By Ebyabe [CC BY-SA 2.5 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], from Wikimedia Commons



An onstage, pre-show skit at Polk Theatre has the historic Lakeland theatre apologizing to its friends and followers.

According to accounts on social media, the skit at Friday night’s annual Rocky Horror Picture Show fundraiser showed a mock assassination of the nation’s seated president, Donald J. Trump.

Some theatergoers were horrified while others defended the act, citing the sanctity of the theater and the Trump administration’s recent desire to roll back protections for transgender Americans, and possibly legally invalidate their existence, by narrowly defining gender as based on sex assignment at birth (many fans flock to Rocky Horror Picture Show for the cult classic’s embrace of LGBTQ culture).

“This was mental illness not even NEAR good art,” one Facebook user posted in the comments under the theatre’s apology.

“Art isn't meant to appease Everyone. Art is art... it is meant to make people think and feel,” wrote another. “If a few ‘patrons’ had a negative experience, oh well. The majority of the crowd openely [sic], and enthusiastically enjoyed that skit.”

In its apology, the theatre claimed it had no knowledge of what would happen in the pre-show skit, although some commenters disagreed.

“Nothing like that has ever happened at the Polk and is certainly in no way acceptable. It has no place on our stage. Sadly, someone decided to exploit the wonderful evening with their own political agenda,” the theatre wrote.“We are not a political organization, and do not condone violence, whether simulated or not. The Polk Theatre considers itself to be the community’s theatre. It is our mission to promote art, but only when it doesn’t hurt or offend any of our patrons.”

Rocky Horror Picture Show once appeared weekly at theaters across the country — usually on Saturday nights at midnight. A costumed, rehearsed “shadow” cast often performed beneath the screen, following along with the actors on screen. Over the past several decades, these live performances have dwindled from weekly to sporadic, with Halloween showings of the film remaining the most popular.

According to a Ledger preview of the event, at 10:30 p.m., the pre-show was set to begin with songs, dancing, acting and participatory partying along with live, short skits and a performance by Lakeland band Butch Queen & the Bad Habits. Josh Vazquez is the pre-show creative director, according to the preview, and the movie screened at midnight, accompanied live by The Lipstick Players, who acted as the shadow cast.

CL has reached out to Vazquez and the Polk Theatre for additional comment.

In its own, since-deleted, statement on Facebook, The Lipstick Players also said that it was not associated with or aware of the pre-show skit.

“Our event is open and inclusive to everyone no matter their political views and our goal is to provide the best show experience. We do not agree nor condone any actions of violence toward anyone,” the group wrote. “The depiction on the stage last evening was distasteful and inappropriate.”

Grab the popcorn and sift through it all yourself below.