Rocky Horror Celebrates 50 Years – And Five in at Mickey’s Black Box
Words: Ameilia Chrichton. Images: Mark Pontz Photography
A cult classic, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
Locally, Mickey’s Black Box in Lititz is marking an anniversary of its own. The venue is hosting their fifth-annual production of The Rocky Horror Show LIVE, presented by Upfront Theatre Company, run by Lindsay Bretz-Morgan.
Bretz-Morgan’s Two-Decade Commitment
This year marks Bretz-Morgan's 20th year involved with the show, a commitment that has spanned over two decades and multiple locations. Her roles have included everything from cast member and choreographer to director and producer. It’s a passion she now considers "second nature."
“People get excited for pumpkin spice lattes and sweaters in the fall,” Bretz-Morgan said. “I get excited for Rocky Horror.”
Her journey began in 2000, while she was attending college in Pittsburgh. A Harrisburg dinner theater was putting on the show and, following a trend set by the Broadway revival at the time, sought to cast a woman in the role of Eddie. Bretz-Morgan agreed to return home to perform the role. She fell in love with the show and continued to juggle school, her busy restaurant schedule, and other jobs to play Eddie for a few years.
“After a while, I got jealous of the other characters who got to wear sexy outfits, high heels, fabulous makeup, and glitter,” she recalled, “so I asked if I could be a female role instead.” That decision led to her playing Columbia, Janet, and her all-time favorite role – Magenta – all multiple times.
Producing The Show
The Harrisburg troupe continued its run at several venues. However, when the production moved to a much smaller theater without Bretz-Morgan in the cast, she decided to put up her own version with a friend at the venue she loved: The Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center (HMAC).
HMAC would go on to host a decade’s worth of Rocky Horror, with Bretz-Morgan involved in every production. She says that the jump to producing was intimidating.
“I remember asking someone, ‘How do you produce a show?' When I saw how much work it was – between paying for the rights and royalties, casting the show, running rehearsals, hiring the band, the sound and lighting staff, a director, costumer, and choreographer – I got…very nervous," she said.
Despite juggling multiple jobs, she decided to proceed.
“I didn’t know if I could handle all of that, but I decided to just do it because I knew how much everyone loved the show,” she explained. “And man, it was, and still is, totally worth it!”
Moving to Lancaster
After 15 years producing the show in Harrisburg, Bretz-Morgan brought the production to Lancaster, where she had moved in 2014. In 2019, she produced it at Zoetropolis, selling out both nights a week before the performances. The 2020 show was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, Bretz-Morgan received an email about a brand-new venue being built in Lititz.
“We heard you do Rocky Horror," the email said. "Any interest in touring our facility to see if you’d like to bring the show here?”
Well, the venue tour clearly went well. Bretz-Morgan has been collaborating with Mickey’s Black Box ever since – not only bringing Rocky Horror there every Halloween but also staging other rock musicals, including Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Chess.
“Mickey’s Black Box reminds me of the HMAC days in Harrisburg because it’s huge and it’s very supported by the community,” Bretz-Morgan said. “I love that it’s a big concert venue, and I’m so lucky to be at a place that has such state-of-the-art equipment thanks to its designer, Michael (Mickey) Tate.”
Focusing on the Talent
Bretz-Morgan believes that for rock shows like Rocky Horror, the performers and the band are the most critical elements – not an elaborate set.
“Rocky Horror, just like other rock shows, doesn’t need a big set, or any set at all, actually," she explained. "It just needs incredible performers and a kick-ass band. That’s what makes the show. That, and all the callbacks from the audience.”
She noted that the current trend in theater is to embrace simplicity.
“I went to see Cabaret last year in New York City, and they had no set and very minimal props, and it was brilliant," Bretz-Morgan recalled. "It made you focus on the actors and on the dialogue and it was so simplistic but so powerful at the same time.”
The performers in her current production are from Lancaster York, Harrisburg, Gettysburg, and beyond. In years past, the cast has included talent from Reading, Philadelphia, and Maryland, as well.
“These are volunteers," she shared. "And sometimes they travel so far to come and do these shows with me. I think it’s because we are drama free and act like one big family. I honestly don’t know how I got to be so lucky.”
Of course, her wide network of connections – forged through years of performing as a veteran stage actor across central Pennsylvania at venues like Allenberry Playhouse, Fulton Opera House, and Theatre Harrisburg – certainly helps.
A Collaborative Effort
While Bretz-Morgan sometimes calls her theater work a "one-woman show," she quickly clarifies that it is far from the truth.
“My choreographer and assistant director, Rebecca Gentry, has been doing this show with me for five years now and is my ride or die,” she said. “She almost knows as many callbacks as me at this point. I also have loyal performers who have done the show with me since the Harrisburg days, and a lot of them volunteer in other ways – whether it’s helping with programs, costumes, photography, or building set pieces.”
This year's production includes some "extra special things," including a surprise intermission show. Mickey's Black Box will have two bars and concessions available before and during the performance, and prop bags – made by the cast – will be available as well.
When not working on theater, Bretz-Morgan manages The Belvedere Inn in downtown Lancaster, where she’s worked for nine years. It has become a tradition to host an after-party there following the closing night performance.
To purchase tickets for the fifth-anniversary performance at Mickey’s Black Box on Friday, Oct. 31, and Saturday, Nov. 1, visit mickeysblackbox.com.
