Hamilton, Ohio – Fall, 1979.
Jimmy Carter was in the White House, Herb Alpert sat atop the Billboard charts, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series (beating the Baltimore Orioles in the Fall Classic after bumping the Cincinnati Reds from the National League playoffs) and the average movie ticket in America cost $2.51.
Oh, and a bunch of miscreants started shouting at a movie screen in Cincinnati’s Oakley Theater.
Fast forward to Fall, 2024.
The shouting – as well as singing, dancing, laughing and littering - continues.
The Denton Affair – Greater Cincinnati’s best, worst and only Rocky Horror Picture Show shadow cast - is one of the oldest in the country and celebrated its 45th anniversary earlier this month. The debaucherous Dentonians return to the Fitton Center for late-night shenanigans at 10 p.m. Friday, October 25.
“It’s been such a big deal for the anniversary,” said Kira Jordan, the performer currently wearing a*****e Brad Major’s khaki jacket. “We’ve been really working hard to be sharp, to put on a great show. People love this movie. This experience.”
In addition to Brad – a part made famous on screen by Barry Bostwick - she sometimes mimics Dr. Frank-N-Furter, the Tim Curry role.
“I love playing Brad because he’s so eccentric,” she said. “Sometimes he’s happy. Sometimes he gets really angry. Sometimes he’s just clueless. It’s fun to run through all the emotions.
“Frank’s big thing is just own the place. Own everything. It’s all about you. And that’s fun to play, too.”
Performing was not a life-long passion for Jordan – she didn’t do theater in high school or anything - but once she started, she quickly learned to enjoy it.
“I always wanted to, but I was more shy then; too nervous I guess,” she said. “It wasn’t until I got a little older that I realized it was no big deal.”
Jordan joined the cast in 2021.
“I went to a show during Pride and got inspired,” she said. “I thought, ‘I could do that.’ So I did. The cast has been so welcoming from day one. From the first moment, they’ve really done everything to make it easy and comfortable.”
The Rocky Horror Picture Show turns 50 years old next year. The cult classic still draws a crowd. If recent history at the Fitton Center is any indication, that crowd will be just a little bit … peculiar. Precisely as it should be.
“The people that know really know,” Jordan said. “They’re really into it.
“It’s absolutely amazing. It’s a large and welcoming family. The fact the original cast is still out touring, and seeing shadow casts across the country, that should tell you you’re part of something pretty special.”
Guests come in costume, ham it up in the photo booth, enjoy the cash bar, shout at the screen, get up and dance, throw stuff all over the theater and generally give themselves over to absolute pleasure.
Tickets are $12 for Fitton Center members, $14 for non-members, and are available online here, by phone at 513-863-8873, ext. 110 or in person at the Fitton Center box office. The Denton Affair sells survival kits in the lobby on show night for $3 - or two for $5 – with all the familiar props needed to trash the joint.
The Fitton Center for Creative Arts is located at 101 S. Monument Avenue on the Riverfront in downtown Hamilton, Ohio.
Building Community Excellence through the Arts and Culture
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