Working it out: The cast of Rocky Horror prepare for upcoming show

By: Clarke Stackhouse

The cast of "The Rocky Horror Show" is preparing for their upcoming production by working out and getting into shape. 

The show is vocally and physically demanding, and director Marcus Lane hopes implanting the workout plan will help the cast stay in shape and build stamina.

"It's all about stamina," Lane said. "Particularly for my chorus who's on stage about 90 percent of the time. They're singing, they're moving, they're really active and they need to be as strong at the ending as they are in the beginning." 

The cast is seeing their stamina building and the changes the workouts are already making.  Tahauny Cleghorn, Phantom/ chorus, says she she not only sees the changes in herself but her fellow cast members as well.

Michael Cleary who plays Brad Majors holds his pose

“My stamina is up a lot more from where it was and I can see that across the cast," Cleghorn said. "We’re not breathing as heavy after going through a whole song."

Jen Lane, Marcus' wife is a fitness coach and leads the cast in a daily 30 minute workout at the beginning of rehearsals every night. She says they're intense but create results fast.

"You don't have to spend two hours in the gym to be healthy and make progress," Jen said “In just 30 minutes, or even 20 minutes sometimes, you can really get a great workout."   

Marcus said he likes doing the workouts during rehearsal to know that the cast is still working and trying to reach their physical goals.

Jared Wright, Riff Raff, says it helps him stay accountable and gives the cast another bonding opportunity that has been unlike other casts he has been a part of. 

"Your not doing it by yourself. I feel like when you're by yourself you just make yourself give up," Wright said. "When you're with your cast and friends everyones pushing hard and you go for it."

Marcus says he hopes to continue doing a workout with other casts and other shows. Not only will it help them within the shows but in their professional lives as well. He said being fit is a large part of being a working actor in today's society. 

"I'm not in to changing body types," he said. "But, I am in to being as fit as you can be in your personal body type."

"The Rocky Horror Show" opens Nov. 11 and runs until Nov. 15. Tickets will go on sale a week before the shows begin. 

For more information on "The Rocky Horror" show and the UM theatre department click here for their website or like their Facebook page here.

Courtesy of UM Theatre