"The Rocky Horror Show" is coming to Longwood University's
Theater Department. It will have showings on the main
stage in the Communication Studies & Theater Building from
Feb. 23 to Feb. 26, and again from March 1 to March 4. The production,
which has been in development for months, blends
sci-fi, comedy and blatant eccentricity in a way that has solidified
the story into a cult classic.
The original production with the same title was written by
Richard O'Brien and debuted in London in 1973. The story of
a couple trapped with a mad scientist, who happens to be a
transvestite, captivated audiences from its inception. Perhaps
the most widely known and distributed version of "Rocky
Horror" would be 20th Century Fox's 1975 film "The Rocky
Horror Picture Show." It starred Susan Sarandon as one half of
the couple who gets stranded, and Tim Curry, who plays the
transvestite scientist.
Samantha Fallin, who plays the character of Columbia, has
prepared extensively for her part in the production. Fallin said,
"My character Columbia has been so much fun to get to know
and play in the show. I see her as a sassy party girl who also
has a soft spot at certain parts in the show." As far as what
has been her favorite part about playing Columbia, Fallin answered,
"I have loved playing her because of her spunk."
The show has been in production for months, and the theater
students are devoting their efforts to promoting the muchanticipated
production. A Facebook page has been started to
market the musical, while the department has taken to making
mini webisodes, giving audiences a look behind the scenes
from set design to costume making to cast interviews.
Fallin stated, "[My character] Columbia is just a small part of
what has gone into the production. We have so many people on
cast and crew working so hard on everything."
The Thursday and Friday shows will begin at 7 p.m., Saturday
shows open at midnight and Sunday shows premiere at 3
p.m. Tickets for the shows are also being sold through the theater
department's website. Fallin has high hopes for the show.
She said, "I am so excited to see it all come together. I think it is
going to be a fabulous and fun show!
