Broadway Bound and Gagged, Phoenix’s first live cast for The Rocky Horror Picture Show, is back after a three-year hiatus.  For those of you who may not know what it is (though honestly, how could you not?), Rocky Horror Picture Show (Rocky or RHPS for short) is a movie that was made in the mid-70’s that quickly became a cult classic. 

Not long after the movie was released, select theatres began showing midnight screenings.  At first, there was a pre-show that simply consisted of audience members mouthing the words to the soundtrack in front of the screen.  Over time, however, it grew to a nationwide phenomenon; men wearing women’s clothing, women wearing hardly anything, callbacks shouted at the screen and props (rice, toast, playing cards, etc.) thrown into the audience.

To stroll into a theatre playing Rocky now is not for the faint of heart, particularly if you’re a virgin to the live show, though some things haven’t changed.  The men wear more make-up than the women.  The corsets are tight.  The callbacks are, as always, hilarious.  Denny’s is still the best place for a post-Rocky hangout, whether you have a red lipstick V (indicating RHPS virginity) on your forehead or you’re a veteran.

As it is, though, Broadway Bound and Gagged now performs at Spectrum Cinemas, the theatre inside Spectrum Mall (formerly Christown).  It’s a particular treat for this to be their new home, as not only is it where the cast originally performed, but it’s also one of the only places in the Valley that screened Rocky when it first came out.  For more information on the cast and its seedy past, visit http://www.azrocky.com.  And remember, always throw your toast up and back.