Independent movie theater shows sing-along screening of R. Kelly’s ‘Trapped in the Closet’
They came in groups. They came alone. But no matter who they were, they sang along.
The Nickelodeon Theatre hosted a sing-along screening of R&B artist R. Kelly’s “Trapped in the Closet,” the best-known hip-hop opera of this generation. Patrons paid $10 apiece to giggle, boogie and croon along with the first 22 chapters of the 33-part music video series.
The saga, which was released between 2005 and 2012, follows the drama of a handful of cheating couples with plot twists involving “midgets,” sexually transmitted diseases, shoot-outs and pregnancies.
The audience at Friday’s Nickelodeon showing ranged from teenagers to gray-haired ladies. Tell Them SC, a local group that advocates for more comprehensive sexual education and reproductive rights, helped sponsor the event and gave out condoms to all in attendance. (This was in addition to the condoms given to ticket holders at the box office, packaged in wrappers displaying Chapter 4’s lyrics, “Oh my God, a rubber! Rubber rubber rubber.”)
The screening began with a singing warm-up as the audience grooved along to classic R. Kelly jams “Bump n’ Grind,” “Step in the Name of Love” and “Ignition (Remix).” Lyrics scrolled along the bottom of the screen and were spelled with emphasis on which vowels required vocal slides (e.g., “Iiiiii don’t wanna hurt nobody / But there’s something Iiiiii must confeeeEEeeeEEss”). Audience volunteers served as dance cheerleaders and were rewarded with free drink tickets for their spirited efforts.
As the saga began, viewers took their seats and settled in for the nearly two-hour ride. Participants were most vocal during the opening chapters and were especially enthusiastic when singing the cliffhanger lines at the ends of chapters. Not everyone in the audience had seen the entire series, as gasps could be heard at turning points and laughter was still resonant at even the most well-known moments.
The Nickelodeon plans to continue hosting nonconventional movie nights at the cinema as employees told the audience after the show that they hope to screen “The Room,” which has been dubbed by many as “the worst movie ever made.”
Chapters 1–22 of R. Kelly’s “Trapped in the Closet” are available on DVD, and 23–33 are on ifc.com.