A stream of sequined, fishnet-clad, costumed students eagerly gathered outside of Pitzer’s Benson Theatre on Oct. 30, awaiting the first of two consecutive nighttime 5C productions of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”
The diverse crowd — which included many “virgin viewers” whose foreheads were branded with a red-lipsticked V — buzzed with joy as they took their coveted seats and prepared for an exciting, gender-bending celebration of queerness.
“It’s so androgynous and it’s inspiring to see that level of ambiguity with gender,” attendee Katisyn Sweeney SC ’26 said. “Every time I’ve seen it, it’s inspired me in some way to explore deeper into my gender identity. It’s queer and I love it.”
Following a brief pre-show caveat establishing a respectful relationship between the cast and audience, the lights were dimmed and the famous song “Science Fiction/Double Feature” began to play. Two actors kicked things off, emerging from their seats in the audience to perform a striptease as the opening credits rolled on screen and the crowd cheered them on.
Upon its premiere in 1975, the film was a box-office flop. Despite this, the musical was resurrected by a fervent fan base who established it as a true cult classic. Today, the show is typically staged around Halloween due to its horror elements and emphasis on costumes. It’s become a beloved annual event on college campuses and in small cinemas around the world, with varying degrees of theatricality.
The musical follows a couple, Janet and Brad, who find themselves trapped in the mansion of the eccentric, self described “transvestite alien” Dr. Frank N. Furter and his quirky cast of characters. The story explores sexuality and gender fluidity as the couple is introduced through dance and song to a world that breaks free from normativity.
In these unorthodox performances, there is a long-standing tradition of audiences yelling out commentary, such as labeling the characters of Janet and Brad “slut” and “asshole” respectively. The show is shadow casted, meaning that the film is shown on screen and simultaneously acted out by a cast who lip-sync the lines and lyrics.
“I think it was a very different medium than what I was used to, but I did appreciate that,” virgin viewer Destiny Osemwengie PO ’28 said.
Rocky Horror was revived at the 5Cs in 2022, following a years-long hiatus. TSL’s coverage of the performance’s resurgence led TSL’s editor-in-chief, Jada Shavers SC ’26, to have the chance in 2022 to interview the lead marketer of the original film, Tim Deegan, the writer of the film, Richard O’Brien, and the president of the original fan club, Sal Piro.
This year, there were two performances of the show, on Oct. 30 and Oct. 31, both at 9 p.m., starring two different casts. Although there were many new additions, some actors like Spencer Stoller SC ’27, who played Frank N. Furter in the first show, were excited to continue the tradition after performing in many past productions.
“I really love the unapologetic celebration of queerness that ‘Rocky Horror’ has. There’s so much gender bending and fluidity in the show that I don’t really see that often in any kind of media.”
“I really love the unapologetic celebration of queerness that ‘Rocky Horror’ has,” Stoller said. “There’s so much gender bending and fluidity in the show that I don’t really see that often in any kind of media.”
This year’s show looked a little different as the director dropped out at the last minute. Cast members described this shift as abrupt, explaining that it heightened the stress of preparing the show. Ultimately, the cast and crew embraced this challenge and welcomed the bonding experience it provided.
“I think it’s a really incredible way to build and find community,” Stoller said. “Through the show, I’ve been able to become really good friends and make these really profound and lasting connections [which] really speaks to what I feel like the show is about at its core — finding this community of people who are like you and who are into these weird, fun, strange things.”
The production was also unsupported by a budget, leading the cast to bring in their own costumes and assist one another with makeup, which added to the show’s overall crafty, homemade vibe. The group spent a short two months preparing for the performances, switching between the two casts and adapting rehearsals to accommodate one another’s busy schedules.
Additionally, the 5C Spotlight club assisted with lighting and technical elements. Production members played many roles off the stage, jumping in when needed and dedicating their unrewarded time to creating a successful show.
“My favorite part of the show is hearing the audience yell out the call-outs during the show while I’m backstage because even though I cannot see them, it makes me feel their energy and presence,” Helaina Korneffel SC ’28, social media and costumes and prop manager, said.
Korneffel bolstered the show by hiding prop bags beneath some of the seats. At various points throughout the show, viewers were asked to throw playing cards behind them or strap a paper party hat to their heads, both of which were hidden in the reimagined paper-sandwich bags.
“I love how it’s interactive; it’s a fun way to kind of explore creatively with both your peers and a general audience as well,” Sweeney said. “It’s just a very community-based artistic outlet, which I love.”
The show not only fostered feelings of community amongst the audience, but also within the cast, who cited the foundation of community as one of their strongest reasons for joining the production. Multiple members touched on the show’s ability to bring together students who would not otherwise overlap. The show’s weirdness has created an international community of fans who bond over their love for queer expression and its bizarre portrayal within the story.
“I hope that people seeing it for the first time, seeing it for the second time, seeing it for the hundredth time, can still take away those aspects of queer joy that I think are so central to the show,” Stoller said.
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