When I first watched The Rocky Horror Picture Show I was immediately obsessed. The fact that a movie with a “transvestite scientist” main character had come out in 1975 was just incredible to me. The music, the costumes, all of it just had me absolutely in love.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show follows Brad Majors and Janet Weiss as they get engaged and as they are going to celebrate, their life quickly derails. They get stranded at a castle with Columbia, Magenta, and Riff-Raff who are all employed at the castle. After they perform “The Time-Warp”, on their way out Brad and Janet meet the individual behind this strange party: Dr. Frank-N-Furter, who invites them to stay with the iconic “Sweet Transvestite”. As the movie goes on, Brad and Janet get entangled with Frank in their own ways.
With the last group number of the film “Rose Tint My World/Don’t Dream It, Be It/Wild and Untamed Thing” we are able to see that Brad and Janet have fully been hypnotized by the power of Frank and are willing to follow what he demands. This comes to an end when it’s revealed by Magenta and Riff-Raff that Frank is an alien and that they are going to murder him, before returning to their home plant: Transsexual. The movie ends and the audience is left wondering, “What the fuck did I just watch?”
One of the traditions that has come from this cult classic is performing the movie with a shadowcast, where actors dance and sing in front of the movie while it is happening on a large screen behind them. While they perform, there is also many callouts that poke fun at characters and the cheesy dialogue. Along with the callouts, there is also props that the audience uses. Newspaper for “Over at the Frankenstein Place” when Janet holds newspaper up over her head, or cards to throw when Frank sings “Cards for sorrow, cards for pain” in “I’m Going Home”. JMU is also an institution that has a shadow cast performance.
JMU’s Rocky Horror Shadowcast takes their own spin on the cult classic. They add their own callouts to the show (I highly doubt anyone else sings the JMU Fight Song when Brad asks ‘Say, do any of you guys know how to Madison?’) and the emcees are allowed to crack jokes that they have come up with.
Every time I have been to JMU’s Shadowcast, I leave with an achy stomach and a smile on my face. The cast always gives the performance everything they have and it is simply incredible to watch. Despite seeing the movie, a dozen times on my own, and watching the JMU cast perform it 5-6 times, I always find that I walk away with a new favorite memory.
For me, the most important aspect of the JMU Rocky Horror shadow cast is their celebration of queer identities and body neutrality. A lot of times, I don’t feel comfortable in my own body and wearing something that makes me feel good about myself on a daily basis. JMU’s production allows me to wear something that makes me feel good in a space where I know others won’t do a double take or judge me for how I look. I find that those that go to celebrate and enjoy The Rocky Horror Picture Show are some of the most accepting people on this entire campus, and I hop they know how appreciated they are for providing this space. Going to a performance of Rocky Horror at JMU creates a space where you can wear an outfit that represents you and your identity to a safe space where no one will judge you, it provides a space that celebrates and emphasizes queerness, rather than celebrating it as an afterthought.
ShoutOut! James Madison University 