The Patchogue Theatre transformed into the alien galaxy of Transylvania Sunday night as Long Islanders decked out in fishnets, leather jackets, and party hats attended “The Rocky Horror Picture Show Spectacular.”

To celebrate the enigmatic movie’s 49th anniversary, Nell Campbell, the original actress of the glitzy yellow-top hat wearing tap dancer, Columbia, made an appearance to discuss “Rocky Horror’s” impact and host a costume contest. The New York City “RHPS” shadow cast then performed every campy song and pelvic thrust beside a screening of the film.

After attendees purchased their goody-bags of props to be thrown throughout the film, Campbell took stage to thank everyone who continues the legacy “RHPS” started nearly 50 years ago.

“In case you thought things have changed, some things have never changed,” Campbell said to the audience after coming out to a standing ovation.

The performing shadow cast, NYCRHPS, normally performs in and around the Angelika Film Center in Manhattan’s East Village, a few blocks away from the original shadow cast performances that started on 8th St. in 1976. Because of those early midnight screenings in Manhattan, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” has become the longest-running theatrical release in history as theaters around the world ritualistically perform the liberating show every weekend.

For many fans, the movie represents unabashedly celebrating one’s identity, and reveling in being what some might consider weird in an environment packed with hundreds of like-minded folks.

Attendees Don and Barbara Phillips agree and came to the show dressed as the mad scientist Dr. Frank n Furter, played by Tim Curry in the film, and the castle maid Magenta, originally played by Patricia Quinn.

Don Phillips was among three other pear-necklace and black vest-wearing Frank n Furters who won the crowd’s favor in rapturous applause to place first in the costume contest hosted by Campbell. After beating a couple dressed as Magenta and Riff-raff, and a man dressed as Eddie, originally played by Meatloaf, Don Phillips was filled with anticipation to watch the show for his 15th year, and excited to see the film’s legacy with younger audiences.

“Most of the crowd used to be older people; now I see younger people coming in and it’s like, ‘My father did it, my grandfather did it, now it’s our turn.’ It’s just plain fun,” Don Phillips said.

And any “Rocky Horror Picture Show” screening isn’t complete without audience participation. As the volunteer actors recited each line, audience members shouted callouts nearly as old as the movie itself, like “Here are my Pokémon Cards!” before the narrator opens an unnecessarily large book.

Props sold at the front counter also came in handy as the attendees squirmed to put their newspaper hats on during a rainy opening scene, followed by throwing toilet paper when Rock N’ Roll misfit Eddie busted through a bathroom in his motorcycle.

For “RHPS” fans and cast alike, gathering every month or year at theaters and clubs around New York allows otherwise shy people to come out of their shell, and gain confidence in who they are without fearing shame. The show is a ritual for those unafraid to let the world know who they are, and is an obsession that keeps fans coming back for more over and over again.

Sunday night’s performance provided relief for one Transylvanian party guest in the shadow cast, Jennifer Perugi, who performed as the hunk Rocky, charming Columbia, and wheelchair-bound Dr. Scott in shows across the Island.

“This is my fifth production this weekend, so I have time warped way too many times!” Perugi said.

Perugi has been a part of the Long Island shadow cast since 2019, and after first watching the movie in confused amazement a decade ago, she later embraced the show’s affirming message of unabashedly being yourself when she performed in, and directed, her college’s shadow cast.

“Rocky means meeting and being comfortable with who you are and getting to do something as silly as yelling and throwing your toilet paper and getting on your feet, and hooting and hollering with all the good spirit,” Perugi said. “We tell the story uniquely each time because every cast and every audience is unique, so that’s why I keep doing it every single time, even though it’s the same movie.”