It's time for a good Rocky Horror revival.

[Sondheimite]

I was watching the clips of the Skivvies doing Rocky Horror and WOW could I use some fun times in this Orwellian Hellscape that is America in 2018.  So maybe it's time for a Rocky Horror revival.

Now, I for one have seen (and been a part of) way too many regional productions that are trying to replicate the movie.  It's time for a fresh spin.

Would LOVE to see Tina Landau direct a revival. 

I have this theory that
1) Columbia should be played by a male ala Kenneth the Page in 30 Rock.  Ethan Slater anyone?
2)  Brad should be a Tobias Funke.  
3)  A Jennifer Simard type should play a totally new kind of Janet 
4)  There's GOT TO BE a Frank that is the polar opposite of Tim Curry.  What's Eric Andre up to?

Is it time, you guys?  Is it time for a Rocky Horror revival?

[Jarethan]

No, it is not.  IMO.  The revival closed 16 years ago and, while it had a healthy run, I seem to recall that it did NOT return its investment.  Admit that I could be wrong there, but I don't think so...it was at TKTS for its entire run (minus Christmas and a few other holidays), which does not bode well for returning its investment.

[Sondheimite]

Jarethan said: "No, it is not. IMO. The revival closed 16 years ago and, while it had a healthy run, I seem to recall that it did NOT return its investment. Admit that I could be wrong there, but I don't think so...it was at TKTS forits entire run (minus Christmas and a few other holidays), which does not bode well for returning its investment."

To be fair, 9/11 played a huge role in that revival not making much money

[Menken Fan]

If they could transfer the spectacular production that is just about to end its Stratford run, then yes! I’ve also seen dozens of productions (going back to a 1985 production in St Louis starring Wendy O. Williams of the Plasmatics), and this Stratford production is one of the best. Would be great if NY could see it.

[Sondheimite]

The Stratford Production is still a little too much of a riff on the movie for me.

I think for Rocky Horror to TRULY succeed that it must be a production that's almost the antitheist of the movie. 

[Menken Fan]

I didn’t think it mirrored the movie at all. I’ve seen so many productions that did copy the movie, which is lazy. This was true to the original stage production with a lot of fun updates, great projections, edgy costumes, and terrific performances. Sold out often and extended multiple times. That being said, I’d be up for some creative updates.

[WldKingdomHM]

They should bring over that production with Rob Fowler. He's amazing as Frank 

[Sondheimite]

Imagine Sacha Baron Cohen as Frank....

[quizking101]

I honestly would like Adam Lambert as Frank (or even Riff Raff). I thought he was a fine Eddie, but would've much rather seen him take the lead in that god-awful TV remake (No shade to Laverne Cox).

[iNick1224]

This could be too on the nose but Katrina Lenk as Magenta 

 

[tourboi]

Bring down the Stratford Festival production. Inspired camp brilliance and the best version I’ve seen. It keeps extending and is now the longest running show in Festival history.

[Sondheimite]

quizking101 said: "I honestly would like Adam Lambert as Frank (or even Riff Raff). I thought he was a fine Eddie, but would've much rather seen him take the lead in that god-awful TV remake (No shade to Laverne Cox)."

Laverne was an horrifically bad Frank!!! 

[Sondheimite]

I think Lena Hall would b my ideal Magenta and throw in Wesley Taylor as Riff Raff!

[Lot666]

Sondheimite said: "quizking101 said: "I honestly would like Adam Lambert as Frank (or even Riff Raff). I thought he was a fine Eddie, but would've much rather seen him take the lead in that god-awful TV remake (No shade to Laverne Cox)."

Laverne was an horrifically bad Frank!!!"

I never understand the logic behind casting a transgender woman as a male transvestite. Even more confusing was why a transgender woman would want to play such a role.

[MrsSallyAdams]

The show needs to be R rated, which may not be commercially viable for a Broadway production today. It's about the power and danger of sexual awakening and the TV remake showed that it loses all purpose in a PG-13 incarnation. The show certainly isn't carried by its score.

[Jordan Catalano]

Oh my God, The thought of my favorite thing in the world being brought back in today’s climate scares the crap out of me. I just know they would try to water it down and cast it bizarrely and make every single wrong decision possible to ensure absolutely nobody is offended and that it would be safe to market it and appeal to 15 year olds and their Instagram accounts.

[Kad]

My ideal Rocky Horror revival is off-Broadway and completely devoid of squeaky-clean musical theatre program Broadway types. It should be sleazy, rough-edged, and cheap but stylish and ingenious. It should be like a rock club with a back room, not 54 Below.

It needs people like (not necessarily specifically, but in the vein of) Taylor Mac, Bridget Everett, Cole Escola, Justin Sayres, Jeff Hiller, etc in its cast. Machine Dazzle needs to costume it.

[Fosse76]

MrsSallyAdams said: "The show needs to be R rated, which may not be commercially viable for a Broadway production today."

The producers of the Book of Mormon would disagree with you.

 

[MrsSallyAdams]

Fosse, The Book of Mormon is filled with profanity but it's not a particularly sexual show. The closest we get is the baptism song which is fairly tame.

[nasty_khakis]

Kad said: "It needs people like (not necessarily specifically, but in the vein of)Taylor Mac, Bridget Everett, Cole Escola, Justin Sayres,Jeff Hiller, etcin its cast. Machine Dazzle needs to costume it."

OMG. This cast but add Molly Pope. Cole Escola for ANY role, please.

[Kad]

Molly Pope would a fun (and very different!) Janet.

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

oh man there are some great casting choices here and now I need a Taylor Mac take on Frank. An all out unabashedly queer cast that can play a great Off-Broadway venue for a while would be perfect. 

Frank - Taylor Mac

Janet - Molly Pope

Brad - Andrew Keenan Bolger (It'd be fun to have a Janet that is a more imposing and boisterous figure than Brad)

Riff Raff - Wesley Taylor

Magenta - Katrina Lenk

Columbia - BenDeLaCreme

Rocky - Tyler Hanes

Dr. Scott - Bridget Everett

Narrator - Needs to be something different than the usual old stuffy man librarian type. Billy Porter, Cole Escola, Ben Rimalower, Jeff Hiller, Isaac Oliver...lots of possibilities. Maybe even a drag queen like Hedda Lettuce could come up with something fun here. 

[Kad]

For Rocky, it'd be great if there were a well-known go-go boy / porn star or boylesque performer that could sing.

A revival of this show needs an off-kilter, downtown / Brooklyn vibe to even begin to approach its sexuality. Otherwise, it ends up that defanged Kidz Bop version on Fox.

[SweetLips22]

Lea De Lario as the Narrator

[brendasugarbaker]

I could see a few NYC comics making a more off-kilter production work. Peter Smith is non-binary and would make a beautiful Frank. Any of the Three Busy Debras would make a fun Columbia and Catherine Cohen as Magenta is a perfect match. I don't think there's any role in the show Erin Markey wouldn't kill.