Adriana Normand

Adriana at Atlantic City

I was barely 15 when my friend brought her brother's old VHS copy of Rocky Horror to my house. I had no idea what I was getting into. By Dammit, Janet, I was glued to the screen. By the end credits, I was crying... partially because I was sad over Frank's death, but mostly because, though I didn't understand it at the time, I knew that I had to be a part of this... whatever "this" was.

My devirginization was in 1998, at a college production, just a few months after having seen it on video for the first time. I dressed as Frank, got there early, and sat in the front row, giggling at all the callbacks that were so new to me. Since then, I have performed in six states and two countries, formed a cast in a city devoid of anything Rocky Horror, been involved with several productions of the stage show, and attended several conventions and paloozas.

Over the past ten years I've had the chance to play every character at least once. My favorite part to play, however, is Frank. It was my first costume, my first part, and however many times I throw the cape off, I always get that same rush of adrenaline. No matter how different each audience is, they always seem to go nuts during that first part of Sweet T, and that gives me such a thrill.

Adriana as Frank-N-Furter

My most memorable Rocky experiences include playing Columbia with Sins of the South at the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach... with about six hours notice from the newsgroup... and performing in Paris, France, with The Sweet Transvestites. Two very different atmospheres, but both equally as exciting. Of course, just recently I had the chance to meet Little Nell and Patricia Quinn in Atlantic City, so I guess I should add that to my list!

I have not had a regular cast for some time, but in the past I have been part of a few. I was a founding member of Pure Anti-Matter in Savannah, GA, and I have been with both Sins of the South and The Castle Transylvanians / Sincerely Lusting Castle Transylvanians / Transylvanian Concubines in various locations and incarnations. I have also guest performed with Lips Down on Dixie in Atlanta, Back Row Productions in Charleston, and The Sweet Transvestites in Paris. I hope to be able to be on a weekly cast again in the future, but until then, I will continue to perform with casts wherever and whenever it's possible.

Adriana as Frank-N-Furter

The best thing that Rocky has given me is a sense of community. I have met so many wonderful people through Rocky Horror, and I feel that wherever I go, there is a small group of people there that is open and accepting. I now know people all over the country, and all over the world, just because we all share the strange obsession of watching a 30 year old movie over and over again. I've often asked myself, "why Rocky?" I still don't know. I don't know if I ever will. And I don't know if it matters.