Latine 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' fans have their moment
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Fictional character Frank-N-Furter in the all-Latine "Rocky Horror Picture Show" shadowcast. Photo: Steph Solis/Axios
"Rocky Horror Picture Show" plays every Saturday night in downtown Boston, but it was clear from the get-go that last week's show was different: The actor who greeted the crowd wore an Ecuadorian flag over their suit.
Why it matters: The Full Body Cast — which has put on the show since 1984 — celebrated its first all-Latine shadowcast of the cult classic, a special Hispanic Heritage Month rendition.
The big picture: The all-Latine cast may be a first for FBC, but performers say it's also a testament to Latinos' growing presence in the fandom as the film approaches its 50th anniversary in 2025.
Catch up quick: "Rocky Horror Picture Show" is an audacious, absurd outer space musical with a drag queen that has captivated generations of misfits.
- As is now tradition nationwide, the film will play on a big screen while shadowcasts reenact the scenes live.
- It's heavy on audience participation — with people dancing along to the "Time Warp," throwing toilet paper and yelling insults at various characters.
Zoom in: When Latine fans see it, they think of the telenovelas or variety shows they grew up watching, like "Sábado Gigante."
- "It's all ridiculous faces, over-the-top dramatics, people are fainting everywhere, and I think that's really fun," says Alexis Boucugnani, a Cuban-American performer who played Janet Weiss.
Between the lines: Latinos around the U.S. have always been a part of the Rocky Horror fandom, but they haven't always been visible, says Paulie DeLarge, creative director of the Ordinary Kids shadowcast in New Jersey.
- Only in recent years have casts pledged to make their spaces more welcoming to Rocky Horror fans of various races, ethnicities, sexualities and body types.
What they're saying: "It's hard to feel welcome when you don't see yourself represented," says Mx. Peri Peri, a Puerto Rican Bostonian who played Magenta. She asked to be identified only by her stage name for safety reasons.
- When she joined eight years ago, the cast was predominantly white and cisgender, and she wanted to bring more trans and queer people of color into the fold.
The production had 11 cast members of Latin American heritage, from the Dominican Republic to Venezuela.
- They put their spin on the show, yelling "Hispanic mechanic" instead of "Satanic mechanic" during Frank-N-Furter's song, "Sweet Transvestite."
- The cast ate guava pastelitos during the awkward dinner scene. If you've seen the movie, it's when everyone discovers Eddie's mangled body stuffed inside the dinner table, hours after Frank-N-Furter kills him with a pickaxe.
What's next: Cast members say they'd love to see another all-Latine performance next year, but nothing's set in stone.
- "I look at the community that we have and look at us doing this first Hispanic Heritage night, and I could cry," says Mx. Peri Peri. "It's everything I've ever wanted."
