Rocky Horror Show: Stepping Into Yourself With Reckless Abandon
The Rocky Horror Show has encouraged audiences for years to let loose, be themselves, and enjoy theater without holding back. Now, Albuquerque Little Theatre is staging this iconic musical, with Christy Burbank as Janet and a cast set to bring all the music, energy, and bold spirit that made Rocky Horror famous.
Burbank has been looking forward to returning to Rocky Horror. She's performed in the show before, but this time she gets to play Janet, which she sees as the standout role.
"I am so excited," admits Burbank. "I've done Rocky Horror in the past, and I'm so excited to come back and do it again in
Janet, which is, in my opinion, the best character in the whole show."
Playing Janet means embracing the unexpected. Her transformation during the show is a big part of what makes both the character and the production so memorable.
"I mean, that is a character that really you have to be bold enough to play," Burbank says. She feels completely ready for the challenge. "Oh, I'm so ready. I'm excited for it."
For Rocky Horror fans, this production is especially meaningful after the recent passing of Tim Curry, whose role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter became one of the film's most iconic parts.
Burbank feels honored to be part of the show, especially since Cameron Tyler Illidge-Welch, who plays Frank-N-Furter, is the perfect fit for the role. "I think it's an honor that we get to do this," says Burbank. "I kept telling people…this guy…he is Tim Curry. He's just like a younger version of Tim Curry."
Playing a role so closely tied to Curry is a big challenge, but Burbank thinks they have the right person for the job. "So I think that we have the perfect actor in the role to play this iconic character. I mean, he's got some big shoes to fill."
Albuquerque audiences who know The Rocky Horror Picture Show from movie screenings will notice a big difference at the theater. This live production isn't a shadow cast in front of a film; instead, the actors perform the whole story live on stage. "There is no movie in the background," Burbank explains. "You'll hear my voice singing the Janet songs. You'll hear my friend Cameron singing the Frank N. Furter songs."
So, the audience will hear the actors sing live instead of watching a movie with people acting along. The show will still include interactive traditions like callouts and props, but the story will be performed live on stage. "We're still going to have fun with it. But this time, real actors live on stage are doing it. Full out."
And when they say "full out," they mean it. The cast will sing all the songs themselves, letting the audience experience the music in a new way compared to the film.
Burbank points specifically to the additional vocal elements that can shine in a live production. "You get some cool background vocals that really pop when you watch it live."
But Rocky Horror's lasting appeal is about more than just music, costumes, or wild characters. For Burbank, the real connection comes from its message of embracing who you are without apology.
"I think that it's a musical all about stepping into yourself completely and fully with, like, reckless abandon. And I think that message resonates with a lot of people."
While people are often told to hold back, Rocky Horror invites them to do the opposite. "We're so used to…restraining ourselves in some way, no matter what we're doing. Rocky Horror pushes back on that, and…let it all hang out."
That freedom is part of what makes the experience so cathartic. That sense of freedom is what makes the show so cathartic and keeps audiences coming back year after year. Albuquerque Little Theatre's production runs October 28 through October 31. The theater will offer both 7:30 p.m. performances and midnight shows, with Burbank recommending the later performances for audiences looking for that extra dose of Rocky Horror energy.
"I would recommend getting tickets to the midnight show just because that's a really fun energy. But for those of you who are not good at late nights, there's also a 7:30 PM performance as well."
Tickets and additional information are available at albuquerquelittletheatre.org.
Comments