Story perspectives

Rocky Horror Revival Opens on Broadway with Evans, Dratch

4/25/2026

Summary

Luke Evans Stars

Roundabout Theatre Company opened its Rocky Horror Show revival on Broadway at Studio 54 on April 23, 2026.
Sam Pinkleton directs; design by dots, costumes by David I. Reynoso, lighting by Jane Cox, Brian Ronan on sound.
The cast features Luke Evans as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Rachel Dratch as Narrator, Stephanie Hsu as Janet, and Juliette Lewis as Magenta.
Reviewers note the show limits call-outs with signage, praise Dratch and Evans, but report muffled audio after opening numbers.

Summary

Production Innovates

The production uses a large onstage television box to represent Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s surveillance system instead of modern projections.
Choreographer Ani Taj created uninhibited, Muppet-like movement that drives the show’s “Time Warp” and other numbers.
A lobby sign instructs patrons that it is live theater, not a movie, urging them to listen closely, keep control, and enjoy the show, reflecting the team’s effort to steer audience behavior.

History

Historical Context

In June 1973 Richard O'Brien’s Rocky Horror Show opened in the 63-seat Royal Court Upstairs, then moved to larger London venues and won the Evening Standard Award that year. Its audience-participation cues spread to the 1976 midnight film screenings and the 1975 Broadway run at the 1,000-seat Belasco Theatre. The 2026 Roundabout revival at Studio 54 re-creates those signs, recalling the show’s 2,960-performance London legacy.

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Luke Evans Stars

Roundabout Theatre Company opened its Rocky Horror Show revival on Broadway at Studio 54 on April 23, 2026.
Sam Pinkleton directs; design by dots, costumes by David I. Reynoso, lighting by Jane Cox, Brian Ronan on sound.
The cast features Luke Evans as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Rachel Dratch as Narrator, Stephanie Hsu as Janet, and Juliette Lewis as Magenta.
Reviewers note the show limits call-outs with signage, praise Dratch and Evans, but report muffled audio after opening numbers.

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