REBECCA HALE
Assistant Reverb Editor
Not going out on Halloween? Need something to get you in the spirit before you go out? On the night of All Hallow’s Eve, students will be putting on and acting out a production/screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
The production will be an interactive shadow-cast screening, which means the movie will be played in the background while live actors play the roles in front of the screen. Rocky Horror is known for these types of showings, where audience participation is encouraged, that typically happen in real theatres.
Students are free to yell out lines and certain phrases that have come to be ingrained into the cult-like Rocky Horror culture. There are also scenes in which the audience typically throws rice or toilet paper around the theatre.
Micayla Greco, a sophomore musical theatre major who plays Frank ‘N Furter, the lead role, explained how a shadow-cast works, saying, “You are kind of making the character your own, in a way but, at the same time, you’re trying to stay true to what the movie does.”
This is Greco’s first time being involved in, or even experiencing, a shadow-cast version.
“Being [in] musical theatre, I’ve been trained to make it my own, but now I’m following everything that Tim Curry did, so it’s interesting to try to copy somebody almost to a tee; I’ve never had to do that before,” Greco said.
Still, the actors will still be putting bits of themselves into the show; every re-enactment of Rocky Horror tends to be unique to its audience and cast.
“We’ve put some of our own things in there, so it can be funny, because some people may not
be able to tap dance [per se], so we do what we can,” she said.
Since it is a close replication of the movie, the costumes and makeup for the production will be all-out and over-the-top. This is one of the many reasons why Rocky Horror is a fitting performance to show on Halloween. Students will be wearing their own costumes that replicate those of the original cast. Greco says she was nervous at first, since she has to perform in what is essentially lingerie the entire show.
“We all have body image issues at some point, so it’s been interesting for me to get comfortable with my body, and it’s cool, because nobody shames you or anything,” Greco said. “Halloween is a time where you can be somebody other than yourself, and everybody has fun with it, usually, no matter what.”
Alex Dejohn, a seasoned professional in drag, will be doing the makeup for the production. Of course, Frank ‘N Furter is well recognized for his heavy and extravagant makeup.
“I’ve never had to have such interesting makeup,” said Greco. “[Frank ‘N Furter] is a transvestite, so he’s a man dressing as a woman, and I am a woman dressing as a man dressing as a woman, so my makeup looks absolutely nothing like me. I had to get used to that,” Greco said.
Since Frank ‘N Furter is already a transvestite, Greco says that it doesn’t really matter that she is playing a male role. This goes the same for most of the characters within the production.
“Anybody can play the parts — it doesn’t have to be a woman playing a woman. To me, it doesn’t make a difference,” Greco said.
The show is also on Halloween, so audience members are encouraged to dress up as characters, dress in drag or simply come in their Halloween costumes. It’s also a great opportunity for students to get out and participate in a festive activity who don’t want to partake in the typical college Halloween party scene.
Greco said, “I was never into Halloween, but this year I’m really excited.” She plans on going to Random Acts after Rocky Horror, instead of going out.
The production will be on Friday, Oct. 31, in McEwen 209 at 9 p.m. Following will be the Random Acts Halloween edition of their bi-weekly improv show. Tickets are free but must be presented at the door. They can be obtained through the Fredonia Ticket Office.