Los Alamos Elks Lodge News:
As anyone who’s ever gone to a live shadow-cast performance of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” can attest, it’s much more than entertainment. It’s way beyond a night at the movies.
Whether considering going for the first time or a long-time fan with props and costume, here’s a chance to “don’t dream it — be it.”
Director Alexandra DiBranco will present “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at 8:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays June 5, 6, 19, and 20 at the Los Alamos Elks Lodge, 1601 Trinity Drive.
Doors will open at 8 p.m., with the movie starting at 8:55 p.m. The show is 21 and older, and alcohol will be served at the bar.
Tickets at $20-$50 are available online at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/rocky-horror-shadow-cast and at the door.
There will be additional performances of the quintessential Time Warp dance during Pride Week, as well: June 9 during Tuesday in the Square and Friday, June 12, during the Pride After Dark event at the VFW.
Performing at Pride “is particularly meaningful to me,” DiBranco said. “The show has meant so much to queer communities through the decades — being able to perform it at this time feels amazing.”
Ten-dollar prop bags, containing everything an audience member will need to participate in the antics, will be available at the show. Proceeds, which always go to support an LGBTQ support organization, this year will go to the Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico.
“With the targeting of transgender people and drag performance,” DiBranco said, “it felt like the right connection this year.”
This year’s show at the Elks Lodge will be more immersive than in previous shows at the Little Theatre, DiBranco said. Audience members will be “sitting around tables at the ‘Annual Transylvanian Convention’ with cast members weaving amongst the seats during energetic performances. The night opens with pre-show activities and an opening fan dance of ‘the Lips.’”
Shadow-cast performances of the classic 1975 film — directed by Jim Sharman and starring Tim Curry in his debut role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, and Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick as Janet and Brad — have been a late-night tradition for years.
The film, based on the 1973 musical stage production “The Rocky Horror Show,” with music, book, and lyrics by Richard O’Brien, boasts the longest-running theatrical release in movie history. With its huge international cult following, Rocky has been considered one of the greatest musical films of all time, and shadow-cast performances abound.
Thanks to DiBranco and others, the complete Rocky experience has been staged here in Los Alamos several times as well. The shadow-cast highlights performances from local actors while the movie plays behind them. They lip-synch the songs while dramatizing the story, often interacting with the audience.
“We get a lot of shadow cast ‘virgins’ each year, curious about the production,” DiBranco said. “It’s a fun production, especially given the audience participation, from prop bags to dressing as movie characters to learning the Time Warp. It’s also one that encourages enthusiasm, free expression, and creative joy. Every year we get cast members that are either new to the movie or to acting — you could be in the audience one year and in the show the next!”
Actors in this year’s production include Rumi Waita as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, PhDiva as Janet, Pat Harding as Brad, Dr. Strangelover as Eddie, Joseph Santi-Under as Riff, Trixie as Magenta, StarBit as Columbia, Robert Lopez as Dr. Scott, Hot Jupiter as the Criminologist, Persephone as Rocky, and Hellen Heels as Lips.
Others involved in the show are Chandra Marsden (costumes), Jenny Mills (hair/makeup), Ryan Schultz (tech), and almond (tech).
“When I was cast as Janet in the first Los Alamos Rocky Horror Shadow Cast almost five years ago, I hadn’t done theater since high school, and never had a major role,” DiBranco said. “Going on Janet’s journey was really meaningful to me, as I came into my own as an actor more comfortable in my own skin (literally) and confident to take the stage.”
Playing Janet led to her joining the Atomic Follies cabaret, Atomic Gems burlesque, and Los Alamos Little Theater. Performance became a major part of her life.
And then, “two years ago, I stepped into the role of director,” DiBranco said. “I wanted to support others in taking their own journeys through the show. I love seeing so many people blossom and discover or deeply connect with new elements of themselves.”
The plot of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” begins when young fiances Brad Majors and Janet Weiss find themselves stranded on the roadside at night in the rain. When they knock on the door of a nearby castle, they find strangers in wild costumes holding an even wilder party. Among the partygoers is an alien transvestite from the planet Transsexual in the galaxy of Transylvania, and his creation, a living muscle-man named Rocky.
From there, Brad and Janet go on a journey of self-discovery not completely dissimilar to DiBranco’s.
DiBranco recommended watching the movie ahead of time, so that audience members can more fully appreciate the live show.