Richard J. Hinds to Direct, Choreograph THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW at University of Oklahoma

"The Rocky Horror Show is going to blow the roof off the Weitzenhoffer Theatre. Get ready to party the night away!" says Richard J. Hinds, guest director/choreographer. The musical that became a movie sensation and started a four-decade nonstop cultural phenomenon is back where it is meant to be seen - live on stage.

Guest director Hinds is currently the associate director for Disney's Newsies!, (Broadway and National tour.) He was the associate director for Here Lies Love (NYC/London), the Broadway revival of Jekyll and Hyde, and Il Divo: A Musical Affair featuring Heather Headley. Hind's directing/choreography credits include Gateway Playhouse, Ogunquit Playhouse, Flat Rock Playhouse, Capital Repertory Theatre and Kansas City Repertory Theatre. He has been the associate director on 9 to 5 (Nat'l/UK Tour), Disney's High School Musical (Nat'l/Int'l Tours), Up Here, Come From Away (La Jolla Playhouse), A Christmas Story (Kansas City Repertory Theatre/5th Ave Theatre), The Last Goodbye, The First Wives Club (The Old Globe), Pippin (CTG and Deaf West), A Wonderful Life (Paper Mill Playhouse), and Samsung Unpacked (Radio City Music Hall.)

Richard O'Brien wrote the book, music and lyrics as a humorous tribute to the science fiction and horror B movies of the late 1940s through early 1970s. O'Brien began his career as an actor, performing in the London production of Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar in the 1970s. With the guidance of director Jim Sharman, O'Brien opened his musical The Rocky Horror Show at the Theatre Upstairs in 1973. Within weeks it became a cult theater hit and quickly led to an original cast album. Two years later, O'Brien and Sharman adapted it into a film, retitled The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). Though the material was highly provocative for its time, the movie gained a huge cult following and made history as the longest-running release in film history.

The Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre cast includes Trey Adkins, Caroline Coffey, Abby Cramer, Thomas Cromer, Kai Daly, Conor Donnelly, William Harris, Mattie Joyner, Jeff Jordan, Andrew Kohagen, Zach Little, Tatum Ludlam, Madison Levy, Taylor O'Toole, Aubrey Reece, Tanner Rose, John Tupy, Daniel Verschelden and Katja Yanko. The University Theatre creative and production includes Richard J. Hinds, guest director/choreographer; Aaron Umsted, associate director and choreographer; Brian Hamilton, music director; Bob Lavallee, guest scenic designer; Christopher Harris, costume designer; Samuel Brown, lighting designer; Tab Birt, sound designer; Scott Henkels, technical director; Emily Burke, stage manager; Kasey Allee-Foreman, production manager; Paul Christman, artistic director; and Mary Margaret Holt, producer.

University Theatre and the Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre presents The Rocky Horror Show opening at 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, with additional performances at 8 p.m. Oct. 31, Nov. 5 and 6; and late night performances at 11:30 p.m. Oct. 31, Nov. 6 and 7 in the Weitzenhoffer Theatre, 563 Elm Ave. on the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman. This production is Rated-R. Advance ticket prices are $30 for adults, $25 senior adult, OU faculty and staff, and military, and $10 for students. Visit theatre.ou.edu for more information.

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