Emily Fritz | a&e editor

Despite its reputation as a cult classic, “Rocky Horror Picture Show” is not an intuitive watch, nor is it typically deemed a good movie. But for the Junior Chamber of Commerce Players (JCCP), this cultural artifact from 1975 is a symbol of self expression and comes with a loving and supportive community that has been around for nearly 50 years.

Originally a stage show from 1973 and then later adapted to the silver screen two years later, the JCCP shadow cast has been performing in front of live showings since 1978, using the Hollywood Theater as their home base.

JCCP president Sam Bassett has been involved with the theater group for 17 years. During their time, they’ve witnessed actors portraying characters in the fashion of Mothman, attendees adorned in blue body paint as a Smurf, audience callback lines that come from the Marvel cinematic universe and delved three layers deep into pop culture to bring Charlie Chaplin inspirations into the production.

“We wouldn’t be still doing this if we were so hard pressed about [‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’] screen accuracy,” Bassett said. “This is a space where you can be nothing, be everything, be whatever [and] nobody really judges you at all.”

Office of Student Housing and Residence Life administrative assistant Julie Lang became a member of the JCCP cast in December 2022 and made her debut as Janet the following January.

“[Joining the] cast is part of what helped me come out for the first time,” Lang told The Duke. “It is so special to be able to have a community that is so accepting and so kind, and it’s hard to put into words how meaningful it is to be a part of this.”

The JCCP cast has enabled personal growth for numerous cast members, inviting them to discover their own gender identity.

Lang and Bassett use the stage names Sabring Starmaker and Sam the Hobo, respectively. Aliases are a trademark for the JCCP cast so that they can preserve a healthy work-life balance and their personal safety, especially during a polarized election season.

“It’s more important than ever that we keep inclusive spaces like this alive,” Lang said. “There is one side of the political spectrum that does not particularly agree with our existence whatsoever, and that does make it a little bit scary for us as not only performers, but individuals.”

More than anything, the shadow cast performance of “Rocky Horror Picture Show” lives as a testament to the safe and inclusive spaces that have allowed the LGBTQIA+ community to thrive in Pittsburgh since 1978.

“Whether it’s Rocky Horror or David Bowie, whatever you love artistically, or culturally, or whatever you’re into in terms of your gender or sexual identity, now, at the touch of a button, you know there are millions of people exactly like you in these fundamental ways,” said Perks of Being a Wallflower writer and director Stephen Chbosky told The Tab in 2015.

As a South Hills native, Chbosky used the JCCP production of “Rocky Horror Picture Show” to inspire parts of his novel and later filmed scenes for the movie with them.

People who have never seen “Rocky Horror Picture Show” are commonly referred to as “virgins,” but the JCCP is welcoming to anyone looking to learn, coaching newcomers through prop bags, constantly evolving audience participation lines and classic dance moves from the film.

JCCP will host a “Virgin’s Guide to Rocky Horror Picture Show” on Sept. 29 at Space Bar in Market Square. The live movie experience will be free to attend, but a $10 donation is recommended. More information can be found on the JCCP website or their social media channels.

“It is an event for people to kind of learn without the whole overwhelming experience that sometimes it is,” Bassett said. “Nobody’s gonna judge you if you don’t know what you’re doing … we’re doing it with you.”