‘The Rocky Horror Show’ Is Heading Back to Broadway With a Star-Studded New Cast
It’s just a jump to the left — and then a leap back to one of New York City’s most iconic stages.
The Rocky Horror Show is returning to Broadway for a limited engagement running March 26 through June 21, 2026, at Studio 54 in New York City. And the production is arriving with a cast packed with well-known names from stage and screen, a Tony Award-winning director, and the kind of cultural momentum that few shows in theater history can claim.
Whether your memories of Rocky Horror trace back to a midnight screening, a college dorm room singalong, or your first daring costume, this revival aims to bring those experiences roaring back to life — this time with the energy of a live Broadway stage.
A Director Who Gets the ‘Weirdos and Trash’
Tony Award winner Sam Pinkleton, celebrated for his direction of Oh, Mary!, is set to direct the Rocky Horror revival. His vision for the production suggests a deep understanding of what makes Rocky Horror resonate with audiences across generations.
Pinkleton told Broadway.com, “It’s made out of everything that I love, which is like weirdos and trash and a kind of strange earnestness. I know that when many people think about Rocky Horror, they think about going to the movies and dressing up and getting a V on your forehead and throwing sh** at the screen.”
“All of that’s true and fun,” he continued. “But it also is for so many people [about] survival. Studio 54 heightens this, that something can be ridiculous and trashy and messy and queer and also like dead serious and so big-hearted. Rocky Horror is known as a film obviously, but it was created as a stage show and it is an undeniably live experience. I think it’s like theater that insists on being theater.”
It’s a striking framing — the idea that underneath the camp, the glitter, and the audience callbacks lies something far more personal for many fans. And Pinkleton appears intent on honoring both dimensions of the show: its wild, irreverent surface and its deeper emotional core.
A Cast That Spans Hollywood and the Broadway Stage
The cast assembled for this revival reads like a who’s who of talent from film, television, and the theater world. Several of the performers will be making their Broadway debuts, adding an extra layer of anticipation to the production.
Luke Evans — known for roles in Beauty and the Beast, High-Rise, and Backstairs Billy — makes his Broadway debut in the iconic role of Frank-N-Furter. Rachel Dratch, beloved for her years on Saturday Night Live and her performance in POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive, takes on the role of Narrator.
Andrew Durand, whose Broadway credits include Dead Outlaw, Shucked, and Little Shop of Horrors, will play Brad. Stephanie Hsu, who earned widespread recognition for her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once and has Broadway credits including SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical and Be More Chill, stars as Janet. Amber Gray, known for her celebrated work in Eureka Day; Hadestown; and Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, plays Riff Raff.
The Broadway debut list doesn’t end with Evans. Harvey Guillén, whose credits include What We Do in the Shadows, Companion, and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, will take on the dual role of Eddie/Dr. Scott. Juliette Lewis, known for Yellowjackets and Cape Fear, plays Magenta. Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, recognized for her work in Loot, Pose, and Rent, stars as Columbia. And Josh Rivera, whose resume includes American Sports Story, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, and West Side Story, steps into the role of Rocky.
It’s a roster that blends seasoned Broadway veterans with high-profile newcomers to the stage, promising a production that will draw audiences from multiple fan bases.
From Fringe Theater to Cultural Phenomenon
For those unfamiliar with its origins, The Rocky Horror Show first emerged as a scrappy 1973 London stage production before evolving into the cult film The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which redefined midnight movie culture.
Few productions have traveled from fringe theater experiment to cult film to Broadway revival while retaining their outsider spirit the way Rocky Horror has. That trajectory — from a small London stage to one of the most recognizable cultural touchstones in entertainment — speaks to the show’s enduring ability to connect with audiences who feel like outsiders themselves.
The nostalgia surrounding the revival operates on multiple levels, spanning memories of the original stage run, late-night screenings, and decades of shadow casts. For many, Rocky Horror isn’t simply a show to watch — it’s something they’ve participated in, dressed up for, and shouted along with in darkened theaters, sometimes for decades.
What to Expect at Studio 54
The Broadway revival is set to bring fans’ fond memories to life again, with extravagant costumes, polished choreography, and modern production design amplifying the show’s signature camp. Hearing iconic songs like “Time Warp” performed live again instantly transports many audience members back to dorm rooms, independent theaters, or their first daring costume.
The choice of Studio 54 as the venue feels significant, echoing Pinkleton’s own remarks about the space. As he noted, the theater heightens the idea that something can be simultaneously ridiculous and deeply sincere — qualities that have always sat at the heart of Rocky Horror.
A Living, Evolving Experience
The revival reinforces Rocky Horror’s place in pop culture history as a living, evolving experience rather than a relic of the 1970s. With a director who clearly grasps the show’s emotional weight beneath the spectacle, and a cast that bridges the worlds of independent film, blockbuster franchises, prestige television, and award-winning theater, this production appears poised to introduce Rocky Horror to new audiences while welcoming longtime fans home.
The Rocky Horror Show runs March 26 through June 21, 2026, at Studio 54 in New York City.
Production of this article included the use of AI. It was reviewed and edited by a team of content specialists.
