Venice Theatre does the time warp again, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show opens Feb. 26, 2016

Venice Theatre’s final Cabaret of the 2015-2016 Season is the return of the wildly popular cult classic Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show. This campy, crazy, rock and roll tribute to the classic horror movies of the 1950s opens just in time for college spring break season. The show runs on the Pinkerton Stage Friday Feb. 26 through March 19, 2016, with performances Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. There will also be midnight performances each Saturday (Feb. 27, March 5, 12 and 19). There are no Sunday performances. Tickets are $29 for adults, $15 for students (not recommended for patrons under 16) and are on sale now at the theatre’s box office, online at www.venicestage.com or by phone at 941-488-1115. Prices are subject to change. Discounts are available for parties of 20 or more. The Rocky Horror Show is generously sponsored by Earl Baumruck & Eric Styren.

Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show, which ran in London for three years and twice on Broadway, is best known for its 1975 movie adaptation which still thrills its legions of devoted fans across the globe, who dress up to participate in weekly midnight rituals. The participation includes props, singing and dancing along, and shouting out lines at the screen or stage. It is quite a sight to see flocks of people dressed as Frank ‘N’ Furter, Riff Raff, Magenta, and other characters made famous by the success of the movie and stage versions of “Rocky.”

Allan Kollar, Venice Theatre’s producing director and director of The Rocky Horror Show, says that the Venice Theatre production will continue to capture that audience participation feel. “We want the audience to have the total ‘Rocky’ experience while enjoying the live performance of a top-notch cast. We encourage the audience to come in costume and have a blast.”

The plot for The Rocky Horror Show is pulled straight from the 1950s B-movies to which it pays homage. An innocent young couple, Brad and Janet, are caught in the rain with a flat tire and must seek aid at a nearby castle. Once there, they find their world thrown into disarray by the twisted Frank ‘N’ Furter and his band of strange beings from another planet. Will Brad and Janet survive? What evil dwells deep in the castle’s laboratory? And what of Frank’s most unusual creation? For the answers to these and other questions, novices will have to take a walk on the wild side and attend the show.

This incarnation of the production is led once again by Logan O’Neill as that “Sweet Transvestite” Frank ‘N’ Furter. Jason Ellis and Caitlin Longstreet Ellis return as Brad Majors and Janet Weiss. Brian Rudolph will reprise the title role of Rocky for most of the run with Patrick Tancey filling out the gold lame shorts for the final weekend. Amanda Heisey is new to the cast, taking on the dual roles of Trixie and Magenta opposite Nidal Zarour (back on board after a break from performing the role) as Riff Raff. Liz Pascoe is new to the role of the tap dancing Columbia and David Walker returns as Eddie/Dr. Scott. Daniel Greene (new to the role, but a veteran of the theatre) narrates the show as the Criminologist. Richard O’Brien’s rock and roll score will be musically directed by Booker High School whiz kid, Eli Schildkraut.

NOTE: This production contains strong language, sexual situations, and loud music and is not recommended for the faint of heart, those easily offended by anything or patrons younger than 16 years of age. The theatre is located at 140 W. Tampa Ave. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays; and one hour before all performances.

###