Only one club at the University is brave enough to parade into the Newcomb Hall Theatre and the Paramount Theater in fishnets and corsets, and that would be Rocky Horror at U.Va. Performing a live shadowcast rendition of the 1975 cult classic film “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” each semester, Rocky Horror at U.Va. promises a night of sexy and bizarre fun. This liberating tradition also creates a sense of unwavering community and camaraderie, driven by the significance of audience participation and relevance of the film in queer spaces.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is a campy, musical romp through time and space that begins when an innocent couple — Brad and Janet — unwittingly enter the mansion of cross-dressing mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter, played by Tim Curry, during a massive storm. The show projects the film onto a large screen while shadowcast actors reenact the scenes onstage just in front, with the performance enjoyed by “Rocky” fans around the world and here at the University. The group is composed of main cast members and ensemble actors, referred to as the “Trixies.”
The cast of Rocky Horror at U.Va. joked about the countless viewings of the film they endure, both out of love for the story and due to the nature of rehearsals. To combat the inherent repetition of putting on the same show semester after semester, Addison Bell, Columbia in this semester’s performance and second-year College student, discussed how changing roles every semester allows for new interpretations and portrayals of the same moments.
“I think what helps is that everybody's playing different characters each semester, so you can always riff off of what other people have done,” Bell said.
Another aspect that changes from performance to performance is a tradition called “the Trixie Strip,” in which the ensemble cast does a pre-show theatrical dance number during the opening credits of every show, during an extensive track called “Science Fiction - Double Feature.” This number follows the same plot beats from year to year, where first the cast members set the scene, then act out a catalytic event, and as a result begin to strip. Jadzia Lecea-Almendra, Riff Raff in this semester’s performance and fourth-year College student, described the routine.
“[People strip] only down to their fishnets and corsets,” Lecea-Almendral said. “Holes are covered at [Newcomb Hall Theatre], and in the Paramount [Theater] sometimes.”
Last semester, the Trixies acted out being at a fraternity party, before one performer stripped down to reveal an undercover cop costume. Then, they stripped down even further to reveal their Trixie outfits. Emma Cassayre, Dr. Scott in this semester’s performance and third-year College student, discussed the DIY ethos surrounding the actual production elements of the show.
“We really make an effort to reuse costumes or make props ourselves. As many as we can, because we only get so much funding for this,” Cassayre said. “We restarted after Covid. So most of our costumes were kind of old. We have to make sure we fix them up ourselves, because we can't be buying a whole lot.”
Lecea-Almendra also played Rocky in the fall, and described one castmate’s penchant for creating balloon animals — a skill that was extended to other latex creations to liven up his portrayal of the titular character.
“For Rocky, she did the honor of making me a bunch of different inflatable penises that could get destroyed and remade over the course of the entire show,” Lecea-Almendra said. “Like, I have a regular penis and it gets cut off and it comes back as a hydra.”
In addition to the signature fishnets and corsets, prop bags are an essential part of Rocky Horror’s interactive appeal. Alex Pachon, Eddie in this semester’s performance and second-year Engineering student, is the club’s prop master and spends his time putting together prop bags to be handed out to audience members. These consist of items such as toilet paper and playing cards to throw at the actors, rubber gloves to snap alongside the film and bubble wands, all to be used at specific moments during the show.
Audience interaction is the hallmark of Rocky Horror, and part of what makes it such a tight-knit community both here in Charlottesville and across the globe. The most frequent interactions are “callbacks,” where the audience shouts a joke or phrase in response to what is being said or done, often in a very humorous manner.
Some of these jokes reference events that happen even later on in the film, due to the devoted nature of the show’s fans who often go to see it at least once a year. However, those new to Rocky Horror — deemed “Virgins” — are especially welcome and even have the chance to participate in the “Virgin Games.”
“There are so many callbacks that we're not expecting the audience to know all of them. People are welcome in the audience to shout any callbacks they know, but that's why we have so many of us doing callbacks,” Cassayre said. “Even if they don't know the callbacks, or they're new to Rocky, they can hear what we're saying and kind of enjoy the jokes.”
On occasion, the audience even joins in on the big dances — such as “Time Warp” — with many fans coming in costumes or dressed like their favorite character. Cassayre observed that the show, particularly when performed at the Paramount, draws in a diverse crowd that includes lifelong fans who saw the movie when it came out over 50 years ago.
“Rocky's all about community, and to be able to kind of be a part of that across generations feels really special,” Cassayre said.
The community is especially vibrant within the club, as the rehearsals and shared love of Rocky Horror bring the cast close together. Bell, who is also planning a send-off for the show’s fourth-years, compared the bravery it takes to put oneself out there on stage to the courage needed to live one’s life in the real world after graduation.
“Rocky is such a strange and vulnerable thing that not a lot of people even know about. And so to do it for four years, or even just a semester, takes an immense amount of bravery,” Bell said. “It also takes an immense amount of bravery to go into the real world and leave college.”
Each of the members had their own unique Rocky Horror origin story — from club fairs to mutual friends to high school fascinations, as any willing participants are welcome to join Rocky Horror at U.Va. Their inclusive and fun-loving attitude makes putting on a show a collaborative, low stress environment where a good time is the main goal.
Bell described the incorporeal atmosphere of Rocky Horror as a sort of “time warp” in and of itself, remarking that viewers do not necessarily need to understand the show to have a great time. Cast members of Rocky Horror at U.Va. invite all looking for a delightfully fresh night in Charlottesville regardless of their familiarity with the film or understanding of the performance’s quirky elements.
“You will be welcome with open arms,” Lecea-Almendra said. “You might even win the Virgin Games.”
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