418 South Illinois Avenue, Carbondale, Illinois 62901, United States
A historic arts & entertainment venue in downtown Carbondale, Illinois
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FILMS
LIVE EVENTS | THEATER | COMEDY
LIVE EVENTS | THEATER | COMEDY
LIVE EVENTS | THEATER | COMEDY
LIVE EVENTS | THEATER | COMEDY
LIVE EVENTS | THEATER | COMEDY
LIVE MUSIC
LIVE EVENTS | THEATER | COMEDY
LIVE MUSIC
10's Across the Board Drag Ball Competition
Saturday 10/10 @ 10 PM
Cinema at The Varsity presents: The Addams Family (1991)
Join SI CABE at this event to celebrate the shared histories of the LGBTQ, Black, and Latino communities. This is a traditional drag ball!!
We'll be hosting houses that will compete in three themed categories for a chance to win a custom trophy and cosmetics bundle provided by Ben Nye Cosmetics. Dress up in your gaggiest outfit and join us at the Varsity!
MAF Teeski & Friends
Saturday, October 17, 2026 - 6 PM
FROM CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE: MAF TEESKI & Friends BRING THE REALEST DRILL TO THE VARSITY CARBONDALE
This Homecoming weekend, Saturday, October 17, Chicago's South Side comes to Carbondale. From Roseland, the headliner, MAF Teeski came up in 2018 with "Dirty Cup." Then, when some would be out for the count from adversity and life-altering setbacks, MAF turned hard times into fuel to create *Slick Almighty*. *Slick SZN*. "Catch A B" drew in over **20 million views** and counting. And he's still dropping new work with his latest *Scoomsday* out now.
What separates Teeski from the rest of drill is simple: MAF doesn't fake it. You won’t find industry gimmicks or invented street tales. He keeps his circle small, Scoom Gang, focused on loyalty to their craft. His music is his life, and you can hear it in every bar.
This is an artist who built his following on authenticity in a genre full of fakes, and he's playing a room in the Goldilocks Zone that you'll feel every note. Imagine that sound coming out of the walls of The Varsity, a 1940s theater turned artist venue, with bass driving through every cell of your being.
Whether you're at SIU and it's a short trip to The Strip from your dorm or apartment, or you're in from Illinois State for the game, U of I, Eastern, or somewhere in Chicagoland and you're thinking about a road trip — this is the kind of show you tell people that you were there.
*Real music. Real stories. One night only.*
Doors, Big Room Pre-show, VIP Lounge & Meet & Greet, and Varsity Bar open at 6 PM, with Showtime beginning at 7.
MAF Teeski &
Friends
Scheduled to perform:
FRISCO
BIG STARR
YDOT GDOT
MALL MONEY
And featuring
DJ Lil Jaee
and Hxllywood
**MAF TEESKI and Friends: LIVE AT THE VARSITY**
📍 418 S Illinois Ave, on The Strip in Downtown Carbondale, IL
🎟 Tickets & VIP Meet & Greet Passes: Select GET TICKETS button.
🎓 SIUC students: Special SIUC student pricing to celebrate HOMECOMING 2026!
Bag Check at Entry
No Audio or Video recording is allowed at this event.
C@V Presents: Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Friday October 23, 2026 8 PM
Cinema at The Varsity presents: A NIghtmare on Elm Street (1984)
In this classic of the horror film genre that launched a movie franchise, a hideously scarred pedophile who was murdered by a lynch mob returns years later in the terrifying nightmares of his killers' teenaged children ... And the dreaming teenagers are starting to die in their sleep.
Director: Wes Cravens
Starring: Robert Englund, Heather Langenkamp, John Saxon, Ronee Blakley, Amanda Wyss
Run time: 91 Minutes
Rated R
C@V Presents: Terror on The Strip 2026 MARATHON
Saturday, OCT 24, Noon - 9 PM
Cinema at The Varsity presents: Terror on the Strip 2026
A 9-hour, 5-film "Blind Ticket" mystery-horror movie marathon sure to shock and excite any avid horror fan seeking an experience they won’t soon forget!
Enter blind, leave wide awake! The films in the marathon are revealed when the title card hits the screen before you! Make no mistake, these films range from underseen cult classics to canonical masterpieces. You may get the chance to see some of your favorites on the big screen or be introduced to something new! In addition to our selections all month long, our marathon programming has been painstakingly hand-selected from some of the very best the horror genre has to offer.
We aren't allowed to share the titles, but here's what we can tell you about your itinerary for the marathon experience on Saturday, October 24th!
11 am to Noon: Pre-show, welcome & introduction, coffee bar/fueling station in The Varsity Bar
Noon to 3:30: Films #1 and #2, followed by a 15-minute intermission
3:30 to 6:45: Films #3 and #4, followed by a 15-minute intermission and meal station in The Varsity Bar.
6:45 to 9 pm: Film #5, followed by a special prize raffle and closing statements
Varsity Bar & Concessions will be open throughout the marathon with special snacks, treats, and event-exclusive cocktails, PLUS Terror on the Strip T-shirts exclusive for this event.
Costumes are encouraged! Get dressed up, bring a friend, and steel your nerves for an unforgettable night of the mad and macabre on the Strip at The Varsity!
*All films are rated R; viewer discretion advised.
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Varsity Improv: Under Maintenance!
Saturday October 24, 2026 8 PM
Members of The Varsity’s house improv group will write, produce, and improvise a show for their latest residence appearance at the downtown Carbondale venue.
The hour-long show will be hosted by Under Maintenance, our local ensemble led by Macklen Makhloghi, which blends veteran performers with emerging talent, united by a shared passion for improv.
Performances feature a dynamic mix of formats, including fast-paced improv games, long-form storytelling, sketch comedy, and audience interaction, ensuring that each and every show is unique. And, because the group takes its inspiration directly from the audience, every show is wildly different. Come be a part of the experience.
Tickets for the show are $8 ($6 with Student ID)and are available in advance here on Eventbrite and at the door on the night of the show. Varsity Bar and doors at 7, show at 8.