Tickler Productions presents
The Rocky Horror Show
at the Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center in
Poughkeepsie, NY.
Performances: Oct. 27, 2000- Nov. 12, 2000

"Oh Rocky"...
I have to confess, I had never seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show in its entirety. To be honest, it was one of those movies that "scared" me as a child; you know - like something forbidden, that mom wouldn't approve of if she caught me watching... but now... I had a chance to see it... and see it LIVE.

After a two hour train ride, Todd (who just happens to be Dr. Frank N' Furter in the production) picked me up at the train station in Poughkeepsie. Then, after a brief "tour" and some lunch, I had the opportunity to meet the directors and the rest of the cast...

Co-Directors	Doreen Valdati
	Ami Sullivan
Choreographer	Todd Michael Thomas
Dance Captain	Cathy Raymond
Usherette / Magenta	Rachel Valdati
Announcer	Andy Phillips
Brad (Asshole) Majors	John Capo
Janet (Slut) Weiss	Ariel Genovese
Riff Raff	Douglas McAdams
Columbia	Sarah Adams
Dr. Frank N' Furter	Todd Michael Thomas
Rocky	Michael Clark
Eddie / Dr. Scott (whoo!)	Robert Valdati
Phantoms	Cathy Raymond
	Nancy Scalzo
	Cory Jones
	Brian Merritt
	RL Anderson

By the time we arrived at the theater, I was already feeling the sharp fangs of antici.....pation. The place was decked out with cobwebs, inflatable bats, and large creepy spiders. The audience was filled with goth-boys, and goth-girls, local pagans, a drag queen or two, a few frightened newcomers, and tons of faithful Rocky Horror veterans.

With a gift bag full of "goodies" on my lap, I sat and waited for the show to start. From the first note, this production was a hit! A vampy Usherette dressed in pink and topped with a pink coiff, emerges from behind the stage's large heavy curtains, and through her song pulls the audience into the world of Rocky Horror, as a pack of eeire phantom ushers roam the aisles.

.

We are first introduced to Brad and Janet, two clean cut "all-american kids" in love. Misfortune finds these two to be palatable victims, as their car breaks down conveniently not far from a nearby "inviting" castle. A cryptic announcer serves as the herald of their impending doom. Greeted by a wild and capricous butler, the hapless couple steps into the seductive web of Dr. Frank N' Furter and his sex-crazed groupies. Filled with great music, great voices, and great talents, this Rocky Horror Show is "out of this world". From the "birth" of Dr. Frank's love machine, Rocky, the cast breaks taboo boundaries, one after the other, and takes the audience gleefully with them.

This sci-fi spoof, cult-classic, macabe tale of decadence and forbidden pleasures has ensnared hundreds of thousands of followers since its premiere as an experimental production in a small London theater in 1973. Within two years, it made its transition to the screen. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary, and somewhere right now, there is an audience covering their heads with newspapers and shooting each other with waterguns.

"I wanna go...
To the late night, double feature, picture show..."

- Robert Mendoza