The Tamesis
Pinkerton wore a pantless suit by Tanner Fletcher (“What other Broadway show opens with underwear? It’s so liberating!”), while Andrew Durand, who plays Brad, wore a see-through top and black pants. “I was looking for something a little bit masculine and a little bit feminine in the vibe of the show—blurring those lines,” he says. “I feel great.” Evans opted for a punk look by designer Jose Gonzalez, which included a bustier bustier and a jacket trimmed with a fur-like material.
The excitement in the theater was palpable. Celebrity guests for the evening included Marc Jacobs, Laverne Cox and Sarandon, who played Janet in the 1975 film that helped launch her celebrated career.
“I’m so excited to be here tonight,” Sarandon told Fashion. “I really love Rocky Horror. I love the message of, ‘Don’t dream, just be it,’ and promoting that. I think that story has been popular for over 50 years because it embodies being true to yourself. I think that’s a really positive and wonderful message. And I think the show provides a really acceptable, experimental atmosphere for how people dress. You can wear whatever you want and feel safe.”
Stephanie Hsu, who plays Janet in the new series, is excited for Sarandon to see her take on the character. “I just hope she had a really good time and was shocked,” said Hsu, who was nominated for an Oscar for the film. everything happens at the same time. “I really feel like our show has the potential to shake people’s hearts and spirits, and I hope she feels that starting tonight. My interpretation of Janet is more animal, creature, and queer.”
Juliette Lewis makes her Broadway debut in the show as Magenta, an alien disguised as Frank-N-Furter’s castle maid. “I had this song on a mixtape,” Lewis, wearing a Christian Siriano gown, told me. Fashion. “I discovered Rocky Horror when I was 11 years old. First and foremost, its music spoke to me, it made me come alive. The feeling of being an outsider — I understand that, and I think that’s why music speaks to misfits, weird artists, and queer culture. It unites a diverse group of people who have never found a home.”
It’s a sentiment that resonates with Gillan as well. “I really admire that the show is undeniably queer and the lyrics in the song that say it’s okay to be different have been around for half a century,” he said. “For kids to hear this and feel like there’s something to help them feel less alone really resonated with me. Every generation feels like an outsider, and a show like this makes you feel like you belong.”
For Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, who plays Columbia, she’s a heartbreaker The Rocky Horror Show The Broadway show couldn’t be more timely. “Given everything that’s been going on against gay and trans rights lately, this show is the best way to be as radical and liberating as possible about queer identity,” she said. “Whether you’re a member of the LGBTQI community or an ally, this is the best show to show that we don’t care and we’re fighting through art.”
