‘Rocky Horror’ castmates reflect on record-breaking run
More than 6,000 people have seen The Rocky Horror Show in Tampa’s Jaeb Theatre since it opened July 10. That’s a record for Jobsite, the resident theater company of the David A. Straz Center, in the 300-seat Jaeb.
When the science fiction dance-party musical closes after Friday’s final performance, Rocky will have grossed over $260,000, which is also a record for the company; double the intake from Jobsite’s two previous record-holders (Dracula and Hamlet) combined.
Bawdy, brazen and deliriously funny, The Rocky Horror Show became a cultural touchstone after the 1975 film version spawned live “shadow casts” and loud, livid audience participation at midnight movie screenings around the country. To call it a “cult following” would grossly understate things.
That sense of “one big freaky family” carries over to the stage show, the original, and the Tampa performances have been, since the 10th of July, massive celebrations.
As the Jobsite production draws to a close Aug. 9, we asked a few members of the cast and company their thoughts.
Clay Chrisopher, “Dr. Frank-N-Furter”:
“Without a doubt, my favorite theatrical foray. And being cast in one of my dream roles … I’m incredibly honored.
“I would have to say that my favorite scene is one that I am partially obstructed from the audience’s view, as I’m behind a sheet with Janet and then Brad (‘The Bedroom Scene’). It gets some of the best audience reactions, and allows for a bit of added fun from what’s in the actual script. Noa Friedman (Janet), Ryan Sturm (Brad) and I worked hard with our director (David Jenkins) to get it just right.
“Noa, Ryan and I made a deal that if any of the three of us felt uncomfortable with anything, we would be respectful and caring and cut any unwanted action out. The three of us also agreed that we knew what show we were in and said ‘let’s go for it,’ and that’s exactly what we have done every single show. It’s very raunchy, intimate, funny and lovely all at once and I’m grateful I get to do that with Ryan and Noa!
Noa Friedman, “Janet Weiss”:
“Nothing quite prepares you for the audience participation that this show invites. For obvious reasons, you can’t really rehearse or practice the audience participation element because it changes nightly. Of course, consistently, there are some of the classics (‘asshole,’ ‘slut,’ ‘where’s your neck?!’ et cetera), but at least once a night a brave audience member shouts a new one and it’s the best. I love the audience participation element of this show because it creates a really unique energy both onstage and in the room in general. They really are the 14th cast member.
“Perhaps my favorite thing to experience every night is the whole audience up on their feet ‘Time Warping’ right alongside us during the curtain call. It is the best feeling to look out and see the amount of joy in that room. Second to that would be seeing all of the audience members who come dressed up as their favorite Rocky characters (of course I am partial to all of the Janets).”
David M. Jenkins, producer and director:
“I haven’t done a live curtain speech in over six years. I hate them, I think they’re intrusive to the experience and go on for too long. I broke that streak for Rocky … turns out, doing this speech in front of 300 people a night has become one of the highlights of this experience: feeling this palpable electricity from that many bodies stoked to be there. It charges me up, sincerely.”
Rocky Horror was Jenkins’ entrée in the world of theater. “This is a dream come true, beyond beyond. I’ve wanted this since I was 14 years old, and so to finally not only get the opportunity but to have a dynamite group killing it out there to packed houses 24 times this month has just recharged my batteries as a producer and artist at a time I couldn’t have needed it more.”
Colleen Cherry, “Columbia”:
Rocky was the first show Cherry performed in at the Straz Center, in 2008; she was already, by that time, a longtime fan of the musical and the movie. “My favorite part has been the bonding of our cast, and the love from multigenerational audiences. I love talking to the theater kids at the stage door. There was a point when this show was announced that we couldn’t permit anyone under 18, thanks to our lovely governor. I’m glad that changed because I have conversations with young people who have so much fun, and are so inspired by our show every night.
“There is something special about Rocky that resonates with so many people. I love it and have never felt so much love from an audience.”
Jeremy Douglass, musical director and onstage bandleader:
“Not to knock the other Jobsite shows, but this one has been special. The whole team is an absolute joy to work with. I would do this show over and over again, no questions asked.
“Standout moments have usually been the unrulier crowds. All the call outs. Some still surprise me. Like the time Frank sings “Whatever happened to Faye Wray?” someone yelled ‘She DIED.’
“Also watching some of the cast bits evolve over the last month has been really wonderful. I break onstage often. Jaryn McCann, who plays Eddie and Dr. Scott, is a legit comic genius. He’s always pushing his bits further and further without straying too far or stepping on his castmates’ toes. One bit just before ‘Eddie’s Teddy’ has been making me have to steel myself because it’s so absurdly funny and I have to start a song. He’ll break me so bad that I literally cannot play. Must. Be. Professional.”
Heather Krueger, “Magenta”:
“I think Rocky is just a work of joy. To watch is fun, to perform it is even better. You never know what you’re gonna get from the audience, and because of that it keeps you on your toes. There is no room for monotony here. Trying to keep a straight face as Magenta has been difficult on certain nights, when the callbacks have been more prevalent.
“And I think what’s been interesting is there have been so many different ones, from night to night. There of course are the standards, Brad and Janet, the neck comments for the narrator, but it really has been a grab bag of callbacks, which brings me even more joy.”
Find tickets for the Aug. 8 and 9 performances here.
