Let’s do the time warp again

In 1975, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (RHPS) was released, and it flopped in theaters. Soon after, theaters held midnight screenings and the film unexpectedly began gaining notoriety. Since then, the film has created a subculture that has only grown. Around the world, people quote it, dance to it, and dress up as the characters for Halloween. And if you are a member of Lips Down on Dixie, you perform it.

Lips Down on Dixie is a non-profit performance group that was formed as a shadow cast of RHPS where performers produce a performance of a movie in front of a screen while that movie is playing, essentially pantomiming the film.

“We strive to maintain screen accuracy; we try to mimic the screen performance, costumes and makeup,” Aron Siegel, performer and producer, said. “This makes our show different from putting the DVD in your TV at home. It creates an event mentality, both in the cast and audience.”

Lips Down on Dixie is welcome to any interested party, but the participants tend to be actors and performers trying to hone their performance skills and have fun while doing it.

“Lips Down on Dixie has become a teaching and learning opportunity for its members. You might be working with a volunteer organization, but everything you do is a learning experience,” Siegel said. “While community theater acting and stage techniques are the most obvious of the items young people can learn about, our members also learn choreography, web design, graphic design, sales, publicity, costuming, lighting design, construction, film and television basics and other fields too numerous to name.”

Don’t dream it, be it

1. Performing the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” every Friday night gives teens and young adults a chance be free, have fun and be supported for whomever they are. Difference in race, sexual identity, orientation, gender, or religious belief doesn’t keep people from attending or enjoying a production of the RHPS.

2. The performance continues to expose new audiences to another world — a world that promotes self-love and confidence. A common and repetitive phrase within the film is “Don’t Dream it, Be it,” something young adults don’t get to hear very often from contemporary films or television. The RHPS is one of few films left to young adults which is pure fantasy. It neither is gratuitously violent or irresponsible in its message.

3. Everyone who comes to view the film and cast can get involved as much or as little as they deem fit. We all choose our own level of involvement. We pride ourselves as a launching board for rising actors in the metro Atlanta area.

The History

As the midnight showings got more and more popular, people began to wholeheartedly participate. They would shout dialogue back at the screen, throw rice and props, and then, performers joined in.

“In Atlanta, Rocky Horror began weekend showings at the Film Forum around 1977. Due to its success, Film Forum owners George Ellis and son Michael Ellis moved the film to Film Forum Theater on Peachtree Street where it stayed for two years,” Siegel said. “Cast members back then performed for audiences including Prince, REM, RuPaul and it was rumored Elton John used to show up and watch.”

In 2000, Lips found its way to the Plaza Theater and remains there, with shows every Friday night. While other films garner similar attention and performances, none hold a candle to the traditions of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

“Rocky Horror is a catalyst. Midnight showings encourage audiences to come to the party. Dress up, bring friends, shout out at the screen,” Siegel said. “Anyone who has ever wanted to perform is immediately attracted to the shadow cast idea. It’s the original cosplay.”

Lips Down on Dixie has garnered enough attention to perform in places other than the theater; they have performed in nightclubs and festivals around Atlanta, including the drive-in event ‘Rock and Roll Monster Bash,’ ‘Atlanta Pride’ and others.

“Lips Down on Dixie performs dance numbers, most of which are not Rocky Horror related,” Siegel said. “Lips Down on Dixie’s showcase event every year is Dragon Con, Labor Day weekend on Saturday at Midnight in the Centennial Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency hotel in downtown Atlanta, where it’s been noted we’ve performed in front of 3,000 fans.”

A group with desire to perform to an audience rarely stays within one genre and one performance. For Lips Down on Dixie, it’s main occasion may be The Rocky Horror Picture Show but they are willing to branch out and plan to do so.
“Future plans for Lips Down on Dixie include black-box theater performances of plays and musicals,” Siegel said.

“Especially with Plaza Theater owners Michael Furlinger and his partner John encouraging us.”

For the Virgins

If you have never been to a show, you are labeled a “Rocky Virgin” and a lipstick “V” is written on your forehead.
As the movie begins, Lips Down on Dixie begins to act it out. During the the dual performances, there are traditions to shout out and new ones you are encouraged to come up with. As you watch the performance, you catch on to some of the popular ones (some of which may not be appropriate for minors).

When the classic song “Time Warp” begins to play, everyone is called to get out of their seats and dance along.