Rosie O’Donnell is returning to Broadway for a limited engagement in The Rocky Horror Show, temporarily taking over the role of Narrator while Rachel Dratch takes a short leave from the production. O’Donnell will perform at Studio 54 from Oct. 6 through Oct. 18, with Dratch scheduled to resume the role Oct. 20.
The two-week stint marks O’Donnell’s latest appearance on the New York stage. She recently completed a sold-out run of her one-woman show, Common Knowledge, at the Daryl Roth Theatre. Her Broadway credits include the 1994 revival of Grease, Seussical and the 2004 revival of Fiddler on the Roof. She also hosted the Tony Awards three times and has long promoted theater through her television work and arts advocacy.
Richard O’Brien’s musical first premiered in London in 1973 and later inspired the 1975 film The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The current Rocky Horror Show revival, directed by Sam Pinkleton, features Jake Shears as Frank-N-Furter, Lorna Courtney as Janet, Kevin McHale as Brad, Amber Gray as Riff Raff, Sherie Rene Scott as Magenta, Jimin Moon as Rocky, George Salazar as Eddie/Dr. Scott and Valentina as Columbia.
The production opened April 23 after beginning previews in March, with the revival receiving Tony Award nominations and extending its Broadway run through Feb. 28, 2027. It also set a Studio 54 weekly box-office record with a gross of $1.215 million for the week ending June 28, according to the production.
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