“Don’t dream it, be it”: MC’s Rocky Horror Picture Show honors the late Tim Curry

By Dakota Forelle \ Sept. 29, 2026

For years, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has provided a space for many Maryville College students to be expressive and unapologetically themselves. The shadow cast performed Rocky Horror on Sept. 25. 

This year’s production carried extra weight, coming just after the death of legendary actor Tim Curry, who plays Frank-N-Furter. Curry’s Frank-N-Furter, along with other roles, have become enduring and symbolic within the queer community. 

For both the cast and production team, Curry’s death has made this year’s performance different. 

“I think everyone on the production team and I all of a sudden felt like this Rocky mattered a little more than it might have in previous years,” said Jaden Greenlee (’28), the show’s director. “I think it made us want to try that much harder to put on an amazing show.”

Eden Carnes (’27), who played Frank-N-Furter, said auditions took place only three days after Curry’s death. Carnes has been involved in the production of Rocky Horror for three years and has watched two actors portray Frank-N-Furter before stepping into the role. 

“When I first got the call offering me the part, I was ecstatic,” Carnes said. “But as I thought about it, I worried that I wouldn’t be doing Tim Curry justice.”

Carnes said she questioned if she could properly play a character that means so much to queer audiences. She described Rocky Horror as a place of solace, and added that she didn’t want to take away from the experiences the character displays. 

“Curry was a very private individual and didn’t disclose his personal relationships or sexuality,” Carnes said. “Yet, his confident and iconic portrayal of Frank has made generations of queer individuals feel seen.”

For Carnes, playing Frank is not about perfectly recreating Curry’s performance. Instead, she is trying to incorporate elements of his portrayal while bringing her own interpretation to the character

“There is definitely a tonal shift when Frank is being played by an AFAB (Assigned Female at Birth) person,” Carnes said. “It’s important to me that Frank and Rocky’s relationship still feels queer. I don’t want to ‘straight-wash’ RHPS.”

Frank-N-Furter’s flamboyance and confidence are what makes the character memorable. Carnes said those qualities are part of what makes Frank important to queer audiences.

She also said the film’s treatment of sexuality and gender expression challenge the expectations placed on them, including experimenting with costumes and exploring desires.

“I think that Frank being the agent of this change allowed viewers to feel comfortable in their self expression,” Carnes said.

Sarah Christy (’28), who played Janet Weiss, said the show provides a space where students can express themselves without being judged. 

“I really love that Rocky gave queer audiences permission to be openly weird and unconventional without treating these qualities as something to fix,” Christy said. “Rocky gives audiences a space to embrace parts of themselves that they have been told are ‘too much.’”

That freedom extends beyond the performers. While the performers have almost complete freedom over their costumes, audience members are encouraged to dress up as well, Greenlee explained.

Greenlee, who is an openly transgender student, said the production provides room for students to experiment with gender expression in ways they may not feel comfortable doing in everyday life.

“I think Rocky gives a lot of wiggle room to play within the two more binary gender ideas that we adhere to more in everyday life,” Greenlee said.

Curry’s legacy was acknowledged before both performances. However, for the cast, the tribute was carried beyond the introduction. 

“I know we all had tears in our eyes during ‘I’m Going Home,’” Christy said.

Carnes said the song was especially meaningful to her this year as she prepares to graduate from MC. She connected Frank’s experiences and desire to be loved with her own. 

“I hope that my performance pays homage to an incredible actor,” Carnes said. “I hope that we can put on a performance that brings queer joy to the Maryville and Blount County community and reminds people that they matter and are loved.”

While Curry’s death influenced the emotional significance of this year’s show, the production itself didn’t undergo any major changes.

“We aren’t changing much this year in terms of set or props,” Greenlee said. “The people of APO have been building up the show since its conception, and while we are always striving to improve, we didn’t feel we had the time to add anything extravagant to the show at this time.”

Greenlee contemplated moving the show date to give the cast more time to prepare, but decided to keep the Sept. 25 date.

The earlier date was mostly a scheduling decision. Since more events will be taking place at the Clayton Center, the production has to fit around the College’s existing schedule. According to Greenlee, there was discussion about the production showing on Halloween, but it was ultimately decided that late September would work better for the cast and audience. 

The production may be campy, chaotic and intentionally strange, but that’s exactly what Carnes hopes first-time viewers will embrace.

“Movies should be weird,” Carnes said. “I hope people leave the theater and think, ‘What did I just watch?’ And I hope people can find some deeper meaning in the ridiculousness.”

Curry’s absence was inevitably felt. But for the students performing Rocky Horror, honoring his legacy is not necessarily about trying to recreate what he did, but paying a tribute to the late legend.