2008 Woodie Awards
Participation requested
Rocky Horror tradition continues
Matthew Schroyer
Issue date: 8/23/07 Section: A&E
They take refuge in the eerie castle of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, an alien transvestite from the planet Transsexual, and meet a plethora of otherworldly characters.
There's dancing to the "time warp," the birth of a humanoid, a murder, action-packed romance, thrills and chills.
Sound bizarre enough? The scene is not complete just yet.
While it all plays out on screen, the audience must join in. There are water guns during the rainstorm and rice at the wedding. There are newspapers and costumed participants reciting lines in the front of the theater.
It's all going to happen tonight at 7 p.m. in the Morris University Center's Meridian Ballroom, when SIUE embarks on its 14th annual journey into the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
"It's a musical, a cult classic," Rose Connolly of Springfield said. "It's a mockery of the old B-rated horror movie, and the first exposure to transvestites in film."
Connolly is a 1999 alumna who was hooked on the Rocky Horror Picture show experience in her days at SIUE. Ever since then, she's made the yearly trek back to SIUE to relive the experience, missing "only one or two shows."
That's about 12 showings for Connolly, who says it provides a release from her day-to-day work for the state of Illinois.
"I call it the yin and yang," Connolly said. "I can let my hair down and be professional the very next day. It's all about the time and the place, and this is the time and the place."
Connolly comes prepared, too. For this year's showing, she's taking along enough costumes for 20 people to join in the fun.
"I think I have enough costumes to fit almost every cast member," Connolly said. "I would say something like Gothic, but it's different. It's underwear."
The Campus Activities Board, which organized the event, is also handing out 200 bags stuffed with the various props used in the audience-participation musical. But, those bags may go quickly. Last year's event attracted a crowd of 500, and according to CAB, there's every indication that this year will have just as many people playing along.
However, despite the high numbers, CAB Assistant Director Michelle King said many who show up are new to the Rocky Horror Picture Show experience.
The CAB production, King said, is a good place to be introduced to the immersive experience.
"This is a very good place to see it because we get a lot of first-time viewers," King said. "It's an interesting experience if you've never been."
Connolly said some may have seen the original 1975 video at home, but for the total experience, there is no beating seeing it "live."
"Go with the flow, and don't be surprised," Connolly said. "Leave all your values behind. Pick them up on the way out."
There's dancing to the "time warp," the birth of a humanoid, a murder, action-packed romance, thrills and chills.
Sound bizarre enough? The scene is not complete just yet.
While it all plays out on screen, the audience must join in. There are water guns during the rainstorm and rice at the wedding. There are newspapers and costumed participants reciting lines in the front of the theater.
It's all going to happen tonight at 7 p.m. in the Morris University Center's Meridian Ballroom, when SIUE embarks on its 14th annual journey into the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
"It's a musical, a cult classic," Rose Connolly of Springfield said. "It's a mockery of the old B-rated horror movie, and the first exposure to transvestites in film."
Connolly is a 1999 alumna who was hooked on the Rocky Horror Picture show experience in her days at SIUE. Ever since then, she's made the yearly trek back to SIUE to relive the experience, missing "only one or two shows."
That's about 12 showings for Connolly, who says it provides a release from her day-to-day work for the state of Illinois.
"I call it the yin and yang," Connolly said. "I can let my hair down and be professional the very next day. It's all about the time and the place, and this is the time and the place."
Connolly comes prepared, too. For this year's showing, she's taking along enough costumes for 20 people to join in the fun.
"I think I have enough costumes to fit almost every cast member," Connolly said. "I would say something like Gothic, but it's different. It's underwear."
The Campus Activities Board, which organized the event, is also handing out 200 bags stuffed with the various props used in the audience-participation musical. But, those bags may go quickly. Last year's event attracted a crowd of 500, and according to CAB, there's every indication that this year will have just as many people playing along.
However, despite the high numbers, CAB Assistant Director Michelle King said many who show up are new to the Rocky Horror Picture Show experience.
The CAB production, King said, is a good place to be introduced to the immersive experience.
"This is a very good place to see it because we get a lot of first-time viewers," King said. "It's an interesting experience if you've never been."
Connolly said some may have seen the original 1975 video at home, but for the total experience, there is no beating seeing it "live."
"Go with the flow, and don't be surprised," Connolly said. "Leave all your values behind. Pick them up on the way out."
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