Jack Garrison
associate professor of theatre, 308.865.8409
Rock-n’-roll is making an entrance this October with the University of Nebraska at Kearney stage production of “The Rocky Horror Show.”
Based on the work that was originally written by Richard O’Brien and then later made into a film, “The Rocky Horror Show” is being brought to the UNK stage with a whole new style. There will be special effects, a runway that goes down through the middle of the audience and what’s meant to look like a stage at a rock concert.
UNK Theatre Director Jack Garrison said, “It’s rock-n’-roll, and around here you don’t get a chance to see rock-n’-roll musicals.” The make-up and costumes will be more steam punk, which means mixing styles from the Victorian era, classic goth, and gypsy to create a unique and distorted look. The actors will be wearing platform shoes to go along with their unique costumes.
“The movie is old, the tempo pacing is very slow and has slow intensity. In the play, the actors talk back, and it’s more trendy,” Garrison said. “You don’t change the plot, you change the style for your audience.”
Audience participation is encouraged, and audience members will be given “goody bags” full of objects they will need for the show. Newspapers, toilet paper, whistles, and water guns are among the items that will be included in the bag.
Audience members will also be welcome to dance in the aisles, sing along to the songs, and even come dressed as their favorite Rocky Horror character, according to Garrison.
Garrison said that this is only the second time Nebraska will see this play. It has been 20 years since the last one.
“It’s a real unique experience for anyone who wants to go see it,” Garrison said. The play has been popular across the country, and has been performed in Germany, Japan and France.
Garrison has known about the play for a long time, but it hasn’t always been available to do. According to Garrison, Richard O’Brien originally wrote it for grad school, but his professors didn’t like it. He then swore he would never give the rights to have it re-enacted. Eventually, he did and now it has turned into a phenomenon.
“I have always wanted to do it, and I’m at the point in my career where I have to do it now. I do edgy stuff and that’s what theatre is about to me,” Garrison said.
“The Rocky Horror Show” performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday – Monday, Oct. 26-31, at the Miriam Drake Theatre. Additional showings will be at midnight on Saturday, Oct. 29, and again at 10 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31.
Tickets are $12 each for adults; $9 for non-UNK students, seniors and UNK Faculty/Staff; $7 each for groups of 10 or more; and $3 for UNK students with a valid ID. For reservations, contact the Theatre Box Office at 308.865.8417 or boxoffice@unk.edu.
In addition to Garrison, members of the theatre faculty, staff and artistic team include: Sara Ice, costume designer; Mark Wethington, scenic/lighting designer; Rick Scholwin, sound designer; and Darin Himmerich, technical director.
The cast and crew are listed below, alphabetically by hometown.
Cast
Crawford– Colter Lemmon, Narrator
David City– Megan Buresh, Phantom
Juniata– Addison Heeren, Phantom
Kearney– Daniel Butler, Dr. Scott; Kyle Kuypers, Frank ‘N’ Furter; Natalie Potts Burling, Janet
Lincoln– Jared Flodman, Rocky; Nate Rocke, Phantom; Spencer Wolfe, Phantom
Omaha– Elizabeth Liebermann, Phantom; Kaylie Wilson, Columbia; Madison Hoge, Magenta
O’Neill– Jordan Peterson, Riff Raff; Ryan Charles Lieb, Eddie
Out of State
COLORADO:
Burlington– Cody Milford, Brad
KANSAS:
Manhattan– Carolyn Wirtz, Usherette
Musicians
Arcadia– Robert Roth, vocal director
Grand Island– Andrea Hesterman, synthesizer
Lexington– Joel Montes, percussion
Ravenna– Michael Bohn, bass
Out-of-State
MICHIGAN
Southfield– Anthony Ford, pit band director, tenor sax
INTERNATIONAL:
COLOMBIA
Bogota– Gustavo Rodriguez Barrera, guitar
JAPAN
Gifu– Ririko Ohashi, piano
Stage/Artistic Team
Axtell– Kassandra Wendell, choreographer
Falls City– Kelsey Coolidge, stage manager
Hershey– Deidra Younghans, assistant choreographer
Lincoln– Charisa Ramsey, assistant stage manager
Omaha– Crystal Schroeder, assistant stage manager
