AN INTERVIEW WITH CLAY CHRISTOPHER – THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW AT JOBSITE THEATER
Despite groans from family members, Clay Christopher carries himself with an air of assurance in the iconic ensemble. He has been affectionately nicknamed “the brown Tim Curry” throughout his professional career and is fully prepared to embrace this legendary character.
Christopher gets real about stepping into Frank-N-Furter’s platform shoes one-on-one with The Artisan Magazine.
How do you prepare for this iconic campy role?
I would say that I have been preparing for this role my whole life. I’m a fan of The Rocky Picture Horror. I was probably too young to watch it the first time I came across it, but I was in the room, and it was on TV. It looked interesting and fun. People were singing, dancing, and dressed weirdly. I just took to it immediately. To see Tim Curry, who quickly became one of my favorite actors of all time, play the role of Doctor Frank-N-Furter just opened my world up. I won’t say that made me want to become an actor because I already knew at a young age that I wanted to be, but seeing Curry in this larger-than-life way showed me so many possibilities of what it could be like to be a movie star, to be on stage, and how much fun it could be.
What is your favorite musical number to perform, and why?
It absolutely has to be “Sweet Transvestite.” That’s Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s big opening number and the first time we see him. It’s about 15-20 minutes into the show – what a great entrance of that character. The setting of the show is in the 1950s. Until that moment when Brad and Janet walk into that giant scary house, everything is kind of very 50s normal, Norman Rockwell. Then all of a sudden, this man in giant heels and a corset comes down an elevator singing rock and roll, talking about he’s from a different planet, that he’s a sweet transvestite – something so boldly against what’s going on in the 1950s. It’s one of the greatest songs in musical history, in my opinion, and one of the greatest character entrances. What a thrill it will be to get on stage and do that.
What aspect of Frank-N-Furter’s personality do you find most intriguing to portray?
I find his undeniable charisma fascinating. He just exudes charisma out of every pore of his being. He’s so positive about everything he’s doing. He’s so self-righteous and all-knowing.
How does Frank-N-Furter’s character challenge traditional gender roles and expectations?
From the time that piece is set in the 1950s obviously, having a man dressed like that will stir many people up from that Norman Rockwell type of nuclear family dynamic. Whether you’re talking about today’s times or when the show came out in the 70s, he is completely unapologetic about how he presents himself. He doesn’t ask for acceptance. He demands it. And he doesn’t see anything or anyone that does not accept him as he is. Talking about the norms of it all and the expectations, he doesn’t give a flip about any of that, and that definitely goes against what anyone would expect.
How do you maintain your energy during the show?
I feel like I’ve been preparing for it my whole life. I’ve been doing things to change my body and my mentality to prepare for the role. I’ve lost a considerable amount of weight and have taken very good care of my voice. I have prepared myself mentally to work on mindfulness, meditation, and positivity. Even though the role looks like all fun and games, it can get to a very dark place very quickly. You have to maintain a balance in your mind and body, so taking care of my health will help my stamina and help my energy. And I have asked for rehearsal heels so I can start walking around my house in my heels.
What’s your process for getting into character before a performance?
I know the character very well. I understand that even though he exudes all this confidence, a lot of times, it comes from a place of deep personal insecurity that Frank-N-Furter must feel but never shows. He is, in fact, a fish out of water. He’s not of this planet. It’s not a Tim Currie impression, but I definitely want to pay homage to him.
If Frank-N-Furter could have a spin-off story, what new adventures would you like to see him tackle?
I would like to see him run for local office, mayor or city council. He would fit right in with our current demographic of politicians.
Have you discovered anything new about yourself through playing Frank-N-Furtur?
I realize I can trust myself more than I gave myself credit for previously.
What should the audience expect?
I want them to expect to have a great time and leave other expectations at the door.
What do you hope the audience takes away from the Rocky Horror Show?
It’s okay to be whoever the hell you want to be.