BBC AMERICA celebrates the 40th anniversary global tour of the original international hit, The Rocky Horror Show. A special midnight premiere of a brand new two-hour gala performance from the stage of London’s Playhouse Theatre, starring original show creator, Richard O’Brien as ‘The Narrator’, and guest ‘Narrators’ Stephen Fry, Anthony Head, Adrian Edmondson, Emma Bunton and Mel Giedroyc, premieres midnight Saturday, October 18 on BBC AMERICA. An encore Halloween midnight airing follows a full day of Doctor Who-lloween, October 31.
“The Rocky Horror Show is a piece of our collective pop culture consciousness,” says Sarah Barnett, President and General Manager, BBC AMERICA. “Daring, fun and funny, unabashed and wildly entertaining, we think this brilliant new version of Rocky Horror will be embraced by our fans in the lead up to Halloween.”
Inspired by science fiction and horror B movies, the rock ‘n’ roll musical tells the story of squeaky clean sweethearts Brad and Janet and their encounter with crazy transvestite scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter and his latest muscular creation, Rocky Horror. The score is packed with fan favorite songs including “The Time Warp”, “Sweet Transvestite” and “Dammit, Janet”.
“I’m still in awe at the popularity of the show,” said Richard O’Brien, Creator and Narrator, The Rocky Horror Show. I wrote something I thought I might like to go see and it’s now lived successfully for more than 40 years in theaters around the world. Jumping on stage to bring the original show back to life has been an amazing experience. I hope audiences continue to have as much fun with it as I am.”
The Rocky Horror Show is an Ambassador Theatre Group production presented by Rocky Horror Company and Picturehouse Entertainment. The show is directed by Christopher Luscombe and produced by Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group.
The Rocky Horror Show first appeared at the Royal Court Theatre in London in 1973 and following its success was later adapted into the film, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, featuring creator Richard O’Brien in the role of Riff Raff, Susan Sarandon as Janet and Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter. The screen version boasted the longest running release in film history, which has helped to perpetuate the success of the stage production. The Rocky Horror Show has since taken the world by storm with productions taking place in over 30 countries.
CAST AND PRODUCTION CREDITS
Guest Narrators Stephen Fry (Wilde, Blackadder, QI) Adrian Edmondson (The Young Ones) Emma Bunton (Spice Girls) Mel Giedroyc (The Great British Bake Off) Anthony Head (Merlin, Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Usherette Jayde Westaby
Janet Haley Flaherty
Brad Ben Forster
Narrator Richard O’Brien
Riff Raff Kristian Lavercombe
Magenta Jade Westaby
Columbia Sophie Linder-Lee
Dr. Frank-N-Furter David Bedella
Rocky Dominic Andersen
Eddie/Dr. Scott Richard Meek
Phantoms Rachel Grundy, Ben Kerr, Will Knights, Hannah Malekzad
Swing Andrew Ahern
Written by Richard O’Brien
Director Christopher Luscombe