Lauded as D.C.’s only Rocky Horror shadowcast, The Sonic Transducers have been a long time staple of the DMV’s queer scene. As a recent addition to the cast, I can personally attest to the community’s energy, passion, and unwavering dedication and love for Rocky. However, we were recently hit with devastating news: Landmark’s E Street Cinema, the home of The Sonic Transducers, is closing for good this March. Wanting to shed light on what this means for both the cast and audience, I interviewed Leandra, our cast director, to talk about The Sonic Transducers’ past and future.
Sasha: Can you tell me about the history of The Sonic Transducers? How did the cast come together and evolve over the years?
Leandra: We started out in 2009! The name of the cast was decided by a theater employee who really pushed for there to be a Rocky Horror cast at E Street. Over the years, we’ve had hundreds of cast members stay for at least a show. We’ve had as few as 10 active cast members at one time and as many as around 50! The cast has definitely changed a lot since 2009. The Rocky community has also changed, as has culture as a whole. We’ve gotten out of the era of insult comedy and “fuck you if you can’t take a joke” culture and our cast prides itself in having a show that is really fun for everyone now. Even our virgin games [pre-show games for first time viewers] are designed to make sure that people participating are getting what they want out of the experience. It’s come a long way!
What has made E Street Cinema such a special home for the show? Any favorite memories from performances there?
E Street Cinema is a theater geared toward more artistic and independent films. In general, our audience has been one that looks for something out of the ordinary, and I think that we’ve been really lucky to have been at E Street and been such an available option.
We’ve had loads of great memories. Eden [one of the other cast leaders] proposed to her now husband at a show! Mike proposed to me during a show, and even worked with theater management to get them to stop the show during “Dammit Janet” when Brad proposes to Janet. It is also where I’ve met some of my dearest friends like Kelly [another one of the cast leaders], and had some of my biggest laughs. I’ve also seen virgins become regulars and then become cast members. You have no idea how cool it is for me to see that happen!
How has the D.C. Rocky Horror scene changed over time? Have you noticed shifts in the audience or community involvement?
Enthusiasm for Rocky ebbs and flows. We had a huge influx of much younger audience members right after the Glee episode, and a lot of them just didn’t like it or get it AT ALL. The audience used to generally love a raunchier, more offensive show, so imagine seeing the Glee episode and then coming into this group of people screaming some of the most ridiculously offensive stuff you’ve ever heard—I definitely don’t blame those kiddos for it not being their cup of tea. However, when I go out there during the pre-show, I listen for responses to my jokes. When they stop landing, I change the script next time. We’re only as entertaining as the audience thinks we are. As for community involvement, I think we’re doing more right now than we have ever done (as a cast). In December we had a clothing drive and the proceeds from our prop bag sales were donated to a local sex-positive organization.
When did you first hear about E Street’s closure, and what was your initial reaction?
I heard about it right before the Saturday [2/15] show and I was gutted. I pretty much immediately tried to confirm that we were in good standing and likely to be able to move to another nearby theater, which definitely softened the blow. But the loss of such a wonderful space just immediately felt like a punch in the stomach.
What does this loss mean for The Sonic Transducers and the DC Rocky Horror community as a whole?
It means that we are in a very stressful time where we’re forced to make a lot of changes that we weren’t planning on making. That being said, it’s kind of exhilarating and it’s a good opportunity to figure out what’s still working and what isn’t working anymore.
Are there any special plans for a final show at E Street?
We’re definitely trying to make that happen! I’ve been working with theater management to see if we can have a proper send-off. Hopefully I’ll hear back soon!
What are the biggest concerns about moving, and what are the biggest opportunities?
We have so much storage space at E Street. Storage space is generally an issue for most casts out there, and definitely has been an issue for the casts I’ve visited and guest performed with over the years. I think that having less space will mean that we have to throw out lots of our redundant pieces that we have “just in case” which is definitely a bit scary. I’m also hoping we can find a space that has a set up similar to E Street but if we can’t, we’ll adapt! We have a great reason to try a lot of new things in the future.
What can fans and the community do to support The Sonic Transducers during this transition?
Keep an eye on our social media and our website for the most current info! And then when we find our new home, check us out!
What does Rocky Horror mean to you personally?
It’s extremely important to me. I started doing Rocky in 2004. I have put a lot of effort into making sure that our cast is a really positive and safe space for people to express themselves. Through Rocky, I've been able to explore my own identity. I’ve found best friends here. I can say with complete certainty that my friendship with Kelly saved my life and I wouldn’t have had that without this cast. Even outside of this cast, I spend a lot of time researching the history of the movie (cough cough Kelly and I are Rocky Horror historians with a podcast—Rocky Horror Minute cough cough). I sometimes wonder about what my legacy would be, and I hope for it to be Rocky in DC forever being a place where people can go and be safe to be themselves.
If you could tell future audiences one thing about The Sonic Transducers and why they should come to a show, what would it be?
It’s cheesy, but “Don’t Dream It. Be It” sums it up. Come to our show and have fun! Dress up! Dress comfy! Wear questionable fashion! Question fashion! Question yourself! Sing and yell and do the Time Warp or just watch! It’s all allowed and embraced!
To learn more about the Sonic Transducers and join us on our strange journey, check out the Instagram @dcrockyhorror and the website dcrockyhorror.com.
[Author’s note: During a cast meeting, we received a status update regarding the future of the Sonic Transducers: unfortunately, we will not be able to have a final show at E Street. On the bright side– we have a new home! Come check us out at the Bethesda Row Cinema.]
Sasha Jayne is a sophomore in the College studying Psychology, and is one of the current Commentary editors. Their true loves and passions are metal music, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and wearing excessive amounts of black clothing.
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