JMU Rocky Horror

Contact:
Sarah Prevost
Club President
n/a
prevosse@dukes.jmu.edu

Emily Bishop
Public Relations
n/a
bishopev@dukes.jmu.edu

THE THEATRICAL PRODUCTION OF THE SEASON IS ALMOST HERE

The Rocky Horror picture show is so inspiring to many of the cast members that one person got a tattoo
inspired by the show to show her support, and embrace the Rocky Horror Picture Show as a part of her.

Harrisonburg, VAAs Halloween draws nearer the James Madison University

Rocky Horror group is working tirelessly to prepare for their upcoming performances.
Over the last few weeks, both the intensity and length of their rehearsals has been
increasing culminating in the move to stage rehearsals that await the cast in the upcoming
days. With their costumes on and makeup done this group is ready to perform for one last
time on campus before they move to practice on the performance stage.
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Feature Story: Show preparation
Its 8 p.m. on the campus of James Madison University, and in the Wayland Hall
rehearsal rooms, there are several people running around getting ready for dress
rehearsal. In one room performers are changing into their costumes, while in another they
are getting their makeup done. There is a feeling of electric energy in the air as everyone
is working to prepare for the upcoming dress rehearsal. As they work toward the future, it
is hard not to look back on the cast they started out as when the year began.

At the beginning of the fall semester, JMU Rocky Horror only had 16 total cast
members. Now a week away from their first performance they have over 20 people in
their group. While this may not seem like an overly large increase in number this year,
JMU Rocky Horror will make up three different casts that will perform three different
nights.

Some of the new members that auditioned and joined the group had never seen
the movie, and last year one member did not even know she was auditioning for the
Rocky Horror Picture show. I thought I was auditioning for the Little Show of Horrors
a second-year cast member named Hannah said. But the stage manager was a friend of
mine and it seemed fun, so Hannah stayed with the cast and is preparing for her second
season with the show.

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Feature Story: Show preparation
Hannah is not the only cast member who did not entirely know what she was
getting into when she auditioned. Sam is a new member of the cast this year and while he
knew what show he was auditioning for he was relatively new to the world of Rocky
Horror. I hadnt seen the movie, but I knew what I was getting into, Sam said. He
originally auditioned because he never had the opportunity [to do] such a sexual show
before. Like Sam many other people in the group joined for the unique experience
Rocky Horror offers a performer.

Since their auditions in early September, the cast has rehearsed two to three days a
week for tow hours at a time. As the semester has progressed so has the passion going
into the rehearsals. How rehearsals go depends on the day and what the cast feels they
need to work on. Sarah, the president of JMU Rocky Horror, said sometimes in rehearsal
we clarify what people need work on.

In the recent weeks as the performance days draw nearer the cast has been doing
more run-throughs Sam said. In these rehearsals rather than working on parts of the
performance, the cast dons their costumes and runs through the entire show. The dress
rehearsals are about to be moved off campus and into the Court Square Theater where the
cast will be performing.

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Feature Story: Show preparation
The performances will be held Oct. 29, at the Court Square Theater in Staunton
Virginia. The show Saturday the 29 will be held at 10 p.m. the show Sunday at 10 p.m.,
and the final show will be held on Halloween night, Monday the 31 at 9 p.m. Tickets
costing $9.50 will be sold at the door. Guests will have the option to increase the price of
their ticket to $10 and donate an extra 50 cents to the cast of JMU Rocky Horror. Prop
bags will also be sold at the door and will cost $5. The prop bags will include toast, water
guns, and pieces of newspaper amongst other things.

While Rocky Horror might be a new experience for some people across the
country Rocky Horror has a cult following. Dating back to 1975 The Rocky Horror
Picture Show is an immersive experience. Initially there was only a movie, however now
The Rocky Horror Picture Show has taken on a life of its own. In modern society Rocky
Horror is not just a movie, there is a cast that acts live along with the film onscreen.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is an immersive experience that has captured the
heart of thousands of people from across the nation including the cast of JMU Rocky
Horror. JMU Rocky Horror has worked diligently for several months to prepare for their
upcoming performances. The shows are just around the corner, and the whole cast is
excited to show their community what they have been working on.

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Feature Story: Show preparation
About JMU Rocky Horror
JMU Rocky Horror is a relatively new organization that was founded in the fall of 2015.
They first performed their interpretation of the Rocky Horror Picture Show Mar. 25,
2015. This is a student-run organization, with Zach Dorsey as a faculty adviser. This
organization holds auditions in the fall and performs Halloween weekend. This year the
organization is made up of three different casts with some members playing different
roles in multiple casts. For more information, please contact
rockyhorrorjmu@gmail.com.
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