Tonight, Friday and Saturday, crowds at the Pajama Factory will be doing the time warp again.

The local production of Rocky Horror Picture Show is returning to Williamsport for a 10th consecutive year with Beau Schemery as producer and director.

He noted this show means a lot to a lot of people.

“Rocky gives them a place to connect with other people and not feel self-conscious,” Schemery said. “It’s so weird it makes them feel less weird?”

It was Schemery’s love of Rocky Horror Picture Show that first led him to audition for a part about 12 years ago, which soon led to his leadership for a decade.

“I just really wanted to play Frank-n-Furter,” Schemery said. “I did not think it would turn into a decade-long endeavor.”

The show has seen changes and challenges over those years. They’ve staged sets that invoke steampunk and Doctor Who themes and live-streamed a no-audience production during the height of COVID.

“Because I retain a lot of the same cast, it’s gotten easier,” Schemery said.

Work on the show begins in mid-summer with production meetings.

“August is usually our casting window,” he said. “That’s when the serious planning usually starts.”

Rehearsals begin in September and continue through October. Scheduling rehearsals, Schemery said, are one of the biggest challenges in producing the show.

“It’s tough to get everyone at the theater at the same time,” he explained.

Schemery said the performances — and the audience participation — is his favorite part. The crew and cast saw turnout consistently increase during its initial time at the Pajama Factory, then level off during a brief stretch of shows at the SusCon Building on Railway Street near Williamsport Cemetery.

This year they are back at the Pajama Factory, which Schemery says offers a sense of community with artists that is “hard to find.”

“I like its vibe,” Schemery said of the venue. “It feels very punk rock. It’s just a good space.”

Doors open for tonight’s 7 p.m. show at 6:30 p.m. Doors open for Friday and Saturday’s 7 p.m. shows at 6:30 p.m. and for Friday and Saturday’s 11 p.m. shows at 10:30 p.m.