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From its humble beginnings as The Necromerchant’s Debt playing at the John Raitt theater in Hollywood, through the many iterations and adaptations that have led up to the feature length film released in 2008, Repo! The Genetic Opera has garnered a cult following with fans that are passionate about the world that Darren Smith and Terrance Zdunich created. So passionate in fact, that all over the country people have been showing their dedication to the film by performing shadowcasts.
What is a shadowcast? It describes the actions of a troupe of actors who recreate a film on stage that is playing in the background. The live actors emulate, enhance, and interpret what is happening on the screen.
Wondering who it is that does this type of thing and why? Well, I had the opportunity to interview some of the members of The Utah Scalpel SL,UT’s which is the name of the troupe performing the shadowcast here in Salt Lake City. I spoke with Cali Litton the producer and MC of the event and Jen Ogle who plays Blind Mag in the performance and who is also the assistant director. Here is the conversation:
Me: First question… and this is the one that is burning on everybody’s minds… Why?
- Cali – Why Not? We’ve been doing Rocky (Horror Picture Show shadowcast) forever, and somebody contacted the film society about doing a shadowcast for Repo. It was actually Jude (who plays Shiloh, and Ryan who is the director and plays Roddy this year. They contacted me and Jen and we all got together. We just decided to all become one happy family.
Me: I have heard many people make comparisons between the two films… Is that fair?
- Cali – They’re both considered rock operas. There are a lot of jokes that can be done. Shadowcasting for a musical is a lot of fun and it keeps us happy.
- Jen: The origins of both started on stage. They were stage plays.
- Me: I’m a big fan of Repo, but I didn’t hear of it until I saw the movie.
- Cali: Repo was started 10+ years ago by Smitty (Darren Smith) and Terrance Zdunich.
Me: There have been a few people who claim that Darren Bouseman is trying to unnaturally create a shadowcast following to give the film more exposure. Is that true?
- Cali - I don’t remember anything that Bouseman said, but it’s been a natural progression. It hasn’t been Bousman who started it. It’s other people who started watching it and had the idea that it would be cool to do a shadowcast for. There are a bunch of movies that could be done, but it is just nobody has gotten around to doing them.
- Jen – Some other films that have been done, such as Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, Hedwig and the Angry Inch… there have been so many.
- Cali - The following for this (Repo) is a much younger crowd. With Rocky, the culture is a little different because it is so much more established than Repo is. To give you an idea… with Rocky, we don’t allow anybody in our cast who isn’t “of age”.
- Me: What’s “of age”?
- Cali – 18… we prefer 21 because of the parties that we have afterward etc, but for Repo we actually have kids bring in permission slips from their parents. To give you an idea, we’re the oldest people… I’m 33 and she’s (Jen) is 32.
- Jen – With Rocky it’s a little bit different. We have a more mature crowd.
- Cali – People who have been going since they were kids.
- Me – Makes sense… that came out in 75?
- Cali – This year is 35 years!
Me: What would you tell someone who has never been to a shadowcast before to expect?
- Jen – If they come to watch a movie… forget it.
- Cali – You’re not here to watch a movie; you’re here to watch people make and have fun on the stage.
Me: With all of your rehearsals and preparation and organizing, this seems like it is a big time-consumer. Is it worth it?
- Cali and Jen – Oh YES!
- Cali – This labor of love and at the end of the show we’re tired and sore, but the adrenaline rush is so worth it!
The Repo! Shadowcast will take be hosted by the Tower Theater (876 e. 900 s. Salt Lake City) and will have midnight showings on both Friday May 28 and Saturday May 29. Doors open at 11:30 pm both nights. Admission will be $10.
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