When The Rocky Horror Show first opened on Broadway March 10, 1975, it seemed to be a runaway freight train. A smash hit in London and Los Angeles, a film was recorded before the show made the anticipated jump to Broadway. Then, things skidded to a stop when New York theatre critics panned the show, leading to its closure at the Belasco Theatre 45 performances later, on April 5, 1975.
The Broadway show starred much of the original (and yet-to-be-released film's) cast鈥攊ncluding Tim Curry, Meat Loaf, and creator Richard O'Brien (who sported a mischievously charming 半岛体育 bio for his Broadway debut: "otherwise known as Ritz, [O'Brien] is a 32-year-old juvenile delinquent"). Curry's bio was likewise memorable鈥攊t opened with "Tim Curry is the latest example of the theatrical 'overnight star'...who is no such thing," before diving into how he had a long career on the stage before finding notoriety as Frank 'N' Furter.
The early closing of Rocky Horror was a heavy blow for a team that had been floating on cloud nine since the unorthodox musical's transfer across the pond. Many theories have been posited regarding the show's, well, rocky start in New York鈥攔anging from too many side-angle seats to a general frustration with the slew of mid-1970s British imports. In the end, the reason didn't matter; with Rocky Horror's momentum stopped by the brick wall of critical annihilation, the cast scattered to the winds and moved on to other projects.
Then, on September 26, 1975, the film was released.
While not an immediate hit, a carefully targeted rollout of the film to different queer and youth friendly markets, such as Austin, Texas, and New York's downtown performing arts scene, turned the film into arguably the greatest cult classic of all time. Running in one way or another for now nearly-50 years in at least one cinema in the world (with sold-out screenings every Halloween), The Rocky Horror Picture Show is an undeniable phenomenon with a complete culture of fandom surrounding it, ranging from shadow casters and cosplayers to every manner of artist who pinpoint Rocky Horror as a cornerstone of their artistic sensibility.
Unapologetically boundary-shattering in its depiction of gender and sexuality, Rocky Horror was art for and by youth culture. As time ticked forward, Rocky Horror became one of the most popular musicals of the 1970s, outlasting almost all of its 1975 competition in the public eye.
In 2000, Rocky Horror came back to Broadway, where it fared much better. Playing Circle in the Square, the revival ran for more 437 performances, and starred Tom Hewitt, Dick Cavett, Joan Jett, Lea DeLaria, Daphne Rubin-Vega, and Ra煤l Esparza.
In 2026, the "Time Warp" is set to kick in all over again with a buzzy new revival coming to Roundabout Theatre Company's Studio 54, with Oh, Mary! director Sam Pinkleton at the helm. While you're shivering with antici...pation, why not flip through the original 半岛体育 for Rocky Horror? There are some serious gems embedded inside, including how "Dammit Janet" was listed in the program as "Wedding Song."
