OpenStage Theatre Presents THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW

The Rocky Horror Show, the original stage version of 1975's classic cult film, comes to Fort Collins appropriately enough on the Saturday before Halloween.

An over-the-top parody that blends science fiction and horror traditions, The Rocky Horror Show bursts at the seams with the rock of Sweet Transvestite, Damn It Janet and, of course, The Time Warp. In the midst of a thunderstorm, squeaky-clean sweethearts Brad and Janet stumble on a seemingly deserted mansion. What they find is much more than your standard haunted house, however. As the couple slowly shed their wet clothes and inhibitions, the fantastic Frank ‘N Furter leads them on a musical adventure that features muscle-brained Rocky, marvelous Magenta, extra terrestrials and a host of phantoms.

"The biggest difference is that there are two songs from the stage performance not heard in the movie," said director Emelie Borello. "People familiar with the movie will love it and newbies will have a lot of fun with the whole concept. What we're putting on is a rock and roll show - more like a concert with a lot of audience interaction."

Borello cautioned the production crosses sexual boundaries, but it's all in good fun. And audience members are invited to dress up as their favorite Rocky Horror character and bring several of the hand props traditionally used during the film version including a newspaper, flashlight, rubber gloves, noisemakers, toilet paper, a bell and playing cards. For the safety of the actors, however, props will not include rice, water guns or lighters. OpenStage also will have an inexpensive box of props available for sell at the show.

The Rocky Horror Show features OpenStage veterans Jake Offen as Frank ‘N Furter, Nikki Gibbs as Janet, Daryl Branson as Brad, Shane Curtiss Miller as Riff Raff, Lindsey-Teal Jandrain as Magenta, Dan Weitz as Eddie and Dr. Scott, Duane Sawyer as the Narrator, and Mike Martinkus, Gale McGaha Miller and Michael Hawthorne as Phantoms, as well as newcomers Briana Sprecher-Kinneer as Magenta, Ethan Billingsley as Rocky and Patty Hoagland and Gianni Martelli as Phantoms. Music direction is by Bruce Burbank and choreography is by Teri English

Performances of The Rocky Horror Show are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights from Oct. 29 to Nov. 27, with Sunday matinées at 2 p.m. on Nov 20 and 27 and 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 3. Performances are in the Lincoln Center Magnolia Theater, 417 W. Magnolia in Fort Collins.

Individual tickets are $28-32 for adults and $18-22 for seniors, students and groups of 10 or more. Matinee tickets are $18-22. Tickets for FAB Friday, sponsored by Boulder Beer, at 8 p.m. on Nov. 4 , are $14 and include a free beer at intermission.

Admission to the Pay-What-You-Can performance on Thursday, Nov. 3, at 7:30 p.m. will be by donation at the door only with no advance reservations.

Tickets are available from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays, through the Lincoln Center box office at (970) 221-6730 and online at www.LCTIX.com.

Childcare is available for the Friday Nov. 4 and 18 performances through Young People's Learning Center, 209 E. Plum St. Call Young People's Learning Center at 970-482-1212 for childcare reservations.

A free performance for students and educators, funded by The Thornton Family Foundation and OtterCares Foundation, will be presented on Thursday, Oct. 27, at 7:30 p.m. To make reservations for the student/educator performance, contact OpenStage Theatre at (970) 484-5237.

An in-depth discussion, facilitated by Reader's Cove Bookstore, will follow the Saturday, Nov. 12, performance.

A play guide containing information on the play and the playwright is available online at www.openstage.com. Click on The Rocky Horror Show and then select the Play Guide icon at the top of the show page.

Audiences are invited to meet the cast of The Rocky Horror Show following every performance.

Major support for OpenStage Theatre's 2011-2012 Season is provided by Shaw and Associates, A-Train Marketing Communications, Mawson Lumber and Hardware, Amy and Paul Hach, John and Anne Blair, Michael Warne of Northern Colorado Wealth Management Group at UBS and Witt Gross of Coldwell Banker. Major funding for The Rocky Horror Show is provided by Harper Point Photography and Scene Magazine, with additional funding provided by The Armstrong Hotel.

Currently celebrating its thirty-ninth season, OpenStage Theatre is supported by grants from the Downtown Development Authority, the Colorado Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts and the City of Fort Collins Fort Fund.

For more information, visit OpenStage's website at www.openstage.com or call 970-484-5237. Founded in 1973, OpenStage Theatre is a recipient of the Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts and the 2011 Henry Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, and is a member of Theatre Communications Group, the national organization for not-for-profit professional theatres.

A not-for-profit organization, OpenStage Theatre relies heavily on the support of sponsors and patrons who help make each season a success. With assistance from corporations, foundations and the general public, OpenStage has been able to maintain high quality productions for 39 years. For information on sponsorship and charitable gifts and on how you can support OpenStage Theatre, please call (970) 484-5237.

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