Stagecrafters presents interactive 'Rocky Horror Show'

ROYAL OAK – Yes, it's time to throw off the winter blues and get caught up in the fun and frivolous time warp of "The Rocky Horror Show." The outrageous cult classic will be presented live on stage by Stagecrafters at the Baldwin Theatre in downtown Royal Oak. By the way, Stagecrafters is asking you not "to come as you are" and not "to be quiet during the show!"
"The Rocky Horror Show" (book, lyrics and music by Richard O'Brien) is full of campy, twisted antics, a rompin' rock-n-roll score, and flashy, suggestive costuming.
In a show that has long been known for its interactivity, Stagecrafters is encouraging audience participation and sass, as well as inviting people to show up in their best "goth get-up" or "Rocky-inspired costume."
"Because audience participation is such a large part of the 'The Rocky Horror Show' experience, Stagecrafters' production will proudly uphold the time-honored tradition by offering audience participation kits with all the props they will need to have the full 'Rocky' experience," says Stagecrafters' Development Director Lesley Phillips.
Props included in the participation kits, which sell for $10 a bag, include a boa, serpentine throws, party hat, noise maker, rubber gloves and fake toast. Phillips added, "Besides a few items like the boa, which can be taken home as a keepsake, our participation bags also have a little extra bonus of coupons from some of our local retailers such as Caribou Coffee and Five15 in Royal Oak." Stagecrafters is requesting that no flashlights or squirt guns be brought into the theater due to safety concerns for the actors.
A Time Warp Costume Contest will be held at each performance and the best "Rocky" dressed audience member will be invited on stage to dance with the cast in the "Time Warp Reprise."
"The Rocky Horror Show" begins with young, clean-cut couple, Brad Majors (Lance Jones of Rochester Hills) and his fiance Janet Weiss (Randi Bartecki-Hamilton of Ferndale), on their way to visit a college professor when they run into car trouble. They seek refuge in a kinky castle, "The Frankenstein Place." Greeted by a group of motley misfits, including the hunchbacked handyman Riff Raff (Vince Kelley of Roseville), the imposing maid Magenta (Diana Geralt of Beverly Hills) and the quirky Columbia (Jennifer Stallings of Auburn Hills), they are invited to stay and meet the master of the house and host of the evening, Dr. Frank-n-Furter (Gary Castaneda of Detroit), a sweet transvestite from the planet Transsexual in the galaxy of Transylvania. Unbeknownst to Brad and Janet, a night of mad science, debauchery, decadence and forbidden pleasure is about to unfold.
On this unconventional night, Dr. Frank-n-Furter is about to start one of his maniacal experiments – this time he's created an Adonis, the perfect man so named Rocky Horror (Frank Hampton of Ferndale). Before the birthday party for Rocky begins, Frank-n-Furter must contend with burly biker Eddie (Nathan Napier of Warren), a previous experiment who has come crashing into the laboratory. Not to be shown up by grand entrances, Dr. Scott (Mark Hammell of Lathrup Village), the very professor that Brad and Janet set out to visit, arrives in search of his missing nephew, Eddie. Dr. Scott knows Frank-n-Furter's secret, but isn't sure if he can he reveal it in time to save Brad and Janet before they give themselves over to the dark side of "absolute pleasure." The show's ending can only be summed up as a throwback to the age of monster movies and science fiction.
First conceived as a play, "The Rocky Horror Show" has entertained audiences and gained cult classic status for its bewildering plot line and unusual audience participation since its U.S. theatre debut in 1970s. The show was performed at the Royal Court theatre Upstairs in London between 1973 and 1980. Arriving in the U.S. at the Roxy Theatre in Hollywood in 1974, the show ran for a dismal nine months, doing even worse in New York.
A movie version of the play "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" (1975) was filmed in England with most of the original English cast including Tim Curry and writer/creator, Richard O'Brien (as Riff Raff). With the addition of American actors Barry Bostwick (as Brad) and the then-unknown, Susan Sarandon (as Janet), they created a film that would become totally adored by "Rocky" cultists around the world. Since its film debut, audiences have taken 'absolute pleasure' in dressing up as cast members, adding dialogue, using props at various points during the show and even acting it out in full costume in front of the movie screen during the presentation.
Adult and sexual situations including simulated sex. Anyone under 17 must be accompanied by an adult.
Tickets for all shows are $14. Call 248-541-6430 for tickets. Visa and MasterCard are accepted. All seats are reserved and there is no late seating.