Ribald, raucous Rocky Horror comes to ROH

From left, Austin Arsenault, Meredith Anne, Megan Little, Scottie McLaughlin, Meghan Morash, Jerard-James Craven. (front row) Adele Jones and Brianna Stein. (Courtesy photo ROH)

ROCHESTER - Slink into your best lingerie, slip on your highest heels, and give yourself over to absolute pleasure at Rochester Opera House with the cast of Rocky Horror Picture Show: LIVE!

The crazy antics begin at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, and run through Friday, Oct. 30, with additional performances on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

It's the music, the story, and the audience that create an out-of-this world experience in this humorous multimedia tribute to the science fiction and horror B movies of the late 1940s through 1970s. The story tells of a newly engaged couple, Brad Majors (Joshua Moore) and Janet Weiss (Meredith Lamothe), who are caught in a storm while driving to a dinner party at Dr. Scott's (Jamie Bradley) house.

The young lovers find themselves at the mansion of a mad transvestite scientist, Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Scottie McLaughlin), and they are just in time for the unveiling of his new creation, a muscleman named Rocky Horror (Austin Arsenault).

From their first meeting with the ghoulish butler Riff-Raff (Jerard-James Craven) and the assistants Columbia (Megan Little) and Magenta (Meghan Morash), to their introduction to a party of Transylvanian conventionists, Brad and Janet are in for the night as this bizarre evening filled with music, mayhem, and even a murder, takes them on a journey not soon to be forgotten...Dare we mention the other carnal pleasures that arise in this wild, scantily clad adventure?

Director Danica Carlson describes the Opera House performances as "a mixed media production, combining both the movie and the live stage show in celebration of the original movies release forty years ago, with live musical performances, audience participation, and a costume contest to start the night off."

Originally produced and directed by Jim Sharman, the London production of the musical premiered over 40 years ago at various locations throughout London and won the 1973 Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Musical. Crossing the pond to New York and Los Angeles, it earned one Tony and three Drama Desk nominations.

The musical was adapted into the film The Rocky Horror Picture Show in 1975, and it is now the longest-running release in film history, recently celebrating its 40th anniversary. Throughout the years, Rocky has transitioned from a minor cult film to a major cultural landmark referenced frequently in pop culture, and most recently, the film was selected by the National Film Registry for preservation as 'culturally, historically or aesthetically significant'.

But, it's just a jump to the left and a step to the ri-ay-ay-ay-ay-ight for actor Craven as he reprises his role: "I'm thrilled to be in the role of Riff-Raff again. I can't think of a better location than (Rochester) Opera House with their extra-large movie screen and plenty of space for the audience to participate. It's the perfect merger between movie and musical"; with a giggle he adds that this is surely "a night to remember for a very...long...time!"

Actress Meredith Lamothe is playing her favorite character Janet and says she can "relate to her at times, the quiet and subtle sense of adventure and then I really admire how she ... bares all and comes out of her shell."

Directed Carlson with music direction by Adam MacDougall, this unique event is combining the cult classic film with live vocal performances by a slew of your favorite seacoast artists. Come once, come twice, come every night and do the Time Warp with us again!

The Rocky Horror Show is a musical with music, lyrics and a book written by Richard O'Brien. The Rocky Horror Show is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.

Reserve tickets at rochesteroperahouse.com or call the box office (603) 335-1992, M/W/F from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and two hours before the show.

Cash bar, under age 18 must be accompanied by legal guardian. This show is sponsored by TD Bank, Eastern Propane & Oil, Seacoast Media Group, Shaheen & Gordon, PA, Norm Vetter, Inc., The Cocheco Times, Stump City Cider, and The Garage at The Governor's Inn. Rochester Opera House is located in City Hall at 31 Wakefield St., Rochester, NH. The Season continues with Dirty Deeds: The AC/DC Tribute Nov. 14, Freckleface Strawberry The Musical Nov. 21 & 22, and Little River Band presented by First City Cars & Trucks Nov. 27.

Tickets: $18 Regular Admission $14 Students and Seniors