Media Relations
University of South Florida
Polytechnic
3433 Winter Lake Road
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 667-7077
Fax (863) 667-7097
:: Subscribe to eNews
:: Current
News
Archives 2007
:: Fall
2007
:: Summer 2007
:: Spring
2007
Archives 2006
:: Fall 2006
:: Summer 2006
:: Spring
2006
Archives 2005
:: Fall
2005
:: Summer
2005
:: Spring
2005
Archives 2004
:: Fall
2004
:: Summer
2004
:: Spring
2004
Archives 2003
:: Fall
2003
:: Summer
2003
:: Spring
2003
Archives 2002
:: Fall
2002
:: Summer
2002
::
Spring 2002
Archives 2001
:: Fall
2001
|
|
 |
President Genshaft Guests in Rocky Horror Show
TAMPA,
FL (September 30, 2007) - Halloween starts early at the University of South Florida’s College of Visual & Performing Arts, with performances of Richard O’ Brien’s comic sci-fi musical “The Rocky Horror Show,” Oct. 4-7 and Oct. 10-13 at USF Theatre 1 on the Tampa campus.
No tricks, just treats in this production of the once-controversial, campy 1970s stage show that spawned a cult-classic movie: USF President Judy Genshaft will make a special appearance in the role of the Narrator. The Narrator, onstage throughout the show, pops up to comment on the strange happenings coordinated by mad Transylvanian scientist Frank ‘N’ Furter at a creepy old castle.
“I’m really happy to take part in the production of such a funny, energetic show,” President Genshaft said. “This is really going to be lots of fun for me and the audience, and a chance to draw attention to the great performances happening at the College of Visual & Performing Arts. It’s just one of many first-rate productions the college is presenting this fall and all the time.”
Said Bill Brewer, Rocky Horror’s director and a USF theatre faculty member specializing in scenic design and costume design: “We’re really excited to have President Genshaft involved in the production. She came to watch a run-through, and she’s very excited about participating.”
President Genshaft isn’t the only special guest for USF’s production of “Rocky Horror,” co-presented by the School of Theatre and Dance and the School of Music. Also tapped to play the role of the Narrator are Fox 13 personality Charley Belcher, WUSF, 89.7 FM announcer Bethany Cagle and Tampa Tribune columnist/WFLA, 970 AM talk-show host Daniel Ruth.
“We needed people who are gregarious and have an outgoing personality, and who have a real sense of humor – that’s very important for this role,” Brewer said. “It’s really a unique role in that it has no gender identification, so we were able to have both men and women play the role at different times.
“And I thought this would be a good way to involve members of the community and in the process maybe broaden the awareness of what we do at USF,” he added.
Frank-n-Furter, played by Tim Curry in the British and U.S. stage productions and the 1975 film adaptation, will be portrayed by Michael Titone, a recent USF theatre graduate who has worked with American Stage and other local professional theatre groups.
The other roles will be played by College of Visual & Performing Arts students, including Jennifer Rodney as Janet and Brent Reams as Brad, the straight-laced couple who stumble into Frank ‘N’ Furter’s world; Jason Glass as Riff Raff; and Devyn Sims as Magenta. A rock band, assembled by Richard Zielinski, USF director of choirs and the show’s musical director, will pump up the production with “Time Warp,” “Science Fiction-Double Feature” and other memorable tunes.
President Genshaft will appear as the Narrator in “Rocky Horror” Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. Marc Powers, director of the USF School of Theatre & Dance, is playing the Narrator during the performances when there are not special guests.
Here’s the entire schedule for “Rocky Horror”:
• 10/4 – 8 p.m.
•
10/5 – 8 p.m.
•
10/6 – 8 and 11 p.m.
•
10/7 – 3 p.m. (Dan Ruth as Narrator)
• 10/10 – 8 p.m. (Dan Ruth as Narrator)
• 10/11 – 8 p.m. (President Genshaft as Narrator)
• 10/12 – 8 and 11 p.m. (Bethany Cagle as Narrator, both shows)
•
10/13 – 8 p.m. (Charley Belcher as Narrator)
Costumes and audience participation are encouraged for the 11 p.m. shows. For the safety of the cast and theatre, patrons of the 11 p.m. performances will not be allowed to bring outside props into the theatre. Prop bags will be sold at the performance for a minimal fee.
Tickets are $12 for adults, and $6 for students and seniors. The USF School of Theatre and Dance, part of the College of Visual & Performing Arts, is launching a new season-ticket program for theatre and dance performances. Season ticket prices for all six main-stage shows are $50 for adults, $30 for students and seniors. To purchase tickets and for more information, call the College of Visual & Performing Arts box office at 813-974-2323 or visit www.arts.usf.edu.
USF's production was featured in this week's Friday Extra entertainment magazine, in the Tampa Tribune. To see the story, please visit http://www.tbo.com/entertainment/fridayextra/
The University of South Florida is among the nation's top 63 public research universities and one of 76 community engaged universities as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. It is one of Florida’s top three research universities. USF was awarded more than $310 million in research contracts and grants last year. The University offers 217 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialty and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. The University has a $1.6 billion annual budget, an annual economic impact of $3.2 billion, and serves 44,038 students on campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland. USF is a member of the Big East Athletic Conference.
-USF-
|
|
