How to go
What: “Transylvania Time Warp: The Music of Rocky Horror,” featuring the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and Jeans ‘N Classics
Where: The Schuster Center, Second and Main streets, Dayton
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Cost: $17-$37
More info: 937-228-3630 or www.ticketcenterstage.com
”The Rocky Horror Picture Show” has enjoyed an enthusiastic underground cult following since the late 1970s. However, somewhere along the way, the rock ’n’ roll musical film has moved into the mainstream.
A few years ago, the kids on “Glee” took a stab at the material, which started life as a stage play on London’s West End in 1973. Now, Jeans ’n Classics and the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra are presenting an orchestral take on the material with “Transylvania Time Warp: The Music of Rocky Horror” at the Schuster Center in Dayton on Friday.
“You know you’re getting older when ‘Rocky Horror’ becomes respectable,” Peter Brennan, the founder and lead guitarist of Jeans ’n Classics, said with a chuckle. “It’s still very popular. Who knows why it hit that nerve with the crowd but it did. Horror movies appeal to people and I suppose if you put rock ‘n’ roll music with that idea, regardless of how silly the plot gets, people just smile and have a good time.
“We’ve never gone there but doing ‘Rocky Horror’ with an orchestra should be very, very cool,” Brennan said. “It’s one of those tongue-in-cheek guilty pleasures that a lot of people have and Halloween seems like a very cool time to do something unique like that.”
This wasn’t Brennan’s first encounter with the songs from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” but he did re-watch the movie before he began arranging the material for the Dayton Philharmonic.
“I knew the songs,” he said. “I had seen the movie a couple of times. Before I got into doing Jeans ’n Classics 20 years ago, I played guitar in a semi-pro presentation an ensemble did here in Ontario. I really enjoyed playing it, because the music is well written and the songs all have good hooks. They did a good job with that. Before we really started working on this I got the DVD from Amazon and watched it a couple of times.
“I know the singers have gotten together and watched the movie and laughed and howled and cringed,” Brennan continued. “In taking the visual out of it and just listening to the songs, it’s thoroughly enjoyable, and it totally hangs in as a story line. The songs are really neat and sort of pave the way and define the whole night.”
“Transylvania Time Warp” is the first of three appearances Jeans ’n Classics will have this season during the DPO’s Rockin’ Orchestra Series. The group returns for The Music of Elton John on Jan. 31 and The Beatles albums “Rubber Soul” and “Revolver” on May 30.
“We’re in love with the Dayton Phil(harmonic),” Brennan said. “We’ve had a lovely relationship with them for a number of years. We just adore working with those guys, and that hall is amazing. I brag about it all over the world. It’s one of the finest hall’s you’re ever going to see. We’re thrilled to be coming back.”
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