The Rocky Horror Show was a long running stage musical (in London initially, on June 16, 1973) which inspired the movieThe Rocky Horror Picture Show. It was written by Richard O'Brien, who returned to his native England after growing up in New Zealand. The musical was developed by O'Brien in collaboration with Australian theatre director Jim Sharman, who had already gained extensive experience directing rock musicals with the groundbreaking Australian productions of Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar.
Sharman's success with the original Australian production of Superstar led to an invitation to direct the first London stage production, and it was during the London run of Superstar that he met O'Brien, who briefly had a role in the show (he played Herod for just one performance). O'Brien played Sharman some of the songs he had written and they began to flesh out the concept for the show; Sharman later brought in fellow Australians Nell Campbell (aka 'Little Nell') and longtime design collaborator Brian Thomson, who had designed both Hair and Superstar. Sharman's theatrical background -- his father and grandfather were famous tent-show promoters -- influenced the deliberately makeshift look and feel of the original production, which premiered in a small, run-down theatre that was slated for demolition.
The movie has been much more popular in the United States than the theatrical show, revivals of which are mounted periodically without great success. However, in other countries, the stage show has become a cult, with fans dressing up as the characters and reciting the lines out loud along with the cast.
Versions of the show have played well in various other countries, including a New Zealand production that featured the former prime ministerRobert Muldoon (as the compère).
External links
Rocky Horror Sphere - The Rocky Horror Site (http://www.rockyhorror.at/)
Rocky Horror Fanclub Austria (http://fanclub.rockyhorror.at/)
A blend of SF, horror and steamy musical camp that has not been surpassed since its original film release in 1975, the Frankenstein-inspired RockyHorror Picture Show is an important part of celebrating Halloween for many dedicated fans.
The RockyHorror site is a slick package containing—among other things—news, discussion forums and a historical timeline of Rocky-related events that dates from the premiere of Richard O'Brien's original musical, The RockyHorrorShow, in London in 1973.
Horror "virgins," "Time Warp" dance moves and a supply list of props to bring to a screening are just a few of the essentials available in this area; it is a complete guide for anyone who wants to be sure of going fully prepared.
These sound files (both MP3s and lossless FLACs) are from a live recording made on March 14th, 1975 of The RockyHorrorShow's original run at the Belasco Theatre on Broadway.
In this video, Meat Loaf parodies his role as Eddie in The RockyHorror Picture Show by performing in an Eddie costume in front of a movie screen that is playing his original Paradise By The Dashboard Light video.
They're from a 1975 audience recording of the final Sydney performance of The RockyHorrorShow in its original Australian run, just before the transfer to Melbourne.
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