Feature: THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW at Out Front Theatre Company
By: Justin Cole Adams Oct. 31, 2017
Out Front Theatre Company is jumping into its second year with the well-known cult musical, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW. The spectacle, typically slated around Halloween, was made popular in the late 1970s, along the way making several encounters with Fox Television: once on an episode of "Glee" and, last year, as a TV movie featuring Laverne Cox.
With so much success in Out Front's first season, trying their hand at such an iconic piece seems like a natural transition to prove that they are here to stay. After all, the show is riddled with sexuality and gender barriers, something that seems to be forever relevant. As the Southeast's only theatre exclusively dedicated to telling stories about the LGBTQIA community, the story fits into their profile perfectly, especially with their opening weekend coinciding with Atlanta Pride.
"Rocky Horror was edgy and groundbreaking in the 70s, almost half a century ago," stated Director Matthew Busch in a press release. "The biggest challenge we faced in staging it again in 2017 was the question, 'Why? What makes this story need to be told again, and how can it speak to today's contemporary audiences?' The solution came through in casting: we purposefully 'gender-bent' the transsexual aliens to spark, or continue, the dialogue regarding gender and sexual identity that is so prevalent in society today."
With direction from Busch, the cast includes Kiona D. Reese as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Emily Duke as Columbia, Joe Arnotti as Magenta, and City Bergmark as Riff-Raff. The cast might feel a little young but (as I know most of the principals) their talent is exceptional.
In addition to having a good time, the audience is encouraged to participate, as audience members have for decades. Out Front is providing individual bags of props to help with this.
So....let's do the time warp, again! It's just a jump to Howell Mill. Then a jump to Brady Avenue. With your hands on your hips, you bring your tickets in tight. But it's the pelvic thrust, that really drives you insane. Let's see Rocky Horror, again!!! Or, for the first time.
Out Front Theatre is running The Rocky Horror Show through November 5 with four performances left. Ticket prices are $15 for children, $20 for students and seniors and $25 for adults. Tickets can be purchased online.
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