Moments that Matter
A visit to Playhouse Square isn't limited to what happens inside our theaters. Throughout the year, our Marquee Moments transform the Playhouse Square District into a giant canvas of light, music, and motion. Using the historic marquees, digital displays, and America's largest outdoor chandelier, these short presentations celebrate the stories, songs, and cultural touchstones that connect us. Some are inspired by Broadway, others by film, holidays, or events happening right here in Cleveland, but all are designed to create a moment of wonder in the heart of downtown.
Our latest Marquee Moment celebrates "The Time Warp," the song and dance sequence that has become synonymous with the enduring legacy of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
From Stage to Screen
Before it became the cult movie phenomenon it is today, The Rocky Horror Picture Show began life as The Rocky Horror Show, a stage musical written by Richard O'Brien, blending science fiction, horror movies, glam rock, and camp humor into something audiences had never quite seen before. The show quickly developed a devoted following, and audience participation was encouraged from the start.
Tim Curry in The Rocky Horror Show, 1973, The Royal Court. ©The Royal Court
Just two years later in 1975, director Jim Sharman and O'Brien adapted the musical for the screen as The Rocky Horror Picture Show, bringing many members of the original stage cast along, including Tim Curry as the unforgettable Dr. Frank-N-Furter. While the film's initial reception was modest, it would go on to achieve something far greater: a second life fueled by midnight screenings, passionate fans, and audience traditions that continue over fifty years later.
The result was a new kind of relationship between audience and entertainment. Viewers became participants in an ongoing theatrical event. Few films have inspired audiences to blur the line between spectator and performer quite so completely.
The Big Number
“The Time Warp” truly encompasses the relationship between show and audience. More than a musical number, it's a shared experience, a ritual, and perhaps one of the best-known examples of audience participation in movie history. Long after its debut, audiences around the world still know exactly what comes next when they hear those familiar opening notes.
Just a Jump to the Left
Unlike elaborate Broadway choreography or technically demanding dance routines, “The Time Warp” invites everyone to join in. The instructions are built directly into the song, making it easy to follow whether you're seeing it for the first time or returning for the fiftieth.
That accessibility is part of the appeal. You don't need dance training, rehearsal time, or even much confidence. Once the music starts, most people can pick it up almost immediately.
Many popular songs have inspired dances, but few have become cultural traditions.
What to Expect from This Marquee Moment
That journey from cult-film musical number to cultural touchstone is part of what inspired this Marquee Moment. Through a collection of clips and imagery, the presentation highlights how far “The Time Warp” has traveled beyond its original setting and how many people have made it their own through the years.
As the lights, screens, and music come together across Playhouse Square, this Marquee Moment celebrates more than a beloved song. It celebrates the fans who transformed a movie song into a tradition that has endured for generations.
Lyrics are provided on the Hanna Building ribbon screen, while the marquees themselves share clips from other adaptations of the performance. The main screen on the Plaza focuses on the movie performance. Enjoy a preview of the Marquee Moment here:
If you're able to experience this Marquee Moment in person, dancing along is encouraged, but certainly not required.
After all, all songs are meant to be heard, but “The Time Warp” was meant to be experienced.
Which Broadway Musical song should be next to get the Marquee Moment treatment? Let us know!