‘KOMBAT’ READY
‘ROCKY HORROR’ RETURNS.
With the closure of the River Oaks Theatre on March 25 in the wake of the tussle between Landmark Theatres and property owner Weingarten Realty over the lease, Houston’s long tradition of a live “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” event came to an end. But this ending has a new beginning: On April 23, the cast is moving to the White Oak Music Hall, at least temporarily, as the fate of the old cinema is being decided.
“I was beyond heartbroken. I have a tight relationship with the place,” says cast director Kyle Vaughn, who emcees the show and plays Riff Raff and Eddie. “We heard about the closing from the news, and my blood turned to ice.”
With few breaks, “Rocky Horror” had been taking place regularly at the River Oaks Theatre since April 1992, having started there after the closure of the Bellaire Theatre. This past year has been different. Vaughn’s cast, the Mystic Order of Chaos, has not performed much for more than a year due to the pandemic. They were planning a major overhaul of the show, including props and costumes, when the pandemic hit, and like many in Houston, have simply been waiting as the fate of the theater was decided.
The show at White Oak will not be the first time the cast has branched out from its traditional home. Mystic Order of Chaos has done road shows before, everything from Comicpalooza to a food truck convention.
Vaughn has been very active in discussions about what could be done to keep River Oaks Theatre an ongoing performance and art space, forming a tight team with former theater manager Sarah Gish and Michelle Mower of SWAMP (Southwest Alternate
Media Project). Dubbed the Friends of the River Oaks, they’ve had meetings with the mayor and possible investors they hope will be able to preserve the theater’s role.
“Houston has no historical legacy outside of paving over it,” says Vaughn. “This battle for the theater is louder and has gotten more people involved. Weingarten could benefit from this space, and Houston should make sure that it remains a place for the arts…Theaters are changing to survive, and we’re part of that equation. The Plaza Theatre in Atlanta does ‘Rocky Horror’ every week, and it’s one of the primary things that keeps it open. It’s an event theater. I think if anything comes out of the back end of COVID, it involves engaging these audiences.”
What Vaughn is talking about actually goes back to the early days of the “Rocky Horror” cult phenomenon. Independent theaters such as the Bellaire often relied on the consistent and fervent repeat audiences of “Rocky Horror” to make ends meet..
Despite being nearly 50 years old, “Rocky Horror” continues to draw in new adherents and fans thanks to the unique, participatory events like those staged by Mystic Order of Chaos. The traditions of the show represent an unbroken line of “freaks, geeks and weirdos” from the city’s history. Despite some of the show’s dated aspects, Vaughn feels the institution remains important, especially for queer youth in the city looking for a place to discover themselves.
“‘Rocky’ is such a weird case,” he says. “In 2021, it’s so ridiculously problematic, including its traditions. But it recognizes the fact there’s a Frank N. Furter in all of us. I think there’s a lot of room to own that monster.”