The Raue Center for the Arts is ready for a "Time Warp" as the cast of The Rocky Horror Show takes the stage Friday night.

Bringing the show to the Raue stage was the brain child of Raue Executive Director Richard Kuranda and Producing Director T. Paul Lowry.

"It's something we've thought about for a while and we're really excited about it," Kuranda said. "T. Paul has done some amazing things with this production and I think the community will really like it."

The cast is made up of an in-house theatrical group created solely by the Raue, called the Williams Street Repertory. Forming the WS Rep is a task Kuranda has been thinking about for years.

"It's really great to see it all come together," Kuranda said. "We're extremely pleased with where we're at and I think Rocky Horror will be a great way for us to showcase everything we're doing."

John Cardone, playing the part of Dr. Frank-N-Furter made famous by Tim Curry in the 1975 screen version, is looking forward to the challenge.

"When I first thought about this part I thought, no. Tim Curry did it. It's done," Cardone said. "But T. Paul has really given it life. It's really fresh."

Cardone, a Rogers Park resident, has had a number of parts in the Chicago area, including the now closed Candelight Dinner Playhouse Forum Theatre & Restaurant in Summit, Il.

Cardone, a yoga instructor at Northwestern University by day, is excited about the challenge of putting on a live version of Rocky Horror.

"The live version is different (than the screen version). Each person has a different interpretation," Cardone said. "But you have to believe in what you're doing. If you believe in it, people will go for it."

Ryan Wells, playing Rocky, also has had a chance to perform on area stages, but he's usually belting out songs in foreign languages, not dancing in scary costumes. Wells has a background in opera but he loves musical theater.

"I thought I'll go and have some fun," Wells said of the audition for Rocky, who sometimes wears very little clothing on stage. "When I got the part I thought I better start getting to the gym to work out."

If you're expecting a nice, quiet evening at the theater, you're in for a big surprise. Rocky Horror is known as much for its audience as it is for its controversial content on stage and screen. Audience members, dressed as characters, have been known to shout out lines, dance and even throw toast during the production.

"We want the audience to interact but we'll be limiting what everyone can bring into the theater," Kuranda said. "We'll have things available that they can bring in."

Participation bags will be available for $3 or two for $5. Each bag will include bubbles, newspaper, flashlight, noisemaker, confetti, a bell and cards.

The Rocky Horror Show will open Friday night at 8 p.m. and will run Oct. 22, 27 and 28 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 29 at 8 p.m. and midnight.

Tickets are available at the Raue box office, 26 N. Williams St. in Crystal Lake; by phone, (815) 356-9212; or by clicking here.