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I arrived at the Bakersfield Community Theatre at a couple minutes after 6 to drop off some scripts, to put some costumes away and to see if the Rocky Horror Band was doing ok in the their impromptu-box-office-rehearsal-hall.

I walked towards the box office and saw Tyler Shanklin, rehearsal accompanist. We visited for a bit. Then I saw the actor playing Riff Raff, Brian Brown, and chatted with him. Sarah Purdy, the stage manager and Rocky Alum from the 2005 production pulled into the parking lot followed by Caroline Clark, who also appeared in the 2005 production and is playing Columbia this time around.

I waved to Stacie Whaley, one of the ensemble members as she walked in. I looked at Sarah and asked, “What time is it?”

She glanced at her watch and replied, “6:25”

There was more than a half hour until rehearsal started and actors were already congregating. Actors were predominantly… early.

Anyone who has been around theatre for any length of time knows this is a rarity unless there is something truly extraordinary happening – which would be one of the ways to describe the 2007 Production of the Rocky Horror Show at BCT.

Rocky Horror is a phenomenon in and of itself.  The original London production spawned the movie, which became successful only through its cult following-mostly midnight shows that had audiences coming back again and again and again.  This lead to the rise of "Movie Mimic" versions of "Rocky" that can be seen on a regular basis all around the world, including in Bakersfield.

Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show, the stage musical, is something even more phenomenal.  David Lollar and Sheila McClure, Directors of this year’s production, are telling audiences, “The show includes adult themes, profanity, and partial nudity, so leave the kids at home, because this ain’t your mama’s ROCKY!”

There was a lot of gossip early in the process with this show –hard feelings lead to rumors from people who would like to see the show not succeed. “They are doing a PG-13 version of Rocky at BCT,” they tried to convince future audience members.

“I saw one rehearsal – just one, and I knew right away this was NOT PG-13,” said Sarah Purdy. “It is more like… well, not PG-13.”  She proceeded to re-enact David Lollar giving very specific directions to the actors about specific physical maneuvers during some of the racier scenes.  A quick visit to the show’s Myspace page to see slideshows of… very not PG-13 positions the actors will find themselves in during this Sci-Fi-CampySpoof-Meets-Twenty-First-Century-Musi cal-Theatre.

Two years ago BCT offered audiences the opportunity to experience Richard O’Brien’s 4-time Tony Award nominated revival musical. That production was directed very passionately by the late Kevan Klawitter who died a year ago from cancer.  There are some returning cast members, such as Andrew Hupp, who is reprising his role of Brad Majors.  These actors are honoring Kevan’s memory in their performances.  New cast members hear of the legendary Klawitter and want to honor his legacy by offering up a production that would make him proud.

It will be exciting to see Bakersfield’s hottest performers in Brad and Janet’s sexy romp with Frank’N’Furter, Riff Raff, Columbia, Magenta, and of course, Rocky himself. Time Warping was great last time, I can only imagine with a cast so excited to just show up at rehearsal, it is going to be even better this time around.

Bakersfield Community Theatre, at 2400 South Chester Avenue, presents  Richard O’Brien’s 4-time Tony Award nominated revival musical THE ROCKY HORROW SHOW, running May 4^th to May 19^th, Friday nights at Midnight and Saturday nights at 8:00pm and Midnight. Call BCT right now at 661-831-8114 to reserve your seats to the hottest Rocky Horror to hit Bakersfield, ever.