‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ opens tonight in Three Rivers
There are 10 p.m. performances tonight, Friday, November 1, and tomorrow, Saturday, November 2, along with a 4 p.m. performance Sunday. All are at the Riviera Theatre.
Chuck Lepinski (they/them), lead director and an ensemble member in Three Rivers Community Players and Riviera Theatre & Bar’s shadow cast of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” has entertainment on their mind.
“I told every single cast member that we are here to make people laugh. Anything for funnies. Anything to make people laugh is perfect,” Lepinski said.
Shadow productions of “Rocky Horror” have the cast performing in sync with the 1975 film. This year’s production has 10 p.m. performances tonight, Friday, November 1, and tomorrow, Saturday, November 2, along with a 4 p.m. performance Sunday, November 3. The performances are open to ages 18 and older, or audience members with supervising adults. Tickets are $15, available at the Riviera box office an hour before showtime or online.
“I wanted to do ‘Rocky Horror’ because it sounded like fun, but I specifically wanted to be Frank-n-Furter because I’m a trans man myself and I thought it would be important to have a trans person playing a trans character,” said Sammy Rose (they/he).
Rose is excited about “being able to express myself in a fun way, even if Frank is kind of an evil character.”
“I’m trying to really do, like, a cast-driven production,” Lepinski said. “I want everyone to participate and everyone to be helping. I don’t want it to be a dictatorship. Everyone is doing their part. They really seem to love being here. We’re having a great time.”
Lead and featured cast members include Rose as Frank, Koi Nerad as RiffRaff, Claire Evans as Magenta, Lepinski as Columbia, Spencer Taylor as Rocky, Chelsea Eastes as Brad, Kai Tipton as Janet, Andrasi as Eddie, Hannah Smith as Dr. Scott, and Cameron Mains as the Criminologist and the Lips.
“I discovered it on Facebook and my friend Andrasi signed me up to play Brad,” said Eastes (she/her). “I was a little nervous at first, but thanks to Chuck for casting me and Andrasi for pushing me through it. I think it will be a wonderful show.”
Tipton (they/them) said they are excited for “Rocky Horror” to start and be shared with Three Rivers.
“I just want everyone to have fun, for people to laugh at us, and for them to have a fun night,” they said.
Frank Stanko is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.
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