NORTHAMPTON — In the dim pink light of the Majestic Saloon on Main Street, people pack around tables watching “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” interrupting the movie playing on a screen above the bar every few minutes with an innuendo said in unison or flying pieces of toilet paper.

In the very narrow space between the tables and people clamoring around the bar, a man dressed as Dr. Frank-N-Furster, complete with fishnets and a bustier, drags another person in gold briefs away from a woman dressed in 1940s high-waisted underwear and a bra.

These three actors mirror the events on the screen, lip-syncing lines and dancing to musical numbers for the rowdy crowd, which continues to yell at the characters in the movie.

In opposition to a traditional movie theater experience, yelling “slut” at a screen while people in costumes dance around half-naked is standard for a “Rocky Horror Picture Show” screening. And for 20 years, that tradition in western Massachusetts has been kept alive by Come Again Players, a group of actors who perform the Rocky Horror show throughout the region.

After last week’s show at the Majestic Saloon in Northampton, Come Again Players will once again time warp Dr. Frank’s laboratory and incorporate audiences into the adventures of Brad Majors and Janet Weiss — stars of the original comedy/musical — this Saturday at the Greenfield Garden Cinemas.

“The mantra of the movie is ‘don’t dream it, be it,’” and that’ really carries us in what we do,” technical director Matthew Jarrett said.

Come Again Players started in 2003 when Tower Theater manager Angela Reddy and owner Robert Adam teamed up with Rocky Horror fans to add a midnight viewing of the movie complete with a floor show. Performances happened weekly, then twice a month, and by the time Come Again Players Director Sylvia Peterson attended a screening in 2009, the shows only occurred once a month. The Rocky Horror troupe hosted monthly shows at the Tower Theater for 11 years, attracting regulars and hosting different themed nights.

“It was about the community more than anything else,” said Amanda Lamontagne, a founding cast member of Come Again Players. “A lot of my best friends I met doing Rocky Horror, some of my best memories were made performing Rocky Horror, and traveling with the cast. Everyone who comes into it has a different story, but a lot of people feel like outcasts or like we didn’t necessarily fit it, and in coming together in doing Rocky Horror, we found acceptance and belonging.”

Tower Theater closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic, halting the Rocky Horror shows. When the cinema reopened, it lacked the staff to support Come Again Player’s productions, and the troupe lost their home.

“It was really valuable to have a home base and a place to store our stuff and a community that knew we would perform on the first of every month; we would love to get back to that if there’s a space to host us,” Peterson said.

Performances stopped completely for two years. Then, last October, a couple of venues reached out to Peterson inquiring about one-night performances during the spooky season.

“Places reached out to us; people were clamoring for rocky horror! And those venues are the same venues we are working with this year,” said Peterson, noting in addition to Northampton and Greenfield, the troupe has already performed in Connecticut.

Transforming into a traveling cast without storage or a dressing room required the cast to be resourceful. Stage spaces vary immensely, from a plain stage to a cramped bar to a slanted movie theater. The troupe often edits the show to fit the space or gets creative with blocking and props. Peterson and Jarrett both had cars full of costumes, props and makeup. Jarrett added that certain props, like a huge red tank he constructed for Rocky to rise from, remain in his basement until the troupe finds a more permanent space.

“We’re really creating an experience, and that’s what really drives me to continuing doing it even when it’s really difficult,” Jarrett said.

A cult following

“Rocky Horror Picture Show” grew a cult following when theaters began late-night showings in the mid-1970s. Audience participation, beyond singing along with the musical numbers, started at Waverly Theater in Greenwich Village. Audience members began shouting lines during the movie or asking a question during long pauses in dialogue which the next dialogue line answers.

For example, when Magenta says, “I ask for nothing ... nothing,” the audience replies, “under twelve inches!” Some callout lines have a local flare or morph to current events or social movements.

Moviegoers also brought props to the screenings, like a newspaper hat for when Janet attempts to stay dry in the rain by holding a newspaper over her head or toilet paper for when Brad Majors said “Great Scott!”

While traditionally moviegoers bring their own props, included in the Come Again Players’s ticket price are certified audience participation kits, or CRAP kits, complete with all the props used for callouts. A small piece of toast, a party hat, playing cards and toilet paper are just a few of the items in the bag, along with a paper explaining when to use each item.

Some people began showing up in costume, which developed into floor-shows where people lip-synced to the movie in costume. Other rituals, such as saying the Transylvanian pledge of alliance before the show, took shape from the original audience participation concept. First-time “Rocky Horror Picture Show” viewers, called virgins, are inducted into the community when a cast member draws a red V on the newcomers’ heads and then calls them to the stage to perform a silly task.

As the area’s only shadow cast, Peterson said Come Again Players influences the Rocky Horror culture in the area and fosters an inclusive experience. The cast discourages callout lines that are traditionally offensive to oppressed racial, ethnic and queer groups, a policy announced at the beginning of every show.

“[Our callback policy is] punch up and not punch down. Don’t make callbacks that further oppress marginalized groups; we punch up, or say callback lines that make fun of groups in power,” Jarrett said. “Culture change doesn’t happen overnight and we are trying to apply consistent pressure to nudge ship in different directions.”

Come Again Players booked three shows this year, with the cast ever changing. As a volunteer organization, the cast size and makeup of the group fluctuates frequently. According to Jarrett’s cast member spreadsheet, 29 people are listed as active members of the troupe and 41 volunteers have been involved with floor shows over the past seven years.

Peterson said casting roles depends mostly on a new person’s interest in a role. Sometimes a volunteer knows exactly who he or she wants to play; other times, Peterson assigns a starting role based on a person’s energy or personality.

“Our primary concern is people is having fun with those roles and want to do those roles. Some people have no idea and we might say, ‘We really need some more Brads.’” Peterson said. “Then people gain the confidence, and watch other people play roles and then say ‘Ah, I know what I want to play next.’”

Growing confidence was a key reason Come Again Players cast member Hannah Leister, Jarrett and Peterson fell in love with the Rocky Horror shadow cast. Leister, however, added the communal aspect of the movie.

“It’s such a fun group of people and expression of queerness and queer joy,” Leister said. “Whether your in the audience or in the cast, you get to be a part of something.”

For more information on performances or joining the cast, check out Come Again Players’ Facebook page or email them at thecomeagainplayers@gmail.com.

Emilee Klein can be reached at eklein@gazettenet.com