The Rocky Horror Show

Theatre Workshop present

T h Te h e

By Richard O'Brien

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW

BY RICHARD O’BRIEN

Jennifer DeDominici, Director Daniel Brink, Music Director Will Burglechner ’23, Creative Producer

Friday, October 28, 2022 at 8 pm Saturday, October 29, 2022 at 3 pm Saturday, October 29, 2022 at 8 pm Sunday, October 30, 2022 at 8 pm

Taylor Theatre Colorado College

The Rocky Horror Show is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com

From Jennifer DeDominici:

When Will Burglechner ’23 informed me last spring that he’d like to produce the show in the fall of ’22 through Student Theatre Workshop here at Colorado College, I foresaw a few problems: one, the fall is when I’d normally be directing the Music Department Musical; two, it would be difficult to compete with Rocky Horror for getting student interest and involvement; three, a lot of my graduating seniors would most certainly be involved in producing the Theatre Workshop show, so I wouldn’t get to work on a musical with them before they graduated. Out of a potential conflict, a beautiful idea was born. Will and I inquired of our respective authorities and got permission for a first-time collaboration between the Music Department and Student Theatre Workshop!

In my younger days, my association with The Rocky Horror Show was mostly via my “crazier” theater friends and via the movie version, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I thought of it as a campy romp of a show, full of irreverence, questionable continuity, and off-color humor. Now that I’ve been working with the material for several months, I think I was essentially correct in my impression :). However, there are elements in this piece that have surprised me and reminded me of the value of art. Within this hilarious, fun, edgy piece of musical theater are messages of queer positivity, gender fluidity, acceptance, and awakening.

We are reminded that people or characters who do “bad” things can still be sympathetic and essentially “good.” We are tossed solidly into the gray area of a world that often seems black-and-white. We are given a great example that we don’t need to agree with, love, or condone everything that occurs within a work of art for it to BE art – if the piece causes us to think, to talk, to reevaluate our world, and to connect with each other, it has served a great purpose. And if, as in this case, it is also a really fun time, that is a fantastic bonus! It has been an honor to watch and guide this cast and crew of motivated students through the gigantic task of putting together a full musical theater production. I am in awe of their talent, resourcefulness, and ability.

From Will Burglechner ’23:

I have wanted to do a production of Rocky Horror since my first year in 2019. COVID made that pretty difficult, but I’m so glad that we’re here and this production is actually happening and you all are actually here watching this!

What I love about Rocky Horror is how it flips so many stereotypes on their heads. Horror media is rooted in our fears of the “other.” From horror classics like The Silence of the Lambs to the recent Jefferey Dahmer Netflix show (ugh), to me it sometimes seems like Queerness and horror are inextricably tied to each other. Rocky Horror leans into the horror of Queerness and tries to turn these problematic tropes into an empowering moment for Queer people. Whether or not it’s successful is a little more complicated. I’ve loved Rocky for a long time. I associate it with the development of my identity as a Queer person and as an artist. This process has forced me to reckon with a lot of the frustrating content that Rocky has. Because, the truth is, there are two Rocky Horrors. There’s the Rocky Horror that fans know and love – the one that celebrates Queerness and free love. This Rocky has been taken by the fandom and turned into a place to celebrate sexual liberty and pleasure for all, but especially Queer youth. And there’s the Rocky Horror that’s on the page, the one we legally aren’t allowed to change. This Rocky Horror is truly a product of its time and the way we understand trans identity and consent is not accurately reflected in this show. We know that the behavior and language used in Rocky Horror are not acceptable in to day’s world. But there’s still something so special and important about this show. Because it’s so campy, wild, and (literally) out-of-this-world, I don’t think we have to take all the content at face value. Plus, Rocky gives gender non-conforming people a unique feeling of empowerment in the musical theatre world. While theoretically considered a place of acceptance and celebration for Queer people, when it comes to on-stage representation, the musical theatre world is incredibly behind. I can really only think of around five musicals that have decent trans representation in them, next to none of which are rock shows that speak to such a wide audience. Rocky Horror has had such a special role in my life because it was one of the only places where I saw all the things I love combined. I could sing and dance and have fun on stage while telling a meaningful story about sexual discovery and Queer celebration.

I hope you think critically about the content of this show. I hope you leave feeling a sense of liberation. But really all I care about is that you have fun :)

Ai Ke Woods ’23 ............................................

Phantom/Eddie & Riff Understudy (Music, Computer Science & Theater Minor)

Ava Piebenga ’25 ........................................................................................ Phantom (Undeclared)

Bryn Daney ’24 ................................................................................................... Raff (Philosophy)

Caeleigh O’Connor ’23 ......................

Narrator/Janet & Columbia Understudy (Theatre and Classics)

Cedar Bennett ’23 ...................................................................................... Phantom (Sociology & Psychology)

Clara Matlack ’24

Eddie/Dr. Scott Understudy (Russian & Eurasian Studies and Music minor)

Colleen Campbell ’23 ................. Phantom/Narrator & Usherette Understudy (Education and REMS)

Holly Wenger ’23 .............................................................................................. Janet (Theatre & Music and Performance Design minor)

Hunter Merriman ’23 ................................................ Dr. Scott/Brad Understudy (Music)

Imani Allen ’23 ........................................................................................... Phantom (Romance Languages, Linguistics & Japanese Minor)

Isabel DeVito ’24 .....................................................

Magenta/Frank Understudy (OBE)

Isabella Huelsbeck ’23 .............................................................................. Phantom (OBE Pre-Vet)

Jacob Lynn-Palevsky ’23 .................................................................................... Riff (Organismal Biology and Ecology)

Kiara Butts ’23 .......................................................................................... Columbia (Psychology & Theater)

Kylee Gosney ’26 ........................................................................................ Phantom (Undeclared)

Madison Dillon ’23 .................................................................................... Usherette (Dance and Performance Design)

Maizie Newman ’23 ..........................................

Phantom/Magenta Understudy (Political Science & Journalism minor)

Max Saliman ’23 ................................................................................................ Brad (Political Science)

Nicholas Gordon ’25 ...................................................

Phantom/Raff Understudy (Anthopology)

Owen Rask ’24 ................................................................................................. Rocky (Economics Major; Political Science and Mathematics Minor)

Rachel Phillips ’26 .................................................................................... Phantom ( Undeclared)

Sadie Almgren ’26 ..................................................................................... Phantom (Undeclared)

Will Burglechner ’23 .................................................................................. Frank’N (Sociology and Theater)

A Production of the Colorado College Music Department and Student Theatre Workshop

Isabel Hebenstreit ’24 ....................................................................

Choreographer (Religion/Pre-Med)

Jennifer DeDominici ...............................

Director and Principal Voice Instructor Daniel Brink ........................ Music Director and Lecturer, Department of Music

Daniel Wu ’25 .............................................................................. Costume Designer (Undeclared)

Alex Campbell ................................................................................. Intimacy Coach

Audrey Zeichick ’23 ......................................................................... Stage Manager (IPE and Spanish Minor)

Galy Berthon ’26 .............................................................

Assistant Stage Manager/ (Undeclared) Front of House Coordinator/Props Master

Madison Dillon ’23 ................................ Production Manager/Master Electrician (Dance and Performance Design)

Fiona Ireland ’25 ........................................................................ Technical Director (History)

Caeleigh O’Connor ’23 ................................................... Set Designer/Dramaturg (Theater and Classics)

Beth Thompson ’26 ................................................................... Lighting Designer (Undeclared)

Lily Zhao ’24 .................................................................................... Sound Designer (Music)

Stecy Mwachia ’26 .............................................................................. Props Master (Undeclared)

Grace Witulski ’25 ........................................................... Hair & Makeup Designer (Undeclared)

Elijah Bond ’26 ....................................................................................... Stage Hand (Undeclared)

Sydney Lau ’23 ........................................................................................ Stage Hand (Sociology)

Kylee Gosney ’26 ............................................................................... Dance Captain (Undeclared)

Marilyn Tokarek ’24 ................................................................................... Muralist (Art: Art Studio)

Gabriela Damacela ...................................................................................... Muralist (Art: Art Studio)

BAND

Bella Takacs ’25 ......................................................................................

Saxophone (Undeclared)

Ethan Gould ’24 .................................................................................................. Bass (Music Education)

Portia Ewing ’26 .............................................................................................. Guitar (Undeclared)

Lincoln Grench ’23 ........................................................................................... Synth (Music)

Josh Lieberman ’25 ........................................................................................ Drums (Undeclared)

SPECIAL THANKS TO

Paul Martin ~ Technical Director, Theatre and Dance for his time, technical expertise, and endless patience

Lisa Gregory ~ Music Office Coordinator

Liz Manring ~ Music Office Academic Administrative Assistant

Justin Maike ~ Technical Director, Department of Music

Shane Groothof ~ Music Production Coordinator

Caitlin Lowans ~ Artistic Director of Theatreworks

Ofer Ben-Amots ~ Professor, Co-Chair of the Department of Music

Ryan Bañagale ~ Associate Professor, Co-Chair of the Department of Music

Susan Grace ~ Senior Lecturer/Artist-in-Residence

Associate Chair, Department of Music

Ann Brink ~ Vocal Instructor, Department of Music

Steph Brink ~ Vocal Instructor, Department of Music

Jonathan Hays ~ Vocal Instructor, Department of Music

Martile Rowland ~ Artist-in-Residence, Department of Music

Lisa Marie Rollins ~ Assistant Professor, Theatre & Dance for consultation

Patrizia Herminjard ~ Lecturer in Dance, Theatre & Dance for helping to coordinate dressing rooms

Jan Avramov ~ Costume Shop Supervisor, Theatre & Dance

Amy Hill ~ Director of Campus Activities and Student Orientation

Allis Werkmeister ~ Campus Activities Specialist

Tempestt Higgins ~ Office of Student Life for purchasing every lighting, set, and costume piece

Holly Wenger ’23 ~ Student for platform design and construction

WARNING OF POTENTIAL TRIGGERS

This material includes foul language and content that touches on: Rape, Abuse, Excessive or gratuitous violence, Death or dying, Blood, Transphobia

This production contains: Strobe lighting effects, Sudden loud noises, Theatrical fog/haze

This show also touches on content that may be especially troubling given recent campus events. We understand if you need to step out or leave at any point during the show.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

Please feel free to join us in some audience participation opportunities during the show. For those of you who are Rocky Horror Veterans, you will know what we are talking about. For those of you who are new to this piece, there is a tradition of audience call-outs - responses that both interrupt and comedically enhance the script of the show. We are including some of the more traditional call-outs here. If you have some creative call-outs of your own, feel free to participate at your comfort level!

Every time you hear: the name Brad Majors: Say, “Asshole.” the name Janet Weiss: Say, “Booo.” Janet say, “Besides darling, the owner of that phone might be a beautiful woman”: Say, “He is!” The name Dr. Scott: Say, “Beam me up, Scottie!” The name Eddie: Say, “Shhhh!” If you have donated to receive a bag of audience participation props, our phantoms will guide you throughout the show to help you know when to use your props. Have an amazing time!