A group dressed in black, some in lingerie, stand at the front of the darkened theater. "Bring out your virgins," shouts one of them. A half-dozen individuals move to the front of the theater. "How could you not have seen this movie by now?," he said. "Now beg for forgiveness." So begins another performance for the Fishnet Mafia - the live cast for Studio 35's showing of the "Rocky Horror Picture Show."
The 1975 musical about a young couple's bizarre night at a castle was initially a flop, but has evolved into a cult hit in the nearly 30 years since its debut - in part because of midnight showings of the movie where a live cast performs alongside the movie.
"The interaction between the film, the cast and the audience itself is a big part of the show's appeal," said Josh Parish, who has been a cast member for the last seven years.
One way the audience participates is by coming to the show in costume.
"Around 40 percent of the audience dresses up in some way or another," said Gabe Sturgess, manager of Studio 35.
"It's a chance to run around in your underwear in public," cast member Angie Brown said.
Another way the audience and cast interact with the movie is by shouting responses to dialogue and events in the movie.
"It's a good time. You can yell, which you can't do during a regular movie," cast member Paul Smith said.
Some of the most popular elements of seeing "Rocky Horror Picture Show" at Studio 35 are the pre-show activities used to get the crowd ready before the movie starts.
"The cast is always very imaginative with the pre-show," Sturgess said. "You never know what to expect."
"Virgins" - people who have never seen the show before - are initiated through a variety of activities from putting on make-up to resemble characters from the film, to dancing the "Time Warp" in their underwear.
"I like playing with the audience. When they have a good time its a great feeling," cast member Jenn Stapleton said.
Parish said Columbus groups have performed with the film in theaters since the mid-1970's, beginning at the Graceland Theater. In 1997, the Graceland Theater was closed down because of conflicts with the theater's insurance company after a fire. The show was moved to a different theatre for a year before it was also shut down.
The cast was inactive for about a year but some had remained friends, Paris said.
The show began its current incarnation at Studio 35 at the first 24-Hour Horror Movie Marathon in 1999 after a cast member convinced the event organizer to run the film at the marathon. The show was so successful that in January 2000 the group began performing twice a month.
"It brings in a different type than a double feature would. We like to be an eclectic theater and this adds to that," Sturgess said.
Last year, various conflicts led to a nearly complete change in the cast.
Following this change, the Fishnet Mafia is no longer much of a "mimic" cast - where performers follow the film exactly as it appears on screen.
"We don't follow it exactly. We do a loose interpretation and just try and have fun with it," Parish said.
The cast has between 15 and 20 members who rotate parts regularly in order to keep the show fresh.
"It's a unique experience that can't be explained. Just experience it for yourself," Parish said.
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