Studio 54 officially opens its doors tonight for the Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show, and the city could not have been more prepared. Fifty-three years after Richard O’Brien’s cult classic first shocked London audiences at the Royal Court Theatre and 26 years since it last played a Broadway stage, the “Mother Road” of midnight-movie musicals has returned to New York — this time inside the venue that, in another era, was its spiritual twin.
A Cast That Changes the Equation
Welsh actor Luke Evans has been performing in musicals in London, the West End, and across the UK for 25 years. While his film career kept him from the Broadway stage longer than he’d have liked, this production is — in his own words — a “bucket list moment” for the performer. Evans enters his Broadway debut as Dr. Frank-N-Furter after years of playing the kind of roles that sit at the opposite end of the spectrum: Gaston in Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast, Bard the Bowman in The Hobbit trilogy.
Evans described Frank-N-Furter to Vogue as “flamboyant and feminine, slinky and sultry, but with a menace to him.” The Vogue shoot — Evans in fishnets, stiletto heels, and a corset — already generated a significant response on social media well before opening night.
Also making their Broadway debuts tonight: Harvey Guillén as Eddie and Dr. Scott, Juliette Lewis as Magenta, Josh Rivera as Rocky, and Golden Globe winner Michaela Jaé Rodriguez as Columbia. Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu plays Janet. Tony nominee Amber Gray takes on Riff Raff. Rachel Dratch narrates. Tony nominee Andrew Durand plays Brad. The casting density alone makes this one of the more talked-about assemblies of screen talent on a Broadway stage this season.
The Show’s History — and Why Studio 54 Makes Sense
The Rocky Horror Show first premiered in London at the Royal Court Theatre on June 19, 1973, moved to several other locations, and ran for a cumulative 2,960 performances before closing in 1980. The musical follows Brad and Janet, a straight-laced couple whose car breaks down outside a mysterious mansion — inside of which waits Frank-N-Furter, a gender non-conforming mad scientist, and his eccentric crew. Its rock-influenced score includes “Sweet Transvestite,” “Dammit Janet,” “Touch-a Touch-a Touch-a Touch Me,” and “Time Warp.”
Its 1975 Broadway debut lasted only 45 performances. Then came the film adaptation — The Rocky Horror Picture Show — and decades of midnight screenings, audience participation rituals, and a global fanbase that made the property one of the most durable cultural phenomena of the 20th century.
The production estimates the stage version has been seen by over 40 million people in 15 languages. The 2026 Broadway revival marks only its third engagement on the Main Stem and the first time it has ever played Studio 54 — a pairing that feels less like a coincidence and more like a belated correction.
What the Numbers Say Before Opening Night
Through previews, the production has been running at an average capacity of 99.15 percent with an average ticket price of $112.70, accumulating a gross of over $2.6 million before officially opening. Those are not the numbers of a production testing the waters. They are the numbers of a show that knew its audience was waiting.
Due to popular demand, Roundabout Theatre Company has already released a new block of tickets, with the run now extended through July 19, 2026. What was announced as a limited engagement through June 21 has already grown — a month added before opening night even arrived.
What’s Behind the Production
Director Sam Pinkleton, a Tony Award winner for Oh, Mary!, described his ambition for the production simply: “I hope to do at Studio 54 what The Rocky Horror Show has done for people around the world for decades — open a dimension to another possible reality.”
The creative team surrounding him is deep. Choreography is by Ani Taj, costume design by David I. Reynoso, lighting design by Jane Cox, sound design by Brian Ronan, and hair and makeup design by Alberto “Albee” Alvarado. The production is produced by Roundabout Theatre Company in association with Trafalgar Entertainment and The Dodgers.
Audience response during previews has been consistent. Early reviews from theatergoers described the energy as “infectious” and the staging as “wonderful,” with particular praise for the cast’s commitment and Rachel Dratch’s command of the room.
Tonight, Frank-N-Furter’s lab officially opens at 254 West 54th Street. If the past four weeks of previews are any indication, the audience will already know every word.
