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The Rocky Horror Demonstrate revival opened on Broadway at Studio 54 with a star-studded cast and high expectations, but early reviews note a lag in energy despite strong performances and clear reverence for the source material.
Luke Evans makes his Broadway debut as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, the role immortalized by Tim Curry in the 1975 film, while Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu plays Janet Weiss and Juliette Lewis takes on Magenta. Rachel Dratch serves as the Narrator, bringing her Saturday Night Live-honed wit to the role, and Amber Gray and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez round out key parts as Riff Raff and Columbia.
Directed by Sam Pinkleton, whose recent work on the queer comedy Oh, Mary! earned critical acclaim, the production aims to honor Richard O’Brien’s 1973 stage musical by taking its camp, corsets, and alien absurdity seriously — a approach Pinkleton says O’Brien himself endorsed as both joyful and political.
The Guardian’s review notes that while the opening scenes sparkle — particularly Lewis’s charming rendition of “Science Fiction Double Feature” and the inventive use of miniature sets and curtain-hand gags — the momentum falters mid-show, with staging that feels aimless and less tightly choreographed than Pinkleton’s previous work.
Deadline highlights how the revival navigates audience participation in a post-pandemic context, with a pre-show warning urging patrons not to throw objects, and observes that the cast handles call-and-response exchanges with ease, maintaining the show’s spirit without descending into chaos.
For more on this story, see Luke Evans Leads Rocky Horror Revival with Strong Singing and Camp Sincerity on Broadway.
Out Magazine emphasizes the show’s enduring significance in queer theater history, noting its long-standing place in the canon for unapologetic LGBTQ+ expression and tracing Pinkleton’s involvement back to 2018, before the pandemic delayed initial plans.
The revival marks the first major Broadway staging of The Rocky Horror Show in over two decades, arriving amid renewed interest in countercultural properties that challenged norms around gender, sexuality, and performance in the 1970s.
How does this revival compare to the 1975 film version?
The film, featuring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, and Barry Bostwick, remains the definitive version for most audiences due to its tighter pacing and iconic performances, which the stage revival struggles to match in energy according to early reviews.
Why is this production considered politically significant?
Director Sam Pinkleton and cast members describe taking the show’s themes of gender fluidity and queer identity seriously as an act of joy and resistance, echoing its roots as a countercultural statement in the 1970s.
What changes were made to audience participation for this revival?
Patrons are warned not to throw rice, toast, or other objects, but the cast encourages verbal call-and-response, which they manage with ease to preserve the show’s interactive spirit without disruption.
