Actor, producer and reality star Frankie Grande is revisiting his role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show at Bucks County Playhouse, 70 S. Main St., New Hope, beginning Oct. 11 and running through Nov. 3.
Choreography is by Shannon Lewis and direction by Playhouse artistic associate Hunter Foster.
“Last year, The Rocky Horror Show at Bucks County Playhouse with an extraordinary cast led by Frankie Grande became the biggest party in New Hope,” said producer Josh Fiedler. “We are thrilled to welcome back this cast and showcase Hunter’s devilish sense of humor with Shannon’s knock-out choreography.”
“The Rocky Horror Show was outrageously successful last year and, ever since the final curtain fell, audiences have been asking us if Frankie and this cast will be returning,” said producing director Alexander Fraser. “We are beyond excited to remount Hunter and Shannon’s gothic and glam production and look forward to audiences reveling in Frankie Grande’s outrageous take on this iconic character.”
“I am beyond thrilled to be slipping back into the fabulous heels of Frank-N-Furter at Bucks County Playhouse,” said Grande. “This role is pure magic, and I’m ready to bring every ounce of glam, sass and rock ‘n’ roll to the stage. Get ready for a wild ride, darlings — let’s do the Time Warp again!”
A sensation on social media, as well as on stage, Grande is a presenter, actor, producer, reality TV personality and host of Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob BingePants podcast. He became known to the world when he launched his successful YouTube channel in 2012 and, more recently, as a stand-out finalist on the hit CBS series Big Brother. Grande was a judge on the 2015 season of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew and a houseguest on Celebrity Big Brother in the UK. He has starred on Broadway as Franz in the closing cast of Rock of Ages and made his debut with the mega-hit Mamma Mia!.
His philanthropic work includes co-founding the nonprofit arts organization Broadway in South Africa, for which he received the Global Impact Award for his work. He devotes much of his time and energy supporting the Los Angeles LGBT Center and is on the board of GLAAD.
Most of the 2023 cast will also return. The production features Mike Bindeman (Playhouse Square’s The Lightning Thief) as Rocky, Stephanie Prestage (BCP’s Grease) as Janet, Tim Shea (national tour of School of Rock) as Riff Raff, Alyssa Wray (BCP’s Grease and American Idol top nine finalist in 2021) as Magenta, Larkin Reilly (Musical Theater Wichita’s A Chorus Line) as Columbia and Benjamin Howes (Broadway’s Scandalous) as Narrator/Dr. Scott. Stanley Martin (BCP’s Grease and Broadway’s Aladdin) is Eddie and Julia Joy (BCP’s Mamma Mia!) and Natalie Welch are phantoms. The casting of Brad will be announced soon.
With book, music and lyrics by O’Brien, The Rocky Horror Show inspired the 1975 cult classic film. The musical follows innocent couple Brad and Janet on the adventure to beat all adventures. As they seek shelter at a mysterious old castle on a dark and stormy night, they encounter transvestite scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter, who is in the midst of a maniacal experiment to create his “perfect’ man Rocky. The show features an infectious rock ‘n’ roll score. Given the nature of the subject matter, parental discretion is advised.
The Rocky Horror Show will play the following schedule: Tuesday through Friday, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sundays, at 3 p.m. Tickets start at $75. Special discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. No outside prop bags permitted. As in the past, all patrons will be invited to come up on stage and dance the Time Warp with the cast.
Visit BucksCountyPlayhouse.org, call 215-862-2121 or visit the box office for tickets and more information.
