Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera winds down its first show of the 43rd season this weekend with Richard O’Brien’s cult classic, The Rocky Horror Show, live at The Thirsty Hippo Sept. 27-29.
“This is the live stage show, not the movie, not a shadow cast; we’re doing the live musical in all its raucous glory,” said director Miles Doleac.
As with the movie, however, audience participation is welcomed and encouraged. HCLO is even selling ‘audience participation’ kits both online and at the door to stress the fact.
“We want people to get involved. The audience should feel like they’re part of the show,” Doleac said.
Rocky Horror, Richard O’Brien’s over-the-top tribute to science fiction and B-horror films, was a stage show before it was a movie, premiering in 1973 at London’s Royal Court Theatre. In 1975, the show arrived on Broadway, but closed after only 3 previews and 45 performances, despite leading man, Tim Curry, receiving Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations for his portrayal of ‘Frank-N-Furter’. The cult-ish success of the movie version that arrived in theaters later that year changed everything and Rocky Horror ultimately became a world-wide phenomenon.
HCLO’s Rocky Horror Show stars Brandon Hays as ‘Frank-N’Further’, Kathern Leanne Glydewell as ‘Janet’, Alex Miller as ‘Brad’, Joseph VanZandt as ‘Riff Raff’, Lindsay Anne Williams as ‘Magenta’, Judyth Daley as ‘Columbia’, Wesley Hodges as ‘Rocky’, Keenon Walker as ‘Eddie’, and Wes Hanson as ‘Dr. Scott’, along with a cadre of Phantoms and Transexual Transylvanians who’ll dance the night away and prod the audience to play along. The show’s music director is Clifton Hyde, returning for his second consecutive show with HCLO after last Spring’s Evita. Rebecca Chandler of Hattiesburg Ballroom and Beyond is choreographing. Says Hyde, “The is a rock show. The music is infectious and free and fun and the band is gonna just let it rip. There’s nothing delicate about Rocky Horror.” Tickets for the show are on sale now through HCLO’s website HCLO.ORG. Audience members can purchase VIP tables to be right up front and close to the action (these seats come with audience participation kits), general admission seating or standing room.
