BWW Previews: ROCKY HORROR at Theatre Baton Rouge

Get ready to don your fishnets and pearls because the ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW is coming to Theatre Baton Rouge.
For those unfamiliar, ROCKY HORROR is a cult classic musical comedy movie reflective of horror B-movies of the 1970s. In the film, based on the 1973 stage production, sweethearts Brad and Janet are stuck with a flat tire during a storm. They find their way to the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a cross dressing scientist. The couple is soon swept into the crazy world of Frank and his guests, a wild group of people at the mansion for the annual Transylvanian convention. The night is a raucous romp that includes dancing and singing, a murder and a chase scene or two.
Becoming director for this year's Rocky Horror was unexpected, but a dream that had come true for Clay Donaldson, who previously worked on the show as an actor.
"I was planning to audition again and wasn't sure who would be directing, and Jenny Ballard called me and presented me with the opportunity," Donaldson said. "And of course, I had wanted to direct at TBR for a little while now so I was very eager to do it."
The 1975 film was initially panned but soon became a hit after it became a regular midnight feature at the Waverly Theater in New York City. Audience members began dressing like the characters and talking back to the screen. As the movie showings spread to other cities, shadow casts began to emerge, with actors lip-synching the characters' lines. These days, the film has a large international following and has become the longest-running theatrical release in film history.
"I think for a lot of people it's really easy to shrug Rocky Horror off as a silly, little cult classic, but it does mean a lot to so many people," Donaldson said. "I think that's apparent with how long its legacy has stayed alive, and how successful it is today. Last year was the 40th anniversary of the film, and it's still being performed all over the country, shadow casts, live casts or even just movie showings. And I think that's because Rocky Horror embraces the freak in all of us. It lets us release all of our inhibitions and lets us be our weirdest, truest selves."
Donaldson has had specific ideas of what he's wanted for Rocky for the past couple of years, and now he can bring his vision to life while still using his experiences from performing in the show in the past. According to Donaldson, this year is a culmination of everything that's come before and a reimagining for audiences who attend each year.
"Sometimes it's campier; sometimes it's more seductive," Donaldson said. "What I wanted was a culmination of everything into a production while also paying an homage as much as possible to the movie."
Because the movie has been near and dear Donaldson's heart, he wanted to infuse some of the movie's camp and sexual situations while also creating his vision of Rocky. "There are just certain things that are very iconic that I don't think need to be changed," Donaldson said. "So, we try to find sort of our TBR version of the way they did things in the movie that I feel very passionate about."
Going from actor to director felt very natural for Donaldson, who uses his experience as an actor to aid his cast in finding their own inner Rocky.
"The transition has been pretty easy thus far," Donaldson said. "My biggest obstacle is not jumping up and running on stage as soon as the music starts. It's fun to sit at the table now and to see the show overall, but to use the things I felt as ammunition to help the cast find their characters."
Donaldson's vision for the show was focusing on an immersive audience experience as if they are in Frank-N-Furter's castle.
"We're trying to play that up this year where the castle extends beyond the stage. You don't know where the action is coming from," Donaldson said. "It might be next to you, in front of you, behind you, or even within where you are sitting in the audience. we are breaking the fourth wall this year."
Along with the actors, the set design itself will extend as well, incorporating elements seen in old theatres such as a grand old drape, a run-down proscenium and a wooden stage for the floor show.
"Frank-N-Furter is such a performer, and his passion is very clearly the stage, he has a complete theatre in the castle," Donaldson said. "So, we wanted to make that a focal point as well...almost like a show within a show where everything culminates in the floor show at the end where we finally see this old theatre light up and come to life."
This year, the part of Frank-N-Furter will be played by Tony Collins who previously had worked on Rocky Horror at TBR as a choreographer. Playing the part of Frank is a bucket list dream role for Collins.
"It's incredible," Collins said. "He's very eccentric, and I love that about him. It's a lot of fun because he's a very outspoken and outgoing person and very charismatic. I share those qualities with him, but there are also many qualities that we do not have in common that I get to explore and have so much fun with because some of the things he does are things I would never do in a million years."
Working as the choreographer has helpEd Collins prepare for his future role as he worked with trying to tell a story through movement, which gave him a different perspective on the characters.
"It makes you appreciate the phantoms in the show and the other characters you're surrounding yourself within the scenes where you have to be engaged with each other," Collins said. "You're able to understand a few things a bit better, and you have a clear point of view on certain things...now everything has a better understanding."
The first thing Collins had to think about before going into the rehearsal process was that he was not Tim Curry.
"Tim Curry is Tim Curry," Collins said. "I am not him, and in no way should I try to be him because he is always going to be the amazing person that he is...I think I bring a different sense of humor to it...I like to think the way I play Frank is entertaining and spunky and full of jokes and try to make sure there is a dynamic change for when his mood shifts.
And as for wearing the iconic fishnets?
"I love them," Collins said. "I think there is something that's so sassy and feminine and fierce and dominant quality to them."
Donaldson says all potential audience members should come dressed and Ready to Play.
"We'll have all of the callouts, all of the participation, costumes, throw bags, raunch, and inappropriateness," Donaldson said. "We want our audiences to have the traditional Rocky experience."
It's encouraged to purchase tickets early as they sell out quickly each year before opening night.
"We sell out every year before the run even starts," Donaldson said. "We want to see as many people there as possible while there is still time."
The Rocky Horror Show is rated "R," and runs October 19-28, 2017 with all
performances at 8 p.m. There will be an additional midnight performance on
Saturday, October 28. Individual tickets are $25, and student tickets are $20. TBR will have throw bags available for purchase at the door of each performance, for $5. Tickets are available online at TheatreBR.org or by calling the Theatre Baton Rouge box office at 22-924-6496.

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