“Rocky Horror” comes to the Gunnison Valley

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” a musical comedy horror, is hitting Gunnison and Crested Butte for the Halloween season. 

“Rocky Horror” is a cult classic film from 1975 based on the original 1973 stage musical by Richard O'Brien. The film, initially a box office failure, centers around a young engaged couple whose car breaks down in the rain near a castle, where they go to search for help. There they meet the head of the house, Dr. Frank-N-Furter, an alien mad scientist who creates a living muscle man named Rocky. 

While it was initially ignored by critics, it became a hit as a midnight movie at the Waverly Theater in New York City in 1976. The audience frequently returned to the theater and created their own culture around the film. They would talk back to the screen, dressed up as the characters, and sometimes would go up to the screen and perform alongside the film as a “shadow cast.”

“Rocky Horror” has become a Halloween staple and is the longest-running theatrical release in film history. In 2005, it was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

Now, it’s coming to Gunnison and Crested Butte for Halloween. 

Crested Butte Center for the Arts and Firebird Theatre are partnering to put on a full shadow-cast performance on Friday, Oct. 23 at the Center. Doors open at 6:00 and the show starts at 7:00.

The show is directed by Delaney Young and produced by Tristan Buss of Firebird Theatre Co., a local performing arts company in the Gunnison Valley. Firebird has worked closely with Crested Butte Center for the Arts on various projects since they got started in 2023. Since the beginning, Firebird has put on a production of “Rocky Horror” because they feel it’s a project that unifies and helps people find uniqueness in a world that stifles self-expression.

“ It's a relationship we cherish greatly, especially given that we are a theatre company which does not have an official performance space to call our own,” said Buss, artistic director of Firebird. “We view this as a positive though, as it has given us many incredible opportunities to collaborate and strengthen ties across the Gunnison Valley's burgeoning arts community. “

The cast includes returning cast members Buss as Riff Raff, Young as Brad Majors, Hali Frasure as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Jimmy Utley as The Criminologist, Isabel Gourley as Columbia, Angelina Anderson as Janet Weiss, and Barron Farnell as Rocky. The new cast members are Emily Montesinos as Lips, Jim Delgado as Eddie and Dr. Scott, and Mae Oh as Magenta. Their rehearsals have consisted of getting actors comfortable in their roles and around the stage.

The event will include audience participation including fan favorite call outs, throwable prop bags, and cast members interacting with the audience. 

“‘Rocky Horror' was the show that made me return to theatre and awakened a lot more confidence in me,” said Young. “ I also have always loved camp and absurdity, as well as horror, so it was the culmination of so many loves of mine. And Tim Curry being a personal hero of mine, especially in the role of Frank-N-Furter certainly contributed.” 

In Gunnison, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” will be shown at the Gunnison Arts Center on Friday, Oct. 30. Doors open at 6:30 and the show starts at 7:00.

Though the GAC isn’t hosting a full shadow cast, the experience will still be fun, fierce, and magical. Audience members are encouraged to sing along to the songs, shout out their favorite call backs, dress as their favorite characters, or however the audience sees fit. 

This is one of the biggest cult classics that the GAC has brought into their theatre, which has been recently renovated and serves as the perfect setting for an intimate, fun movie night. 

“Gunnison has limited options for movie screenings outside of Western’s theatre, and we’re lucky to have the flexibility to bring unique film experiences to our community,” said Nieset LeFevre, the events and admin coordinator at the Gunnison Arts Center. 

Tickets for the Crested Butte show can be purchased online at www.firebirdcb.com/rhps/ for $35 per person. Guests under 18 years of age are permitted only if accompanied by an adult.

Tickets for the Gunnison showing can be pre-purchased online at www.gunnisonartscenter.org/film-screening-events for $10 for GAC members and $15 for non-members. No goodie bags will be provided, but popcorn and candy will be available for $3 at the door, and there will be free candy in the candy bowl for anyone who comes early.