Rocky Horror Culture

Pioneer Valley Shadowcasting Arts (incorporated in 2024) and The Come Again Players (forming in 2003) joined a culture of shadowcasting which at that time already had a rich history.

The Rocky Horror Picture show was released on August 14, 1975 in the UK and on September 26, 1975 in the US. It has been in theaters continuously since those dates. Additionally, in 2005 it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

At the Official Rocky Horror Fan Site, they have re-printed a segment called “It Was Great When It All Began” from “Creatures of the Night” by Sal Piro where Sal describes the genesis of the shadowcast. Check it out here!

In its present form, a live performance of The Rocky Horror Picture Show is accompanied with a great amount of audience participation which is consistent with the genesis described by Sal Piro. Audiences are encouraged to wear elaborate costumes, throw props at designated cues, and to heckle the movie screen and actors using established lines. To this day, the audiences are using their creativity to develop new ideas for audience participation.

In “Creatures of the Night”, Sal alludes to the difficulty in seeking the balance with “callback lines”, citing the different perspectives and sensitivities of various parties. This difficulty continues today and the Come Again Players have an official stance on callback lines.