Crowds have been jumping out of their seats to do the Time Warp.
Fierce & Fabulous Fun
Still the sexiest and funniest show in town
The 50th Anniversary production of world-wide hit Rock N Roll musical The Rocky Horror Show has announced today that the legendary international creator of the global phenomenon Rocky Horror Show, Richard O'Brien will take to the stage as a special guest star alongside previously announced Australian media icon Myf Warhurst as The Narrator as part of the 50th Anniversary global opening night gala celebrations at Adelaide's Festival Theatre on April 19.
Richard O'Brien will be part of a special press conference at Adelaide Festival Centre on Tuesday, April 18 - for registration details please refer to the bottom of the release.
Tickets on sale now at rockyhorror.com.au
Richard O'Brien said:
Back in the 1970s when someone asked me to entertain the Christmas staff party at the EMI Film Studios and I turned up with a song called Science Fiction Double Feature who would have known this was the germ of the idea to turn into today what is The Rocky Horror Show.
To be celebrating 50 years is beyond my wildest expectations - from the humble beginnings back in 1973 at the Royal Court Theatre in London. There is no better fitting place in the world than Australia to launch this 50th Anniversary Tour with over 14 productions since its very first production in 1975 The Rocky Horror Show is one of Australia's most performed and beloved musicals of all time.
Richard O'Brien and Myf Warhurst will join international star and triple Oliver Award winning performer, David Bedella, who will play the role of Frank N Furter in Adelaide. Australian audiences may remember Bedella as the lead in Oh, What A Night! where he performed alongside Marcia Hines and Gary Sweet. David comes to Adelaide with an impressive international star resume from both Broadway and London's West End having performed roles in Smokey Joe's Cafe, Jerry Springer the Opera, The Rocky Horror Show, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Producers, Chicago, In the Heights and most recently & Juliet. He can also currently be seen playing the President of The United States in Amazon Prime's third season of Jack Ryan.
Acclaimed actor and writer, Nicholas Hammond will also take on the role of The Narrator for the final two weeks of the Adelaide season (from 2-13 May). Best known for his roles as Friedrich von Trapp in the original film The Sound of Music, Nicholas Hammonds global career has included his own American prime time series, The Amazing Spiderman and appearances in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Love Boat, Magnum PI, Murder She Wrote and recurring roles on Falcon Crest and Dallas. He was also recently in the Australian production of Cinderella.
They join principal cast Stellar Perry as Magenta (X Factor, The Voice, Bell Shakespeares The Lovers), Ellis Dolan as Eddie/Dr Scott, Darcey Eagle as Columbia, Ethan Jones as Brad, Deirdre Khoo as Janet, Loredo Malcolm as Rocky and Henry Rollo as Riff Raff.
Starring alongside them on stage as The Phantoms will be Josh Gates, Catty Hamilton, Jackson Reedman and Erica Wild, Keane Fletcher and Kristina McNamara round out the cast as the Swings.
Written and created by Richard O'Brien, The Rocky Horror Show has become one of the world's favourite musicals and is currently the only contemporary rock musical to celebrate 50 years on stage. Since it first opened in London in 1973 at the Royal Court's Theatre Upstairs, The Rocky Horror Show has been continuously on stage somewhere in the world and has paved its way into history as one of the classics of musical theatre.
The Rocky Horror Show first began life in 1973 before an audience of just 63 people in the Royal Courts Theatre Upstairs. It was an immediate success and transferred to the Chelsea Classic Cinema, before going on to run at the Kings Road Theatre, 1973-79 and the Comedy Theatre in the West End, 1979-80. In 1975 it was transformed into a film called The Rocky Horror Picture Show. This film adaptation took over $135 million at the Box Office and is still shown in cinemas around the world nearly 50 years after its premiere, making it the longest running theatrical release in cinema history. Many stars of the stage and screen including Russell Crowe, Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Meat Loaf, Jerry Springer, Adam Lambert, Emma Bunton, Stephen Fry, Reg Livermore, Bert Newton, Gretel Killeen, Derryn Hinch, and Shane Jacobsen have appeared in The Rocky Horror Show over the past 50 years. This iconic brand holds a unique place in theatre history, as a show which has defied the decades and continues to grow in popularity.
Seen by over 30 million people in more than 30 countries and translated into 20 languages, The Rocky Horror Show audiences have embraced the unique and mischievous musical with fandom and passion, celebrating the gratification of the senses. The hit music, the characters, the freedom and sexual awakening and empowerment means so much to so many across all walks of life. Featuring one of the most famous musical numbers of all time the party floor-filler, The Time-Warp which remains a key to its continued success over the past 50 years.
The Rocky Horror Show has just completed its most successful UK tour and is one of the top performing musicals in the post pandemic era. It has also recently toured in Israel, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Argentina, Romania, Slovenia, Belgium, Tokyo, Korea, Brazil, Canada and Iceland.
The Rocky Horror Show tells the story of Brad and his fiancée Janet, two squeaky clean college kids who meet Dr Frank N Furter an extra-terrestrial mad scientist from the galaxy of Transylvania where people really like to party! Its an adventure they'll never forget, with fun, frolics, frocks and frivolity, bursting with timeless songs and outrageous outfits.
The 50th Anniversary Rocky Horror Show creative team includes Director Christopher Luscombe, Set Designer Hugh Durrant, Costume Designer Sue Blane, Choreographer Nathan M Wright, Lighting Designer Nick Richings, Music Richard Hartley (original musical arrangements).
The Rocky Horror Show is the boldest party bash of them all, ready to thrill fans and audiences alike with cheeky fun and nostalgia. Whether its your first time seeing the show or the twenty first time, whether you dress up or not, The Rocky Horror Show delivers in its promise of a guaranteed party.
In 2023 the global guaranteed party will be in Australia!
ROCKY HORROR SHOW GLOBAL ACCOLADES
Still the sexiest and funniest show in town - Evening Standard
Fresh, subversive, essential - Daily Telegraph UK
Hard to think of another musical quite as unique as this. Christopher Luscombes affectionate production feels like a genuine blast from the past Mail on Sunday
So fast, so funny, so sexy Daily Mail UK
ADELAIDE ADELAIDE FESTIVAL THEATRE FROM APRIL 13
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
@rockyhorroraus
MEDIA ASSETS CAN BE DOWNLOADED AS BELOW
Password: timewarp
Media Enquiries and to register for the media call on Tuesday, April 18:
Adelaide
Francesca Belperio (Adelaide), francesca.belperio@adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au +61 402 842 204
National Publicity Lucky Star Media:
Vicky Iliopoulos, vicky@luckystarmedia.com.au +61 410 551 388