A man, dressed in high-heels and fishnets, sensually slinks down a fireman's pole onto the set. Androgynous leads with glittered lips roam the stage and aggressively grope one another. A disrobed cast dances around in racy lingerie while singing songs like "Sweet Transvestite" and "The Time Warp."

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to transsexual Transylvania, where your lives -- and libidos -- will be forever changed.

Tonight, the Thespians will be enthusiastically bringing The Rocky Horror Show to the Penn State campus.

Known as a cult classic, the production tells the story of an innocent couple who is forced to find shelter in a strange castle. The castle is owned by transvestite scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter, who attempts to wildly transform the young couple's lives -- for good.

Student director David Bonner (junior-theatre) said students should really enjoy the adult show and not just because of its racy content.

"We've made leaps and bounds over the past few weeks," Bonner said. "Every day I'm thrilled with the energy that [my cast] has brought to the stage -- I just know the performance is going to be absolutely incredible."

Due to the explicit nature of the show, Bonner said he had the cast go through many exercises that helped them become more comfortable with their bodies as well as with each other.

"Our first rehearsal we had an icebreaker similar to 'Never Have I Ever,' " Bonner said. "We also had rehearsals where we invited the cast to dress down, since the costuming is essentially lingerie."

Theo Lencicki (junior-theatre), who plays the male lead, Frank, agreed that the racy rehearsals have upped the morale of the cast.

"The cast as a whole has really gelled together," Lencicki said. "It was a long process to get to where we are now, to even get comfortable with the material... but everything will come together in the end."

Lencicki said the hardest part for him was learning how to walk down the set's spiral staircase in high heels -- a necessity to properly perform his bombastic, gender-bending character.

The set, which Bonner describes as phenomenal, does include a winding spiral staircase, as well as several bedrooms and laboratories spaced throughout the production.

"Every aspect of this production is a thousand times bigger than any other production I've ever been involved with," Bonner said. "It's the most enjoyable experience I've had at Penn State -- or even in my life."

Chorus member Chloe Ettari (freshman-education), who just recently got into theater, shares the same kind of satisfaction with the show.

"I like meeting all these new people," Ettari said. She also said she feels as if the show has helped her befriend people that she never would have otherwise.

"Being in theatre really helped me branch out socially ... the experience as a whole is definitely worth it," she said.

Ettari, who described the show as sexy and fun, said she's looking forward to having her friends and family come and watch her perform -- even though she'll be on stage baring all.

As opening night draws closer, the cast grows fierce with anticipation and excitement.

"It's bittersweet, though," Bonner said, "because it's going to break my heart to see it go, but I know the show will be amazing."