Don't Dream it, Be it

Photo Credits: Mark Schobert

It’s that time of year again, the Lost Flamingo Theater Company is producing The Rocky Horror Picture Show for the 22nd year with The Union. Oh, and rumor has it that it's the 50th anniversary since this cult classic movie has come out! 

We are shivering in anticipation, and so are the directors. Anna Martin is in her third year of Rocky and doing her second year of directing this fan favorite show. When asked why she chooses this show again and again, she said “because it holds such precedence in Athens as an event everyone goes to see. Being able to celebrate an incredible film that wasn't originally praised when it was released is such an amazing honor. This show shares self-expression, community, and above all, acceptance,” which is a truly meaningful sentiment.

LFC is one of those student orgs where we can come together and celebrate our differences. The whole idea of our company is to get those “lost in the world” students and bring them together to do something truly extraordinary. Our audience members feel the same, we have many people from all over show up and dress up. It’s a show where you’re meant to be your true, authentic self and forget all that's going on in the world. 

This year's show is different than any others and that's why Martin says that the greatest challenge she has had is the “fast turnaround before the performances in October. [She] believe[s] this cast is more than capable of accepting this challenge and jumping headfirst into the show's content.” The whoreographer (or choreographer if you haven’t heard our Rocky lingo yet) Jenna Skidmore is in full agreeance with Martin, she said “the Whorus learned the show in record time this year, and everyone has handled the expedited rehearsal process with such grace, confidence, and positive energy!” It's an amazing tradition to be able to be a part of and the cast is more than happy to do it even under the time crunch. 

Skidmore also touched on the sentiment of how special it is to be in such a well loved Athens tradition. When asked why she chose this show she said “as cliché as it sounds, it feels like this show chose me. I auditioned on a whim my freshman year and never expected how hard and fast I would fall in love with the show. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is such a phenomenal tribute to being unapologetically yourself, celebrating queer culture, and embracing your sexuality—I feel so lucky to be a small part of this lasting legacy.”

We hope our audience can feel the same way through our performance, we encourage you—the audience—to embrace being unapologetically you and to be your full sexual self. This show and cast chooses you each and every time you walk through those doors. You'd think it’s scary to be on stage in such little clothing but these directors know how to create a safe environment. They do their best to keep everyone feeling like they have a space, even going as far as making The Union a space where our audience feels like they can be who they are. 

We really couldn’t do this show without the support of the community though. Alexis Butt—the Assistant Director—touched on this, she has been leading the charge on many of our collabs this semester. Butt said this is what she is most excited for. We try our best to help the community who helps us and through these special collabs we are able to do that. So keep on the lookout for our collabs with some pretty cool Athens businesses, you won’t want to miss it! 

When you think about this long held tradition where sexy clothes, shouting things at the cast and crew, or even singing along may be some of your favorite parts, but Martin touches on something the audience doesn't get to see. She said her favorite tradition is “standing in our circle before we open the doors to The Union, taking deep breaths together, hyping the group up, and sharing how much this means to us. Every year, I have watched and participated in the amazing connections with this cast, and it has never not amazed me with how meaningful these performances are to everyone in their own way.” We hope these performances can be just as meaningful to you as they are to us. 

For many members “it's been their dream to be a part of this production”, Butt touches on that, she said “it’s always been my dream to be a part of Rocky Horror. I auditioned my first two years in LFC and never got in, so when the opportunity to Assistant Direct came up I couldn’t pass it up!!” Butt also has been in Dead Man's Rocky in Dayton playing various roles in their shadow cast, even playing Rocky on the 50th anniversary. 

This was merely a sneak peak into what will become something you anticipate year after year. Before the show opens you’ll also be able to hear from the cast of this show—some new and some returning. We hope you cum see The Rocky Horror Picture Show October 8-11th at 8pm at The Union! Tickets are $10 for 18-20 and $8 for 21+.