It's been nearly 50 years since "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" hit theaters, introducing to a wider audience the comedy horror musical first staged in London in 1973.
But those who have known sweethearts Brad and Janet and the self-proclaimed "sweet transvestite from Translyvania" Dr. Frank-N-Furter only from that 1975 cult classic are missing the full picture, says Bill Maltas.
A couple of songs from the original London stage production, for example, were cut from the movie entirely. In "Over at the Frankenstein Place," Brad's verse is eliminated.
"Of course, the movie did a couple of the things the play can't. But the stage version is like seeing all the extra stuff they cut out of the movie," Maltas said.
That's what audiences will see when "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" comes to the TADA Theatre in Lincoln's Haymarket for a 12-show run beginning Thursday through Nov. 3.Â
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Maltas, who plays both the motorcycle-riding delivery boy Eddie and the high school science teacher turned UFO investigator Dr. Scott, says the TADA show is like seeing a "director's cut" of the 1975 movie, which pokes fun at the science fiction and horror B movies of the 1930s onward.
"It's basically a modern retelling of Frankenstein, but it's a huge nod to the schlocky horror films of the 1950s, the 1960s that were really cheaply made and were so prevalent. It's kind of tongue-in-cheek parody of that."
Maltas, a veteran of the TADA stage, juggles acting with his job as Lincoln's Waffleman, his breakfast-serving, fundraiser-catering full-time gig. "Rocky Horror" happened to line up with his schedule, and he decided to give it a shot again, having played Eddie in a previous production.
"All the cards have to fall in the right place, but it's always pretty special," he said.
TADA's show will include audience participation kits that can be purchased before the show for $5 that include items like the newspaper Janet pulls out during a downpour and rice to throw during the wedding scene.
“This is the perfect show for this time of year,†said Bob Rook, managing artistic director. “The production is a fresh, new telling of the classic rock favorite. It has all the gems that Rocky fans expect, but we added some clever new elements to make the show our own. People need not have ever seen Rocky, either, to enjoy this fun-filled rock musical.â€
IF YOU GO
°Â³ó²¹³Ù:Ìý"The Rocky Horror Picture Show."
Where:Â The TADA Theatre, 701 P St.
°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýThursday-Oct. 19, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.; Oct. 24-26, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 27, 2 p.m.; Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m.; Nov. 3, 2 p.m. There will be two shows with costume contests on Oct. 31 at 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
Tickets: Reservations can be made at . The show contains adult language and content.