College life provides a sense of community for many. Whether in Greek life or on-campus organizations, many students can find people they have things in common with inside these activities. For people with alternative interests, though, it becomes a bit harder to find people you connect with. The subculture communities of Kent State are a big way for students to connect with other people who share similar interests that aren’t as mainstream.
Kent State has many scenes and subcultures, including the emo and live music scenes. A community that has thrived at Kent State for many years is the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” fan base.
The School of Rocky is a “Rocky Horror Picture Show” club in Kent that features a crew and shadow cast. They put on performances of their show at the Kent Stage almost every month, which features cast members on stage acting out the movie as it’s played behind them. This garners large crowds of people who enjoy the movie and the culture.
But what draws so many people to this vibrant scene?
There are many reasons why one could be attracted to the allure of the School of Rocky. Kyleigh Reeves, a senior Theatre Studies major and member of the shadow cast, said she joined the show because of the positive nature surrounding it.
“I joined Rocky Horror because the environment was always so welcoming and fun whenever I went to see the shows,” she said.
The community and culture surrounding this club are so large that it constantly draws people to it.
“My favorite part of the community is seeing everyone and getting to share our love for the movie with everyone who comes to see our performances,” Reeves said. “I’ve made so many new friends since I started, and it’s been such an amazing opportunity.”
This shows the sense of community around this club and scene, giving anyone the opportunity to make friends who share the same interests. The club also offers a safe space for many.
Mary Riley, a team lead for the club and one of its founding members, said, “I have never felt as safe as when I’m at Rocky. The safe space Rocky offered is what gave me the confidence to explore my sexuality, not just in terms of attraction, but also gender and expression.”
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” movie from 1975 has become a staple in the LGBTQ+ community. This is because of clubs like the School of Rocky, who perform and continue to show the movie.
According to Zach Schonfeld for History.com, midnight screenings of the movie started in New York City’s Waverly Theater in April 1976. This is when the film became labeled as a cult classic.
These midnight screenings would attract wild audiences who love to dress up and dance throughout the movie. Not only was it a place for people to have fun, it offered a sense of community and openness for queer individuals.
“With its campy sensibility and playful gender-bending—embodied by Frank-N-Furter’s ‘alien transvestite’ persona—Rocky Horror offered a safe space at a pivotal moment in queer history,” Schonfeld wrote.
Despite being underground and niche, these events provide an amazing safe space for anybody who enjoys the movie, or anyone who just wants to feel a sense of belonging.
Almost everyone, myself included, who has been to a “Rocky Horror Picture Show” screening can say with utmost certainty that the feeling of belonging hits you as soon as you enter the theater. Nobody is an outcast at a screening, and it is a space where you are encouraged to be as yourself as you can be.
The School of Rocky in Kent is just one of the clubs that shows the importance of providing a safe space and community for people who may not fit in everywhere. Without the strength and support of these niche communities, many people could agree that Kent State wouldn’t be the largely accepting school that most people know it to be.
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