The Rocky Horror Picture Blog

Missouri Street Theater (MST) is one of several companies that makes "Rocky Horror" an annual affair, and has produced the show for at least the last six or seven years at Fairfield's Downtown Theatre on West Texas Street. (They were the only ones in NorCal who did anything "Rocky" last year, putting on an outdoor "concert" version of the show.) This group, directed by Dae Spering each time, has been fun to watch as they've developed their own little traditions, from recurring ad-libbed lines to familiar stage gimmicks (looking at you, trap door). The Friday-night atmosphere on entering the house was unlike any of the other "Rockies" - this company wants its audience PUMPED. UP. "Club" music lit up the sound system, while the Phantoms gleefully passed out "Virgin" or "Whore" name stickers to each patron. (The latter were for those who had  seen Rocky before... and the actors knew immediately which one to give

Stepping back into the University Theatre of Sac State was a bit of a “Time Warp” in itself! I performed in a few musicals there a while back, with good experiences each time, so I knew I had much to look forward to on this one. The CSUS Theatre Department selected “The Rocky Horror Show” as a purposeful welcoming back to the world of live theatre, having been dark since Fall 2019 along with most other venues. They clearly wanted to dive right back in with a bang (pun intended). Diehard “Rocky” fans who attend should take note: the production sets very clear preferences for its shouted participation, and dirty language and blunt profanity are to be kept at a minimum. A younger Me might have been indignant over such limits on the tradition, but I get it: many attendees are there to support the college, or specific family/friends in the production, without knowing what the show is actually about. Too much unwelcome “participation” could sour the experience for them. In speaking with the

Green Valley Theatre has produced “The Rocky Horror Show” in every non-pandemic year since 2009, and this year’s opening night reminded me why theirs is my favorite production out of the bunch, year after year. There’s so much I can say about the overall “Rocky” culture within the company that I would probably need one or two additional posts to flesh it all out. So, I’ll do my best to stay focused on this particular year and save the generalities for another time. Green Valley currently lacks a permanent venue, and this year’s “Rocky” marks the fourth time in as many years that the company has produced it in a different space. This year they were housed by Campus Brewing in West Sacramento, whose warehouse infrastructure made staging a unique challenge. The acting space consists of a catwalk-type thrust stage with some upstage proscenium area, the floor just beyond the catwalk, and extends back to the bar (seamlessly incorporated into some scenes). It is an irritating truth that w

Rocky Horror season, and my first-ever show review, are a go! First up is Paper Wing Theatre and Supper Club in Monterey, a company that has been alive for 29 years and performing live Rocky shows for 17, yet only now have I gotten around to visiting them for the first time! Paper Wing is found on the second floor of the Monterey Bay Cannery building on Cannery Row. (Parking may be tough for the 8pm shows, so try and get there early, especially if you’re also dining in.) They moved into the space in mid-2019 – recent enough that the woodwork construction of their seating risers still looked brand new. The room is without a constructed stage, with the action taking place essentially on the dining room floor and making for minimal separation between performers and spectators. The production’s overall theme was an emulation of the movie, underscored by Frank’s “Tim Curry”-esque wig and outfits, some variations of the dialogue that are movie-specific, and the absence of Brad’s “Once in

So how did I even fall in with this crowd...? In October 2008, after performing a show of “Little Shop of Horrors” at (the now-defunct) Garbeau’s Dinner Theatre, I stayed around for the opening of the concurrent production: a little piece called “The Rocky Horror Show.” I knew almost nothing about the show (except the Time Warp), and was basically there only to support my friends and our neighboring cast. It helped that each cast got carte blanche on attending the other show for free! The show began, and then appeared the entirely foreign concept of audience members shouting pre-meditated lines for all to hear. This new, mysterious phenomenon quickly turned hilarious during the Narrator’s first speech - my first crack-up came when the actress's line “heavy, black and pendulous” was preceded by the audience line “Describe your boobs.” The rest of the show was similarly entertaining, and in between fits of laughter, the audience’s participation left me with but one thought: “This is

 Welcome to the first post! This blog is dedicated to all the theatre companies who produce the wonderous cult phenomenon that is the Rocky Horror Show. Who am I? I'm "that guy" at any given Rocky performance. I'm the one shouting vulgarities and pop culture references from the back of the theatre. Don't worry, it's allowed! (Usually.) "The Rocky Horror Show" is unique among musicals, in large part for its audience participation by way of props and "shout-outs." I discovered this world in 2008 and instantly fell in love. To date, I've been to 147 live performances, in cities that include but are not limited to... Sacramento Fairfield Stockton Chico South Lake Tahoe Porterville San Diego Alameda San Jose Santa Cruz/Felton San Francisco Santa Rosa Portland, OR Forest Grove, OR Why did I start this blog? I wanted my own space where I can review and spread word-of-mouth on all the Rocky Horror productions that I see. I'll also share som