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Confessions of a Transylvanian

Kevin Theis (Goodreads Author),

Ron Fox (Goodreads Author)

4.27 · Rating details · 71 ratings · 14 reviews

Confessions of a Transylvanian is a one-of-a-kind, backstage look at the greatest cult movie phenomenon of all time-the live Rocky Horror Picture Show-told by those who lived it. Confessions is a moving snapshot of life in a Rocky Horror cast that captures the grit, language and teenage angst of a group of fishnet-clad performers as they explore a world where the only rule ...more

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Paperback, 356 pages

Published June 18th 2012 by Berwick Court Publishing Co. (first published June 12th 2012)

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· 71 ratings · 14 reviews

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Nov 02, 2014 Alice rated it it was amazing

Reading this brought me right back to my own Rocky days in the early 90s. It's amazing to me how similar the experience is for those of us who wander in and find ourselves suddenly "home" for the first time. Though I no longer perform, or even attend regularly, I still love Rocky and firmly believe it saved my life. I hope it continues to do so for young misfits for many, many more years to come. ...more

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Mar 14, 2015 April rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2015, audiobook, amazon-review-posted, blogged, biography, non-fiction, review-copy, reviewed

First off, shut up and sit down, if you have a problem with cursing, ya better pick another f*cking book!

To say I loved this book is an understatement!! I grew up in another section of Florida and several years later, but boy do I wish I could have been a part of this! Listening to the adventures of the Wild and Untamed Things, brought happy tears to my eyes. I am a theatre gal from way back, so I know how being in a cast becomes a family. To be a part of something so special, is truly a joy.

As First off, shut up and sit down, if you have a problem with cursing, ya better pick another f*cking book!

To say I loved this book is an understatement!! I grew up in another section of Florida and several years later, but boy do I wish I could have been a part of this! Listening to the adventures of the Wild and Untamed Things, brought happy tears to my eyes. I am a theatre gal from way back, so I know how being in a cast becomes a family. To be a part of something so special, is truly a joy.

As is the case with audiobooks read by the author, I feel like I am one of the gang, in a totally non stalker groupie sort of way! Listening to all the backstage mishaps and drama was a thrill. I feel like I have come to know Kevin, Russ, Donnie, Kenny, Boyd, Sunday, Tracey, Andrea, MarK, Iris, Tony, Felicia, Storme and Ron. So many others popped up, but these are the ones that stick in my head.

You get to see, Jack, wink wink, grow up and become a man through his time with the cast. He went from a fan to true part of the show. It was a treat hearing all the backstage insider secrets.

He is also wonderful at explaining, to the uninitiated, why Rocky Horror is such a cult favorite. Why this live experience can mean so much to fans. It is lightning in a bottle, you just hope for a glimpse if not a chance to touch it. It says it is okay to be who you are and welcomes all comers. Don't just dream it, be it!

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Kevin (Jack) Theis, who is fabulous. His pace is brisk, so if you can't keep up ya better slow it down a notch on the speed settings. You really do not want to miss a thing. This is one of the cases where I wholeheartedly endorse the author reading the material. Nobody else could have given the enthusiastic and energetic read. It felt like we were old friends chatting and catching up on old times. Heck, I feel like we are pals after spending 11 and a half hours with him. Count me in for the next reunion! LOL

This is a must listen/read for any Rocky fan. You will feel that love and energy all over again. This is at times hilarious and pinpoint. To think these kids were only 16ish and the lessons they taught each other. The understudies section was particularly wonderful. To be in that position and step down, even for one night a month, is huge!

While I adored the audio, I am afraid I missed out on things that would be in the print. I am going to scope out the ebook and see if there are photos, I need faces to go with these stories. I would recommend getting both, because this really was a delightful listen! ( get your extras fix at the website!)

Disclosure – I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts opinions and ratings are my own. I was under no obligation to post a review or give positive feedback.

*** I hope this review was useful to you and helped your decision to read or not read this book. I love reading and sharing my opinions with other readers. I listen at double speed; all my impressions of the narration are from that setting. Thanks for taking the time to read my review! You can see more audiobook reviews on my blog www.eargasmsaudiobookreviews.com ***
...more

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Jan 03, 2015 Linda Dake rated it it was amazing

Amazing! Loved all the stories and learning of his experiences. I have never been to a live show and now I really want too!!

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May 27, 2017 Lenny rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Hilarious. Theis and Snow have a sarcastic, funny way with words. Their tale of teenage camaraderie, lurid (well, kinda lurid) nights, drugs, drink and sex all revolving around the one film in history (The Rocky Horror Picture Show) that includes a live show at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays in many parts of the country is fast paced entertainment. For all the supposed losers who found a club that where they could rid themselves of their fears, this is the story for you. I highly recommend li ...more

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Jul 25, 2018 Deedra rated it really liked it

Audible:This is a very energetic recollection of one teenager and his intro to Rocky Horror.I found it fun and interesting THOUGH I am someone who has never been to a show.I've only seen the movie.It plays here on Hallowe'en in a local theater with the full effects.Good luck getting in.Anyway...give it a listen.Kevin Theis did a great job narrating.I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review. ...more

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Oct 25, 2018 Troy Buffington rated it really liked it

The narrator having lived the story brings it to life. I want to go watch the rocky horror picture show after hearing the tales. I highly recommend this book.

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Nov 14, 2020 Assortedtrashprincess rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites

This is a wonderful book full of fun and hilarious stories. Highly recommended.

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Dec 05, 2015 Cold Coffee rated it it was amazing

Unique story, a memoir of men, women and yes, teenagers who worked and lived backstage as well as those who sat in the audience and participated in the live Rocky Horror Picture Show, performing their roles as a shadow cast in front of the big screen as the movie played.

Many of us remember this “cult movie phenomenon” but for those of you who either don’t remember, or are too young, let me quote the description of the Ultravision Theatre:

“A few words about the Ultravision Theatre before we proce ...more

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Oct 11, 2019 Jessica Capps rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Audiobook review

This book is a wild ride from start to finish, and I genuinely mean that.

I never once, in my 40 years of life thought to read a memoir about the cast of a production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I mean, RHPS is what it is (or what I THOUHT it was). I went to a screening on my college campus and thought it was fun but didn’t really get it. I’ve seen the movie, it’s a cult-classic, everyone knows the songs. BUT, I never knew there was this whole world of experience that I hav Audiobook review

This book is a wild ride from start to finish, and I genuinely mean that.

I never once, in my 40 years of life thought to read a memoir about the cast of a production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I mean, RHPS is what it is (or what I THOUHT it was). I went to a screening on my college campus and thought it was fun but didn’t really get it. I’ve seen the movie, it’s a cult-classic, everyone knows the songs. BUT, I never knew there was this whole world of experience that I have yet to embark upon. Yes, it is now on my bucket list to attend a RHPS live viewing at a venue that really does it all, thanks to this book right here.

Kevin Theis is the co-author (along with Ron Fox) and narrator of the audiobook. I love when authors narrate their own books and do it well. We get to hear exactly how it was written and how it’s suppose to be presented. Kevin reads this book in a way that you feel like he’s stated to make a presentation about RHPS, and by the end, you feel like you’ve been stuck in someone’s living room for days as this crazy man tells you about this cultish group he’s a part of, like it’s some normal conversation.

Kevin starts us off when he’s in high school when hens looking for something to do with his life. He attends a tiny private school and needs to branch out, meet new guys and gals. How does he do that? He happens upon a RHPS looking for actors. From the time he agrees to come back the following week help with the performance, the action never stops. If it’s not cast parties, it’s cast fights. If it’s not alcohol, it’s drugs. It’s a trashed house that everyone crashes at, brings girls and guys back to have sex with at. It’s learning a whole new way to smoke pot!

I laughed out loud so many times while listening that I would have to stop and replay the last 15-30 seconds because I missed to much laughing. It’s not all fun and games. There are serious tragedies and heartfelt moments. I may have even cried at one point. I haven’t put my google stalking fingers to good use yet, but I hope there’s an image of the old crew out there somewhere as I’d love to put faces to names and antics.

This seriously was a great book. You don’t have to be a die-hard RHPS fan to enjoy it or even understand it. It’s just good writing, hilarious stories and wonderful reading. The RHPS “family” Theis/Fox describe is like one of those crazy families you see on tv and want to runaway from home to be a part of.

There’s a review on here that mentions that this book should be turned into arc series. I 100% agree. I don’t know how you’d do it, but these guys seem crazy enough to get it done. I’d watch it.

I want more books like this. This is a great memoir. I’ll probably even listen to it again.

I was given a copy of this audiobook from the author, narrator, or publisher in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. ...more

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Jul 16, 2013 Kim Pellicano bowman rated it it was ok

Having been a cast member of a Rocky Horror cast, I was really excited to read this. I found, however, that I did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I was actually kind of frustrated reading it. It was a good description of HIS particular Rocky experiences, but I found that many times he would compare his cast to the entire Rocky experience - but he had only seen one other cast perform, and was only a cast member for about a year. One thing he mentioned was that it is impossible for the ...more

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Sep 22, 2012 Hal Brodsky rated it liked it

Shelves: kindle, own

I grew up in South Florida and attended The Rocky Horror Show a few years before the events in this book took place. People dressed up and threw toast and rice and yelled at the screen, but I never saw live actors pantomiming the action in front of a movie screen the way it is described in this book (I attended screenings in Ft Lauderdale, Miami, Jacksonville, Gainesville, and in Utah.)

That being said, this was an interesting read. The two authors have combined their experiences as High School T ...more

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Aug 03, 2012 Steven rated it really liked it

Recommended to Steven by: Ron Fox, author

I know the author so it turned into an opportunity to learn about him and his take on the world and I enjoyed that. I well recall cruising South Street Philadelphia many a weekend mid-night and catching the Rocky Horror crew out in force before & after the show at TLA. Excited folks, mostly all younger than me, a little bit mystifying having a whole lot of fun.

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