The cast and crew of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” will be moving from their intimate setting at the Cardinal Rep Theatre to the Lucas Historical Theatre for the Arts for a one night performance on Feb. 7. The show usually runs for two weekends from October to November at Cardinal Rep, but with its tremendous success at the Lucas last February, director Jeff DeVincent thought, why not do it again?
The play follows the young couple, Brad Majors and Janet Weiss on their detour into the Annual Transylvanian Convention where they meet the self-proclaimed transvestite, doctor Frank ‘N’ Furter, and his bizarre servants. This cult classic is a journey of audience participation with a witty narrator, musical numbers and an occasional pelvic thrust.
John Macalusco of Princeton Junction, N.J., is an actor in the show as well as a sophomore Dramatic Writing student at SCAD. Macalusco said, “It’s a counter-culture show. College students come to school looking for something different. Usually booze and pot is enough … but when it’s not, Rocky is there to help.”
Jeff DeVincent says the show appeals to a young audience because it’s “completely irreverent.” Some adjustments have been made to content to make it more up to date. “It’s topical, fun pop culture,” DeVincent says.
This will be DeVincent’s third production of the show here in Savannah. While the show is not SCAD-affiliated, DeVincent says three-quarters of the cast are SCAD students. In the tucked away location of Cardinal Rep, fans of the show arrive early to get seats, dressed to extremes in fishnets and pleather. DeVincent says the audience at the Lucas is no different. And if you’re a “Rocky” virgin, get ready to be branded with a red “V” on your forehead.
“It’s a show without boundaries,” Macalusco says. “Instead of having to be 100 percent focused and serious all the time, I can screw around with the audience.” With more room at the Lucas theatre, the set will adjust to the larger stage, but in true Rocky fashion, the audience will still be part of the show. Chairs will be brought on stage for those willing to brave the partial nudity at close range. Macalusco confirms, “The energy is hot.” You’ll be “in another dimension, with voyeuristic intention.”
Tickets for the show are $20 and can be purchased from the SCAD box office online, by phone: (912) 525-5050, or at the theater an hour before the show. The show runs only one night, Saturday, Feb. 7 and won’t be available again until the fall at Cardinal Rep. If you’ve seen Rocky Horror Picture Show at Cardnial Rep (formerly Savannah Actor’s Theatre), then this is a great new way to dance the Time Warp with a bigger stage and a larger audience. And for all the “Rocky” virgins, you’ll get the steps in no time. It’s just a jump to the left; and a step to the right.
