When fall arrives in Florida, we don’t get a break from the heat, but we certainly enjoy all the season offers. This is especially true when Halloween inspires us to embrace the fun of the season – including the annual Rocky Horror Picture Show events held at Richey Suncoast Theater in downtown New Port Richey.
Not every town boasts a local jewel like Richey Suncoast Theater. The theater first opened its doors as the Thomas Meighan Theater on July 1, 1926. “Thomas Meighan was the George Clooney of silent films. He had a house here in New Port Richey, and he at the time was trying to get all of his buddies to come down, and it was a draw,” shared Richey Suncoast Theater Creative Director, Jess Glass.
In the 1970s, a group of local citizens bought the iconic building and turned it into a community theater, and Richey Suncoast Theater as we know it today was born. They expanded the theater to allow for more stage space and dressing rooms for performers. “We’re really lucky that it’s still here. We feel very lucky to be the stewards of Richey Suncoast Theater,” added Glass.
Many throughout the theater’s history have helped make it what it is today. “Willard Clark has a plaque outside. They used to call him Mr. Theater. He was way before my time, but he was just a huge part of the beginnings of Richey Suncoast Theater back in the 70s and 80s,” explained Glass. As time went by, others picked up where Clark and his team left off, continuing to carry the promise of local theater to the next generation. Charlie Skelton and his wife Marie had a hand in the theater’s more recent history, “Charlie and Marie ran the theater in the early 2000s, and he was a huge part in the renovations of the theater and keeping RST alive for several years.” The city of New Port Richey is lucky to have a long history of residents committed to the growth and vitality of the theater.
Today, Richey Suncoast Theater offers many entertainment opportunities, from live music, movies, comedy shows and more. The highlight of their offerings is the theatrical season, showcasing local actors. “Our full season starts in September with Wizard of Oz. It was one of my first community theater shows, so it has a little nostalgia for me. Then we’re doing The Play That Goes Wrong, Something Rotten, Peter and the Starcatchers and we’re finishing the season with Sweeney Todd,” said Glass.
Many locals wait with bated breath each fall for the announcement of the theater’s Rocky Horror Picture Show events. This cult classic film turns 50-years-old this year, adding to the excitement. “It’s just that wonderful mix of weird and very funny, especially when you have the shadow cast,” shared Glass.
This isn’t merely a movie showing. Those familiar with the annual tradition know these events offer so much more. The excitement starts each fall with auditions in September. “Anybody that wants to be involved can come and audition to be in the ensemble. We select one person per character on the screen, and we have a whole slew of Transylvanians. We portray the character that’s on the screen as close as possible, which is just really fun. So, it is really more than just a movie. It’s a fully interactive experience,” shared Glass.
“We interact directly with the audience. We come out before the show, sing songs and get them hyped up for the show. Everybody gets to laugh and yell out and learn the ropes of Rocky. We encourage callbacks, which is a huge tradition for Rocky Horror,” explained Glass. The pre-show fun also includes a costume contest at every event, with the winners joining the cast on stage that night. Nearly every ticket sold also includes a bag of props for use during the show to add to the excitement.
As a non-profit, the 100-year-old theater needs community support. “We don’t survive without donations. Ticket sales just simply aren’t enough to keep a place like this running successfully. We do rely on our donors, and we’re always looking for people who want to support the arts in our community,” explained Glass. While funds are essential, there are other ways to support the theater in more tangible ways. Local volunteers do everything from helping in the concession stand and the box office to building sets and making costumes and props. “We’re always looking for volunteers. We would love for people from the community to be part of Richey Suncoast,” offered Glass.
This year’s Rocky Horror Show events will run October 17th-18th and 23rd-25th at 8pm with an additional 6pm show on October19th. Tickets range from $13.25 for a ticket only to $153.75 for a VIP Box that includes tickets, drinks, popcorn and props for 4 people. Each show is expected to sell out. To learn more about the Rocky Horror events, other show offerings or how you can donate or volunteer, visit richeysuncoasttheatre.com.
Pull Quote 1: “We’re really lucky that it’s still here. We feel very lucky to be the stewards of Richey Suncoast Theater” - Jess Glass, Creative Director.