50 years ago, young couple Brad Majors and Janet Weiss thought they were setting out for a wholesome weekend when their car broke down on a backroad on a dark and rainy night.
Instead, they find themselves trapped in a castle with Dr. Frank-n-Furter, a sexually liberated alien scientist hailing from the planet “Transsexual, Transylvania,” along with his wacky roommates. Riff Raff the butler, his moody sister Magenta, pajamas-wearing Columbia and, the creature in the golden skivvies? That’s Rocky.
As in “Rocky Horror Picture Show.”
A half-century “Time Warp” later?
The story’s become one of most iconic tales of the 20th century, one filled to the brim with glorious weirdness, corruption, blood, lust and plenty of song and dance.
On Oct. 21, crowds at the Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of “Rocky Horror Picture Show” with a screening of the musical movie starring Tim Curry as the campy Frank, a shadow cast of actors who performed alongside the film, and remarks from Brad himself, original cast member Barry Bostwick.
Actor Barry Bostwick speaks before a showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Oct 21, 2025 at Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, TN.
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Fans at the 1,860-capacity venue left their typical symphony attire hanging in their closets.
Instead, they showed up in elaborate get-ups, armed with provided props to wield throughout the show and an arsenal of profane callbacks to scream at the screen.
Suit jackets were traded for lingerie and fishnets. Sweet string arrangements became raunchy heckles. Fans practiced their “pelvic thrust,” as the “Time Warp” lyrics go, in the balcony and took a jump to the left and a step to the right underneath the chandeliers.
People listen as actor Barry Bostwick speaks before the showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Oct 21, 2025 at Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, TN.
Symphony filled with costume-clad ‘Rocky Horror’ fanatics
“Rocky Horror” began as a stage musical in London before being adapted to the screen and premiering in 1975.
Now, the rated R movie has become synonymous with sexual freedom, embracing counterculture and not judging a book by its cover.
Screenings of the film often fall around Halloween, encouraging audience interaction and costumes that invoke the “Rocky” characters.
More: Tim Curry gives health update, talks ‘Rocky Horror’ and the role that got away
People dressed in costume wait before a showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Oct 21, 2025 at Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, TN.
Nashville fans sported golden underwear, wild black curly wigs and sparkly blazers.
An onstage costume contest crowned the night’s winners as a risqué Brad Majors in stockings and underwear and a Dr. Frank-n-Furter wearing Curry’s iconic green lab dress with pearls and red gloves.
Barry Bostwick addresses Nashville Symphony crowd
The president of the “Rocky Horror” fan club, Larry Viezel, hosted the evening. He called the now 80-year-old Bostwick to the stage as fans rose to their feet.
“Where are my creatures of the night?” Bostwick asked as the audience hollered.
“Are there any wild and untamed things out there? Does ‘Rocky’ still thrill you? Does it still chill you? And does it still fulfill you?”
Actor Barry Bostwick speaks before a showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Oct 21, 2025 at Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, TN.
Bostwick dove right in, addressing the crowd with a brassy speech and a comedic Q&A.
While some audience members were taken aback, many were seasoned “Rocky Horror” vets.
Aside from the show’s “Virgins,” the term for first-time viewers who must wear a red lipstick V on their forehead as they watch, viewers knew to expect the unexpected.
Bostwick’s character is famously called an a**hole by the film’s hecklers.
“I’ve been called an a**hole for so many years, I believe that I now could run for the governor of Florida,” he said.
When a fan asked how it feels to be called a profanity by audience members for so long, Bostwick responded: “I have been honored for 50 years. I say this with love in my heart and gratitude for everything you have done … f*** you!”
“Somebody was saying to me tonight, ‘Oh hey, Brad’s my favorite character.’ What are you, mental? He’s not even mine,” he continued.
Bostwick told fans he wasn’t sure he’d be on board for the film at first because he considered himself a “serious actor,” but he was instantly in when he learned he’d get to film intimate scenes with Tim Curry.
Bostwick’s speech had some touching moments, too, addressing the film’s cultural impact and how it has taught folks to embrace their differences.
“You’re now all part of the church of Rocky Horror,” he said.
“And you know what our gospel is? ‘Don’t dream it, be it!'”
People dressed in character stand on stage as they compete in a costume contest before the showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Oct 21, 2025 at Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, TN.
The rest of the evening included photo ops and a memorabilia display with artifacts and a costume from the movie.
The raucous screening of the film was bolstered by audience participation and the Little Morals shadow cast.
Fans blew into noisemakers, danced the choreography to the “Time Warp” and even in Bostwick’s presence, continued to insult his onscreen character with reckless abandon.
50 years later, “Rocky Horror” fans still aren’t tired of the otherworldly party.
As Sarandon’s character sings in the show, they’ve tasted blood, and they want more.
To see other anniversary showings of the film in the Nashville area, check out regmovies.com, amctheatres.com and belcourt.org.
Audrey Gibbs is a music journalist at The Tennessean. You can reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Symphony celebrates ‘Rocky Horror’ 50th with Barry Bostwick
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