The Brisbane Management Group’s production of “The Rocky Horror Show” brings interaction to a whole new level. In most theater shows, the audience is firmly planted in their seats facing the stage, but in a new take on Richard O’Brien’s cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” the audience will experience the show scene to scene, acting as members of the cast.The show runs until Oct. 31 at The Outer Skin in Munhall, and is directed by Point Park alumni Lisa Ann Goldsmith.“It’s not the fluffy “Rocky Horror” that you usually see,” said Marsissa Buchheit, a senior acting major who plays Janet, in an interview Monday. “Frank’s line, ‘Give yourself over to absolute pleasure’ has a lot of underline to the show.”Guests are greeted by an usherette at the entrance of The Outer Skin, a sex store where they have the option of purchasing accessories. They will then be taken upstairs to the fetish dungeon where the show takes place.Audience members are immersed into the musical comedy by choosing how they want to participate, whether as a voyeur who simply follows or as members who interact with the cast.The audience is physically taken from one scene to another following the journey of Brad and Janet, a recently engaged couple stranded by a flat tire and forced into the horrific plot which is “The Rocky Horror Show.”“This innovative theater technique is used to push the boundaries away from traditional theater to capture the attention of a younger generation,” said Kelli Brisbane, a Point Park alumna who plays the Usherette and is the founder of Brisbane Management Group, at The Outer Skin on Oct. 15. The show is based off of people participating with the cast, so it is encouraged for the audience to participate in ways they normally would not. Yelling vulgar callbacks – lines the audience says in response to lines characters say in the show – and performing simple, but fun dance routines helps the cast create a better performance. “Playing along with us is so important,” said Tom Sarp, a Point Park alumnus who plays Dr. Scott, at The Outer Skin on Oct. 15. “It allows us to play off their reactions.” People who agree to be treated as a member of the cast will be subjected to different treatment than those who decide against participation. They will be labeled with a colored lanyard so the permanent cast members can differentiate between the two, which is important because a they might make someone get on all fours and howl like a dog if they are not showing enough spirit during the show. “At the beginning of the night most of the crowd looks uncomfortable, but willing to participate,” said producing assistant and Point Park alumna Jackie Baker Tuesday at the Outer Skin. “By the middle of the show the majority of the crowd is well outside their comfort zone.” The cast encourages its audience to research callbacks in order to participate more actively in the show. Attendees must be 18 or over to be admitted due to the vulgar and erotic nature of the show. Show times are Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. Oct. 27 there is a matinee showing at 2 p.m. In addition there is a second show on the 31st at midnight. General admittance is $30 or $20 with a student ID. VIP tickets cost $50, which includes a pre-show “Time Warp” dance lesson and a free drink voucher for Rock Bottom Brewery.
New ‘Rocky Horror’ production pushes boundaries
Written By Christopher Squier
June 29, 2016
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