Let’s do the Time Warp again: Queer Student Union and STUMF presents The Rocky Horror Picture Show

From left to right: Jed Malinowksi, Grayson Koelbl, Elise Clockedile, Leo Goddard, Paz Clark, Kevin Sweeney, and Maddie Pumphrey in The Rocky Horror Picture Show on April 27, 2024 (Submitted Leo Goddard).

On April 27, Student Theater UMF and the Queer Student Union hosted a production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at 7 p.m. and at midnight. The “shadow production” consisted of the 1975 film being projected while the cast lip-synched all of the lines and pantomimed onstage.

“It started off with Nick DeMarchi, because this used to be a tradition every year, and he wanted to bring it back,” co-director Theo Moore said. “So he got into contact with Jo [LeMahieu] and Rain [Smith], who are the presidents of STUMF and Queer Student Union respectively, and the three of them worked together with ACE.”

The tradition had previously been put on hold due to the pandemic. 

When asked why the movie remains popular, co-director Dorothy Anne Giroux-Paré said, “It has so much relevance throughout because it has a lot of representation in it, of different sexualities and gender identities.”

“It was one of the first– I’m not gonna say well-presented because it’s definitely of its time, but of its time it was very well-presented of transgender people, polyamory, relationships, just queer relationships in general, and drag queens,” Moore added. The co-directors also added that an all-star cast helped its popularity, with performances from Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon. Finally, Moore and Giroux-Paré agree that the movie is just fun to watch.
“I think because it’s so whacky is why people are drawn to it,” Giroux-Paré explained. “They just watch this and they’re like, what’s— what’s happening? What’s happening? This is like when I watched it again in preparation for beginning directing this, just the whole time I was like, what? What? And I think that’s what makes it amazing about it, is that the whole time, you’re just in shock of what is going on, but it’s perfect, it’s just so fun.”

The audiences from both shows wholeheartedly participated by yelling at the cast, throwing confetti, and dressing up (among some members), and feedback for the show was mostly positive.

Cog Gaffen, who went to the 7 p.m. show, said, “I knew some of the songs and some of the themes and I knew that it was part of queer culture and cult culture in general, but I had never seen it before, so I wasn’t sure of what exactly I was walking into. But the entire experience was just incredibly fun. There was never a dull moment. It almost felt inspiring to see everyone in it, looking and feeling so confident and assured of themselves.” 

Gaffen applauded the work of the cast and crew. “The entire cast and crew and the directors absolutely crushed it. From what I could tell, it was very creative, they made good use of the space, and it was just a really really fun experience that I’m glad the QSU and ACE and Student Theatre is trying to bring back. I had a lot of fun.”

“I’d like to say how much of a pleasure it was to work with the amazing cast and crew throughout the semester,” Moore said. “I am so utterly proud of all the work everyone put into the show and how it came together in the end.”

From left to right: Paz Clark, Grayson Koelbl, Kevin Sweeney, Elise Clockedile, and Leo Goddard performing in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Submitted Leo Goddard).