October: the month when everyone spends four weeks stressing about what they are going to wear on the big day (only to end up in underwear and a funny hat) and trying to resist the temptation to gorge on candy corn. This year, in between going to the gym in an effort to squeeze into your sexy astrophysicist costume or avoiding the candy aisle at Bulk Barn, spend some time on another Halloween tradition and check out one (or all) of the three awesome productions of The Rocky Horror Show happening in the city this month.
 
Rocky Horror, you say?! (Those already in the know can skim the next paragraph.) For those of you crawling out from under your rocks for the first time, first and foremost, thank you for checking out Fab magazine; we really appreciate your patronage. Second, prepare yourself for the shocking tale of two lovebirds stranded overnight in the mansion of a crossdressing mad scientist who has just created his very own Frankenstein-style boy-toy, modelled after Charles Atlas, with blond hair and a tan . . . and gold booty shorts. Penned as a side project by an out-of-work actor and inspired by his love for B horror movies, science fiction and rock music, since its debut in London in 1973, the musical version of Rocky Horror has spawned countless international tours and a handful of Tony nominations. The 1975 film adaptation is arguably the most successful cult film to date, thanks to the midnight movie circuit and huge numbers of hardcore fans.
 
With a cast made up of both alums and newcomers, 2012 will mark the Lower Ossington Theatre’s fifth year mounting a production of Rocky Horror. Adam Norrad, reprising his role as Dr Frank-N-Furter, the pansexual Transylvanian transvestite and mad scientist responsible for most of the more intriguing and hilarious sexual ambiguity in our tale, promises that just because it’s been done before, doesn’t mean the LOT is letting things get stale. “The motto we all have been running with is bigger and better. Bigger sounds, cooler set, hotter costumes: it’s all there. We set a very high bar for ourselves with last year's show, but I know that this year's is going to take the breath right out of anyone watching.” Bianca Heuvelmans, who plays Magenta, Frank-N-Furter’s mysterious maid, says simply, “This October’s production unblushingly aims to outdo itself." She warns audiences to “prepare for a musical orgy of rock ’n’ roll, gospel and funk that will leave you in a cold sweat.”
 
Fri, Oct 19 – Sat, Nov 3 at the Lower Ossington Theatre, 100 Ossington Ave. lowerossingtontheatre.com
 
Fallen Rock Productions, known for showcasing emerging Toronto theatre talent as well as for their charitable work (they've raised more than $350,000 over the past decade), has chosen The Rocky Horror Show for their 10th anniversary production. Beginning Oct 25, the Randolph Theatre will be transformed into Frank-N-Furter’s mansion, and all proceeds from the show will go to POGO (Pediatric Oncology Group of Toronto), an organization that benefits children living with cancer and their families. Artistic director Jason Spetter, whose introduction to Rocky Horror was at a children’s summer camp with a production mounted by the counsellors, credits the show’s huge cult following and incredible staying power to its audience participation and good-hearted heckling. “Audiences love the way Rocky Horror celebrates individuality and freeing oneself from inhibitions while at the same time playfully mocking the campy nature of the show. It's become an annual communal event and a rite of passage for the Halloween season.” 
 
Thurs, Oct 25 – Sat Nov 3 at the Randolph Theatre, 736 Bathurst St. fallenrock.ca
 
The last, though certainly not least, stop on our adventure in things Rocky is at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The 1975 film version of the musical is arguably the reason for the cult phenomenon surrounding Rocky Horror. Starring Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick and Tim Curry, as Frank-N-Furter, the Bloor Cinema spices things up with a live shadow cast of actors offering up their own satirical interpretations of the film. Think Mystery Science Theater 3000 meets Elvira meets Beavis and Butthead.
 
Fri, Oct 26; Sat, Oct 27; & Wed, Oct 31 at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, 506 Bloor St W. bloorcinema.com

So read up on what props you need, break out your finest costumes and prepare to get rocked by Rocky Horror.
 
— John Arthur Harwood Crouch is the owner of not one, but two pairs of gold lamé booty shorts.