Rocky Horror is back … with a twist

“I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey.” In 1975, The Rocky Horror Picture Show became a film adaptation of a British classic rock musical stageplay, The Rocky Horror Show, directed by Richard O’Brien.

An annual event at UC Davis, the showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, will be held tomorrow at 8 p.m. on the Quad

The longest-running theatrical release in film history, this movie became popular due to it being the first film from a major Hollywood studio to be in the midnight movie market. In 1977, audiences started to participate with the film in theatres.

With its comedic and provocative depiction of gay and transgender culture, and the examination of sexual peculiarities, the movie was risqué in its day.

Event organizer Laura Kroeger said students are enthusiastic after last year’s screening.

“Recently, we acquired the outdoor screen. This is the second year having the screening, and people are responding to it enthusiastically,” Kroeger said.

Due to the success of last year’s showing, a brand new key element has been added to the show this year: a shadow cast. A group of performers will act out the movie in front of the screen as the movie is playing. In the works for a couple of years, the cast has slowly formed.

“I’ve been working on forming a shadow cast here in Davis or Yolo County in general for about three years now,” said co-director David Vergona. “We also had things together last year when The Varsity decided not to host us after all. I lost most of my cast and had to start again this year, so I caved and did it through the school.”

Open to anyone interested, the shadow cast solidified with auditions and two people in charge: David Vergona and Sam Wall.

“Sam Wall, my co-defacto-director, has been with me on this project since early last year,” Vergona said. “The rest of the cast have either signed on during one of the few auditions we’ve held this year or been brought in by friends.”

Due to the popularity of last year’s show, many people, including Wall, were interested in making this year’s show different.

“After the showing in Davis last year, I saw a posting on the Facebook page calling a meeting for people interested in making a shadow cast,” Wall said. “[Vergona] and I kept in contact over the summer.”

Wall would say that The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a distinctive event – one very different than movie showings on the Quad.

“It’s a unique experience. It’s not something a lot of people get to do,” Wall said. “You don’t get to yell at a screen, you don’t get people running around in heels and corsets interacting with the audience. It’s a fun and out of the ordinary experience.”

The shadow cast not only brings the movie to life on the quad, but also provides newcomers with tools to fully enjoy the show.

“[The shadow cast] enhances the experience. They’re going to provide people with the resources to get excited. There will be a survival guide for new people,” Kroeger said. “They will be making jokes and they will do a fantastic job.”

The organizers said UC Davis is in need of a regular Rocky Horror screening.

“I first started going to midnight showings when I was 16,” Vergona said. “I’ve been going ever since, usually about once a month. College has cut that down dramatically, however, mainly because there isn’t a regular showing up here.”

Wall attended her first show at a younger age and agrees how this show should be integrated into our college’s culture.

“I saw my first showing in middle school,” Wall said. “I’m looking forward to bringing [the Rocky Horror] experience to a college town.”

Kroeger was also enthusiastic about Davis bringing the Rocky Horror culture to the town.

“Davis has been lacking their own Rocky Horror Picture Show culture,” said Kroeger. “I hope San Diego and Los Angeles schools appreciate us bringing this weird culture to UC Davis. I hope people give it a shot.”

The directors and the shadow cast, along with the Entertainment Council, said they hope to bring something different and special to our campus.

“We’re working in ways we’ve never worked before,” Kroeger said. “We’re finding ways to expand and challenge ourselves and provide innovative ways for the students to get involved on campus.”

Students are encouraged to participate and dress up Friday at 8 p.m. on the Quad for a very different Rocky Horror Picture Show with shadow cast. For more information, visit the event’s Facebook event page.

ELIZABETH ORPINA can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.