Revision as of 20:49, 8 November 2024

10/27/23 Photo of Michael playing Frank alongside the Original Brad Majors, Barry Bostwick as Special-Guest Speaker and Emcee along with Larry Viezel for a Rocky Horror Picture Show 48th Anniversary performance! A last minute performance in South Bend Indiana at the Morris Performing Arts Center with members from 4 different shadowcasts, The Denton High Drama Club and The Full Rocky from Grand Rapids Michigan area, The Transylvania Twists from Bay City Michigan and Rose Tints The World Columbus Indiana, all performing for 1,100 people! Larry and Barry made a great team! Larry was positive and reassuring, and Barry was funny, supportive, and very kind. Even with his busy scheduled Barry stayed for as long as he could to watch the show from backstage.

Photos

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  Brad (far right), The Full Rocky Switch Night Celebration! Cinema North & IMAX, Grand Rapids MI 10/22/16

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  Brad, The Full Rocky, Debut Grand Rapids, Celebration! Cinema North & IMAX, Grand Rapids MI 08/07/16

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  Brad, The Denton High Drama Club, Harbor Cinema, Lakeshore Dr Muskegon MI 10/21/17

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  Brad, cast photo, The Denton High Drama Club, Plaza 1&2, Norton Shores, Muskegon MI 05/19/18

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  Demon Rocky, The Denton High Drama Club, Hotter Than Hell theme, Harbor Cinema, Lakeshore Dr Muskegon MI 07/21/18

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  Baby Brad, The Denton High Drama Club, 1st Anniversary, Harbor Cinema, Lakeshore Dr Muskegon MI 08/18/18

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  Frank with Larry Selvage, The Full Rocky, Debut Portage, Rockytober, Crossroads Celebration Cinema, Portage MI 10/13/18

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  Brad and Emcee, Ariel Rogers' Shadowcast, Sun Theatre, Williamston MI 10/19/18

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  Trixie Dance as Trixie The Clown with Addie Rall as Trixie, a floating shadowcast, Halloween Season Show, Sun Theatre, Williamston MI 10/18/19

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  Frank (Rain, Sam, Michael, Robyn, Eryn), a floating shadowcast, Halloween Season Show, Sun Theatre, Williamston MI 10/18/19

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  Co-Emcee skeleton with Co-Emcee Kevin Kilbry, costume contest and swear in virgins, The Denton High Drama Club, Halloween Night, Wealthy Theatre, Grand Rapids MI 10/31/19

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  Co-Emcee and Crim skeleton, cast photo, The Denton High Drama Club, Halloween Night, Wealthy Theatre, Grand Rapids MI 10/31/19

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  Co-Emcee skeleton, The Denton High Drama Club, Halloween Night, Wealthy Theatre, Grand Rapids MI 10/31/19

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  Co-Emcee skeleton pose with #ooak doll by Addie Rall as Costume Contest prize, The Denton High Drama Club, Halloween Night, Wealthy Theatre, Grand Rapids MI 10/31/19

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  Emcee, The Denton High Drama Club, Halloween Show, Wealthy Theatre, Grand Rapids MI 10/29/23

More Photos

• More RHPS photos at this imgur link here
• More RHPS photos at this Facebook link here
• Theater photos at this imgur link here
• Theater photos at this Facebook link here

Leadership Roles

Producer and Director of The Denton High Drama Club 06/01/22, name change The Rocky Road Shadowcast 07/01/24
Director of The Denton High Drama Club May 2018
Board Member of Grand Haven Central Park Players community theatre 06/11/22-04/01/23 (not RHPS affiliated).

Cast Affiliations

• The Rocky Road Shadowcast
• The Denton High Drama Club
• The Full Rocky
• Mid Michigan Misfits

• A special show with the Original Brad Majors, Barry Bostwick as Special-Guest Speaker and shadowcast members from DHDC/TRRS, TFR, The Transylvania Twists from Bay City MI and Rose Tint The World Columbus IN (not OH)

Roles Played

• Brad Majors
• Janet Weiss
• The Criminologist
• Riff Raff
• Emcee
• Rocky
• Dr. Frank-N-Furter
• Trixie
• Eddie
• Dr. Scott

DeVirginization

DeVirginization refers to the act of seeing The Rocky Horror Picture Show in a theater with a live shadow cast for the first time. It can also refer to a ritual or game planned by the cast (usually the Emcee) to honor a person's first time experiencing The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

• August 7, 2016 Which was also the first show he performed with a shadowcast

History

Producer and Co-Emcee

I am married to Kelly, an incredible woman who embraces my unconventional pursuits, and we have a wonderful 23-year-old son, Lee. I graduated high school as part of the Class of '82 and have always had an interest in vocal harmonies. Back then, I wanted to explore barbershop music but, without the internet or connections to local groups, it remained a curiosity. In 2005, I discovered the Grand Rapids barbershop group, the Great Lakes Chorus, where I joined quartets, sang in community shows, and competed both statewide and internationally.

Around the same time, I ventured into theater. One day, my neighbor, Director Ms. Rose, pulled up next to me while I was walking and asked if I was interested in community theater. Although I barely knew her, I took the leap and joined her in various performances. Since then, I have participated in numerous West Michigan community theater companies, including:

West Michigan Savoyards
Center Stage Theatre Kalamazoo
Holland Community Theatre
Grand Haven Central Park Players

In 2022-2023, after relocating, I was elected as a Board Member and Education Committee Chair for the Grand Haven Central Park Players.

Shadowcast Journey

In 2015, my coworker, Larry Selvage, invited me and some friends to a Halloween showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Larry, usually soft-spoken, surprised us all with his knowledge of callback lines, making it a hilarious and nostalgic night. Back then, shadowcasts were rare, with audience members spontaneously interacting with the movie. Larry expressed a desire to start a shadowcast, and I agreed to join. I even knew a friend who would be perfect for the role of Frank. With Larry's persistence, Grand Rapids’ Celebration Cinema allowed us a spot in their midnight movie lineup, leading to the formation of the Grand Rapids shadowcast, The Full Rocky, in 2016. My first performance was as Brad for The Full Rocky’s inaugural show on August 7, 2016.

The Rocky Road Shadowcast

One year later, cast member Kevin Kilbry founded The Denton High Drama Club, later renamed The Rocky Road Shadowcast, with its first show on August 19, 2017, at Harbor Cinema. I joined as a performer, nearly completing my "Rocky Bingo Card" roles (though I’ve yet to perform as Magenta or Columbia). Through Kevin’s network, we attracted talented performers like Jennifer Finney, aka The Mistress, and Mana Nelson from the Michigan Rocky Horror Preservation Society. The shadowcasts lost their home venues due to the COVID-19 pandemic but have since continued with annual Halloween shows at The Wealthy Theatre in Grand Rapids, The Sun Theatre in Williamston, and occasional Pride shows. When Kevin retired as Producer on June 1, 2022, I took over, with aspirations to evolve into a traveling shadowcast across West Michigan.

On July 1, 2024, we officially renamed our cast to The Rocky Road Shadowcast. We launched a new website, Facebook page, and promotional materials, and purchased a used 6x12 trailer for transporting sets, costumes, props, and "prop bags" for shows. We now cover the lower half of the West Michigan shoreline and reach eastward toward US-127.

Nickname "Sweet Pea"

I earned the nickname "Sweet Pea" during the first cast rehearsal of Denton High Drama Club on July 30, 2017. While some cast members went to a convenience store for drinks, a friendly clerk called each person "sweet pea." However, when it was my turn, she only said, "You need to spend more than $5 to use a debit card." This made fellow cast member Sammy Scrivener laugh so hard that she spat out her iced coffee, and Jamie Arnold-Page christened me with the name "Sweet Pea."

Michael's Movie Analysis

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (originally the musical play The Rocky Horror Show) is a parody, like Frankenstein vs. Young Frankenstein. Not only is RHPS a parody of Frankenstein with creating Rocky in the lab and hunchback Riff Raff as Igor, but it also features Frank-N-Furter's creation wrapped in bandages like The Mummy. There are also references to Dracula movies, with Frank's Bela Lugosi-style entrance in the Count Dracula cloak and pale skin, and many elements in apparent homage to the 1932 movie The Old Dark House. In that movie, travelers are forced by a stormy night to take shelter in a spooky mansion/castle with creepy characters, an awkward dinner, and even a gong.

There are also nods to B-rated horror, alien invasions, coming-of-age movies, and muscle-builder beach party films. For example, characters like Rocky and Frank sing about bodybuilder Charles Atlas, famous for his comic book bodybuilding ads and the phrase "97-pound weakling" (although modified due to trademark), all set to a musical backdrop.

Audience Culture

The Rocky Horror Picture Show audience members dress in cosplay of the movie characters. One of the hallmark outfits includes corsets, heels, and fishnet stockings, regardless of gender, body type, and race, particularly for those who want to dress in drag in a friendly environment.

The Rocky Horror movie is entertainment for many but has also been a coming-out moment for those who feel sexually prejudiced and oppressed by society, with different rules for body types, races, genders, and sexualities, particularly those who identify as LGBTQ. Since the 70s, Rocky Horror shows have been recognized as a place for people to celebrate their sexuality and to promote body positivity, self-esteem, inclusion, and equality.

Some of the call-backs shouted at the screen are dated, a couple of generations removed and cringe-worthy, but they are often updated by newer generations of audience members. For example, concern has been raised over the callback of "slut" directed at the character Janet. Although the character is played sympathetically, she's seen by some as representing society's hypocritical and oppressive expectations around sexuality (not to mention that she engages with a "6-hour-old sex monster" on the day of her engagement). While others see her as a reflection of society’s double standard: where sexually active men are seen as conquerors, sexually active women are viewed as immoral. This callback has been argued to degrade women and the LGBTQ community, but many people in both groups consider it more an anthem of sexual freedom.

In any case, judgment is suspended in favor of the parody context and good, dirty fun. For tamer tastes, try a showing without the shadow cast.

Reference Links

Google Docs Rehearsal Aid High

Google Docs Rehearsal Aid Low

Callback Callout Script Rocky Horror Fandom

Callback Callout Script nerdnationmagazine 2014

Callback Callout Script google docs reddit rhps

Callback Callout Script mortaljourney 2011

Callback Callout Script Playbill's a curated selection of 'tamer' shoutouts Oct 15, 2016

Costumes Sold By halloweencostumes (doesn't include everything in photo)

Costumes indexed by carboncostume (for Janet but also has Brad, Rocky, and Frank links)

Costume/Makeup DIY Descriptions and tutorial videos

Costumes DIY The Student's Guide to Rocky Horror (old website but useful info)

Costumes Hair and Makeup DIY ibtimes

Makeup DIY tutorial videos (some costumes)

RHPS Makeup, Dance, Lyrics tutorial

RHPS History Timeline

Denton High Drama Club public facebook page

DHDC cast facebook page

DHDC Website (currently no available)

DHDC Favorite Videos

The Full Rocky public facebook page

TFR cast facebook page WMTS West Michigan Transylvanian Society

Rocky Horror Shadow Cast members facebook page

RHPS Shadowcast Map

RHPS Shadowcast map Instructions (Google My Maps by Luna May 06/13/17)

List of All Rocky Horror Cast Names

RHPS Say It! 1975 Audience Participation Audio only on youtube
(the video automatically starts playing 45 seconds into the video so reset video to very beginning to catch emcee by Rocky Horror Legend Sal Piro also a Rockypedia link here. )

Rocky Horror Brief Beginning History

Producing A Rocky Horror Picture Show Shadow Cast

RHPS Costumes and Wig Info (once there scroll to the bottom)

RHPS Characters including Trixie the usherette

Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Wiki Info & News (previously http://rocky-horror-picture-show.wikia.com)

RHPS Official Fan Club Facebook Page

RHPS Official Fan Club Facebook Community

Official Fan Club Membership Card

RHPS Cosmos Factory (dated and partially defunct)

RHPS Official Fan Club Website (dated and partially defunct)

Harbor Cinema, Cinema Treasures

Retro Rocky Video Game for Windows from 1985 Commodore 64

First, if you don't want to spend the day downloading and adapting the game you can just play in on this online archived emulator. Spacebar ends 'Enter At Your Own Risk' screen. The qwerty board controls are the 'J' key selects Janet, 'B' selects Brad. A is up, Z down, N left, M right, Spacebar to pick up items, M to stop the end title screen, although the end credits have some lame name jokes I think, I don't know, media company names are so confusing. Also I'm told if you wait at the begging outside the castle with the lightening till the game times out you'll see the castle launch off for Transexual Transylvania though I'm not sure if that's true or if it works with the online version because after 25 minutes I was done checking on it. Aaaaand you might want to mute the looping Time Warp chiptune. Below the link is the game objective, if you really want to nerd out don't read the game objective.

1985 Commodore 64 The Rocky Horror Show Original T.V. Game!! played online

Game objective is collect the tiles of the DeMedusa machine and put them on the flashing screen behind the curtain on the stage to free your partner. You can only carry one tile and a key at a time. If you loose your clothes you first have to get them back before you can pick up anything else. You have to assemble the DeMedusa machine before the thermometer temp gets too high where Eddie then thaws and runs you over with his motorcycle. You can reset the thermometer in the freezer room.

This is how I spent my Sunday... free windows download of the 1985 Commodore 64 The Rocky Horror Show Original T.V. Game!!... it was a challenging but worth the, wait for it, antici...pation if you're interested in the retro games. If you're as big a geek as me here's how I did it. If you know a better option, browser versions, or similar RHPS games let me know! To play on your pc you need the game and a Commodore 64 emulator both available free online. The game is available free at this link...

1985 Commodore 64 The Rocky Horror Show Original T.V. Game!! download

...automatically downloads the file, to the lower left of the window 'The-Rocky-Horror... .zip' is visible. Click the download and a Windows Explorer window opens, in it's browser window at the top you can see the file name after 'Downloads' so it's in the Downloads directory. Click in the browser window where it says Downloads and you'll see all your downloaded files and the Rocky game should be highlighted. On the far left margin are directory/folder locations so left click the Rocky folder and while holding the click down drag the Rocky game to the top directory 'Desktop' and let go and it will now be on your Desktop.

An online emulator is avaiable at the next link but I have trouble controlling the characters with it...

Online Emulator

To download the emulator instead to play the game watch the tutorial...

Download Emulator Tutorial

• NOTE* to open the game the tutorial steps are for the wrong type of file so watch the tutorial but also at least read the instructions with * below, if you're computer savvy you can skip a lot of the instructions below. The tutorial provides the link for the free Commodore 64 emulator which is...

Download Emulator

...there may be a delay as the website loads and might even have to back out then go back into page, then scroll down and click the underlined fine print that says 'Alternative download link', it opens a new window and after 15 seconds of ads you'll see the button 'Download Your File' and click it. Using the same method as moving the Rocky game file, move the WinVICE emulator to the Desktop directory so the same as the Rocky game. Then after drag and drop, left click the Desktop to see all the files and folders in that directory including both the Rocky game and the WinVICE emulator. Right click the zipped Rocky game and select 'Extract all', in the new window at the bottom click the button Extract and it will copy an unzipped version of the Rocky game folder, then back in the directory you can then delete the zipped file which will have the same name but end in .zip, then follow the same steps for the WinVICE emulator. Follow the tutorial opening the unzipped WinVICE folder, make a 'roms' folder, in the Rocky game folder right click and drag and drop a copy of the t64 file into roms, in the WinVICE folder double click x64 to open the Commodore emulator window (pc screen may go black a couple times), the menu options at the top of the emulator window click Settings, select 'Joystick settings', change joystick in port 1 & 2 to Keyset A & B, don't advise selecting 'Config Keyset' buttons to change settings.

• Recommend at this point to select Options and click 'Double size' (don't use 'full screen' yet until comfortable). The video tutorial has you select a d64 program but Rocky game only has t64 so select that but when the tutorial tells you to select File then select 'attache disk image' don't because it won't have access to the file and instead select File then 'autostart disk/tape image', Autostart window make sure 'Look in' window has roms folder, 'Files fo type' select window drop down and select 'All files', then double click Rocky t64 file. It takes half a minute to start and the emulator screen will scramble and stuff.

Spacebar to end the Jack Alien/Remember Proudly Presents screen. For the next screen 'The Rocky Horror Show +7' for standard game play repeatedly press N (no) to cycle through all the questions/options but if you want the game super easy repeatedly press Y (yes) instead. Spacebar ends 'Enter At Your Own Risk' screen. The qwerty board controls are the 'J' key selects Janet, 'B' selects Brad. A is up, Z down, N left, M right, Spacebar to pick up items, M to stop the end title screen, although the end credits have some lame name jokes I think, I don't know, media company names are so confusing. Also I'm told if you wait till the game times out you'll see the castle launch off for Transexual Transylvania. Aaaaand you might want to mute the looping Time Warp chiptune. In options if select 'full screen' will lose menu options so to get out of emulator screen use keyboard Esc or key with windows icon next to alt key, to end full screen after you Esc then in the bottom toolbar you have right click the VICE emulator, 'close window' (computer screen might blink black a couple times), then reopen like before.

Game objective is collect the tiles of the DeMedusa machine and put them on the flashing screen behind the curtain on the stage to free your partner. You can only carry one tile and a key at a time. If you loose your clothes you first have to get them back before you can pick up anything else. You have to assemble the DeMedusa machine before the thermometer temp gets too high where Eddie then thaws and runs you over with his motorcycle. You can reset the thermometer in the freezer room.

fwiw above I provided the direct game download link but the page the game is available on is...

Game's Webpage

...beware there are many ads that look like download options, scroll down to the heading Commodore 64 Version and beneath that is a button that says 'Download 36k' with a UK flag and click it or use this link and download directly...

Also the t64/d64 instruction were at this link...

t64/d64 Discussion Thread

What game play looks like watch this video

Game Play Sample Video