By Katie Potzick

University of Louisville sophomore business major Nicole Reiter has a secret identity; in fact, she has several. This is due to her work as an understudy for the Baxter Avenue’s midnight showing of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

The Baxter’s “Rocky Horror” production is a unique show, staged at midnight the last Saturday of every month, played on the screen, while actors perform the whole script on a stage in the front of the theatre.

As an understudy, Reiter has acted out every part in the show but two. Her favorite is Magenta, the maid, who Reiter relates to for her free spirit.

Audience members also often come in costumes, ranging from “Rocky Horror” characters to Halloween costumes to simply donning risqué lingerie.

The actors encourage and often interact with the audience, who yell out the most popular lines from the movie and dance the “Time Warp.”

Reiter said the event is a place “where no one judges you, and you can have a ridiculous amount of fun without the presence of alcohol or smoking.”

One of Reiter’s favorite parts of the show is the pre-performance “Virgin Show,” when “virgins,” people attending the performance for the first time, are brought up on to the stage to play sexually-themed games.

Reiter has the honor of simultaneously picking the audience members who participate, as well as controlling the crowd.

Reiter was a first-timer two years ago on Halloween, but quickly became a regular attendee. After a while, she was asked to become a prop girl from which she worked her way up the performance ladder.

However, Reiter is no stranger to musical theatre as she was a student at the Youth Performing Arts School here in Louisville.

She has also played violin in the pit in many musicals around town and school performances.

When Reiter isn’t busy honing her thespian skills, one might find her playing one of the 13 instruments she has mastered. She has played in marching bands for 10 years and is currently a malephone player for the U of L marching band.

She is also active with Dancing with the Cards, her job at McAllister’s Deli and playing violin in front of the Slugger Stadium during Louisville Bats games. She is often recognized not for her “Rocky Horror” acting, but her Bats violin playing, and is used to strangers calling out “Hey violin girl!”

In the future, Reiter hopes to continue being a part of “Rocky Horror” and one day opening a day care.

This month’s “Rocky Horror” show will be on April 28.