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Barry Bostwick talks ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ ahead of local, uncut screenings of the film

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The moment has come to do the time warp again.

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show 47th Anniversary Spectacular Tour” is coming Oct. 7 to Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage and Oct. 21 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Actor Barry Bostwick, who played Brad Majors in the film, will appear at the event where the full uncut version will play. The showing will also feature a memorabilia display, a live shadow cast and a costume contest. Attendees are encouraged to dress up as their favorite characters.

“It’s like the gradfest for Janet at the beginning of the movie,” Bostwick said in a recent phone interview. “A party for you to get out of your house and basement and join the world again. This is our reentry to the congregation of Rocky Horror fans, and we’re going back to church.”

Bostwick’s career has spanned from working on Broadway, filming movies and TV series and, more recently, voice acting. He recently spoke to Southern California News Group about the lasting appeal of “The Rocky Horror Show,” what it was like to be part of the film and more. The following conversation was edited for space and clarity.

Q. What was it like to be part of the Rocky Horror Picture show? 

It was right along with my trajectory and career at the time. I was doing a lot of musicals and off-Broadway things. I had just done “Grease” on Broadway and created the part of Danny Zuko. It was like a natural progression for me to stay in this sort of rock and roll theatrical world. It was a real joy to be able to do what I loved on stage on film and be part of what I thought was the most hip, phenomenal thing to be a part of at that time. It was hip to see it, and it’s amazing that 47 years later, it’s still enthralling and enticing to those who have never seen it and those rewatching.

Q. Why do you think it holds up as a cult classic to this day?

I think it’s because it’s fun, a party, rock and roll, sex, and it’s all the things if you were a young teenager you’d love to be a part of, witness or be entertained by. It’s timeless in terms of its look, feel and music. It’s something that someone can say “I haven’t seen Rocky Horror yet” to their friends, and their friends will say, “What’s wrong with you? Where have you been for the last 47 years?” and drag them by the cuff to a theater at midnight somewhere to show them the film, and if they’re not turned off by it, it becomes their favorite movie of all time. It’s something out of the ordinary from an entertainment standpoint.

Q. How did you connect with your character Brad Majors?

Brad Majors was a product of his time which is what’s interesting about him. He was a throwback to the ’50s male who loses his innocence. He’s brought into the ’70s by his whole experience, and it changes his life. All the characters change because of all their interactions. That’s one of the appeals of it. If you’re an 11 or 12-year-old and your parents are finally allowing you to see this, it’s a rite of passage for you from innocence to debauchery. Well, that’s a strong word, but you know what I mean.

Q. If you could swap roles with some other character in the movie, who would it be?

I wish I had Rocky’s body, Richard O’Brien’s sexual ambiguity and most of Frank-N-Furter’s guile, self-confidence and meanness. I think if you know the movie and you ask someone who they’d want to be, they’d say Frank-N-Furter because he’s so outrageous and multi-character. He’s a killer, S&M advocate, lover, and charmer. He looks great in a bustier and fishnet stockings. I think we’d all like to pull out our fishnet stockings and look like Tim Curry.

Q. What Rocky Horror song do you never get tired of?

I’m never tired of “Once in a While” because it was one of the songs that was cut for time. It was the wrong song for the time in the movie. I hardly ever hear it unless I see the stage version. It slowed the movie down, and ultimately I don’t think it’s about Brad’s reaction to being unfaithful to his wife-to-be. It’s a slow song, and a good song, but where it’s in the movie, I understand why it was cut. I love to sing it occasionally like. If we’re at a convention or something, I’ll sing it. That and “Damn it, Janet.” You can’t beat “Damn it, Janet.”

Q. What was your career like after Rocky Horror? What did you find yourself doing?

I went back to Broadway and got a Tony Award for a show called “The ‘Robber Bridegroom.” I did a lot of movies, and TV series, including a six-hour mini-series about George Washington where I played George Washington. I concentrated a lot on television in the ‘80s and ‘90s, where scripts were driven by strong women, and the character needed a boyfriend or husband. I still get a lot of people who remember me from “Scruples.” It was a heavy couple of decades. I keep working and doing. I’ll do Hallmark movies, and I even did a Netflix movie last year called “Single All the Way.”

Q. You’ve been part of a few TV shows I’ve watched, like “Scrubs” and “Supernatural.”. What have some of your favorite roles been?

Well yeah, “Supernatural.” They really had it down, and it was such an interesting episode. I played this sort of failed magician. I’ve also enjoyed some of my animated work, like I played a part in “Phineas and Ferb,” where I played the grandpa. It’s fun going to conventions because people know me from all sorts of different things, whether it’s Disney like “101 Dalmatians 2: Patch’s London Adventure” or other things. I’m sort of all over the map.

Q. How does it feel to be such a versatile actor?

I am very fortunate. When I was in college and first starting out, they said we had to learn to sing, dance and act if we wanted to make a living. So I focused on singing, dancing, acting and being the best charming guy. I’ve been fortunate to go from one thing to another if something is not working out. I’m always challenging myself to do new things if the right opportunity arises.

Q. Do you have any favorite Halloween movies you go to during the season?

Not really. I’ve done a couple of Halloween movies, but no I’m not big on horror films. My wife won’t even sit with me if I suggest it. I haven’t really developed my taste for haunting or blood-curdling screaming movies. I’m usually too busy for some event for Rocky Horror because that is the Halloween show. It is the show that everyone wants to revisit once a year and that’s usually in October.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show 47th Anniversary Spectacular Tour

Where: Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, 32-250 Bob Hope Drive Rancho Mirage.

When: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7.

Tickets: $25-$75 at 800.514.3849 or aguacalientecasinos.com.

Also: 8 p.m. Oct. 21 La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada.  $20-$75 at lamiradatheatre.com.

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