Craig McLachlan takes lead as Frank N Furter

JOINING television and theatre star Craig McLachlan in the new production of Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show will be a fresh, exciting and talented cast of Australia’s best musical theatre performers.

Craig McLachlan will shed his Dr Blake persona to take on the Rocky Horror Show lead role Frank N Furter.

Producers Howard Panter and John Frost today announced cast members for the 2014 Australian tour of The Rocky Horror Show, which opens in January at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane followed by seasons at the Crown Theatre, Perth in February, the Festival Theatre, Adelaide in March, and the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne in April.
The coveted role of Frank N Furter will be played by Craig McLachlan, fresh from shooting the title role in the second series of ABC TV’s top rating drama series The Doctor Blake Mysteries.
Playing the roles of Janet and Brad, the naïve young couple caught up in a situation they don’t understand, will be musical theatre favourites Christie Whelan Browne (A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Shane Warne The Musical) and Tim Maddren (Hi 5, The Addams Family).
Reprising his role as Riff Raff, Frank’s loyal handyman, which he played in New Zealand and the UK will be Kristian Lavercombe, while his sister Magenta will be played by Erika Heynatz, who was nominated for a Helpmann Award for her debut musical theatre role in Legally Blonde.
Columbia, the groupie in Frank’s entourage, will be played by Ashlea Pyke (Legally Blonde), and Eddie and Dr Scott will be Nicholas Christo (My Fair Lady). In his first leading role as Frank’s creation Rocky will be Brendan Irving (An Officer and a Gentleman).
The Phantoms will be played by Vincent Hooper (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Luigi Lucente (Wicked), Meghan O’Shea (A Chorus Line) and Angela Scundi (Spring Awakening), while the Swing/Dance Captain will be James Maxfield (A Chorus Line).
“We are thrilled to have found the perfect cast for the 40th Anniversary Australian tour of this much loved iconic musical,” said John Frost and Howard Panter.</body>

Oozing risqué charm

There is no one who can play the character of Frank N Furter like Craig McLachlan. He oozes that risqué charm that an actor playing Frank needs, as well as bucket loads of sex appeal. And after an extensive audition process we have secured a group of exciting musical theatre talents to complete the cast. We know audiences are going to love doing the Time Warp with this wonderful cast again.”

The Rocky Horror Show is a true classic and one of theatre’s most endearing and outrageously fun shows. It opened at London’s Royal Court Theatre on June 19, 1973, quickly developing a cult following, and was adapted into the 1975 film The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which has the longest-running release in film history.

Showcased on Glee

This iconic brand holds a unique place in theatre history, a show which has defied the decades and continued to grow in popularity. In 2010 the music of Rocky Horror was showcased in the smash hit TV show Glee, seen by over 20 million people worldwide. Rocky Horror even has its own postage stamp.
Currently playing in the UK to sell out audiences, millions of people all over the world have and continue to see productions of The Rocky Horror Show and sung along to classics like Sweet Transvestite, Dammit Janet, I Can Make You A Man, Touch-a Touch-a Touch Me, Over At The Frankenstein Place and of course The Time Warp.
The Rocky Horror Show opens at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane on January 8, 2014; Crown Theatre, Perth on February 14; Festival Theatre, Adelaide on March 20; and the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne on April 24.

The iconic Rocky Horror Show returns to the stage in 2014

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