Phrases / Bri Ng Schwartz
Photographs / Joan Marcus
As Broadway’s The Rocky Horror Present prepares to say goodbye to their unique Eddie/Dr. Scott, Harvey Guillen, and Rocky, Josh Rivera, LADYGUNN joins the pair of their dressing room on the notorious Studio 54. Power was already at a ten upon our arrival throughout their two-show day, with rapid-fire bit after bit between the 2. Inside jokes and banter galore, we nearly felt as if we have been interrupting one thing (and we have been.) Simply shy of three months sharing area, the 2 have developed the bromance of a lifetime.
The area is stuffed with dehydrated flowers, deflated balloons, and on-theme knick-knacks. A neon “Eddie On The Rocks” signal casts blue and pink hues all through the area. “That is the unique Membership Cumming, and Alan Cumming’s dressing room when he did Cabaret.” Harvey shares concerning the inspiration behind the signal. “We thought it was actually cool that exterior the window there’s this historic neon signal that claims ‘Unique house of Membership Cumming’. We have been like, ‘Nicely, Eddie and Rocky are going to share a room.’ So we named it Eddie on the Rocks.” Being the one two solid members to share a dressing room, Eddie On The Rocks has develop into the assembly place for a post-show nightcap amongst the solid. With a self-imposed open door coverage, solid members like Amber Grey and Stephanie Hsu will pop in for a ki.
Early on of their friendship, they discovered that they share an analogous humorousness, which has proved to be an sudden asset to Rocky Horror’s advertising and marketing. Harvey’s backstage Instagram and TikTok movies have garnered a following that has introduced from throughout the nation to the revived Studio 54 to do the Time Warp repeatedly.
“On the stage door, persons are like ‘I got here from Seattle due to your TikToks.” Harvey reveals “So we realized that advertising and marketing is definitely actually enjoyable to do when you’ve got downtime. The movies flip into commercials.”
Whereas the 2 share an analogous humorousness, they be aware that they’ve discovered lots about themselves as individuals from each other. Josh notes that he will be shy and selectively introverted, however that Harvey may allure a brick. Harvey shares that Josh has taught him about navigating individuals and crowds, which is a needed element of being part of a cult traditional like Rocky Horror. For the reason that launch of the film in 1975, shadow-casts and Midnight showings have popped up everywhere in the nation, offering a haven for these deemed totally different. With traditions that span from throwing bathroom paper on the display screen to coordinated heckling mid-movie, the Broadway stage has not stopped fanatics from persevering with a number of the (stage secure) traditions.
“I keep in mind the second preview. At that time we hadn’t actually gotten used to the call-outs. It was a terrifying factor to do the present simply on the whole, simply because we have been nonetheless studying what the present was and it was discovering its identification.” Josh shares early reminiscences of name outs through the present. “Some call-outs are regional. We found that a few of them didn’t make sense to New Yorkers, but it surely undoubtedly made sense in Texas. Somebody got here from Omaha they usually’re like, ‘We are saying this right here’ It’s as a result of after 50 years of doing this at Midnight Screenings, they’ve added their very own two cents, which is very nice, but in addition not everybody is aware of it. We be taught lots as we go alongside.” provides Harvey.
Josh and Harvey have their very own distinctive tales in discovering Rocky Horror far earlier than they have been solid within the revival. Throughout his time on the Hamilton tour, a solid mate of Josh’s wished to place collectively a shadow solid the place coincidentally, his solid member wished him to play Rocky.
“I keep in mind being actually caught off guard by how a lot I discovered it transferring. There’s this energy and charisma that Frank wields all through that slips off right into a masks of sincerity on the finish. And you may really feel nonetheless you wish to about that character, however there’s one thing actually unusual and human about the entire thing. Sarcastically, he’s an alien, however I simply keep in mind feeling like that is such a bizarre, particular factor that I really feel like I discovered my very own little secret.”
Harvey provides his expertise, noting the counterculture that the film supplied to his strict Catholic upbringing. “I requested myself why I used to be drawn to individuals being liberated, being free and sexual.”
The success of Broadway’s The Rocky Horror Present has reminded the theater group how impactful the cult traditional is. In a local weather that villainizes the LGBTQ+ group, the outlandish humor of the present is a singular escape. Director Sam Pinkleton balances the comedic timing and extra risque components of the present with lovely staging, creating a real celebration of the supply materials. Harvey speaks to the significance of manufacturing the present in 2026.
“The truth that you may say ‘I’m only a candy transvestite from Transexual, Transylvania’ and that these lyrics haven’t been modified. It’s nonetheless push buttons in small cities to do a present like this. It implies that 53 years later, it’s nonetheless wanted. Probably the most lovely message I feel we are able to ever do with our present is to have any person go away and stroll away and really feel not alone. To be seen and hopeful.”
Harvey and Josh will each take their ultimate bows at Studio 54 on August twenty third and cross their batons to George Salazar and Jimin Moon. When requested about what they’ll miss most concerning the present, they emphasize lacking one another. Additionally they be aware how particular it has been to construct a present from the bottom up with an ensemble the way in which that this revival of Rocky Horror was developed. Wanting on the silver lining of their departures, Harvey reminds us of the magic of getting new expertise rotating out and in of such a particular present. “Each new one that is available in is bringing power and a very attention-grabbing new factor” Josh provides “It retains it recent and it makes you join with the characters another way.”
The friendship that Josh and Harvey have constructed during the last a number of months is a real testomony to the distinctive group that theater can construct. Inside the framework of a narrative that emphasizes the foolish and unabashed self-expression, it’s no shock that it has served as grounds for deep connection. Aspiring Transelvanians have another week to catch this dynamic duo in motion.
