A long line of excited, chattering people gathered along Union Street, dressed to the nines, laughing and complimenting one another. It was hard to miss the leather, colorful makeup and ripped tights, and curious onlookers couldn’t help but ask what the occasion was: the iconic “Rocky Horror Picture Show” had returned to Athens.
The Lost Flamingo Theater company brought their shadow cast to the Union Bar and Grill from Wednesday through Saturday. The crowd included first-time show-goers, referred to as “Rocky virgins,” and long-time fans, both of whom anticipated the night of thrilling entertainment.
The “Rocky Horror Picture Show” was released in 1975, starring Tim Curry, based on the 1973 musical by Richard O’Brien. The show follows a newly engaged prissy couple, Brad and Janet, as they seek help “over at the Frankenstein place” when their car breaks down. They meet Dr. Frank N’ Furter, a mad scientist who succeeds in creating a muscular man, Rocky himself.
Anna Martin, a junior studying hearing, speech and language sciences, was the director of this year’s Rocky. 2025 marked Rocky’s fiftieth anniversary and LFC’s twenty-second year performing the show at the Union.
Previously a stage manager, Martin said after first seeing the show her freshman year, she was immediately hooked.
“I'd never seen Rocky before, until I got the role, and so I sat down and watched the movie, and was in utter shock,” Martin said. “Nobody liked the film when it first came out, and then now it has become such a big part of the culture for everybody."
LFC welcomed cast members in new roles this year: Evan Green as Dr. Frank N’ Furter, Elle Mitsch as Columbia, Matt Feitt as Dr. Scott and Max Mingay as the Criminologist. Martin said rehearsals started at the beginning of September.
Peyton Smith, a junior studying marketing and strategic leadership and management, has been in the ensemble, or “Whorus,” for two years.
Smith said the audience participation brought attendees together, and they enjoyed the call-outs during the song “Rose Tint My World.”
“There's just something about specifically doing Rocky Horror that's different from any other show I've done, mainly just because of the atmosphere and the environment,” Smith said.
Smith said before the show, cast members could be heard lip-syncing popular songs by Sabrina Carpenter and Ginuwine. The Virgin Games commenced soon after, which involved the cast members pulling Rocky virgins to the stage to compete in challenges, including a twerk off.
The original Rocky Horror was projected behind the actors on stage, as is customary in a shadow cast production. Each cast member strived to embody their role and bring the energy. To say the crowd was entertained with both the “whoreography” and dedicated acting is an understatement.
Attendees only add to the expressive and close-knit Rocky community. Trent Hoge, an Ohio University alum pursuing a master’s in public administration, said their Rocky obsession started at 14 years old.
Hoge said they created a shadow cast for Rocky shortly after the pandemic. They also performed in Rocky multiple times as Columbia, Janet and Dr. Frank.
“Frank is this person who in a world, especially at the time where people said you cannot be queer, you cannot have any power, you cannot have any agency ... was allowed to be complicated and angry and take power back, even if it was in a violent and morally reprehensible way,” Hoge said.
