The Rocky Horror Show
- For other uses, see Rocky (disambiguation)
- For other uses, see Rocky Horror (disambiguation)
The Rocky Horror Show is a musical with music, lyrics and a book by Richard O'Brien. The first production of The Rocky Horror Show was in London, at the 63-seat Royal Court Theatre, in the Theater Upstairs. It opened on June 19, 1973 and ran there until July 20, 1973. The original production won the 1973 Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Musical, and moved first to the Chelsea Classic Cinema (August 14, 1973 thru October 20, 1973) and then to the King's Road Theatre (November 3, 1973 thru March 31, 1979). It continued regularly through 1980, and had several revivals over the years.
The Rocky Horror Show is a parody of science fiction and horror B-movies of the '50s, the musical 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 show is flashy and campy, adding a sexual overtone to the squeaky clean genre of teen horror flicks. It has been said that the glittery costumes and torn fishnets for the play, designed by Sue Blane which were influenced by the Glam Rock look of David Bowie and others, in turn heavily influenced the look of the early Punk Rock movement in London. The story has its roots in '50s Horror flicks like The Yesterday Machine and makes reference to several RKO Pictures films as well.
The original show was produced and directed by Australian director Jim Sharman, who had worked previously with Tim Curry in the U.K. production of Hair and Richard O'Brien in Jesus Christ Superstar. In 1972, O'Brien brought Sharman his treatment for "They Came From Denton High," and together they worked it into The Rocky Horror Show. Richard Hartley was brought in as musical director (later replaced by Pete Moss), and Michael White took over as producer. Long-time affiliate of Jim Sharman, Brian Thomson, served as the original set designer. The same team later worked on the film adaptation, The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
American producer, Lou Adler, caught the show while in London, and quickly secured the rights to the show. He brought it to his night club in West Hollywood, CA, The Roxy Theatre where it debuted on March 24, 1974 . Tim Curry from the Original London Cast reprised his role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Roxy Cast with American actors in the remaining roles. It had a successful 9-month run with it's own soundtrack credited as The Rocky Horror Show - Original Roxy Cast. A concurrent production was launched in Australia on April 15 starring Reg Livermore, and ran for two years at the the New Arts Cinema in Sydney. It moved to Regent Palace Theatre in Melbourne, where it remained open from October 1975 until May 1977.
After the film was completed, but before its release, The Rocky Horror Show opened on Broadway, at the Belasco Theatre where the disappointing run ended after three previews and forty five shows, though it did manage to get nominated for a Tony Award for lighting. It is thought that the show lent itself to small cabaret like the Roxy, but was not suited for the much larger Belasco.
There were several international productions of the stage show in the mid-'70s, and several Rocky Horror Show Cast Albums emerged, including ones from Germany, Norway, and an unlicensed version from Mexico called "Julissa" - El Show De Terror De Rocky. As The Rocky Horror Picture Show increased in popularity, more stage productions were launched, including an ambitious U.S. tour in 1980-81, featuring Kim Milford from the Roxy Cast reprising his role as Rocky Horror (A Creation).
Plot Summary
Brad Majors and Janet Weiss, a newly engaged couple from Denton, seek refuge in the castle of Dr. Frank-N-Furter during a rainstorm after getting a flat tire. Welcomed in by handyman Riff Raff, the couple discover a celebration in progress, where they are introduced to their host, a "Sweet Transvestite, from Transsexual, Transylvania." Puzzled and a little shocked, Brad and Janet are invited to stay for the unveiling of Dr. Furter's creation, a muscle-man named Rocky Horror. Over the course of the night, Frank seduces both Brad and Janet. Janet and Rocky become involved physically as well. As the drama unfolds, rival scientist (and former teacher of Brad and Janet), Dr. Everett Scott, arrives looking for his nephew, Eddie. Eddie had been a victim of Dr. Furter earlier in the evening. Over dinner, Dr. Scott reveals to Brad and Janet that their host is an alien, who is developing a Sonic Transducer, an "audio-vibratory-physio-molecular transport device which is capable of breaking down solid matter and then projecting it through space and, who knows, perhaps even time itself!" The guests are then forced to participate in a kinky "Floor Show", where it is revealed that Brad, Janet and even Dr. Scott have been changed forever by the experience.
Productions of the Rocky Horror Show
1973 London Cast
1974 The Rocky Horror Show - Original Roxy Cast Los Angeles
1974 Australian Cast
1975 New York City/Broadway - Belasco Theatre
1975 Brazil
1975 San Francisco
1976 Mexico
1977 Norway
1978 New Zealand
1980 Germany
1980 - 81 North American Tour
1981 Australia
1990 London Revival
1991 Iceland
1992 Australian Revival
1994 German Revival
1995 New Zealand Revival
1995 Finland
1995 Iceland Revival
1995 German Revival
1996 Denmark
1996–97 European Tour
1997 German Revival
1998 London Revival
1998 South Africa
1999 Los Angeles Revival - Tiffany Theater
2000 Broadway Revival
2001 Korean
2001 Peru
2002 Philippines
2005 Vancouver, Canada
2007 Panama
2009 Mexican Revival
2010 Icelandic Revival
2011 Poland
2011 Japan
2015 London Revival
Musical Numbers
"Science Fiction, Double Feature"
"Dammit Janet"
"Over At The Frankenstein Place"
"Sweet Transvestite"
"The Time Warp"
"The Sword Of Damocles"
"Charles Atlas Song"
"Hot Patootie – Bless My Soul"
"Charles Atlas Song (Reprise)"
"Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me"
"Once In A While"
"Eddie's Teddy"
"Planet, Schmanet, Janet"
"Planet Hot Dog"
"Rose Tint My World"
"Don't Dream It, Be It"
"Wild And Untamed Thing"
"I'm Going Home"
"Super Heroes"
"Science Fiction, Double Feature (Reprise)"
External Links
The Rocky Horror Show - Official Website [1]
The Rocky Horror Show (Original 1973 Script) [2]
Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show (1999 Revision Script) [3]
