by Baylie Clevenger
Every year, Ball State students fill Emens Auditorium on Halloween for the shadow cast performance of the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show. The movie is a cult classic and has been for a long time, but what makes this show special? A few of the cast members from this year's performance sat down with Byte to explain the ins and outs of Rocky Horror.
Name: Grace Williams
Age: 19
Year/Major: Sophomore theatre design and technology
Your role: Dancing Transylvanian
Q: Is this your first year doing Rocky Horror? If not, what is consistently the best part of performing. If so, how was the experience of your first performance?
A: It was my first year, and it was a great experience. Everyone on the board was amazing and it was great to share my love for Rocky Horror with other people who love it just as much.
Q: Tell me about the first time you experienced Rocky Horror. (Was it the movie? Did you see a live performance? When was it, etc.)
A: I don’t remember the first time I watched the movie, just that I was young and had no idea what it was about. I loved how crazy and unexplainable it was. When I came to Ball State last year, I made sure to see it live to get the full experience, and I think it’s a must for anyone who enjoys the movie.
Q: Why do you think Rocky Horror has such a large following?
A: I think Rocky Horror was a very progressive film for its time, and it’s a cult classic at this point. A sexually ambiguous otherworldly character getting the spotlight for an entire movie is something that hadn’t been done very often, and I think it shocked so many people that it stuck with them.
Q: What is the best part of the show?
A: For me, the best part of the show is being able to connect with people who have a mutual interest in it and being able to have a fun time recreating something we all enjoy.
Q: What drew you to this show?
A: I saw it last year and about halfway through it, I just thought, “Hmm, that looks like a lot of fun. I’m doing this next year.”
Q: How did you come up with your ensemble character?
A: It honestly felt like a Mad Libs sheet. I started with creating a name, then an age, an occupation, and a reason for being at the party depicted in the movie. What I came up with was: Nat, immortal but blends in at human-age 21, is a bartender in Transylvania, and she is at Frank’s party to make the drinks.
Q: Is there anything else important to know about this show?
A: Like any other media, there are problematic elements of the show. I recognize that and I believe many other people do too. When I decided to do the show, I made a decision to have a good time and enjoy the source material while also keeping an open mind to criticism of the show. I’ve seen people point out the misogynistic attitude of referring to Janet as the “slut” the entire time, as well as having a sexually fluid person in drag so heavily antagonized. It was very progressive in the 70s but now that we have more education, information, and we’re able to look at it through a critical lens, I believe it’s important to be able to enjoy it but not praise it as flawless.
Name: Carrisma Jackson
Age: 19
Year/Major: Sophomore/Double major in Psychology and Creative Writing with a minor in Spanish
Your role: Dancing Transylvanian and Eddy understudy
Q: Is this your first year doing Rocky Horror? If not, what is consistently the best part of performing, and if so how was the experience of your first performance?
A: It is my first year! Overall, I’d say the experience was exhausting but worth it. This show and the culture around it are both something I love, so getting to be part of it has been great.
Q: Tell me about the first time you experienced Rocky Horror. (Was it the movie? Did you see a live performance? When was it, etc.)
A: The first time I experienced it was watching the movie with two of my close friends. They taught me call-outs and we had lots of snacks and cat snuggles—it was just a really great time.
Q: Why do you think Rocky Horror has such a large following?
A: I think it has such a large following because it is wonderfully absurd, but still is able to tackle complex themes like the fluidity of sexuality and the negative effects of narcissism.
Q: What is the best part of the show?
A: Roxy in a hotdog costume. Enough said.
Q: What drew you to this show?
A: I had some friends who did it last year, and they convinced me to do it.
Q: How did you come up with your ensemble character?
A: Connor, our director, gave us a little creative assignment during one of our rehearsals, and really, it just grew from there!
Q: Is there anything else important to know about this show?
A: Sam (main cast Eddy) is perfect in every way, and Connor (our director) is an angel of a man.
Images: Baylie Clevenger
Featured Image: Baylie Clevenger
