The groundbreaking cult musical and beloved glam rock tribute to B-horror films, The Rocky Horror Show is coming to Berwyn’s Footlighters Theater this month, bringing with it some of the most iconic characters in musical theatre history: squares Brad and Janet, mad scientist Dr. Frank N. Furter, his “monster,” and, of course, a swath of drive-in usherettes and creepy sidekicks.
“Rocky Horror” is known by many as a type of cult, drawing huge crowds for a memorable, interactive film ... view more »
The groundbreaking cult musical and beloved glam rock tribute to B-horror films, The Rocky Horror Show is coming to Berwyn’s Footlighters Theater this month, bringing with it some of the most iconic characters in musical theatre history: squares Brad and Janet, mad scientist Dr. Frank N. Furter, his “monster,” and, of course, a swath of drive-in usherettes and creepy sidekicks.
“Rocky Horror” is known by many as a type of cult, drawing huge crowds for a memorable, interactive film production. But before there was the Susan Saranden/Barry Bostwick/Tim Curry 1975 movie, the fun began with the 1973 staged musical, The Rocky Horror Show!
A humorous tribute to the science fiction and B horror movies of the 1930s to ‘60s, the show had humble beginnings. As an out-of-work actor in London in the early 1970s, Richard O’Brien wrote The Rocky Horror Show to keep himself busy on winter evenings; that activity changed his life. The iconic musical tells the story of a newly engaged couple, caught in a storm and arriving at the home of a mad transvestite scientist, Dr. Frank-N-Furter, unveiling his new creation, Rocky, a sort of Frankenstein-style monster in the form of an artificially made, fully grown, physically perfect, muscle man. In a stroke of genius, actor Tim Curry decided that the mad doctor should not just be a queen, but he should speak like the Queen of England, extravagantly posh but overly campy. Premiering in London in June 1973, it was a creative triumph and subsequently a critical and commercial success.
The following year the musical debuted in the US and the catchy “Time Warp” song quickly became a national sensation. In 1975, the musical was adapted into the 1975 film The Rocky Horror Picture Show, again starring Tim Curry as the mad scientist which moved the production fully into Cult Status. Both the staged musical and the film are now noted for long-running traditions of audience participation through call-back lines, attending dressed up as show characters and an assortment of flying props.
Berwyn’s 96-year young Footlighters Theater has been on the musical’s waitlist for a decade, so are thrilled to bring “Rocky” to life on Philadelphia’s MainLine, October 20th to the 29th, with performances at 7:00 and 11:00pm and one Sunday matinee. Tickets are going fast, so get them while you can and make sure you come early to experience the preshow, snag a prop bag and grab some concessions!
A visit to www.FootlightersTheater.com will open the door to your ticket through the Time Warp back to 1975! Follow the continual fun on Footlighters’ Facebook page as well!
View less
