This weekend, The Rocky Horror Picture Show’s annual tradition returned to FSU’s Student Life Cinema. Featuring actors performing alongside the movie, White Mouse Productions worked with the campus cinema to bring the midnight-movie tradition to FSU students.<\/p>\n
The Rocky Horror Show began as a stage musical, debuting in London’s West End in 1973 before transferring to Broadway in 1975. The show and music were written by Richard O’Brien, and the original production was directed by Jim Sharman, who met O’Brien after O’Brien was cast in a London production of Jesus Christ Superstar.<\/p>\n
The film adaptation, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, was released in 1975, the same year the Broadway production opened, to mixed critical response and little initial box-office impact.<\/p>\n
‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ makes seasonal debut at FSU<\/p>\n
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The Rocky Horror Picture Show\u2019s annual tradition returned to FSU\u2019s Student Life Cinema for 2026. Featuring actors performing alongside the movie, White Mouse Productions worked with the campus cinema to bring the midnight-movie tradition to FSU students. (Photo by Parker Bleu DeLuca)<\/p>\n
The cult following began developing in New York when the Waverly Theatre adopted the film as a midnight movie. Audience members gradually began yelling lines at the screen or responding to the characters and one another, trying to get a laugh. The performances, callbacks, and traditions of the shadowcast spread quickly, reaching more than 200 theatres by Halloween 1978. This year marks the film’s 51st anniversary, and shadowcasts are now performed across the country, including here in Tallahassee.<\/p>\n
The movie is a wild retelling of the classic Frankenstein tale, in which newly engaged couple Brad and Janet, played by Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon, are pulled into the sexy and bizarre world of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, played by the late Tim Curry, in his gothic castle on the very night he plans to bring his creature to life. Featuring an incredible soundtrack that is sure to get stuck in your head and a star-studded cast\u2014including Meat Loaf, Richard O’Brien, Patricia Quinn, Charles Gray, and more\u2014the movie itself is an experience not to miss.<\/p>\n
White Mouse Productions, a local nonprofit theatre organization, brought tremendous life and energy to the show. The production was led by director Willow DeLacour, a seasoned Rocky Horror performer; assistant director Ayobami Aribisala; stage management team Shane Lea and Melissa J. Rojas; and choreographer Emma Stanton. From the line interactions and preshow games to every performer’s enthusiasm for the show, the cast helped create a wonderful space for the queer community to gather on FSU’s campus. Every year, the excitement surrounding the event is incredible, and even with the ASLC’s new pre-banding system, there was still an impressive line of people waiting to see the show.<\/p>\n
The show itself was a great joy, with actors who fully embraced the drama and camp. The audience was clearly invested; barely a moment passed without a callout, and everyone joined in for the “Time Warp.” It amazes me how the cast manages to stay in character in response to some of the things shouted from the audience. The choreography, especially for the ensemble, was incredible and brought so much life to the moments when performers surrounded the audience.<\/p>\n
The lead performers also stood out. Themily Figueras, returning for their third year as Janet for a reason, brings wonderful humor to a character who begins the story deeply repressed. Austin Wiley was fully committed as Brad. The floor show was especially well put together.<\/p>\n
It is a dance-heavy sequence performed in completely different costumes, but the entire cast nailed it without a waver. The show clearly means so much to this cast\u2014as a place to be loud, to be queer, and to be yourself.<\/p>\n
If you missed the performances at the Student Life Cinema, White Mouse Productions has four more performances around Tallahassee.<\/p>\n
This coming weekend, the shadow cast will perform at the Mickee Faust Clubhouse on Friday, Oct. 23, and Saturday, Oct. 24. Both shows begin at 10 p.m. That weekend is also FAMU Homecoming, so audiences should plan for additional traffic.<\/p>\n
On Halloween weekend, the production moves to the Challenger Learning Center Planetarium. The Friday, Oct. 30, performance begins at 10 p.m., followed by the final performance on Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31, at 11:59 p.m. If you’re planning to go, make sure to arrive a little early \u2014 the preshow games are as much a part of the tradition as the callbacks.<\/p>\n
Tickets and additional performance information are available at www.ticketsource.com\/white-mouse-theatre-productions<\/a>.<\/p>\n