Weird Whitman History: ‘Rocky Horror’ Celebrates 30 Years on Campus
A look back through the archives at three decades of ‘Rocky’ at Whitman
By Zoe Perkins ’25
I can make you a man. Last year’s cast members (from left) Lita Bacus ’25 as Janet, Quinn Miller ’24 as Frank-N-Furter and Cade Gordon ’25 as Brad. Photography by Asya Johnson ’26, Whitman Wire, Nov. 2, 2023.
Thirty years ago, in October 1994, a Whitman tradition began when an enterprising first-year, Dianne Weghorst ’98, decided to put on the first fall screening of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”—a 1975 musical comedy horror film known for its campy style, colorful characters and enthusiastic audience participation.
The spooky-season tradition stuck—and for the next three decades, Whitties embraced the weird and wacky show year after year with few exceptions. Old issues of student newspapers show the consistent enthusiasm generations of Whitman students have had for the tradition.
Ready for the floor show. Amanda Naylor Andrews ’08 applies makeup to Evan Cartwright ’09, 2005’s Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Photography by King, Whitman College Pioneer, Nov. 3, 2005.
Creating Community
In 2007, Director Justin Daigneault ’09 described the draw of “Rocky,” saying, “It’s so strange and funky and out-there that it has a calling, even for people who haven’t seen it before.”
Ten years later, Leyla Hertzig ’20 echoed Daigneault’s sentiment, discussing the transgressive joy of the show: “I think it’s a way for everyone—both audience and cast—to let go and have a night of crazy fun. [It lets] them melt into the absurdity of the show.”
“I think the campy nature of ‘Rocky’ is what contributes to its timeless qualities.
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Carlee Allen ’25
“Rocky” also has an important place in the history of LGBTQIA+ spaces at Whitman, as Hertzig elaborated in 2017, “It’s one of the queer events that happens on campus; it’s a huge gathering point for younger gay students to come and join the cast and meet older gay students. It’s a community that gets built over the years.”
When asked if they think the show creates queer visibility on campus, current Whitman student Grace Ireland ’25 responds, “Definitely, especially in other uses of the word ‘queer,’ not just as a space for LGBTQIA+ people to be present in a group but also as space for all people to be ‘queer,’ as in strange or odd.”
Center stage. Cast members from Whitman’s 2007 “Rocky” production perform in front of a projection of the film. Photography by Eduardo Duquez ’08, Whitman College Pioneer, Nov. 8, 2007.
‘Rocky’ Today & Tomorrow
This year’s screening of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” took place Saturday, Nov. 2, where it drew a sizable crowd. A mixture of avid “Rocky” fans and students completely unfamiliar with the show delighted in the production. Snacks were provided beforehand as everyone milled about within the entrance of Cordiner Hall, chatting and complimenting each other on their outfits.
This year’s Co-Director Carlee Allen ’25 notes what they believe to be the cause of the show’s lingering relevance: “I think the campy nature of 'Rocky' is what contributes to its timeless qualities. It’s difficult to imagine something like 'Rocky Horror' (which in its nature disrupts the heteronormative conventions of sexuality) being made in 1975. But queer people have always existed and always will exist, so I think that element of timelessness is exemplified through this shared bond throughout time and space between the queer people who were there when the movie came out in 1975 and those who can continue to enjoy the cult classic experience of Rocky Horror now.”
While this year’s production may be over, “Rocky” fans will have another chance to join in the fun next year when the Rocky Horror Picture Show Club, now in charge of putting the event on every year, inevitably says, “Let’s do the Time Warp again!”