO-FUTURARIUM XII: Dawn of the Neo-Futurarium! line-up (from the press release):

June 24: CAGED! (1950) – Naïve teenager Marie is thrown into the ladies’ slammer for being an accessory to robbery. Will she come out a woman … or a wildcat? Bust out and come to this over-the-top Pride Weekend reading a yet to be announced all-female-identified cast!

CAGED! is directed by Neo-Futurist alumnus David Kodeski and festival curator Rachel Claff.

July 1: FACE/OFF (1997) – In our 2009 reading of COOL AS ICE, Dina Walters played the role she was born to play: Vanilla Ice. This year she plays the other role she was born to play: Nicolas Cage. Trying to take her down (via sketchy surgical science) is Neo-Futurist Kristie Koehler-Vuocolo as John Travolta. Bullets and doves will fly in this face-swappin’, gender-swappin’ spectacular!

Directed by Walters FACE/OFF also includes Ryan Walters (Dr. Eve Archer), Allison Latta (Pollux Troy), Andy Bayiates (Sasha Hessler/Jamie Archer), Bilal Dardai (Narrator/Agent Hollis Miller/Agent Wanda), and Robyn Coffin (Dr. Malcom Walsh/Dietrich Hassler/Agent Biondi).

July 8: SUSPIRIA (1977) – From the moment she arrives at the prestigious Tanz Academy, ballet dancer Suzy Bannion senses that something horribly evil lurks within its walls. So what if SUSPIRIA’s got gorgeous cinematography and buckets of gore? Director and Neo-Futurist alumna Stephanie Shaw is out to prove that this gonzo Italian horror film is as chock-full of cheese as a good manicotti.

Casting TBA.

July 15: SOMEONE I TOUCHED (1975) – Man, made-for-TV movies were so different in the 1970s. Like, remember that one where a pregnant Cloris Leachman’s husband cheated on her with a teenager and got syphilis? And then Cloris was worried her baby wouldn’t have arms? But she still found time to sing the movie’s theme song? *Sigh* Those were the days.

Directed by festival veteran Edward Thomas-Herrera (Devil Girl from Mars; Sorority Girl), casting for SOMEONE I TOUCHED is TBA.

STAFF: Neo-Futurist alumna Rachel Claff (Creator, Head Curator), Neo-Futurist alumna Dina Walters (Assistant Curator), Jeremy Hornik (Selection Committee; Production), Jason Meyer (Selection Committee; Production), Bob Stockfish (Selection Committee; Production), and Neo-Futurist alumna Melinda Evans (Technician).

IT CAME FROM…THE NEO-FUTURARIUM XII: Dawn of the Neo-Futurarium! runs Saturdays, June 24th – July 15th at The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL 60640. For tickets visit neofilmfestxii.eventbrite.com.