Calling All Dancers: Let´s Do the "Time Warp" Again!

37-Year-Old Mom with Cystic Fibrosis to Attempt World Record

Rock Hill, SC: The Rock Hill Galleria Mall will play host to an upcoming attempt to beat the Guinness World Record ™ for the "World´s Largest Time Warp Dance" during their Annual Fall Festival, October 30, and lots of participants are needed! The "Time Warp," is a song and dance made famous by Richard O´Brien´s cult classic stage show and film, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." The current World Record, set in June of 2000 in Birmingham, United Kingdom, stands at 4,446 participants. The attempt is being coordinated by Kerri Marks for the Edge Theatre Company.

Kerri Marks, a local Rock Hill mom, was born with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), a life-threatening genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. While more than 40% of CF patients living in the US today are over the age of 18, the median age for survival is approximately 37 years, and there is no cure. Marks will celebrate her 37th birthday on November 4th.

In addition to being a wife and mother, and enduring daily medications and respiratory therapies, Marks keeps busy as a Girl Scout Leader, volunteer with the Come See Me Festival Frog Float, co-director of the SC Strawberry Festival Pageant, and as a long-time volunteer with the CF Foundation.

Marks was also the recipient of the SC Order of the Palmetto Award in October of 2009, the state´s highest civilian honor. More recently, she has performed with and was named as a Fundraising Chair to the Edge Theatre Company, based in Rock Hill.

The Edge Theatre Company is a 501C-3 non-profit organization whose goal is to provide the ever-growing and diverse community of Rock Hill and the surrounding areas with opportunities to watch, experience, and participate in live theatre that is contemporary, challenging, and cutting-edge. The Edge was recently nominated for 8 Metrolina Theatre Awards, winning one for Best Actor.

"In the year that I have had the privilege to work with the Edge, I have watched them hold performances that supported local groups such as Catawba Cares and Safe Passage, and this season Autism research, " says Marks.

"They even helped me when I was raising money for a CF benefit. It is a miracle that I am still alive today, able to dance and sing, and to do the Time Warp. And The Edge has helped to make that possible. Jimmy Chrismon, Artistic Director for the Edge has been such an inspiration to me, always finding ways to give back to the community while creating such amazing performances. I thought this would be a fun way to give a little something back to them."

The World Record attempt will take place on Saturday, October 30, in the rear parking lot of the Rock Hill Galleria Mall. Sign-in will begin for all participants at 11:00 am. Simple dance instruction will begin at 12:00 pm. And the official attempt will take place at 1:00 pm. Anyone that can follow the dance steps as explained in the song lyrics can sign up that day ("It´s just a jump to the left…and a step to the right…put your hands on your hips…") Participants are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes, colorful outfits, or something Rocky Horror inspired.

"I´m not sure if we will be able to get over 4,000 people out there, but these lungs are willing to try!" says Marks. "And if doing this will help to raise awareness for CF or inspire someone to support a wonderful local community theatre, then I will be out there dancing my heart out!"

For more information, send an email to fundraising@theedgetheatre.org The Edge Theatre Company will hold 5 performances of Richard O´Brien´s "The Rocky Horror Show" from October 28-31 at South Pointe High School. To purchase tickets or to make a contribution, please visit www.theedgetheatre.org