Documentary About Movie Paired with Stage Musical for ESU Homecoming
Emporia, KS (10/20/2025) — ESU Theatre will host a single viewing of "Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror," a documentary about the enduring legacy of the cult-classic movie. The screening coincides with ESU Theatre's production of "The Rocky Horror Show" as the 2025 Homecoming musical.
"Strange Journey" will be shown at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, in Bruder Theatre inside King Hall on the ESU campus. It will be shown on the same stage as the musical is performed. A special midnight showing of the stage musical will be presented that same night.
Written by Richard O'Brien, "The Rocky Horror Show" stage musical premiered in 1973 on the London stage. In 1974, the production was staged in Los Angeles, which led to a film version - "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" - being released in 1975. With lackluster ticket sales, the movie would have ended there, until an enterprising ad executive convinced a theatre owner to offer a midnight showing in 1976.
That showing attracted fans who showed up dressed as characters in the movie. They brought with them props, a tradition of "backtalk" at movie characters and shadow casts to act out scenes in front of the movie screen. These traditions held true during the Oct. 10 showing of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" at the Emporia Granada Theatre.
Tickets to see the "Strange Journey" documentary are available online and cost $10. All seating is reserved. Tickets for all six productions of "The Rocky Horror Show" musical are also available at the same online link.
Fans of the movie and stage show will enjoy "Strange Journey," according to Daniel Fienberg, who reviewed the documentary for The Hollywood Reporter in March of this year.
"Released tied to the 50th anniversary of the 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' film," Fienberg wrote, "'Strange Journey' benefits to no small degree from the presence of (Linus) O'Brien, son of 'The Rocky Horror Show' creator Richard O'Brien - which means access to archives and memories and presumably easier facilitation of conversations with an astonishing assortment of people associated with the property at every level."
"At the end of the documentary," Fienberg concludes, "Richard O'Brien reflects on his realization over the years that 'Rocky Horror' hasn't truly belonged to him for years. It belongs, he says, to the fans, and 'Strange Journey' is a record they'll be pleased to have."
About Emporia State University
Emporia State University offers a range of academic programs through its institute and seven schools: Applied Health Sciences, Business & Technology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies, Library and Information Management & Library and Archives, Science & Mathematics and Visual and Performing Arts, along with The Teachers College.
ESU stands out for its innovative education practices. It ensures accessible education by offering in-state tuition rates to full-time undergraduate students from all lower-48 United States. Additionally, full-time undergraduates benefit from flat-rate tuition - students enrolled in 12 or more credit hours with at least one credit hour on campus pay a flat rate.
For more information on how to build your future at Emporia State University, please visit www.emporia.edu.
Emporia State University
Gwendolynne Larson, ESU director of media relations, (620) 341-5528, glarson1@emporia.eduShare this Story
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