Photo Essay by: Mary Kinser

WKU’S CAB PRESENTS:ROCKY HORROR PICTURE

SHOW

Written in 1973 by British playwright, Richard O‟Brien, the Rocky Horror

Show was originally intended as a stage performance. With the 1975

adaptation of the show into a movie, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the

musical lost its roots in the theater. However, on April 1, 1976 an audience at

the Waverly Theatre in New York City, began shouting responses to the

characters in the film; and thus the tradition was born. Shadow casts of The

Rocky Horror Picture Show became popular in the Eighty‟s and continues to

be a celebrated, and highly anticipated event for many. This year, as in the

three previous years, Western Kentucky University's Campus Activities Board

held a shadow cast of the show, at the Capital Arts on Halloween night.

SCIENCE FICTION, DOUBLE

FEATURE

As Maddie Powers prepares for the shadow cast, she pops out a tube of red

lipstick and says, “It‟s all about the lips!” Powers, like many others this evening

is preparing for a wild night full of playful and sultry costumes. “Preparing for

the show is like preparing for your wedding day, stressful and hectic, but

worth it,” says Chanley Rogers a long time fan of the cult classic, who will be

attending the shadow cast for the first time, “I am very excited!” As the two

put on their outfits and apply their make up, you can see the excitement on

their faces, and the anticipation in their eyes.

CREATURES OF THE NIGHT

Shown here the Campus Activities Board (CAB) member portraying

Dr. Frank-N-Furter practices the song “I Can Make you a man” just an hour

before the show began. “We are all very excited, and are having a lot of fun,”

he says, “and we can‟t wait to start the show.” According to other members of

the board, the cast only had 4 practices before the night of the show. “It‟s a

lot of work,” says the board member portraying Columbia, “but it is well

worth it.”

PREPARING FOR THE FLOOR

SHOW

Eagerness fills the audience as they wait in line standing in six inch heels, and

the cool fall air to see the highly anticipated performance. Rachel Kinser waits

in line and says “I‟ve been waiting for this all year!” Other chatter and screams

of excitement can be heard all throughout the line as people mingle, and talk

of past experiences at the shadow cast. “I met a man who has been to three

Rocky Horror shadow casts just this weekend,” says Kinser of a man she met

in the line, “It is obvious by the smiles on everyone's faces that they‟re all

super stoked to be here.”

I SEE YOU SHIVER WITH

ANTICI…PATION.

The sound of 14 upbeat and exciting songs reverberate off the walls of the

Capital Arts Theater evoking a nostalgic, and for some, a strange feeling. The

effervescent audience cheers and sing along to some of their favorite tunes

including “Time Warp,” “Sweet Transvestite,” and “ Rose Tint My World,” but

who is behind it all? “It‟s actually quite simple, once you get the hang of it,”

says Jeff Petrocelli of working the sound board, “in fact it‟s kind of fun.” It is

people like Jeff who made this show possible, and take part in creating the

enjoyable atmosphere that the audience craves.

COME UP TO THE LAB AND SEE

WHAT’S ON THE SLAB…

“Who here is a virgin,” calls the board member playing Columbia, across the

theater. A slew of cries comes from the audience. “A virgin is someone who

has never been to a Rocky Horror shadow cast,” explains Alicia Hope. All

virgins are marked with a red lipstick “V” on their foreheads, and patiently

await for other shadow cast members to pick them from the crowd. Kristen

Combs is among one of the “virgins” chosen by the cast to go on stage.

Master of Ceremonies, Grace Beaumont leads the way and proceeds with the

“de-virginizing.”

V MARKS THE VIRGIN

Seen here Campus Activities Board members portray the characters Columbia,

Magenta, Frank-N-Furter, and Riff-Raff in the musical number “Sweet

Transvestite.” Throughout the entire show their high energy performance

wowed the crowd and kept everybody wanting more. “You could tell they

were having fun with it,” says audience member Macie Wheeler, “and that‟s

what made the show.”

IT’S JUST A JUMP TO THE LEFT…

Since the beginning of the shadow cast tradition in the mid-70‟s, props have

been a major part of the show. To many people this floor may look like it is

covered in trash but to the fans attending Rocky Horror they represent

different sayings and scenes from the movie. In preparation of using a prop,

audience member Alicia Hope hands her friend Raleigh De Los Reyes a

hotdog, and he looks down in disgust; but when he hears the words “You‟re a

Hotdog!” he knows what to do. During a Rocky Horror shadow cast, audience

members are encouraged to throw props at the screen at the appropriate time.

“The props are the best part,” says Tracy Rogers “it makes you feel like you‟re

part of the show.”

YOU’RE A HOTDOG!

When the show was over, cast members ran outside and line up at the doors

for a meet and greet. “You were my favorite, you look just like the real

Columbia,” gushes Eden Gasperetti to her favorite Character. The audience

buzzed with delight as they chatted, and got photos taken with the audience

members. “Do you think Janet would go out with me?” audience member

Dylan Thompson asked jokingly to his friends. “I think the meet and greet

was a treat for everyone, including the cast!” states Gasperetti.

JANET! DR. SCOTT! JANET! BRAD!

ROCKY!

“Best Halloween Ever!” Elizabeth Hook, a first timer to Rocky Horror, shouts

as she exits the Capital. While people prepare to leave, they share their

thoughts on the show. “My life has been forever changed,” states Chanley

Rogers as she pulls her car door shut, “I can‟t wait „til next year!” All of the

audience appeared to be very pleased with the show. The cast members put on

an excellent performance and left the audience wanting more.

I’M GOING HOME