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Ga. mayor objects to ‘Rocky Horror’ play on city stage on Astini News

CARROLLTON, Ga. (AP) — The mayor of a west Georgia town is objecting to a community theater group's plans to perform a play based on the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" at the cultural arts center.

The city of Carrollton's website had announced that Carroll County Community Theatre would present the rock musical Oct. 27-29 at the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center.

But controversy arose after a cast member posted video of a rehearsal on his personal Facebook page, WXIA-TV reported. The city manager obtained the video and showed it to the mayor.

Mayor Wayne Garner said he wasn't expecting such an adult-themed show on a city-owned stage. He said he found the video "very offensive" and overruled an earlier decision by theatre board members who had approved the production.

The director of the Carrollton production, Michelle Rougier, said he was thrilled when the city earlier agreed to let them present the play at the city-owned, 266-seat Cultural Arts Center in downtown Carrollton. This week's controversy comes after months of planning the performances.

"It was too risque for them, but it's 'The Rocky Horror Show,'" Rougier said Wednesday. "You would imagine they knew, since they were the ones who signed all the contracts and got everything together and did all the advertising that they knew what Rocky Horror was all about."

But the play is "not in keeping with the community of Carrollton, if you will," Mayor Garner said.

"I know this community well," he said. "If that play was allowed to proceed... we'd be run out of town."

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