Dramaturgy in Action - Building Rocky Horror at Inspiration’s Edge

So what does a dramaturg actually do for a show like The Rocky Horror Show? My role is to bridge history, text, and performance to help the cast and creative team understand the cultural weight of the piece while shaping it for our unique community.

For this production, that means:

• Contextual Research: Sharing the show’s history, from its 1973 debut to its cult film legacy.

• Queer Theory: Guiding conversations about gender, sexuality, and identity, ensuring we honor the radical spirit of the text. O’Brien said of his work “They [LGBTQ+] found that they weren’t alone, that somehow there was a place for them in the world.”

• Audience Engagement: Crafting blog posts and even pre-show talks that invite audiences into the world of Rocky Horror.

• Local Resonance: Connecting the show’s themes of liberation and community to our desert setting and the mission of Inspiration’s Edge.
  

Ultimately, dramaturgy is about a deeper dive looking for additional meaning. My hope is that when you watch our production, you’ll not only laugh, sing, and dance, but also reflect on what it means to live authentically, to embrace difference, and to find joy in community.

References:

• Inspiration’s Edge Productions – Official Site

• The Rocky Horror Show – Wikipedia

• StageAgent: Plot & Characters

• ‘Everybody was fondling underwater!’: the Rocky Horror Picture Show at 50 – an oral history