***Please note: This show has been postponed until further notice. Ticket-holders will be contacted shortly with updated information. We thank-you for your patience and understanding at this time.

The Rio Theatre is pleased to welcome back our favorite silent film orchestra! On Sunday, April 19, Austin's most adventurous band, The Invincible Czars, return to our stage in celebration of the 100th anniversary of German silent film THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI - and this time, they've created their own, tastefully modern score for the picture.

DR. CALIGARI is one of the silent era’s most beloved and enigmatic works, and it is considered by many to be both the first German Expressionist film and the first great motion picture in the horror genre. It is the first movie to incorporate surrealistic production in such and all-encompassing way with quirky sets, angular shadows and creepy make-up.

F.W. Murnau's 1920 classic tells the story of a mysterious traveler who arrives in a small village to showcase his "Somnabulist" (sleepwalker) in the local fair. Shortly thereafter, a series of murders lead the narrator, Franzis, and his friends to believe Dr. Caligari and his sleepwalking assistant may be responsible but something’s not quite right and the conclusion is quite surprising for 100 year old movie.

The Invincible Czars employ a mix of acoustic, electric and synthesized instruments including violin, glockenspiel, organ, vocals, loops, electric guitar, bass. It’s quite a sight to behold when performed live by four players - and truly the best way to appreciate the magic of films of the era.

The band has borrowed music from classical composers for past scores, and Caligari is the first time they've strayed from that formula. It’s also their most collaborative work in nearly decade, with contributions from each of the group’s touring line-up and their co-composer, Henry Q Vines.

Sunday, April 19
Doors 8:15 pm | Movie 9:00 pm
Early Bird Tickets $18 (Until March 16!)
Regular tickets $22 | $25 at the door

*Minors welcome! Must be 19+ w/ID for bar service.
**Sorry, Rio Theatre Groupons and passes n/a for this event.

The Invincible Czars

The Invincible Czars are a multi-faceted collective of musicians that entertains audiences with their quirky music and live shows. They're always doing something different with their fluid line-up of players and they often sound different from season to season with their rotations of violin, woodwinds, keyboard, electric guitar, drums, pitched percussion, bass guitar and other sound effects.

They’ve earned international notoriety their tastefully modern soundtracks for silent horror films which they perform live with the movies at theatres, universities, parks and museums. They also re-invented Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite in their own image and can be found playing festive events during the holidays.

In Spring 2020 they celebrate the centennial of the film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari with performances of their score live with the film all over the US and Canada.

Later this summer, they'll return to the club scene where they began treating longtime followers to a set of hard rock and heavy metal from their back catalog and some new surprises.

THE CABINET OF DR CALIGARI (Robert Wiene, 1920 / 75 min) At a carnival in Germany, Francis (Friedrich Feher) and his friend Alan (Rudolf Lettinger) encounter the crazed Dr. Caligari (Werner Krauss). The men see Caligari showing off his somnambulist, Cesare (Conrad Veidt), a hypnotized man who the doctor claims can see into the future. Shockingly, Cesare then predicts Alan's death, and by morning his chilling prophecy has come true -- making Cesare the prime suspect. However, is Cesare guilty, or is the doctor controlling him?