The Rocky Horror Picture Show brings in a huge audience

By Courtney Elisech 

BAY CITY – On October 29, the Rocky Horror Picture Show was more than a performance; it was a whole experience from when guests entered the door. This year’s final show for the shadow cast, the Transylvania Twists, ended with thunderous applause and laughter!

The Transylvania Twists is the group name for the shadow cast that performed the live-action show held at the Historic Masonic Temple in Bay City. They are part of the Temple’s Vanishing Elephants theatre group. About 600 people visited to be a part of the Rocky experience this year.

A shadow cast is a show where the movie is playing, and a live reenactment of it is happening by the artists. In this case, the Transylvania Twists shadow cast acted the film out in front of the screen showing the movie with props, dances, and costumes that matched on screen.

The movie had captions that made it easy for the audience to sing along and know the words. The action and singing were spot-on with the show. Their portrayal was terrific.

Scarlett Cunningham played the role of Janet Weiss, whom she described as the character everyone loves to hate, the heroin, or most commonly known as the slut. Cunningham has been in the show since it began in 2019 and has played Janet every year. She loves being a part of the show and the energy that the audience brings with them.

“It’s an honor working with everyone. Everyone is so accepting and makes you feel so welcome,” Cunningham said. “I hope everyone feels as accepted when they come.”

She said the director often makes the costumes of the show. They purchase base items and add personalization to them. The cast has to change costumes in a small office in the back of the theater. Cunningham starts the show with layers on and peels them away as the show goes on. 

Harlan Drexel has also been part of the show since 2019 and played Brad Majors this show.

“Oh God, we just love Rocky so much,” said Drexel when asked what his favorite part of the show is. “Like, Rocky is super important to us and also like super important to the queer community too. We love getting together and doing it.”

The love the cast has for each other is easy to see. The joy on their face makes it clear how happy they are to be together and perform the show.

“We put so much work into this show every year,” Drexel said. “It’s a great fundraiser for the Temple. Please give us money, I kid, but please give us money.”

Drexel, along with many other cast members, described what the show means to him emotionally. “Freedom, expression of self, of friendship,” he said. “I love this show. We all love coming together every year. You know, it is just it’s really special. A lot of us hold it really close to our hearts.”

Meesh McElroy played the famous star Rocky. This is the second year they have played Rocky, and they absolutely love it.

“I’ve never had so much self-confidence as when they rip the wraps off as Rocky,” McElroy said. They will be back as Rocky for next year’s show before switching to a new role. “The show means a lot to me. It helped me build my chosen family here in Bay City, gives me confidence every year, and feels like home.” 

First-year cast member Brightyn Henika played a Transylvanian in the show. He shared that his favorite part of being on the show is in a cast full of supportive and hype people. As well as the audience and the way they interact throughout the show. Being in the show takes it to a whole new level. To him, the show means freedom and just being able to be yourself. And to be confident and vulnerable.

“I grew up as kind of a weird, queer kid in a small area,” director Erica Tatum shared why the show means so much to her. “One of the few times that I got to really be myself was when my friends and I, Dave and Harlan, we would travel away from our home and go see Rocky.”

While most of the cast is from around Bay City, one member comes from Detroit to be a part of the magic that is the Rocky Horror Picture Show. That person is first-year Tiffany Sullivan, who has wanted to be in a live show since she was thirteen, and this was a dream come true. She played a Transylvanian. To Sullivan, the show means acceptance and nonjudgment.

The show must go on! Even during Covid-19 restrictions, the cast put on a great show. With limited seating topping off at 50 and socially distanced, face masks that matched the costumes, and giant Mickey hands and pool noodles used during the intimate scenes.

“Virgin or veteran?” was the question that greeted everyone as they walked in. If this was the first time someone came to a live show, they were marked as a virgin and given a kiss on the forehead. That kiss was a sticker and proudly showed they were ready for a night of firsts.  

The show began with the director on stage starting the costume contest. Eighteen people decked out from head to toe as characters from the movie stood up to partake. Because the turnout for the contest was so large, the group was split in two. The audience cheered for whom they wanted to win.

Group one’s finalists were three people all dressed as the same character, Eddie, and were narrowed down to just one. The second group came down to an Eddie versus a Frank, also known as risqué Eddie and 10-foot Frank, who kept getting taller with each mention. The winner of the contest and a signed photo of the cast was Frank, who was now called 50-foot Frank,

Following the contest was an opportunity for the shows virgins to volunteer for a game of tossing a ring on a unicorn. This game had members of the cast kneeling with “horns” attached to their heads while the volunteer virgins tossed rings at them.

Most of the volunteers for the game also participated in the costume contest. The winner was named Conner, who celebrated their win with a small dance and hugged the cast member he worked with.

Next up was to say the pledge repeat after me style.

“Right hand raised, left hand on crotch,” Tatum began. “Repeat after me. I, state your name, swear often and loudly. To strike a blow. For glamour and frivolity, for 6-inch heals, for rock and roll, and for the Transylvania Way. Suck my dick. Thanks, and enjoy the show.”

Every audience member was given a prop bag since it was a special Halloween showing. The cast was wearing unique costumes as well in lieu of Halloween.

Everything that was needed to interact with the show was in the bag, including instructions on when and how to use the props. Tabitha Vargo played Trixie and walked across the stage with a giant sign indicating what props the audience should use next.

Everyone in the audience knew the words and lines in the show and had a grand time yelling them out. Props were used excitedly to interact as the audience sang along to every song. The audience had a great time. They got to be loud, obnoxious, happy, sad, and yell curse words, and it was all accepted and so fun.

Two audience members, Veronica and April, had a great time at the show and said they would definitely be back next year. Veronica was a virgin in the show and chose Janet as her favorite character. She also said she enjoyed listening to everyone in the audience screaming things throughout the play and throwing things. For April, her favorite part of the show is always when Janet and Rocket are getting down.

Every prop was carefully thought out, from confetti poppers for when Frank takes Rocky to the bridal sweet to a piece of actual toast to throw when Frank proposes a toast. One change made to the prop list was replacing rice with paper confetti. This was to prevent the rice from living in the theatre for years. Tatum joked that they are still pulling rice out from their first showing in 2019.

Full rolls of toilet paper launched across the room, glow sticks waved in the air, and gloves were snapping left and right.

The hallway that leads into the theatre where the show was held was a flurry of activity. You could stop for a photo at the booth set up, grab a tasty Rocky-themed drink or a snack, enter a raffle, and purchase a shirt, pin, or keychain with the custom Transylvania Twists logo made by cast member Harlan Drexel.

Great Lakes Bay Health also set up a booth with a volunteer passing out bags of goodies. Included were candy, condoms, lip moisturizer, and a card with information for help with HIV.

Free HIV testing kits were available and can be accessed by calling 989-753-9011. That is the phone number for the Heath Home at 732 Hoyt Avenue, Saginaw, Mich. 48607.

The Masonic Temple was a perfect setting for the show. An older building that had history and character to add to the performance. The theatre was a beautiful area that worked seamlessly with the characters as they ran around the room during different acts.

The show was a true example of pure happiness from the actors being themselves, being able to show out and have the most fun being queer, and being wild, with no judgment. The audience was energetic and enthusiastic from the start, wanting to interact with the cast and show as much as possible.

“Whether you’ve seen it 100 times in theaters or whether this is your first time and you’re a Rocky virgin,” Tatum said. “I think our cast has something for everybody.”

Members of the cast had messages for the community that varied from thankful, to a plug for next year’s show, to expressions of love for their fellow cast.

“If you didn’t get a chance to see Rocky this year, come out next year,” McElroy said. “And keep an eye out for other Vanishing Elephants players’ plays; we have some cool ones.” 

Visit the Vanishing Elephants Facebook page to learn more about upcoming shows.

“Thanks for supporting us. We always appreciate it,” Drexel said. “Thanks for always coming out. Always having a good time, always telling us how much you love coming here. All my castmates, I love them all. They’re such amazing people, and we hope to keep doing it for a lot more years to come.”

Check out video coverage of the event below!