Courtesy of Elaine Sandoval
This year’s production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Connecticut College was not just a repeat of a well-loved campus tradition. For Julia Toyer ’27, it was a deeply personal, evolving journey, mixing intense preparation, creative adaptation, and vivid memories of what the show has meant to her as both an artist and an organizer. “Every year Rocky is a little bit different,” Julia shares, explaining that despite showing the same film, subtle but significant changes in direction, casting, and, this year, a change in venue made each performance unique. She emphasizes, “All three times I have been in Rocky, I have had wildly different experiences based on the different directors, different casts, and different spaces.”
This year, the transition from the more intimate Olin space to the much larger Evans Hall was “an incredibly different space size and vibe-wise.” Evans’ increased capacity, Julia explains, “allowed more people to come and enjoy Rocky,” and the energy was palpable: “In previous years, we had to turn a significant number of people away as they could not fit in Olin, but this year everyone who wanted to see Rocky was able to, which led to Wig and Candle to essentially fill Evans for this year’s performance. This created a whole new energy in the space that had never existed before.” Julia describes the exhilaration of performing to a full house: “As a performer, being able to perform for a full crowd made everything feel that much more special.” The atmosphere was even more poignant for her, knowing that “so many of my senior friends were involved in this show in some capacity, so knowing that this would be my last Rocky with them, in particular Nell and Ava Mary who I have had the incredible opportunity to be in Rocky with the last two years, added a whole new layer of meaning to this year’s performance.”
Few in the audience realize just how much behind-the-scenes effort fuels the wild spectacle of Rocky Horror. Preparation began with auditions in mid-September and continued with rehearsals right up to showtime. As both Janet and production manager, Julia played a central role on and offstage. “As production manager, I held weekly meetings with the entire production team for Rocky. This included the director, assistant director, makeup artist, assistant makeup artist, costume designer, assistant costume designer, props head, and our production assistant,” she says. Juggling both responsibilities was no easy feat: “I also attempted to ensure that things ran smoothly behind the scenes. I found that it was really difficult to separate myself from my production manager role when in the rehearsal space. I wanted to jump in and answer questions or help to fix things when an issue arose, but that was not my job when in rehearsals. In the rehearsal space, I was simply meant to be an actor.”
Scheduling proved to be one of the biggest hurdles. Autumn at Connecticut College is notoriously busy, with participants involved in multiple creative endeavors—from Theatre Department productions and dance to acapella and other student clubs. “Trying to find a time where everyone was available meant that we were typically rehearsing very late at night,” Julia says, “but I feel like these late night rehearsals contribute to the spirit of Rocky Horror.” The show’s long-standing connections to midnight performances and countercultural community were reflected each evening, fortifying a sense of camaraderie and tradition.
Another test for the cast came in the shift from Olin to Evans. “For the majority of our rehearsal process, we were in Olin, meaning we choreographed and blocked everything for the Olin stage, so when we moved to Evans for our first tech rehearsal, I think a lot of us were shocked when we realized the sheer size of the stage. We all had to work really hard to make sure we were filling up the space and didn’t look awkward on such a large stage.” The technical team and cast had a short window to adapt, but their flexibility contributed greatly to the vibrancy and polish of the final show.
Reflecting on this year’s Rocky Horror, Julia expresses overwhelming pride: “I feel so proud of having filled Evans and created such a large community of Rocky lovers!” She sees the event not just as a show, but as the cultivation of a space that encourages “a large community of Rocky lovers,” bonded by shared experience and enthusiasm.
Her multi-year Rocky participation has been transformative. “I have had the opportunity to be in Rocky every year I have been at Conn. Freshman year I played Columbia, sophomore year I was a part of the ensemble, and then this year I had the opportunity to play my favorite character in the movie, Janet.” Julia recalls that, “Although it may be cheesy, I can confidently say that being in Rocky my freshman year was my camel moment. Freshman year, Rocky introduced me to some of my best friends and truly made me feel as if I had found my space here at Conn. Because of Rocky, I went on to perform in more Wig and Candle shows and applied to be on the eboard, which has truly created a wiggy family for me.”
Her experience organizing the production has had a lasting impact on her philosophy of leadership and inclusion in the arts. “As an organizer, Rocky has helped me to realize the importance of ensuring that performance and rehearsal spaces alike are inclusive, welcoming, and simply put, fun to be in.” She hopes future organizers and participants keep these values alive.
Julia’s dreams for upcoming Rocky Horrors speak as much to community building as performance. “I hope that we are able to continue performing in Evans. I also hope that we are able to continue providing people with a space in which they feel at home both in themselves and in their community.” Her words encapsulate not just the spirit of Rocky at Conn this year, but the best aspirations of campus theatre: tradition fused with change, challenging logistics made meaningful through collective effort, and a place where each year’s unique group leaves its own vivid mark on a beloved cult classic.
