In 1975, the film The Rocky Horror Picture Show hit screens around the world, and since its premiere in London England, the sexy sci-fi cult musical has taken the world by storm. It’s about Brad and Janet, two seemingly innocent young adults, who get engaged and head off to announce the news to an old friend. On the way, their car gets a flat tire and they go to a nearby castle for help. Little do they know what awaits them.
The lesser known fact is that the highly criticized play The Rocky Horror Show started back in 1973 with just under 3000 performances all over England making its debut on Broadway in 1975. Thanks to a new theatre company, the Odd-Lot Theatre Co., Edmonton is able to bring back the old-school version with a new take.
The Odd-Lot Theatre Co is a group of young emerging artists who focus on presenting wild, outrageous and unique theatrical experiences. Their main goal is to break down the boundaries that divide a theatre performance and rock concert, and help create more opportunities for other such youth theatre artists. Originally hailing from Fort McMurray, the Odd-Lots won the best of festival award at the 2007 Interplay festival for their original puppet show Touch.
The Odd-Lot Theatre Co. states, “…the script is transformed from standard musical to an energiz¬ing, exciting rock concert. The goal of such a stylistic switch is to re-energize the sexiness of Rocky Horror, which has become muffled by all the camp over the years, without making too radical a reinvention in the show. Some may be surprised with this interpretation...But, like always, The Rocky Horror Show will be a wild, outrageously, sexy rock-musical.”
With the opening date growing closer and closer, everyone is excited to see how this group of artists is going to amp-up the original screen play.
This classic turned sexy rock-musical is directed by Brendan Boyd with Music Direction by Tyler Collins. It stars local actors such as Antonio Bavaro as Frank N’ Furter, Jess Wood as Janet, Matthew Lindholm as Brad, Evan Johnston as Rocky, Lindsey Walker as Columbia, Dylan Caddy as Riff Raff, Joleen Ballendine as Magenta, Darlene Arseneault as the Narrator, Brendan Halama as Dr. Scott, Nina Hladio as Eddy, and also features Bonnie Ings & Ryan Mackenzie.
The Rocky Horror Show will run from Wednesday, March 25th to Friday, April 3rd, Tuesdays through Sundays, at the Catalyst Theatre. All shows will be at 8pm except for the Sunday Matinee at 3pm, where the audience is invited to participate by dressing up and shouting out!
Tickets are $10 for students or seniors and $15 for the general public, and are available at the door one hour prior to performance, or at tix on the square.
This is leading up to be an exciting event as the Odd-Lot’s first Edmonton project. Thanks to the local-star cast, the hype only continues to build. Come out to show your support and enjoy the wonderful show put on by members of our own community!
