“Give yourself over to absolute pleasure,” cries Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a role made famous by Tim Curry, a pioneer in cinematic queer expression and self-discovery who died earlier today. “Swim the warm waters of sins of the flesh / Erotic nightmares beyond any measure / And sensual daydreams to treasure forever / Can’t you just see it? Don’t dream it, be it.” Under the electric dreamscape of Venus Gulbranson’s lighting design, Frank’s lyrics capture the essence of Monumental Theatre Company’s The Rocky Horror Show: pleasure without shame.
When most people hear the words “Rocky Horror,” they think of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, a 1975 movie musical starring Curry, Richard O’Brien, and Susan Sarandon. The cult-classic film is wacky, campy, and queer as hell — but that’s not why it became a monolith of popular culture. Shortly after The Rocky Horror Picture Show premiered, movie audiences began interacting with the screen via “callouts” and eventually with props as well. Ranging from pure advice (“Buy an umbrella, bitch!”) to crude interjections (JANET: I’m coming with you. / That’ll be a first!), what’s fun about callouts is how synergized they become with the movie’s dialog — as long as the audience is paying attention.
JANET: Oh, Brad!
How’s your sex life, Brad?
BRAD: It’s all right, Janet.
While a major Broadway revival of the stage version runs at Studio 54 in New York, the Great White Way is choosing to rein in some of its more gratuitous audience callbacks. Monumental’s production doesn’t have that problem. In fact, they encourage audience participation to the highest degree (but don’t make up your own callbacks; you aren’t as funny as you think you are). Take it from this critic and Rocky stan — it works extremely well. It’s no small feat either — a polished professional production that invites the same sort of chaotic debauchery as Rocky Horror’s world-famous movie screenings takes some serious directorial chops. My hat is off to co-directors Michael Windsor and Jimmy Mavrikes, not to mention choreographer Ahmad Maaty, who stage the whole thing in a spunky cabaret thrust (how apropos). Do not get me wrong, Rocky Horror is undoubtedly “more sex than plot.” But Monumental brings the play’s eroticism into a new era of LGBTQ+ culture and visibility — one that leans into expression more than intrigue, but one that still captures the musical’s inherent joy and whimsicality.
Rocky Horror kicks off at the wedding of Betty Monroe and Ralph Hapschatt, a couple whose relevance dematerializes as expeditiously as it comes. It is here that Brad Majors (Oscar Madson) proposes to Janet Weiss (Clari Swaggard) and the couple must immediately share the good news with their former science teacher, Dr. Everett Scott — which is, you know, a completely normal thing that all people do when they get engaged. Madson and Swaggard have pitch-perfect timing as the virginal eager beavers, but Brad and Janet are in for a crude awakening when their car breaks down en route to see Dr. Scott. Brad (who, you must understand, is an “asshole”) and Janet (who is a “slut”) knock at the door of a nearby castle to use the telephone — a very silly thing to do because, as we all know, “castles don’t have phones, Asshole!”
The couple is greeted by Frank-N-Furter’s humble servant Riff Raff (coyly embodied by Caz Shegogue) plus his sister Magenta (Dani Rizzo) and Columbia (Jayson Broadnax). From the movie’s original costumes to its accents and affectations, it’s difficult not to come in with preconceived notions about how each of these characters is and should be performed. It would be easy to conflate each of these roles with a Halloween costume — but thanks to these intuitive performers and Justin Sosebe’s vibrant, sexy (and with a little Gen-Z flavor) costume design, Monumental’s production mixes the familiar with the unexpected. It’s a totally new take on the show that nevertheless pays homage to its pop-cultural roots. The role of Eddie (made famous by singer and actor Meat Loaf) is played by up-and-coming queer ingénue Sydne Lyons. Lyons (who also plays a femme version of Dr. Scott later) has limited stage time, but — bless my soul — her rendition of “Hot Patootie” will melt your face off.
The evening’s surprise standout is Cera Baker as the narrator (also referred to as The Criminologist in the movie version). With youthful comedic wit and knockout vocal chops, Baker brings a healthy dose of unpredictability to the otherwise expository narrator — who appears to get drunker and drunker watching the whole thing unfold — and earnestly invites audiences to play along at every step of the way.
Then, of course, there is Christian Montgomery as Frank. This is a difficult and demanding role, which, to some extent, has become synonymous with Curry’s interpretation. Frank’s got to be sweet, he’s got to be sinister, and he needs to, unequivocally, be the hottest person in the room at all times. Montgomery delivers a performance well worth the anticipation.
Inspired, perhaps, by the resurgent visibility of drag and ballroom culture in the 21st century, Monumental’s immersive stage production is wholeheartedly energetic in a way that the movie sometimes just isn’t. While there are still places to catch The Rocky Horror Picture Show in DC — complete with a shadow cast of performers who synchronize with the actors on screen — Monumental taps into a mix of stage talent and cult fandom in a way that celebrates its audiences without expecting too much of them. Most live performances get applause; that’s just cake. Not all experiences let you eat it too.
Running Time: Two hours including intermission.
Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show plays through September 6, 2026, presented by Monumental Theatre Company, performing at Dance Place, 3225 8th Street NE, Washington, DC. Tickets (risers and cabaret seating) are $45 and are available online.
Features adult language and simulated sex.
Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show
Directed by Michael Windsor and Jimmy Mavrikes
Music Directed by Marika Countouris
Choreographed by Ahmad Maaty
Created by Richard O’Brien
The cast and creative team are here.
SEE ALSO:
Meet your Frank-N-Furter: Christian Montgomery returns to Monumental (news story, July 21, 2026)
Monumental Theatre Company to present ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ (news story, July 1, 2026)
