The Rocky Horror Show
Encyclopedia
The Rocky Horror Show is a long-running British
horror comedy stage musical, which opened in London on 19 June 1973. It was written by Richard O'Brien
, produced and directed by Jim Sharman
. It came eighth in a BBC Radio 2
listener poll
of the "Nation's Number One Essential Musicals". It tells the story of a newly engaged couple getting caught in a storm and coming to the home of a mad transvestite scientist unveiling his new creation, a muscle man named Rocky Horror. The musical was adapted into the 1975 film The Rocky Horror Picture Show
, which today has a worldwide cult following and has the longest running release in film history.
Richard O'Brien wanted to combine elements of the unintentional humor of B movies and portentous dialogue of schlock horror. O'Brien took a small amount of the unfinished play to Sharman who decided to produce it at the small experimental space at the Royal Court. Jim Sharman had some success with the original Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar
during which he met Richard O'Brien, who had played Herod for just one performance.
Sharman brought in fellow Australians Nell Campbell
, a.k.a. 'Little Nell,' and long-time production designer Brian Thomson
, who had designed his productions of Hair
and Superstar. Costume designer Sue Blane
and musical director Richard Hartley
rounded out the original creative team. The Theatre Upstairs was run by the Royal Court
as a project space for new work. Veteran stage producer Michael White produced the play and Pete Moss later became musical director.
After two previews, the show premiered at the Royal Court's 63-seat Theatre Upstairs on 19 June 1973 and ran until 20 July 1973. The show performed without an interval. The production was a critical and commercial success. Record producer Jonathan King
saw it on the second night and signed the cast to make the Original Soundtrack Album over a long weekend that was rushed out on his U.K. Records label. King was involved heavily in the initial promotion for the show as well as being the other backer of it financially with White. The Cast included Tim Curry
, Patricia Quinn
, Little Nell
, Julie Covington
Richard O'Brien.
The success at the Royal Court allowed the production to transfer to the 270 seat Classic Cinema on Kings Road
, London, from 14 August 1973 to 20 October 1973. Next to the Comedy Theatre and then transferring to the Kings Road theatre, a run-down converted cinema seating 400 and scheduled for demolition where it ran for seven years closing in 1979. The show received critical praise as well as awards. A cult audience of attendees went over and over. It became a highly regarded "it" trend in London of the mid 1970s.
The Show premiered at the Roxy Theatre
in Los Angeles
on March 24, 1974, running for nine months. The cast was all new except for Tim Curry. The Show played to a full house and a deal was made with 20TH Century Fox for a film. Fox executive, Gordon Stulberg, saw the show at the Roxy and agreed to invest 1 million dollars for a film project. Adler's attempt to turn his club into a playhouse was successful. The singer Meatloaf remembers different celebrities that would come to the show as well as his meeting Elvis Presley at a performance. Senator, Al Franken was a young lighting apprentice brought in by Sid Strong. He recalls Adler had the show mounted by producer, Brian Avnert and that both Curry and O'Brien were brought in from the UK.
The Usherette in a derelict cinema introduces tonight's film in a song ("Science Fiction/Double Feature
"), with masked Phantoms providing the backing vocals.
After attending the wedding of Ralph Hapshatt and Betty Munroe, Brad Majors confesses his love to Janet Weiss ("Dammit Janet") and the two become engaged. The Narrator appears to explain that Brad and Janet are leaving Denton to visit Dr. Everett Scott, their former science tutor, while driving into a rainstorm. During the trip, their car has a flat tire, and they are forced to walk through the rain to seek a telephone in an old castle ("Over at the Frankenstein Place
").
The Narrator explains that Brad and Janet are feeling "apprehensive and uneasy," but must accept any help that they are offered. As Brad and Janet arrive, Riff Raff, the hunchbacked handyman, greets them, and his sister Magenta, the maid, appears. Riff Raff, Magenta, and Columbia (a groupie) speak briefly of an unlucky delivery boy named Eddie before performing the show's signature dance number "Time Warp"*. Brad and Janet try to leave at this point, but are stopped when Dr. Frank N. Furter, a pansexual mad scientist, arrives. He introduces himself as "a sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania" and invites Brad and Janet up to his laboratory ("Sweet Transvestite
"). As he goes up, Brad and Janet are stripped to their underwear to dry off.
Brad and Janet enter the laboratory, where Frank N. Furter gives them laboratory coats to wear. Frank announces that he has discovered the secret to life itself. He unveils his creation, a blond, well-built man named Rocky Horror, who is brought to life. As his bandages are removed, Rocky worries about his predicament ("The Sword of Damocles
"). Frank admires Rocky's physique by singing a tribute to muscle builders ("I Can Make You a Man"). A Coca-Cola freezer in the laboratory opens to reveal Frank's former lover, Eddie, a biker covered in surgical scars. Eddie — now rendered a zombie
after having part of his brain removed by Frank — contemplates his new existence and recalls his former life ("Hot Patootie – Bless My Soul"). Frank panics, forces Eddie back into the machine, and hacks him to death. Frank tells Rocky — the recipient of the other half of Eddie's brain — that he prefers him over Eddie ("I Can Make You a Man (Reprise)"). Brad and Janet are then ushered to separate bedrooms for the night.
Act II
The Narrator foreshadows that Brad and Janet may be quite unsafe. Janet enjoys Brad's advances in her darkened bedroom before realizing that it is in fact Frank in disguise. He convinces Janet that pleasure is no crime, and after she asks him to promise not to tell Brad, they resume their lovemaking. The scene changes to Brad's darkened bedroom, where Brad makes love to Janet before discovering that, once again, it is Frank in disguise. Frank promises not to tell Janet, but as they resume, Riff Raff interrupts on the television monitor with the message that Rocky has escaped. Janet searches for Brad in the laboratory, and discovers Rocky hiding there. Checking the television monitor, Janet sees Brad in bed with Frank, and seduces Rocky ("Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me"). While searching the television monitor for Rocky, the rest of the group discovers that Janet has slept with him, and Brad becomes hurt and angry ("Once in a While"). Riff Raff then notifies Frank that there is another visitor entering the castle: Doctor Everett Scott, the paraplegic science tutor whom Brad and Janet intended to visit.
Doctor Scott is pushed into the laboratory by Columbia, and Frank accuses him and Brad of trying to investigate his castle. Doctor Scott assures him that he has come in search of Eddie, who is revealed to be his nephew ("Eddie's Teddy"). Frank displays Eddie's corpse to the group and then uses a device to electronically restrain the three visitors and a rebellious Columbia to the floor ("Planet Shmanet Janet"); the inhabitants of the castle are revealed to be space aliens led by Frank, who abandoned their original mission in order to engage in kinky sex with earthlings and work on Rocky. Magenta insists that they return to their home planet now that they have been found out; Frank refuses and, instead, declares his intentions to put on a "floor show."
Under Frank's influence, Columbia, Rocky, Brad, and Janet perform song and dance routines while clad in lingerie ("Rose Tint My World
"). After, Frank entices them to lose all inhibition and give in to their basest carnal instincts, resulting in everyone’s beginning to engage in orgiastic sex
("Don't Dream It – Be It") before they are interrupted by Frank, who leads them into the concluding number of the floor show ("Wild and Untamed Thing"). The show comes to an abrupt end when Riff Raff and Magenta enter, wearing spacesuits and carrying ray guns. Riff Raff declares that he is usurping Frank's authority and taking them all back to their home planet. Frank makes a final plea for sympathy from Riff Raff, trying to make him understand his desire to spend the rest of his life having sex with earthlings ("I'm Going Home"). Riff Raff is unmoved and guns down Columbia, Frank, and Rocky before ordering Brad, Janet, and Doctor Scott to leave.
As the trio evacuates the castle, Riff Raff and Magenta express their excitement to return to their world and do the "Time Warp" again with their fellow Transylvanians ("Spaceship"). Brad and Janet watch as the castle blasts off into outer space, confused about the implications of their sexual escapades ("Super Heroes"). To conclude his tale, the Narrator says "…and crawling on the planet's face, insects called the human race, lost in time, and lost in space – and meaning." As the show ends, The Usherette returns to recount the night's events ("Science Fiction/Double Feature (Reprise)").
and serve as a public vehicle for the film version. It was unsuccessful and closed after 45 performances.
At the Classic Cinema and King's Road Theatre (Formerly the Essoldo Cinema), the following songs were added: “I Can Make You a Man” and a reprise of the same, and “Eddie's Teddy”.
in productions produced by Richard O’Brien's and Howard Panter
's Rocky Horror Company. Notable celebrities have been cast including Tim McInnerny
, Anthony Head
, Robin Cousins
, Jason Donovan
and Jonathan Wilkes
as Frank N. Furter and TV's Craig Ferguson
as Brad Majors.
Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show completed its 2006-2007 tour on 14 July 2007 in Woking, England after touring for almost eighteen months. The tour was directed by Christopher Luscombe and featured David Bedella
as Frank N. Furter. The 2006 tour cast, accompanied by Roger Lloyd-Pack as the Narrator and author Richard O'Brien
, performed "The Time Warp" live in Trafalgar Square on 22 July 2006 as part of The Big Dance event and was broadcast on BBC1's Dancing in the Street. In 2008 David Bedella
released his first album The Dean St. Sessions, produced by Nathan Amzi, which included a duet with Richard O’Brien singing I'm Going Home
as a bonus video.
In March 2009, the show would returned with a new UK tour starting in the autumn. With Christopher Luscombe returning as the director, the tour was a revival of the 2006-2007 production with some adjustments to the direction, lighting, choreography, costumes and musical arrangements. The tour opened on 17 September 2009 at the New Wimbledon Theatre
and closed on 4 December 2010 at the newly opened Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
.
The first leg of the tour ran from September 2009 to July 2010 with a short break over the Christmas period. David Bedella
reprised his role as Frank N. Furter. The second leg of the tour began on 1 September 2010 at the New Victoria Theatre
, Woking
with several changes to the cast. During the UK tour's summer break director Christopher Luscombe and the show's creative team recreated the UK production in Seoul
, South Korea
with a new cast of American, Australian and New Zealander actors and local celebrities as the Narrator. The production played from August until October 2010 before a five week New Zealand
tour in November and December with Richard O’Brien making a rare appearance as the Narrator.
The cast featured Frank Gregory as Frank N. Furter,
Marcia Mitzman as Janet, Frank Piergo as Brad,
Pendleton Brown as Riff Raff,
Lorelle Brina as Magenta/Trixie,
C. J. Critt as Columbia, Kim Milford
as Rocky,
Steve Lincoln as The Narrator,
from October 2000 to January 2002 at the Circle in the Square Theatre
and featured Tom Hewitt (later Terrance Mann) as Frank N. Furter, Alice Ripley as Janet, Raúl Esparza
(later Sebastian Bach
) as Riff Raff, Joan Jett
as Columbia/Usherette (later Ana Gasteyer
), Lea DeLaria
(later Jason Wooten) as Eddie/Doctor Scott, and Daphne Rubin-Vega
as Magenta. From October 2001 to January 2002, several guest celebrities played the Narrator role normally performed by Dick Cavett
(Kate Clinton
took over for a week while Cavett was on vacation), including Gilbert Gottfried
, Sally Jesse Raphael, Robin Leach
, magicians Penn & Teller
, New York Post columnist Cindy Adams
, MTV personality Dave Holmes
, and talk show host Jerry Springer
. It is suggested that the revival, like other shows running at the time, closed early because of financial losses during the time after 9/11. The Revival was nominated for the following Tony Awards: Best Actor: Tom Hewitt; Best Costume Designer: David C. Woolard; Best Director: Christopher Ashley; and Best Musical Revival.
, with Richard O'Brien
as the Narrator. The show will be in the capital, Wellington
, for seven shows in December.
It was also during this time that Richard O'Brien
was honored with a New Zealand
Citizenship.
, from 5 to 16 January 2011.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
horror comedy stage musical, which opened in London on 19 June 1973. It was written by Richard O'Brien
Richard O'Brien
Richard Timothy Smith , better known under his stage name Richard O'Brien, is an English writer, actor, television presenter and theatre performer. He is perhaps best known for writing the cult musical The Rocky Horror Show and for his role in presenting the popular TV show The Crystal Maze...
, produced and directed by Jim Sharman
Jim Sharman
James "Jim" Sharman , the son of boxing tent entrepreneur Jimmy Sharman, is a director and writer for film and stage with over 70 productions to his credit...
. It came eighth in a BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
listener poll
Opinion poll
An opinion poll, sometimes simply referred to as a poll is a survey of public opinion from a particular sample. Opinion polls are usually designed to represent the opinions of a population by conducting a series of questions and then extrapolating generalities in ratio or within confidence...
of the "Nation's Number One Essential Musicals". It tells the story of a newly engaged couple getting caught in a storm and coming to the home of a mad transvestite scientist unveiling his new creation, a muscle man named Rocky Horror. The musical was adapted into the 1975 film The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is the 1975 film adaptation of the British rock musical stageplay, The Rocky Horror Show, written by Richard O'Brien. The film is a parody of B-movie, science fiction and horror films of the late 1940s through early 1970s. Director Jim Sharman collaborated on the...
, which today has a worldwide cult following and has the longest running release in film history.
History
The Rocky Horror Show began as an experimental rock musical developed in early 1973 by actor-composer, Richard O'Brien with director, Jim Sharman, for a three week run at the Royal Court Theatre in London.The musical went into rehearsals with the working title "They Came from Denton High," which was changed just before previews at the suggestion of Sharman to The Rocky Horror Show..Richard O'Brien wanted to combine elements of the unintentional humor of B movies and portentous dialogue of schlock horror. O'Brien took a small amount of the unfinished play to Sharman who decided to produce it at the small experimental space at the Royal Court. Jim Sharman had some success with the original Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
during which he met Richard O'Brien, who had played Herod for just one performance.
Sharman brought in fellow Australians Nell Campbell
Nell Campbell
"Little" Nell Campbell is an Australian actress, club owner and singer.-Early life:She was born in Sydney, to Ruth and Ross Campbell, a writer, who called her "Little Nell" in his family life column in the Sydney Daily Telegraph...
, a.k.a. 'Little Nell,' and long-time production designer Brian Thomson
Brian Thomson
Brian Thomson is an Australian theatre, opera and film designer. He has been active in Australian stage design for over three decades.Thomson began a long and successful collaboration with director Jim Sharman after they met at Heavenburgers on Sydney's Oxford Street in 1969; they worked together...
, who had designed his productions of Hair
Hair (musical)
Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical is a rock musical with a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot. A product of the hippie counter-culture and sexual revolution of the 1960s, several of its songs became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War peace movement...
and Superstar. Costume designer Sue Blane
Sue Blane
Susan Margret Blane is best known for her costume designs for both The Rocky Horror Show and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.-Life and career:...
and musical director Richard Hartley
Richard Hartley
Richard Hartley is a British composer.His work is extensive and varied, including musical arrangement for theatre and many scores for television and film. In the 1970s he began a long association with Richard O'Brien. Hartley was originally part of the four-piece band for the Rocky Horror Show. ...
rounded out the original creative team. The Theatre Upstairs was run by the Royal Court
Royal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
as a project space for new work. Veteran stage producer Michael White produced the play and Pete Moss later became musical director.
After two previews, the show premiered at the Royal Court's 63-seat Theatre Upstairs on 19 June 1973 and ran until 20 July 1973. The show performed without an interval. The production was a critical and commercial success. Record producer Jonathan King
Jonathan King
Jonathan King is an English singer, songwriter, impresario and record producer. He is also the author of three novels, Bible Two and The Booker Prize Winner , and Beware the Monkey Man , and an autobiography, 65 My Life So Far .King first came to prominence as an...
saw it on the second night and signed the cast to make the Original Soundtrack Album over a long weekend that was rushed out on his U.K. Records label. King was involved heavily in the initial promotion for the show as well as being the other backer of it financially with White. The Cast included Tim Curry
Tim Curry
Timothy James "Tim" Curry is a British actor, singer, composer and voice actor, known for his work in a diverse range of theatre, film and television productions. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California....
, Patricia Quinn
Patricia Quinn
Patricia Quinn, Lady Stephens is a Northern Irish actress best known for her role as Magenta in the film The Rocky Horror Picture Show . Hers were the red lips that appeared in the film's opening song "Science Fiction/Double Feature"...
, Little Nell
Little Nell
Little Nell may refer to:* Nell Campbell , Australian actress, club owner and singer* Nell Trent, fictional heroine of Charles Dickens's novel The Old Curiosity Shop...
, Julie Covington
Julie Covington
Julie Covington is an English singer and actress, best known for recording the original version of "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina".-Career:...
Richard O'Brien.
The success at the Royal Court allowed the production to transfer to the 270 seat Classic Cinema on Kings Road
Kings Road
King's Road or Kings Road, known popularly as The King's Road or The KR, is a major, well-known street stretching through Chelsea and Fulham, both in west London, England...
, London, from 14 August 1973 to 20 October 1973. Next to the Comedy Theatre and then transferring to the Kings Road theatre, a run-down converted cinema seating 400 and scheduled for demolition where it ran for seven years closing in 1979. The show received critical praise as well as awards. A cult audience of attendees went over and over. It became a highly regarded "it" trend in London of the mid 1970s.
American premiere
Lou Adler had made millions with risky ventures such as Monterey Pop. His record label, "Ode Records" was becoming known for harvesting experimental talent. In Late winter of 1973, Adler attended a performance of the show with Britt Ekland and acting on impulse and seeing a hit, he met backstage with producers and within 36 hours had secured the American theatrical rights.The Show premiered at the Roxy Theatre
Roxy Theatre
The Roxy Theatre is located in the historic downtown section of Clarksville, Tennessee in the United States. Standing on a corner of the Public Square it offers live theater shows to the public offering a wide variety of selection in the spirit of literary theater...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
on March 24, 1974, running for nine months. The cast was all new except for Tim Curry. The Show played to a full house and a deal was made with 20TH Century Fox for a film. Fox executive, Gordon Stulberg, saw the show at the Roxy and agreed to invest 1 million dollars for a film project. Adler's attempt to turn his club into a playhouse was successful. The singer Meatloaf remembers different celebrities that would come to the show as well as his meeting Elvis Presley at a performance. Senator, Al Franken was a young lighting apprentice brought in by Sid Strong. He recalls Adler had the show mounted by producer, Brian Avnert and that both Curry and O'Brien were brought in from the UK.
Synopsis
Act IThe Usherette in a derelict cinema introduces tonight's film in a song ("Science Fiction/Double Feature
Science Fiction/Double Feature
"Science Fiction/Double Feature" is the opening song to the original 1973 musical stage production, The Rocky Horror Show as well as its 1975 film counterpart The Rocky Horror Picture Show, book, music and lyrics by Richard O'Brien, musical arrangements by Richard Hartley...
"), with masked Phantoms providing the backing vocals.
After attending the wedding of Ralph Hapshatt and Betty Munroe, Brad Majors confesses his love to Janet Weiss ("Dammit Janet") and the two become engaged. The Narrator appears to explain that Brad and Janet are leaving Denton to visit Dr. Everett Scott, their former science tutor, while driving into a rainstorm. During the trip, their car has a flat tire, and they are forced to walk through the rain to seek a telephone in an old castle ("Over at the Frankenstein Place
Over at the Frankenstein Place
"Over at the Frankenstein Place" is the third song in the cult musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The 1975 cult film includes the song being sung outside Dr. Frank N. Furter's castle in the rain. It is performed by Susan Sarandon , Barry Bostwick and Richard O'Brien...
").
The Narrator explains that Brad and Janet are feeling "apprehensive and uneasy," but must accept any help that they are offered. As Brad and Janet arrive, Riff Raff, the hunchbacked handyman, greets them, and his sister Magenta, the maid, appears. Riff Raff, Magenta, and Columbia (a groupie) speak briefly of an unlucky delivery boy named Eddie before performing the show's signature dance number "Time Warp"*. Brad and Janet try to leave at this point, but are stopped when Dr. Frank N. Furter, a pansexual mad scientist, arrives. He introduces himself as "a sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania" and invites Brad and Janet up to his laboratory ("Sweet Transvestite
Sweet Transvestite
"Sweet Transvestite" is a song from 1973 British musical stage production, The Rocky Horror Show and its 1975 film counterpart The Rocky Horror Picture Show, of which the book, music and lyrics by Richard O'Brien, and the musical arrangements by Richard Hartley...
"). As he goes up, Brad and Janet are stripped to their underwear to dry off.
Brad and Janet enter the laboratory, where Frank N. Furter gives them laboratory coats to wear. Frank announces that he has discovered the secret to life itself. He unveils his creation, a blond, well-built man named Rocky Horror, who is brought to life. As his bandages are removed, Rocky worries about his predicament ("The Sword of Damocles
The Sword of Damocles
The Sword of Damocles is widely considered to be the first virtual reality and augmented reality head-mounted display system. It was created in 1968 by hall of fame computer scientist Ivan Sutherland with the help of his student Bob Sproull...
"). Frank admires Rocky's physique by singing a tribute to muscle builders ("I Can Make You a Man"). A Coca-Cola freezer in the laboratory opens to reveal Frank's former lover, Eddie, a biker covered in surgical scars. Eddie — now rendered a zombie
Zombie
Zombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
after having part of his brain removed by Frank — contemplates his new existence and recalls his former life ("Hot Patootie – Bless My Soul"). Frank panics, forces Eddie back into the machine, and hacks him to death. Frank tells Rocky — the recipient of the other half of Eddie's brain — that he prefers him over Eddie ("I Can Make You a Man (Reprise)"). Brad and Janet are then ushered to separate bedrooms for the night.
Act II
The Narrator foreshadows that Brad and Janet may be quite unsafe. Janet enjoys Brad's advances in her darkened bedroom before realizing that it is in fact Frank in disguise. He convinces Janet that pleasure is no crime, and after she asks him to promise not to tell Brad, they resume their lovemaking. The scene changes to Brad's darkened bedroom, where Brad makes love to Janet before discovering that, once again, it is Frank in disguise. Frank promises not to tell Janet, but as they resume, Riff Raff interrupts on the television monitor with the message that Rocky has escaped. Janet searches for Brad in the laboratory, and discovers Rocky hiding there. Checking the television monitor, Janet sees Brad in bed with Frank, and seduces Rocky ("Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me"). While searching the television monitor for Rocky, the rest of the group discovers that Janet has slept with him, and Brad becomes hurt and angry ("Once in a While"). Riff Raff then notifies Frank that there is another visitor entering the castle: Doctor Everett Scott, the paraplegic science tutor whom Brad and Janet intended to visit.
Doctor Scott is pushed into the laboratory by Columbia, and Frank accuses him and Brad of trying to investigate his castle. Doctor Scott assures him that he has come in search of Eddie, who is revealed to be his nephew ("Eddie's Teddy"). Frank displays Eddie's corpse to the group and then uses a device to electronically restrain the three visitors and a rebellious Columbia to the floor ("Planet Shmanet Janet"); the inhabitants of the castle are revealed to be space aliens led by Frank, who abandoned their original mission in order to engage in kinky sex with earthlings and work on Rocky. Magenta insists that they return to their home planet now that they have been found out; Frank refuses and, instead, declares his intentions to put on a "floor show."
Under Frank's influence, Columbia, Rocky, Brad, and Janet perform song and dance routines while clad in lingerie ("Rose Tint My World
Rose Tint My World
"Rose Tint My World" is the fourteenth song in the cult musical The Rocky Horror Show and its film counterpart The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It is part 1 of 3 of the "Floor Show Medley" towards the end of the show....
"). After, Frank entices them to lose all inhibition and give in to their basest carnal instincts, resulting in everyone’s beginning to engage in orgiastic sex
Orgy
In modern usage, an orgy is a sex party where guests engage in promiscuous or multifarious sexual activity or group sex. An orgy is similar to debauchery, which refers to excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures....
("Don't Dream It – Be It") before they are interrupted by Frank, who leads them into the concluding number of the floor show ("Wild and Untamed Thing"). The show comes to an abrupt end when Riff Raff and Magenta enter, wearing spacesuits and carrying ray guns. Riff Raff declares that he is usurping Frank's authority and taking them all back to their home planet. Frank makes a final plea for sympathy from Riff Raff, trying to make him understand his desire to spend the rest of his life having sex with earthlings ("I'm Going Home"). Riff Raff is unmoved and guns down Columbia, Frank, and Rocky before ordering Brad, Janet, and Doctor Scott to leave.
As the trio evacuates the castle, Riff Raff and Magenta express their excitement to return to their world and do the "Time Warp" again with their fellow Transylvanians ("Spaceship"). Brad and Janet watch as the castle blasts off into outer space, confused about the implications of their sexual escapades ("Super Heroes"). To conclude his tale, the Narrator says "…and crawling on the planet's face, insects called the human race, lost in time, and lost in space – and meaning." As the show ends, The Usherette returns to recount the night's events ("Science Fiction/Double Feature (Reprise)").
- In the original London and Los Angeles productions, "Sweet Transvestite" came before "Time Warp". This was changed for the film versionThe Rocky Horror Picture ShowThe Rocky Horror Picture Show is the 1975 film adaptation of the British rock musical stageplay, The Rocky Horror Show, written by Richard O'Brien. The film is a parody of B-movie, science fiction and horror films of the late 1940s through early 1970s. Director Jim Sharman collaborated on the...
and was subsequently updated for the stage version.
Original Broadway production
In early 1975 Lou Adler closed the show at the Roxy Theater after a ten month run. This gave actors time to return to the UK for filming of the movie version. Adler planned to open on Broadway just before the release of the film. It was anticipated that this production would be as successful as Jesus Christ SuperstarJesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
and serve as a public vehicle for the film version. It was unsuccessful and closed after 45 performances.
West End
The Rocky Horror Show transferred to the 820-seat Comedy Theatre on Panton Street in the West End, running from 6 April 1979 until 13 September 1980, closing the play's initial run of 2,960 performances. After occasional productions in the early 1980s, the play was revived for the Theatre Royal Hanley tour in 1984, and still is performed regularly in the U.K.Music
Theatre Upstairs at The Royal Court- “Science Fiction/Double FeatureScience Fiction/Double Feature"Science Fiction/Double Feature" is the opening song to the original 1973 musical stage production, The Rocky Horror Show as well as its 1975 film counterpart The Rocky Horror Picture Show, book, music and lyrics by Richard O'Brien, musical arrangements by Richard Hartley...
” - “Dammit, Janet!Dammit, Janet!"Dammit Janet" is a song/musical number in the original 1973 British musical stage production, The Rocky Horror Show as well as its 1975 film counterpart The Rocky Horror Picture Show, book, music and lyrics by Richard O'Brien, musical arrangements by Richard Hartley.The number provides well known...
” - “Over at the Frankenstein PlaceOver at the Frankenstein Place"Over at the Frankenstein Place" is the third song in the cult musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The 1975 cult film includes the song being sung outside Dr. Frank N. Furter's castle in the rain. It is performed by Susan Sarandon , Barry Bostwick and Richard O'Brien...
” - “Sweet TransvestiteSweet Transvestite"Sweet Transvestite" is a song from 1973 British musical stage production, The Rocky Horror Show and its 1975 film counterpart The Rocky Horror Picture Show, of which the book, music and lyrics by Richard O'Brien, and the musical arrangements by Richard Hartley...
” - “The Time Warp”
- “The Sword of Damocles”
- “Hot Patootie – Bless My Soul”
- “Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch MeTouch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me"Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me" is the eleventh song in The Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack. It is sung by Janet and features one-liners from Rocky, Brad, Frank'n'Furter, Magenta, Riff Raff and Columbia.-Origin:...
” - “Once in a While”
- “Planet Schmanet Janet”
- “Rose Tint My WorldRose Tint My World"Rose Tint My World" is the fourteenth song in the cult musical The Rocky Horror Show and its film counterpart The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It is part 1 of 3 of the "Floor Show Medley" towards the end of the show....
/Don't Dream It, Be It/Wild and Untamed Thing” - “I'm Going Home”
- “Superheroes”
- “Science Fiction/Double Feature (Reprise)”
At the Classic Cinema and King's Road Theatre (Formerly the Essoldo Cinema), the following songs were added: “I Can Make You a Man” and a reprise of the same, and “Eddie's Teddy”.
National tours
The Rocky Horror Show has toured the UK regularly since the 1990-91 West End revival at the Piccadilly TheatrePiccadilly Theatre
The Piccadilly Theatre is a West End theatre located at 16 Denman Street, behind Piccadilly Circus and adjacent to the Regent Palace Hotel, in the City of Westminster, England.-Early years:Built by Bertie Crewe and Edward A...
in productions produced by Richard O’Brien's and Howard Panter
Howard Panter
Howard Hugh Panter is a multi-award winning British theatre impresario and theatre operator. He is a Founder, Co-Owner, Joint Chief Executive and Creative Director of The Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd and Chairman of Rambert Dance Company.In 2009, together...
's Rocky Horror Company. Notable celebrities have been cast including Tim McInnerny
Tim McInnerny
Tim McInnerny is an English actor. He is known for his role as Percy in Blackadder and Blackadder II, and as Captain Darling in Blackadder Goes Forth...
, Anthony Head
Anthony Head
Anthony Stewart Head , usually credited as Anthony Head, is an English actor and musician. He rose to fame in the UK following his role in television advertisements for Nescafé Gold Blend , and is known for his roles as Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and as Uther Pendragon in...
, Robin Cousins
Robin Cousins
Robert "Robin" Cousins is a British retired competitive figure skater. He is the 1980 Olympic Champion, the 1980 European champion, a three-time World medalist and four-time British national champion. He later starred in ice shows and also produced his own...
, Jason Donovan
Jason Donovan
Jason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989...
and Jonathan Wilkes
Jonathan Wilkes
Jonathan Wilkes is an English television presenter, actor and musician. Jonny Wilkes is currently performing as Billy Flynn in Chicago at The Cambridge Theatre, London. He is also the best friend of singer Robbie Williams...
as Frank N. Furter and TV's Craig Ferguson
Craig Ferguson
Craig Ferguson is a Scottish American television host, stand-up comedian, writer, actor, director, author, and producer. He is the host of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, an Emmy Award-nominated, Peabody Award-winning late-night talk show that airs on CBS...
as Brad Majors.
Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show completed its 2006-2007 tour on 14 July 2007 in Woking, England after touring for almost eighteen months. The tour was directed by Christopher Luscombe and featured David Bedella
David Bedella
David Bedella is an American TV and musical stage actor, perhaps best known for his Olivier award winning role in the controversial Jerry Springer - The Opera...
as Frank N. Furter. The 2006 tour cast, accompanied by Roger Lloyd-Pack as the Narrator and author Richard O'Brien
Richard O'Brien
Richard Timothy Smith , better known under his stage name Richard O'Brien, is an English writer, actor, television presenter and theatre performer. He is perhaps best known for writing the cult musical The Rocky Horror Show and for his role in presenting the popular TV show The Crystal Maze...
, performed "The Time Warp" live in Trafalgar Square on 22 July 2006 as part of The Big Dance event and was broadcast on BBC1's Dancing in the Street. In 2008 David Bedella
David Bedella
David Bedella is an American TV and musical stage actor, perhaps best known for his Olivier award winning role in the controversial Jerry Springer - The Opera...
released his first album The Dean St. Sessions, produced by Nathan Amzi, which included a duet with Richard O’Brien singing I'm Going Home
I'm Going Home (Rocky Horror song)
"I'm Going Home" is the 18th song in The Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack. Immediately after Riff Raff and Magenta interrupt the Floor Show, Frank attempts to explain his actions. He tells them that he will return to Earth one day and stay forever...
as a bonus video.
In March 2009, the show would returned with a new UK tour starting in the autumn. With Christopher Luscombe returning as the director, the tour was a revival of the 2006-2007 production with some adjustments to the direction, lighting, choreography, costumes and musical arrangements. The tour opened on 17 September 2009 at the New Wimbledon Theatre
New Wimbledon Theatre
The New Wimbledon Theatre is situated on The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, in the London Borough of Merton. It is a Grade II listed Edwardian theatre built by the theatre lover and entrepreneur, J B Mullholland. Built on the site of a large house with spacious grounds the theatre was designed by...
and closed on 4 December 2010 at the newly opened Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre is a £42million theatre in Aylesbury, England, United Kingdom presenting a range of West End and touring musicals and plays, along with performances of opera and ballet and a Christmas pantomime.-History:...
.
The first leg of the tour ran from September 2009 to July 2010 with a short break over the Christmas period. David Bedella
David Bedella
David Bedella is an American TV and musical stage actor, perhaps best known for his Olivier award winning role in the controversial Jerry Springer - The Opera...
reprised his role as Frank N. Furter. The second leg of the tour began on 1 September 2010 at the New Victoria Theatre
New Victoria Theatre
The New Victoria Theatre in Woking, England opened in June 1992. The main theatre seats approximately 1,300 people, making it one of the largest receiving house theatres outside London. In addition to the main theatre the complex also contains the smaller Rhoda McGaw theatre and a six-screen cinema...
, Woking
Woking
Woking is a large town and civil parish that shares its name with the surrounding local government district, located in the west of Surrey, UK. It is part of the Greater London Urban Area and the London commuter belt, with frequent trains and a journey time of 24 minutes to Waterloo station....
with several changes to the cast. During the UK tour's summer break director Christopher Luscombe and the show's creative team recreated the UK production in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
with a new cast of American, Australian and New Zealander actors and local celebrities as the Narrator. The production played from August until October 2010 before a five week New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
tour in November and December with Richard O’Brien making a rare appearance as the Narrator.
1980 North American production
The Rocky Horror Show toured North America.The cast featured Frank Gregory as Frank N. Furter,
Marcia Mitzman as Janet, Frank Piergo as Brad,
Pendleton Brown as Riff Raff,
Lorelle Brina as Magenta/Trixie,
C. J. Critt as Columbia, Kim Milford
Kim Milford
Richard Kim Milford was an American actor, singer-songwriter, and composer. He is best known for his acting in musicals such as The Rocky Horror Show and Jesus Christ Superstar. Born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, Milford grew up in Winnetka, Illinois where he attended New Trier High School...
as Rocky,
Steve Lincoln as The Narrator,
Broadway revival
The Rocky Horror Show had a longer revival on BroadwayBroadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
from October 2000 to January 2002 at the Circle in the Square Theatre
Circle in the Square Theatre
The Circle in the Square Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre in midtown Manhattan on 50th Street in the Paramount Plaza building.The original Circle in the Square was founded by Paul Libin, Theodore Mann and Jose Quintero in 1951 and was located at 5 Sheridan Square in Greenwich Village...
and featured Tom Hewitt (later Terrance Mann) as Frank N. Furter, Alice Ripley as Janet, Raúl Esparza
Raúl Esparza
Raúl Eduardo Esparza is an American stage actor, singer, and voice artist noted for his award winning performances in Broadway shows...
(later Sebastian Bach
Sebastian Bach
Sebastian Bach is a Canadian heavy metal singer who achieved mainstream success as frontman of Skid Row from 1987 to 1996. Since his departure from Skid Row, he has had many television roles, acted within Broadway plays, and leads a successful solo career.-Early life:Bach was born Sebastian...
) as Riff Raff, Joan Jett
Joan Jett
Joan Jett is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and actress.She is best known for her work with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts including their hit cover "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 from March 20 to May 1, 1982, as well as for their other popular...
as Columbia/Usherette (later Ana Gasteyer
Ana Gasteyer
Ana Kristina Gasteyer is an American actress of stage, film, and television. She is best known for her comedic roles when she was a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1996 to 2002.-Early life:...
), Lea DeLaria
Lea DeLaria
Lea DeLaria is an American comedienne, actress, and jazz musician. The "famously controversial" DeLaria was "the first openly gay comic to break the late-night talk-show barrier" with her 1993 appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show....
(later Jason Wooten) as Eddie/Doctor Scott, and Daphne Rubin-Vega
Daphne Rubin-Vega
Daphne Rubin-Vega is a dancer, singer, and actress. She is best known for originating the role of Mimi Marquez in the Broadway musical Rent, and the role of Lucy, in the Off-Broadway play Jack Goes Boating.-Biography:Rubin-Vega was born in Panama City, Panama, the daughter of Daphine Vega, a...
as Magenta. From October 2001 to January 2002, several guest celebrities played the Narrator role normally performed by Dick Cavett
Dick Cavett
Richard Alva "Dick" Cavett is a former American television talk show host known for his conversational style and in-depth discussion of issues...
(Kate Clinton
Kate Clinton
Kate Clinton is a American comedian specializing in political commentary from a gay/lesbian point of view.-Early life:...
took over for a week while Cavett was on vacation), including Gilbert Gottfried
Gilbert Gottfried
Gilbert Gottfried is an American actor, voice actor and stand-up comedian, best known for his trademark comedic persona of speaking in a loud, grating tone of voice. He has played numerous roles in film and television, perhaps most notably voicing the parrot Iago in Disney's Aladdin , and...
, Sally Jesse Raphael, Robin Leach
Robin Leach
Robin Douglas Leach is an English celebrity writer famous for hosting his first show, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, in the mid-1980s and into the mid-1990s, which focused on profiling well-known celebrities and their lavish homes, cars and other materialistic endeavors...
, magicians Penn & Teller
Penn & Teller
Penn & Teller are Las Vegas headliners whose act is an amalgam of illusion and comedy. Penn Jillette is a raconteur; Teller generally uses mime while performing, although his voice can occasionally be heard during their performance...
, New York Post columnist Cindy Adams
Cindy Adams
Cindy Adams is an American gossip columnist and writer. She is the widow of comedian and humorist Joey Adams.-Early life and education:Born an only child in New York City, she was one year old when her parents divorced...
, MTV personality Dave Holmes
Dave Holmes
David Robert "Dave" Holmes is a television personality who gained national attention as the runner-up on MTV's first Wanna Be a VJ contest in 1998. From the beginning, he distinguished himself from other candidates with an encyclopedic knowledge of music trivia.Despite his loss to Jesse Camp, MTV...
, and talk show host Jerry Springer
Jerry Springer
Gerald Norman "Jerry" Springer is a British-born American television presenter, best known as host of the tabloid talk show The Jerry Springer Show since its debut in 1991...
. It is suggested that the revival, like other shows running at the time, closed early because of financial losses during the time after 9/11. The Revival was nominated for the following Tony Awards: Best Actor: Tom Hewitt; Best Costume Designer: David C. Woolard; Best Director: Christopher Ashley; and Best Musical Revival.
New Zealand
In 2010, it was announced that The Rocky Horror Show would be touring New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, with Richard O'Brien
Richard O'Brien
Richard Timothy Smith , better known under his stage name Richard O'Brien, is an English writer, actor, television presenter and theatre performer. He is perhaps best known for writing the cult musical The Rocky Horror Show and for his role in presenting the popular TV show The Crystal Maze...
as the Narrator. The show will be in the capital, Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, for seven shows in December.
It was also during this time that Richard O'Brien
Richard O'Brien
Richard Timothy Smith , better known under his stage name Richard O'Brien, is an English writer, actor, television presenter and theatre performer. He is perhaps best known for writing the cult musical The Rocky Horror Show and for his role in presenting the popular TV show The Crystal Maze...
was honored with a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
Citizenship.
Singapore
The Rocky Horror Show premiered in Singapore at the Esplanade Theatre in SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, from 5 to 16 January 2011.
Cast recordings
- 1973 London Cast
- 1974 Roxy Cast
- 1974 Australian Cast
- 1975 Brazilian Cast
- 1975 Film Soundtrack
- 1976 Mexican Cast
- 1977 Norwegian Cast
- 1978 New Zealand Cast (starring Gary GlitterGary GlitterGary Glitter is an English former glam rock singer-songwriter and musician.Glitter first came to prominence in the glam rock era of the early 1970s...
) - 1980 German Cast
- 1981 Australian Cast
- 1990 London Cast
("The Whole Gory Story")
- 1991 Icelandic Cast
- 1992 Australian Cast
- 1994 German Cast
- 1995 New Zealand Cast
- 1995 Finnish Cast
- 1995 Icelandic Cast
- 1995 German Cast
- 1996 Danish Cast
- 1996-97 European Tour
- 1997 German Cast
- 1998 London Cast
- 1998 South African Cast
- 2001 Broadway Cast
- 2001 Korean Cast
- 2001 Peruvian Cast
- 2002 Philippine Cast
- 2005 Vancouver Cast
- 2007 Panamanian Cast
- 2009 Mexican Cast
- 2010 Icelandic Cast
- 2011 Poland Cast
External links
- Official Rocky Horror Show UK Tour web site
- RockyShows.net, a calendar of US amateur productions