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Ruth's Capsule Bio

Last updated: 4/14/2007

Occasionally people ask who I am. This capsule bio is my answer.

Rocky Horror History
I've been a fan of the Rocky Horror Picture Show since 1988, when I started performing in Lincoln, Nebraska. Since then I've been in casts in California, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and South Carolina. I ended up back in Lincoln, where I founded a cast I've recently had to leave; I am transitioning in to one of the Chicago casts and hope to transition into the other as well. I've been fortunate enough to see the film across the US and occasionally outside it. I am also a fan of the play.

I play Magenta, whose voice I fell in love with on the film soundtrack in 1978. I've served as a costume judge at the Anaheim con in California (1997), the NYC con (1998), Denver Rocks the Rockies (1999), Transylvania '99, East Coast 2000 (Allentown), Bay Area 2000, the 25th Anniversary (2000), the Philadelphia Con (2002), The Denton Affair (Manchester, UK, 2006) and the Untoucha-Touchables Con (Chicago, 2006) although listing these as credentials makes little sense, as the List you're looking at is the reason I was asked. I was honored to receive the BOSS award in April 1998 at the NYC con for my contributions to the Rocky Horror Internet community, and to receive a Fan Award at the 25th Anniversary. I was interviewed on the BBC World Service radio program "Outlook" on the occasion of the Rocky Horror Show's 30th anniversary. For my work on this site I received a David at the Frankie Goes to Hollywood convention (the "Golden Sphincter" award--hmm).

Other Pastimes
Other Rocky-related sites I maintain include the Rocky Horror Frequently Asked Questions list, and the website for the defunct national Rocky Horror fanzine Crazed Imaginations, which I edited from 1998-2004. I'm in my thirties and am married to another fan, Wally (we met at the show, got engaged at the show, and spent our wedding night at the show).

In real life, I work as an engineer in the food industry, making yummy things to go into ice cream and yogurt. I enjoy collecting Rocky Horror items, spending way too much time on-line, reading, foreign languages, dark chocolate, women's history, vegetarian cooking, and ancient Egypt.

What I Look Like
If you meet me at a con, I'll probably be wearing jeans and a T-shirt, no makeup, and have my hair up in a ponytail. If you're wondering what I look like, there are photos of me at:

Costume Prejudices
I hate foil-dot material, favor sequins over rhinestones, and really like wigs.

Do I Make My Own Costumes?
Over the years the answer has drifted from "yes" to "sometimes." I am mostly self-taught and firmly believe that almost anyone can learn to sew, but I just don't have the time I used to. A few of my costumes are getting old and need to be replaced; my most recent costume pieces were made in 2006; the oldest date back to 1991. In 2001 I bought a costume for the first time but did some of the work as well as final alterations. Since then I've commissioned one piece, which I'm altering, and purchased a secondhand pair of spacesuits which I plan to fix up.

I believe creating costumes is a continuous process, as your abilities and knowledge of the costumes improve. If you can't make a perfect costume, don't sit around feeling sorry for yourself--make the best one you can, and go from there. If this means you're modifying something you found in a thrift store, great. That's how most of us got started and it's the fastest, most fun way to get your first costume together. People tend to assume I look down on people who wear cobbled-together thrift store costumes. Nothing could be further from the truth--it's how I got started myself.

You can email me if you want to discuss costumes.

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