In front of the leather-bound books of the L.A. Pittenger Student Center music lounge, floating lips and the gyrating hips of Frank-N-Furter grace the screen. Director Brianna Bradley navigates the DVD menu as a piano melody with brass accompaniment plays. Soon, the parade of prospective cast members will trickle in, hoping to land their choice parts in the “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” shadow cast.
“We don’t care how crazy you are,” Bradley said. “We still love you.”
Selecting the new crew for next year was one of many tasks the Muncie “Rocky Horror” community completed during the semester.
After the Pruis Hall performance last year, members of the previous leadership graduated. With them went structure and experience, as well as many physical assets like props and costumes that made last year’s show possible.
New leadership was needed. A four-person executive board was formed, made up of Bradley, public relations officer Riley Gray, choreographer Olivia Germann and assistant director and stage manager Katie Lee.
Without money, the board decided to become a student organization. This would give the “Rocky Horror” shadow cast access to aid they would otherwise not receive.
“We had no choice but to go to the university,” Gray, a sophomore special education major, said. “But why shouldn’t we be affiliated with the university?”
This required the drafting of a constitution, complete with officer roles and rules that the university approved.
Student organization status comes with perks like having a faculty adviser, funding and access to opportunities like activity fairs.
Bradley also said the new status likely assisted in the group’s securing of John R. Emens Auditorium for the annual Halloween show next semester.
When casting the show, the organization looked for more than just technical acting talent. On top of traits like enthusiasm and commitment, the panel observed how the hopefuls interacted.
“Anyone who said they would only accept a main role was thrown out,” Gray said. “We love people who are being friendly and creative.”
In the spirit of the new student organization status, the group attempted to formalize, yet open up participation to the general population.
Auditions were more strictly organized, and everyone had to try out. Members of the executive board auditioned, but were required to leave the room during any casting discussions pertaining to their desired roles.
With school wrapping up and the parts decided, work will continue through the summer.
While support from the university has helped, the cast is still missing some props and costumes. Instead of dues, members can donate materials, like furniture or a wheelchair.
Contributions and a few trips to Goodwill have made a dent in the “four-page packet of things [they] need,” but the list remains substantial.
The organization also is working on a Kickstarter fundraising campaign to help purchase the materials that will not come from donations.
When the Fall Semester begins, the group attend the Activity Fair to bring incoming freshmen into the fold. To make participation more accessible to newcomers, there will be a second round of auditions for parts like transvestites and understudies.
“When I first started, it was about the opportunity to dance again,” Bradley said. “As I grew though, it became about making this show what it could be for others.”
While much of the conversation about “Rocky Horror” is all transvestites, tights and time warps, the word “family” finds its way into the mix quite often.
“‘Rocky’ is the most ridiculous and dysfunctional family you have ever heard of,” Gray said. “... The ‘Rocky Horror’ family is the most accepting group I’ve ever been a part of.”
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