‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show:’ The performance worth waiting a year for

Not many people can say they showed up exactly a year in advance for something they were excited for … but I can.

Last year, two other The Miami Student staff members and I bought tickets to see an 11:59 p.m. Halloween showing of “The Rocky Horror Show” — a live, theatrical, interactive performance of the 1975 cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” — at The Carnegie in Covington, Kentucky. However, we didn’t think to double-check the date, and we ended up arriving a whole year early.

This year, we were committed to making the most out of the night. Driving through pitch-black at 10 p.m. on Halloween night, singing our hearts out to keep us awake, we all hoped that the show would be worth our effort.

Let me tell you, it was.

For those who may be unfamiliar with “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” a newly-engaged couple is stranded during a storm due to a flat tire and discovers the mysterious mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Several theaters do live performances of the film. Some have a shadow cast, acting out the movie while it plays projected in the background.

The Carnegie rendition, however, was an active theatrical production, which made my experience a million times better.

At 11:59 p.m., the night began with a pre-show game of “Never Have I Ever” led by the ushers who were essentially the ensemble. Next, one of the ushers led a contest with four audience members to see who could make the best orgasmic vocalizations. It was certainly a unique way to begin the night.

About 20 minutes later, the show really began as the performers took the stage. What happened next was two hours of pure, sensational fun.

Each performer did such an incredible job; the cast was stacked with talent. My favorite was the amazing Dusty Ray Bottoms, a drag queen who competed on the 10th season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” who played Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Running around in heels and a tight corset is no easy task, but they made it look like light work – not to mention their vocals were heavenly and entrancing.

Ethan Kuchta, who played Rocky, was equally as entertaining. He had incredible comedic timing, and his voice was off the charts. We all debated on the car ride home whether his muscles were real (we came to the conclusion that they were, in fact, real, and we wondered how much bodybuilding he had done to prepare).

And, of course, how could I write this without talking about the ushers? All six of them brought something different to the table, and they all looked like they were having the time of their lives. The theater kid in me was so envious, and I could feel my soul begging me to jump on stage.

I could say more about every cast member, but I feel I would exceed my word count. The technical parts of the show were equally amazing. The lighting was my favorite part; every song felt like a party.

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The most important thing to know about these shows is that they’re interactive. Certain lines or moments in the show elicit a call-out from the audience. Unfortunately, since The Student technically does not allow curse words in publication, I cannot tell you all of them. But I highly encourage you to look them up yourself; you don’t have to memorize them in order to still enjoy the show. You tend to pick up on the common ones.

If the showing you go to sells prop bags, BUY ONE! They work just like the call-outs do, except our bags told us when to use each prop. This enhanced the interactive element of the show for me, especially since I did not have the verbal call-outs memorized. The Carnegie sold them for $10, and it included various items like an enlarged engagement ring, some confetti, and a pink, fluffy boa.

We left The Carnegie a little after 2 a.m. and spent several hours trying to get food (the Waffle House in Oxford was extremely busy that night). Were we out until 5 a.m.? The world may never know.

But what I know is that I would do this all over again — the year-early arrival, the hour car ride and three hours of post-show hunger? In a heartbeat.

powerstj@miamioh.edu