“This one goes out to Tim”: Behind Creatures of the Night’s quarterly production of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”

Creatures of the Night’s annual production of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at UC Santa Barbara returns Friday, Oct. 16., with a new shadow cast and features a tribute to Tim Curry — who starred in the iconic 1975 film adaptation — an addition that follows the news of his passing in August. 

Third-year writing and literature major Hadley Simmons and third-year psychological & brain sciences major Shai Molendyk — the production company’s co-presidents for the year — are directing this quarter’s show and will take a more traditional approach to the cult classic for this Halloween season. According to the pair, the quarterly production of the show has been a UCSB “tradition” since at least the 1980s.

“‘The Rocky Horror [Picture Show]’ originally came out in 1975, and it was a box office flop, and no one really liked it,” Simmons said. The original film developed a cult-like fanbase, which led to shadow casts acting out the movie scenes as it played.

For Creatures of the Night, the film’s long history at UCSB makes this quarter’s production especially meaningful. Following the news of Curry’s passing, the club is using this year’s performance to celebrate his legacy.

“This is going to be the Tim Curry tribute show,” Simmons said. “We’re gonna do it the way Tim would have wanted … This one goes out to Tim!” 

The tribute takes center stage through fourth-year mathematics major Eden Sylvester, who will portray Curry’s iconic character, Dr. Frank-N-Furter. For Sylvester, the role has been an opportunity to embrace the character’s unique personality.

“Frank, he’s everything,” she said. “So big, loud, commanding and so sexual … I love it, he’s perfect!” 

Simmons expressed their appreciation for Sylvester and her portrayal of the character. 

“[Sylvester] is pretty much Tim Curry reincarnated,” they said. “[The audience] is going to have a really special performance of Tim Curry from her.” 

Sylvester shared what it’s been like trying to prepare for the role and replicate Curry’s iconic expressions. 

“His faces are amazing!” she said. “I hold up my mirror and work on my faces to try to match his and do my own as well.”

For Sylvester, playing Frank-N-Furter has been a way of honoring Curry’s legacy. “He saw the project through so many years and shaped it as much as the director and writer Richard O’Brien,” she said. “I hope he is looking down from Transsexual, Transylvania through the little operated camera and having a hell of a time.”

During their rehearsals, Sylvester animatedly portrayed Frank-N-Furter’s reaction when revealing his creation of Rocky in “The Sword of Damocles,” showing Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s love for the creature. 

“I’m so excited for ‘The Sword of Damocles,’” Evan Griffith, a fourth-year philosophy major who is playing Brad, said. “The unveiling of Rocky is so insanely camp!”

Simmons also revealed one the most anticipated elements for the upcoming show. 

“We’re doing a human chair this year, which is when Frank-N-Furter sits down at the first chorus of ‘Sweet Transvestite,’” they said. “It’s going to be a great shot.” 

The number is also a highlight for Mia Bento, a fourth-year environmental studies major who is playing Rocky. 

“That’s my favorite part of the whole show, and Eden just kills it every time,” she said.

Griffith also expressed his appreciation for Sylvester and the dynamic his character has with Frank-N-Furter. 

“It’s really great working with the cast,” he said. “Eden as Frank[-N-Furter] is really fun because Brad is so insecure, and it’s so fun to play off of [her] and everyone.”

While Frank-N-Furter commands the spotlight, the Transylvanians will bring “Sweet Transvestite” to life. Third-year film and media studies major Solei Corazon explained how it has been to be a part of these group scenes. 

“My favorite part about being a Transylvanian is that it is a group thing,” she said. “I don’t have to get too nervous being my own character and just get to build off each other’s energy.”

Yumalai Duran, second-year sociology student who will portray Magenta, explained that her favorite part about her role is “just goofing around when no one is looking at [her and Riff Raff.]”

Nick Ferrara, second-year film and media studies and art double major who is portraying Riff Raff, spoke about his love of the song “The Time Warp.”

“[‘The Time Warp’] is such a classic and people love it,” he said. “The dance is so simple that even if you haven’t seen the movie before and you’re in the audience you can [follow the directions in the song.]”

Stella Kirby, a first-year biology major, expressed how much fun she has with her character Columbia, who she feels “similar to.”

“She’s energetic, and I’m energetic. I love that I get to just be myself but really amp it up,” Kirby said.

The energy of the performance expands beyond the performers. Simmons encouraged audiences to participate in the show’s interactive nature.

“Going to Rocky Horror [Picture Show] is a collective experience, whether you’re in the audience or on stage you are basically in the show,” they said. 

Simmons also explained the culture of callouts during the show. Callouts are when audience members playfully yell things at characters that relate to the scene that is playing. 

“We have a giant Google Doc of all of the callouts that are known and have been used in the past,” they said. “And the really fun thing is that you can yell anything at the screen and make it your own special callout!”

Sylvester said that she is excited to hear new callouts.

“My dream is to hear an audience member shout out a callout I’ve never heard before!”

During rehearsals, the cast members and co-presidents practiced familiar callouts, shooting them at specific moments of the film. One in particular was directed toward Rocky, saying “if you’re happy and you know it, bang your bars!” By using this callout the audience can poke fun at Rocky’s superficial character when he bangs his hands on bars.

Chiara McKay, second-year political science major at Santa Barbara City College, is playing Janet and shared how excited she is for audiences to see her character. 

“Janet gets to do everything,” she said, explaining how Janet has two distinctly different sides of her character. “I’m really excited for ‘Touch-A-Touch-A-Touch-A-Touch Me’ because that is such a big moment for Janet and I am excited to do it in front of [an audience.]”

Viewers can also look forward to other interactive aspects of the show besides just callouts. Corazon said that before the show even begins, the audience will be able to interact with characters. 

“[The Transylvanians] are going to interact with the audience when they come into the house,” she said. “There’s also a part where we dance in the aisles and I think that’s going to be very fun!”

Additionally, during most songs, cast members will run up and down the aisles, giving audiences a closer look at Sylvester’s impressive facial expressions.

The club’s tribute to Curry is part of a broader tradition sustained by the people who contribute to “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” shadow cast. Molendyk said that students that are interested in participating in the cast and crew for future productions can join no matter their previous experience.

“We welcome every single person that wants to be a part of it, even to just be a part of our crew,” she said. “We host open auditions at the beginning of each quarter.” 

In fact, Griffith had never done theater prior to joining the Creature of the Nights’ production.

“I had never been a theater kid at all,” he said. “I was super shy in that regard. But, I [just] let my inner theater kid out.”

Students can find more information about the upcoming production and future shows on Instagram @rockyhorrorucsb.

This article appeared in the Oct. 15 print edition of the Daily Nexus.