Gwendolyn Nolen is affiliated with WCU Theater.
Halloween is fast approaching, and as the air gets crisp and bags of candy are bought in bulk for excited trick-or-treaters, student performers at WCU are donning their garter belts and high heels for the highly anticipated student-run production of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” held in the Mainstage Theater in E.O. Bull this October. “Rocky” has been a long-standing tradition at WCU, attracting fans of the cult classic to laugh, cheer, and heckle (at “Rocky,” heckling is not only allowed but strongly encouraged) at the campy, bacchanalian tale of Dr. Frank-N-Furter and his mad science experiment.
But die-hard fans of the Tim Curry movie aren’t the only ones who are shivering in antici…pation for the show; for those who have never seen a production of “Rocky,” the cast members conduct a “Virgin Sacrifice” (which is less of a “sacrifice” and more of an initiation) as part of the pre-show ritual. They also hold a Halloween Costume Contest, the winners of which receive free tickets to WCU’s annual Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Benefit Concert (BC/EFA) in December.
As the sister event to the Benefit Concert, tickets are pay-what-you-can donations, and all proceeds go towards BC/EFA. Last year’s staging of “Rocky” saw record-breaking numbers, raising a whopping $2,183.30 over the course of three shows last year, in conjunction with the student-run Haunted House.
“‘Rocky Horror’ is a pinnacle of queer connection,” director Elijah McBride writes. “To be able to use our voices to create a loving and open community on campus while raising money for a cause so near and dear to our hearts is incredibly special and I am so proud of everyone involved!”
The show dates are Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. and midnight, as well as Oct. 26 at midnight following the Haunted House. Looking for something to do this Halloweekend? Head over to the Frankenstein Place in the Mainstage Theater and join us for our late-night double-feature picture show!
Gwendolyn Nolen is a third-year English major with a minor in Theatre Arts.