Students packed into the musical theatre building, heels clicking and students chattering, as they went over their lines and choreography.
With over-the-top characters and plenty of colorful jokes, Columbia students are bringing “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” to campus on Friday, Oct. 30 at the Dance Center.
The production follows the 1975 cult classic film that follows a newly engaged, all-American couple who gets lost and ends up in Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s mansion, where things quickly escalate.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” features a shadow cast — a performance where the actors lip sync and dance to the film behind them.
Senior film and television major Felix Spencer Lee has been organizing Rocky Horror productions for four years while being a student at Columbia. The idea started during his first year, when he and his roommate bonded over their shared love for the film.
The first round of productions was originally organized through a student club. They had shows in campus buildings, and even had them in a friend’s basement at one point.
This Halloween, the production is getting a spooky revamp with the support of Columbia’s School of Theatre and Dance. This partnership has given the production access to a rehearsal space, lighting, costumes, props and a production team.
“In all years previous, it’s come out of my own pocket,” Lee said. “It comes from pure passion for the art, and now it’s bigger than it’s ever been.”
Lee will be reprising his role as director, alongside another Rocky Horror super fan, junior theatre arts: production and practice major Lucy Mandlowitz, as assistant director.
The pair have plans to continue the show after this year, passing the torch to Assistant Director Mandlowitz, giving other students a chance to participate in the production in the future.
When “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” first premiered, it wasn’t a success until the midnight screenings, turning the film into a cult classic. Audience members would dress as the characters, shout absurdities and participate in the movie. The film celebrates those who do not necessarily fit into the norm, creating a tight-knit community.
The casting process for the shadow play was just as unusual as the film itself. Instead of a standard audition with a typical monologue or show tune, students were instead asked to prepare lip sync performances. They had free range to choose whatever they wanted. Songs ranged from pop songs to musical theatre.
For cast members, another new concept they had to deal with was callouts, a common occurrence in any Rocky Horror showing where audience members will shout jokes back to the screening and cast members.
Jose Morales, who plays the “hero” of Rocky Horror, Brad Majors, had watched the film before joining the production but had not attended an event for Rocky Horror before joining the cast.
“The rehearsal room experience is very different than anything I’ve ever done before,” said Morales, a sophomore double majoring in musical theatre and theatre arts: production and practice.
Violet Larson, who plays the Rocky Horror character and mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter, said getting the role was exciting, especially because of what the character means to her as a transgender woman.
“It’s very important for me to represent us trans women up in here,” said Larson, a first-year acting for stage and screen major.
Larson said the cast made it easier for her to get comfortable with the outlandish role while performing.
“I do struggle to let go and just be stupid, be weird and just own a role,” Larson said. “I found that I was able to do that really easily with this role, because of how comfortable the cast made me feel.”
The cast spent time discussing boundaries and making sure the entire crew felt comfortable during rehearsals. A workshop on intimacy coordination helped performers feel more comfortable communicating about their boundaries before setting foot on the stage.
Alejandro Nazario, who is playing Rocky Horror, Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s newly made creation, has also found comfort and connection with his role and the film.
Having moved from Puerto Rico, Nazario said he relates to Rocky, understanding how nerve-wracking being in a new environment can be.
Nazario also sees the film as a symbol that people should not have to follow societal norms on how they choose to dress or express themselves.
“‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ helps us remember that we’re free to express our identity, our sexuality, our way of dressing,” said Nazario, a first-year acting for stage and screen major.
Other performers are finding their own ways to build connections to their roles.
Francesca James will be playing Janet Weiss, the naive fiancée to Brad Majors. James said she wanted to look beyond Janet’s reputation of being the stereotypical dumb blonde.
“I feel like she’s a lot more complicated than people think,” said James, a sophomore musical theatre major.
James thinks the character is more aware of what’s going on around her then she lets on.
Between learning to lip sync the entire movie and getting used to the insane callouts, the cast had a lot to figure out. But the rehearsal room became a place where students could joke around while doing the art they love for a freaky, fun community.
For Lee, keeping the production going means that they are continuing to give students a place to connect over the absurd and macabre.
“I think it is so important to have space for queer people, weirdos and freaks to just come together and be themselves,” Lee said.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” will be performing on Friday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. at the Dance Center.
Copy edited by Isaac Russo
