Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

Full-Length Musical, Dark Comedy  /  3w, 6m

Book, Music and Lyrics by Richard O’Brien

The original kitschy rock ’n’ roll sci-fi gothic musical is more fun than ever! "A musical that deals with mutating identity and time warps becomes one of the most mutated, time-warped phenomena in show business." - The New York Times

  • Available to amateur university groups from accredited universities in the UK and Ireland, performing on a university campus
  • Maximum of 8 performances within a 14-day period
  • Maximum seating capacity capped at 1,500 seats across 8 performances

Image: 2014 Dallas Theater Center Production (Karen Almond)

Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 6m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Science Fiction
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! 1973 Evening Standard Award for Best Musical
    Nominee: 1975 Tony Award®
    Nominee: Three 1975 Drama Desk Awards
    Nominee: Four 2001 Tony Awards®, including Best Revival of a Musical
    Nominee: Five 2001 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Revival of a Musical
Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

Details

Summary

In this cult classic, sweethearts Brad and Janet, stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter. As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including a rocking biker and a creepy butler. Through elaborate dances and rock songs, Frank-N-Furter unveils his latest creation: a muscular man named “Rocky.”

That “Sweet Transvestite” and his motley crew did the “Time Warp” on Broadway in a 25th anniversary revival. Complete with sass from the audience, cascading toilet paper, and an array of other audience participation props, this deliberately kitschy rock ’n’ roll sci-fi gothic musical is more fun than ever.

Click here for The Guardian's 40th-anniversary slide show with original production photos!

History
The original London production of The Rocky Horrow Show, directed by Jim Sharman, premiered at the Royal Court Theatre on 19 June 1973 and won the 1973 Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Musical. Later transferring to several other locations in London, the show ran for a total of 2,960 performances. On 10 March 1975, The Rocky Horrow Show opened on Broadway at the Belasco Theatre, starring Tim Curry and featuring Meatloaf and “Ritz” O’Brien. In 2001, the show returned to Broadway at Circle in the Square Theatre, starring Raúl Esparza, Tom Hewitt, Alice Ripley and Jarrod Emick. Directed by Christopher Ashley, the revival ran for 437 performances.
Keywords
Performing Groups

USHERETTE/MAGENTA: Female, Age Flexible (Range: Mezzo Soprano Belt, Bb3-Eb5)
One of Frank’s servants.

BRAD: Male, 26-35 (Range: Bari Tenor, Bb2-G4)
Quirky, but very much in love with his fiancé, Janet. Overly optimistic at times.

JANET: Female, 26-35 (Range: Mezzo Soprano Belt, A3-Eb5)
Good girl who is madly in love with Brad. Always seems to be frightened of something. Keeps losing more of her clothes throughout the story. Emotionally weak and caves into pressure easily.

NARRATOR: Male, Age Flexible (Non-Singing Role)
Follows our two hero’s through the story by narrating directly to the audience.

RIFF RAFF: Male, 25-40 (Range: High Rock Tenor, D3-B4)
Creepy man resembling more of a zombie. Often makes harmless conversation seem awkward and foreboding. One of Frank’s servants.

COLUMBIA: Female, Age Flexible (Range: Mezzo Soprano Belt, E4-E5)
One of Frank’s servants.

FRANK-N-FURTER: Male, 30-45 (Range: Baritone, D3-G4)
Master of the castle. Welcomes Janet and Brad with open arms. Obsessed with creating a man to be part of his sexual entourage. Master of seduction.

ROCKY: Male 18-30 (Range: Tenor, A3-G4)
Frank’s magnificent creation. Sexually appealing with prominent muscles.

EDDIE/DR. SCOTT: Male, 28-40 (Range: Baritone, E3-F#4)
Eddie, delivery man, “went to pieces.” Misses the rock and role of life. Comes back to life only to die after his solo. Scott is Eddie’s Uncle.

4 PHANTOMS/TRANSYLVANIANS (SATB)
Various Singers.

Note: Usherette can be doubled with Magenta. Dr. Scott and Eddie can be doubled. Phantoms can be increased to six. They are used onstage and off as backup singers as well as understudies.

  • Setting The castle and laboratory of Frank-N-Furter.
  • Features Fantasy Costumes
  • Additional Features Audience Participation/Interactive, Special Effects, Drag Performance
  • Duration 90 minutes
  • Cautions
    • Intense Adult Themes
    • Strong Language
    • Nudity/Partial Nudity

Media

“A socko wacko weirdo rock concert.” – WNBC TV

“A musical that deals with mutating identity and time warps becomes one of the most mutated, time-warped phenomena in show business.” – The New York Times

“Campy trash.” – Time

One of the “10 most influential postwar British plays.” – Guardian UK

ON BREAKING CHARACTER

20 Plays & Musicals for Spooky Season
Annette Storckman
27 September 2019

Don't Dream It, Be It: 10 Things You Didn't Know About the Rocky Horror Show
by Katie Coryell
31 October 2018

Videos

  • Time Warp - 2014 Australia youtube thumbnail

    Time Warp - 2014 Australia

  • Sweet Transvestite - 2013 London Cast youtube thumbnail

    Sweet Transvestite - 2013 London Cast

Photos

  • Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

    Image: 2023 Core Theatre Group Production (Jeremy Daniel)

  • Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

    Image: 2014 Dallas Theater Center Production (Karen Almond)

Music

Music Samples

Act I

1. Overture – Orchestra
2. “Science Fiction” – Magenta, Chorus
3. “Damn it, Janet” – Brad, Janet, Chorus
4. “Over at the Frankenstein Place” – Brad, Janet, Chorus
4a. Instrumental – Orchestra
5. “Time Warp” – Riff-Raff, Magenta, Columbia, Narrator, Chorus
6. “Sweet Transvestite” – Frank, Brad, Magenta, Riff-Raff, Columbia, Chorus
6a. Instrumental – Orchestra
7. “The Sword of Damocles” – Rocky, Chorus, Narrator
8. “Charles Atlas Song” – Frank
9. “Hot Patootie” – Eddie, Chorus
9a. Instrumental – Orchestra
10. “Charles Atlas (Reprise)” – Frank, Phantoms, Janet

Act II

11. Entr’acte – Orchestra
11a. Instrumental – Orchestra
11b. Instrumental – Orchestra
11c. Instrumental – Orchestra
12. “Touch-a Touch Me” – Janet, Magenta, Columbia
12A. Instrumental – Orchestra
13. “Once in a While” – Narrator, Brad, Phantoms
13a. Instrumental – Orchestra
13b. Instrumental – Orchestra
13c. Instrumental – Orchestra
14. “Eddie’s Teddy” – Doctor Scott, Narrator, Frank, Columbia, Chorus
14a. Instrumental – Orchestra
15. “Planet Schmanet” – Frank, Columbia, Janet, Narrator, Chorus
15a. Instrumental – Orchestra
16. “Floor Show” – Columbia, Rocky, Frank, Doctor Scott, Janet, Riff-Raff
17. “I’m Going Home” – Frank
17a. Instrumental – Orchestra
17b. “Space Ship” – Choir
18. “Super Heroes” – Brad, Janet, Narrator
19. “Science Fiction (Reprise)” – Magenta
20. Tabs: “Floor Show”/”Hot Patootie” – Frank, Eddie, All
21. Finale: “Time Warp” – Narrator, All

  • Musical Style Pop/Rock
  • Dance Requirements Easy
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Medium
  • Chorus Size Small

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.
    Performance rights for this show are currently heavily restricted in the UK and Ireland. Please submit a licence request to determine availability

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!
10   Vocal Book
1   Piano-Conductor (rehearsal & performance)

1   Synthesizer
1   Tenor Saxophone
1   Guitar – Acoustic & Electric
1   Bass Guitar
1   Drums
10   Vocal Book
1   Piano-Conductor (rehearsal & performance)
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Authors

Richard O'Brien

Richard O'Brien

A Short History

Richard, who was born in 1942, began his life in the world of entertainment in 1965, when, at the age of 23, he rode horses in British-made movies. He had no desire to become a full-time stuntman and, wisely, took himself off to an evening drama school which cl ...

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