Neo Klosterman, senior theatre performance major and director of this year’s annual shadowcast of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” wanted this performance to reflect the resistance involved in the act of queer joy, the movie being an allegory for queer life in the 70s when it premiered.

With the uncertainty of our current political climate, and the presidential election happening just four days before this year’s performance, Klosterman felt “A lot of uncertainty… We don’t know what it’s [the outcome of the election’s] gonna be or how it’s gonna be received.” 

They continued on to note the gravity this show holds, however. “But that’s why it’s so important that we display and have a moment of levity,” Klosterman said. “A moment of specifically underrepresented peoples expressing joy, and having and allowing a space for the whole university… to share in that.” 

Marcos Alba-Estrada, sophomore musical theatre and entertainment technology major, and stage manager for this shadowcast of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” held similar sentiments. “Depending on how it [the election] goes, [it] could totally alter how impactful this could be for people,” Alba-Estrada said. “Depending on who wins it could be looking at rejoicing. It could be looking at the ending of Rocky… and saying ‘Wow, is this what’s gonna happen to us for the next four years?’”

The movie is turning 49 this year, and the stage production, “The Rocky Horror Show,” is turning 51. Because of the history behind the narrative, the cast and crew spoke heavily on the legacy the show leaves. “If we cast Rocky the same way, it’s not as revolutionary as it used to be,” Klosterman said. “So we’ve been talking about how can we continue a legacy and the idea of what Rocky was intended to be… specifically for the election it’s going to be really interesting.”

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” isn’t just an allegory for queer life, however. Bailey Frasier, sophomore musical theatre major and Janet in this production, mentions the importance of her character’s role in exploring the sexuality of womanhood. “I think it’s so wonderful to see a woman get put into such an open and weird experience,” Frasier said. “And getting to discover her sexuality and the fluidity of that.” 

Frasier noted that women are often made to feel ashamed about their sexuality and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” explores that and shows Janet, who is timid and shy throughout the former half of the movie, coming to understand herself. “I think women, and queer folks especially, are so shamed about sexuality and just sex in general,” Frasier said.

The show holds a grand message of community against the odds, and the CWU community took that to heart. “I think, especially in a time like now, making that community where people are allowed to express themselves, and people are allowed to have fun, and just be openly queer and strange and funky,” Frasier said. “It’s just so cool, and it’s really beautiful.”

The show also holds many opportunities for growth within the cast and crew. Jordin Smith, sophomore film production major and this production’s Frank-N-Furter, spoke on her journey from an ensemble member to a main character in the cast. “The growth has been insane,” Smith said. “Now I’m having a blast in a more advanced way, and it’s so fun and so campy that Bailey [Frasier]’s playing Janet. We were both on the ensemble last year and we both were not expecting this at all.” 

Smith continued to note that she’d like to grow more in her involvement with CWU’s “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” productions. “I would really really like to get into intimacy coordinating,” Smith said. “Next year I’m really thinking about something on the team side.” Frasier also noted her growth between this year’s production and last year’s.

“I was a little scared,” Frasier said. “Because I’ve just never thought I would be given that opportunity [to play Janet], and it was really special and I was really excited. And then I started finding out more people who got in and it was just so exciting that I got to work with people I was already friends with and people who I didn’t know.”

The central theme of community throughout the show was evident in the cast and crew’s comments on their fellow production members. Livi Buck, senior musical theatre major and choreographer for this show, took the time to shout out her fellow dance instructor, assistant choreographer, Brigid Garrett. “She was a really great collaborator and a good teacher,” Buck said. “The cast really picked up what she was teaching them, and she’s really good at making dances look clean.”

The choreography of the show is integral to its success. According to Buck, she and Garrett would have days where they would spend “Six hours in the studio just finishing most of the choreography in one day,” Buck said. But, according to Buck, the cast has been doing a stellar job of keeping pace with the quick timing of the show. 

“This weekend… it was our last rehearsal,” Buck said. “We did a run-through and probably ten minutes in, I look at Neo [Klosterman], and I was like ‘They’re so good. Like, I’m gonna cry.’” Buck continued this sentiment praising the cast. “We chose them, and they worked so hard,” Buck said. “Every day there’s been moments with the cast of like ‘Oh my gosh. I love you guys so much.’”